The Alphas Broken Mate novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Grey Side

Caius found Osric in the great hall, standing in front of the fire with his hands folded.

I came behind him on my crutches, and the whole room watched us cross it.

"The east tower was opened with a key," Caius said. "There are two."

Osric did not blink.

"Then someone has copied mine," he said. "It has hung on my belt for thirty years."

He unhooked the ring and held it out, palm up, with a sad, steady look.

"Search my rooms, nephew. Search me. I have nothing to hide from you."

It was exactly what an innocent man would say.

Caius stared at the ring for a long moment, and I saw him want to believe it.

He took the key and turned it in his fingers.

"The smith in the yard can make copies," Osric said. "Anyone can. Edda is clever."

"Have the gates closed and the road watched," Caius told the guards.

He handed the ring back.

I did not like how easily Osric took it.

I could not have said why.

Caius crouched in front of me where we stood by the stairs, and he spoke so only I could hear.

"There's something I have never shown anyone," he said. "I want you to see it, and I want you to see it alone."

He pressed a small iron key into my palm.

"The room under the east stair," he said. "It is everything I have. Take as long as you like."

I took the key and went down the steps one at a time on my crutches.

My legs ached the whole way.

The room was small and had no window.

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