The Purification Clinic

Chapter 3 The Blind Alpha

Silas shut the needle case and rearranged his face before he turned around. The pleased look disappeared. He rubbed one hand over his brow and faced Kael as a healer burdened by a difficult patient.

“Alpha, the corruption is deeper than I expected. I had to make direct physical contact with the nodes before I could draw any of it out.”

“He's lying. He put his hands on me.” I pulled my tunic closed and pointed past him. “Check the drawer by his desk. Fiona's crest is on the ledger, along with a payment for Weakening Potion.”

Fiona coughed before Kael could turn his head. It was a soft, careful sound, followed by a sway that put all her weight against him. She pressed a hand to her forehead.

“Kael, I feel weak. The air in here is tainted.”

His arm went around her at once. He glared at me over her head. “Enough, Elara. Fiona is sick, and you're still making yourself the victim. Look at you. You look mad.”

Mad. Hysterical. One word let him dismiss the locked door, my clothes, and the evidence sitting in plain sight. The drawer remained open behind Silas. Kael never glanced at it.

He stepped closer, letting the full weight of his Alpha command bear down on me. Pressure settled across my shoulders and made each breath hurt. “This purification is my order. Give Doctor Silas whatever he needs, including blood, until Fiona recovers. You will cooperate, keep quiet, and finish the treatment. Do you understand?”

I searched his face for the man who had once trusted me with the pack's wounded and the wards around his home. He had already decided what he wanted to see. I looked past him to the ledger, then nodded once.

Kael's shoulders eased, satisfaction quick and plain. He thought the command had settled the matter. Fiona gave a weak gasp on cue, and he lifted her into his arms. Over his shoulder, she looked back at me and smiled.

I waited until Kael turned away, then reached into my sleeve. My grandmother had given me the small, smooth memory crystal years ago and told me never to trust a powerful man's version of a closed room.

I pressed its activation rune. The stone warmed against my wrist and began recording every sound and image.

The bolt slid into place outside.

Silas came up behind me after their footsteps faded. His shoulders straightened, and he no longer bothered with the weary-healer act he had performed for Kael.

“The Alpha gave his blessing.” He leaned close enough that liquor and herbs soured the air between us. “The moon will be full tomorrow night. We'll do a much more intimate bloodletting then. I'll purify every last drop, Luna.”

The crystal recorded each word.