Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 137

"What "Elise's expression turned even uglier when she realized that her ability didn't seem to work on the dark veins. She pulled her arm from Fiona's grip and held it, staggering as the dark veins grew larger and larger, almost covering her entire arm. "What the hell- Fiona-" Her eyes widened as she looked at the smiling Fiona.

"What?" Fiona asked. "Please don't tell me that the great Elise Rosenthal, the person who claimed not even five minutes ago that she could heal all poisons, can't heal this simple thing?"

"You" Elise tried again to use her ability in the dark veins. However, instead of weakening, the dark veins grew stronger, spreading out from the veins and into her entire arm. Almost immediately, she realized that these veins- whatever they were had the ability to fight her blessings!

"Stop this!" Elise hissed. By now, she was certain this wasn't just poison. Fiona must have used something else to make it different. She must have used some sort of herbs to make it stronger, and more potent. She wasn't certain what it was. If she knew, then perhaps... "What is this, Fiona? Get this off me!"

Fiona smirked. "But can't you heal all poison? Haven't you studied the craft of healing for more than five years?" Fiona's eyes widened mockingly. On the outside, the woman looked innocent-too innocent. If Elise hadn't known Fiona had placed this thing on her, she might have believed she wasn't responsible at all.

"What is it?" Elise demanded as she used her ability once again.

Elise's panic was evident as the black veins crept further, branching out like cracks across her arm. Her once-rosy skin was now marred by the dark, pulsing pattern, inching closer to her shoulder. Her fingers twitched as she stared at her hand, now almost completely black.

"What is this!" Elise demanded, her voice sharp and frantic. She gritted her teeth, trying to focus her energy again, attempting to dispel the spreading darkness. But the veins didn't react. Instead, they grew thicker, stronger, as if mocking her efforts.

Fiona leaned back slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Careful, Elise," she said. "At this rate, your entire arm might turn useless. Wouldn't that be a tragedy? The perfect healer, unable to even save herself."

Elise glared at Fiona, but her anger quickly gave way to desperation. She moved her arm experimentally, her fingers flexing. The motion was smooth, unimpeded, and normal-but that only made it worse. There was no pain, no numbness, and no typical symptoms of poison. Her arm worked perfectly fine, despite its horrifying appearance.

"What kind of poison doesn't affect function?" Elise muttered, her gaze darting between Fiona and her arm. "What did you do?"

"Does it matter?" she asked. "If you can heal

she spat, her voice shaking. Without another word, she turned and bolted from

the exchange, watched Elise's retreating figure with a raised eyebrow. He

she said softly. "I wouldn't miss the show for anything." She extended her hand toward him, and Elijah, ever the gentleman, placed his palm beneath hers. With a shared

....

Rosenthal nearby, talking to the King and some council members. Seeing that even the Queen was there, Elise didn't hesitate. She ran toward her father. "Father..." Elise tugged her

quickly asked, his brows furrowing when he noticed the large scarf

need to get out of here," Elise said. She gripped her father's arm tightly, her eyes darting around the room as if she expected someone to leap out at her. "Father, please," she said,

Rosenthal frowned, his

daughter. He noticed the scarf hastily wrapped around her arm and

his

other envoys somehow found their way towards Elise. Was it an

her grip on his arm tightening. "I'll explain later. Just

Queen who

Elise's pale face and the scarf covering her arm. "Lady Elise," the Queen said, stepping closer. You look unwell. Has something happened?

of Fiona's name. "No," she said quickly, her voice

who had been observing the exchange, tilted his head slightly as he studied Elise. "Lady Elise," he said, his

repeated, tugging at Lord Rosenthal's arm with more urgency. Her eyes darted toward the Queen, whose gaze remained

something we should all be aware of. Let us help you, Lady Elise." Elise shook her head again, her

placed a hand on Elise's shoulder, steadying her. "Elise, enough," he said