She Was Supposed to Stay Broken, So I Let Her Think She Had novel · Chapter 6 of 40

Chapter 6: The Alpha Without a Clean Record

The sealed notice in Dov's hand says Vessa's placement has changed. Kael arrives with an archive folder, and the pack mark on both papers is plain.

Dov lays the notice beside the folder without covering the mark. Fen remains by the front door, watching Kael.

'Keep Fen here, Sera,' Kael says. 'I need to show you something, and I want witnesses.'

He has brought the Alpha's authority into Dov's shop, then asked it to stand without him. I look at the folder, then at his face.

'You can open it.'

Dov turns the notice so its printed lines face the counter. Her mouth tightens at the word effective. She does not ask Kael to explain it.

'You have changed Vessa's placement,' she says. 'Where is she?'

'I am not here to discuss her placement.' Kael keeps his gaze on me. 'I will answer when I can give you a verified location.'

A careful answer. The person he moved is still out of reach. I touch the paper's edge, then let it go.

Fen's boots stay planted by the door. Kael has not asked him to leave or to guard the room. He chose to stay.

'Dov,' Kael says, 'you may stay as well.'

'How generous. I was already here.'

A man at the front shelf clears his throat. He has been waiting for cough drops, and the notice has held up his order. I reach for the brown paper packet Dov left open.

'One spoon after food,' I tell him. 'If the cough worsens, bring the tin back.'

He thanks me and takes the packet. Kael waits until the customer is out of earshot before speaking again.

'I have been reviewing the original bond-reading records in private.'

Dov stops sorting medicine labels. Fen's attention shifts from the door to the folder. Kael says private as if it costs him.

'What did you find?' I ask.

His hand rests on the folder but does not open it.

'I found that one required procedural seal was absent before I relied on the reading to reject you.'

The counter gives a dry creak beneath Dov's palm. Outside, a vendor calls the price of pears. The sounds hold their places.

I look at Kael. He is not asking me to soothe him. He is waiting to see what I will do with his admission.

'Which record?' I ask.

'The original bond-reading page.'

I have not asked him to believe me or named Lirien. Now he has put his own judgment in front of witnesses. I count on the folder giving Vessa a chance to speak without Kael's account deciding what her words mean.

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