Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 38

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A thick silence blanketed the infirmary as Fiona stood there, her eyes fixed on Cillian. His face had turned a deep shade of red, a mix of embarrassment and anger. The crowd of soldiers and healers, who had been watching everything unfold stood frozen, eyes darting between Fiona and Cillian. No one dared to move or speak.

Before Cillian could gather himself to respond, Carissa suddenly stepped forward, her face composed, but her tone full of questions. "Was that really necessary, Fiona?" she asked.

Fiona turned to look at Carissa. She never expected to see the woman here. Seeing Carissa only worsened Fiona's mood. "I'm owed an apology," she said, trying to calm her anger.

Carissa sighed, shaking her head slightly. "Cillian was only doing his job. There's no need to turn this into a spectacle."

Fiona's eyes sharpened. "By berating me in front of everyone? Is that how things work here?" She gestured to the wounded soldiers lying around them. "Do you think they feel reassured when a senior healer publicly humiliates someone new? Does it make them feel safe, knowing the people responsible for their lives can't even agree in a calm and professional manner?"

Carissa's face reddened, clearly not expecting such a direct response. Her lips parted as if to speak, but nothing came out.

Fiona didn't give her time to recover as she added, "Tell me, Miss Carissa, was this really the right thing to do? For Cillian to berate me in front of everyone while people are fighting for their lives? Is that the way of the infirmary?"

The silence stretched again as the meaning behind Fiona's words started sinking into the room. Carissa's expression faltered, the confidence she had earlier slowly fading as she struggled for a response.

Before she could, Rio, who had been standing by silently, finally decided to interject. "Lower your voice when you speak to Carissa," he said sharply, stepping forward. "There's no need to raise your voice at her." Fiona's gaze swung to Rio, unimpressed. "My voice is your concern?" she snorted. "Are you not concerned that Miss Carissa decided to stick her nose into something that wasn't her business in the first place?" Rio opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His face reddened, a mixture of anger and frustration building, but he couldn't find the right response to Fiona's cutting words.

Before the tension could escalate further, Carissa quickly stepped in again, her voice softer this time, trying to maintain some semblance of control. "I would like to apologize on behalf of the senior healer," she said, her tone smooth, as if offering a gracious concession. Fiona's eyes narrowed. She immediately understood what Carissa was doing. It was a move she recognized too well from her sister Elise-an attempt to appear magnanimous while subtly keeping the upper hand. Carissa wanted to offer the apology on Cillian's behalf, ensuring the power dynamics stayed in her favor.

But Fiona wasn't fooled. She smiled faintly, but her eyes remained cold. This wasn't over yet. She had experienced this scene too many times not to recognize it.

faint smile never quite reaching her eyes. "Well then, I'll accept your apology, Miss Carissa," she said smoothly, her voice laced with a biting sweetness that was impossible to miss. In cases like this, the best thing to do is fight fire with fire. There was no need to lower herself and explode on Carissa. All she needed to do was smile. "And, of course, I must apologize to you as well. It must

thrown by the calm venom in Fiona's words,

wrong. That's a special kind of kindness, wouldn't you agree? I mean, to see someone bullying another in front of all these people and

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Chapter 38

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rippled through the room. The soldiers and healers exchanged glances, clearly catching on to Fiona's

sharp as a blade. "So again, thank you, Miss Carissa. For always being

to respond but seemed to struggle for words. Everyone in the room had understood exactly what Fiona was saying, and Carissa's attempt at control had backfired. Rio stood stiffly beside her, his face still red, but this time he had the sense to stay quiet. He knew

Carissa's response, she turned around and moved to the next wounded soldier. Hours later, Fiona sat in Miss Rosenda's modest office, her hands resting calmly in her lap as she waited. The room was neat and organized, with shelves lined with medical books and various herbs arranged meticulously in jars. A simple wooden desk

soldiers, Miss Rosenda immediately asked to

who

only sound in the room was the ticking of an old clock on the wall, each second stretching longer than the last. Fiona had been in this office for what felt like an eternity, the weight of the earlier events still fresh in her mind. She knew what this conversation was about,

out a long, heavy sigh, breaking the silence. Her sharp eyes bore into Fiona's, as

necessary

"Yes," Fiona replied.

straight line. She leaned back in her chair, folding

blink.

feel good? Was it

saved a soldier's life. Would you rather I had done nothing

didn't answer. The tension between them hung