My blood ran cold.
Justin continued, “And you know what an inquiry means, right? Guilt by default until he proves otherwise. Public attention. Admin scrutiny. Maybe even suspension from the Alpha Trials.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
He leaned in, his voice a conspiratorial whisper now. “If word spreads fast enough—and it will, believe me—it’s not just a Thalvion scandal anymore. It’ll make the rounds in Crimson City. Hell, the whole Kingdom will be talking about it.”
My heart thundered in my chest. No. I hadn’t told a soul. Not even whispered it to the wind.
Then who?
“Who saw him?” I asked, trying to keep the panic from my voice. “Do you know who it was?”
Justin shrugged. “Only Kyle knows. And he’s not naming names. But if he told me, he wanted it to spread.
