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?"

considering the question. "Does it matter?" she asked. "If you can heal it, why

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

exchange, watched Elise's retreating figure with a raised eyebrow. He turned to Fiona, his expression curious.

for anything." She extended her hand toward him, and Elijah, ever the gentleman, placed his palm beneath hers. With

....

she found Lord Rosenthal nearby, talking to the King and some council members.

what is going on?" her father quickly asked, his brows furrowing when he noticed the large scarf covering Elise's

as

Rosenthal frowned, his

scarf hastily wrapped around her arm and the beads of sweat on her forehead. "Elise, what is

his

help but asked if the other envoys somehow found their

head, her grip on his arm tightening. "I'll explain later. Just come with me," she urged,

who

in hand, arched an eyebrow at the scene. Her sharp eyes flicked to Elise's pale face and the scarf covering her arm. "Lady Elise," the Queen said, stepping closer.

name. "No," she said quickly, her

exchange, tilted his head slightly as he studied Elise. "Lady Elise,"

more urgency. Her eyes darted

calculating. "You came from where Lady Fiona is," she said. "Surely, if there's an issue, it's something we should all be aware of. Let us help you, Lady Elise." Elise shook her head again, her breaths coming faster. "No, it's nothing. I just... I

placed a hand on Elise's shoulder, steadying