Calculated Diversion

“Onto Kaelen,” she said, then glanced sideways, “and Roth.”

Kaelen’s jaw tightened. “You’re saying he thinks we orchestrated it.”

“I’m saying,” Kira corrected evenly, “he’s convinced you did.”

Silence pressed in, dense and unyielding.

Kaelen’s gaze cut to Bastian. For a brief second, the air between them turned lethal—shared understanding, unspoken confirmation. Bastian’s hand clenched slowly