Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

"You're lucky he didn't ask the King to end your pathetic little life," Thomas snapped as he glared at the still-shaken Elise. Despite the humiliation, Elise refused to meet his gaze, clutching her arm as though the weight of everything was still pressing against her.

"What were you thinking?" Thomas demanded, his brows furrowing deeper.

It was a good thing Elijah didn't actually ask his father to make them leave. However, Elise was no longer allowed to meet Fiona. She needed to stay away. Luckily, this doesn't include Thomas.

"What you did drag us all down, Elise," Zach's voice interrupted her stupor. "What if they punished you? Or asked us to leave?"

Elise said nothing, her silence heavy. Even if she wanted to snap at Zach, she couldn't. Instead, she looked down at the pristine skin of her arm, her thoughts spiraling. Finally, she spoke, her voice sharp. "Did you know?"

Thomas frowned. He straightened slightly, narrowing his eyes. "Did I know what?"

Elise turned her head, meeting her father's gaze. Her eyes burned with a mixture of anger and desperation. "Did you know that Fiona is more powerful than me?"

Thomas's expression darkened. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his tone hushed, as if someone else might overhear their conversation.

Elise's fingers twitched as she held her arm tighter, the memory of the dark veins flashing in her mind. "I'm talking about what Fiona did," she said. "She touched my arm, and there was poison. Just her touch-it wasn't even a spell, not something I could feel her casting. It was instantaneous."

"That's impossible," Thomas said firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "Fiona doesn't have that level of control or power. If it was poison, you would have been able to counteract it." He thought about how Fiona had harmed her own body with that poison. When he touched Fiona back then, it had been immediately clear to him that there was poison inside her body. However, it was a poison she had consumed herself. Was it possible she created that poison to harm her own organs? Impossible. How could someone have that kind of control? Even he wasn't capable of doing something so dangerous.

nothing-but I knew. I knew it was poison. I could identify it. I could see it.

any symptoms, then it wasn't poison," he said.

Elise shot back. "I've studied healing for more than five years. I know what poison looks like. I've dealt with toxins that could drop a wolf twice my size. But this-this was different. It was... more potent. Toxic." Thomas folded his arms, his gaze sharp. "Then tell

stared down at it, as though trying to summon the memory. "It was ominous," she said finally. "It wasn't just toxic-it was dark. It felt alive like it

Thomas's expression shifted,

"Yes," she said. "It was full of killing intent. As if whoever made it wanted me to feel helpless. And I did. I knew it could kill me if I didn't run to you. That's why I came straight to the hall. I didn't think

jaw tightened.

as he considered

heal. That's not possible, Elise. She's barely tapped into her abilities. You're trained. You've been studying for years. What you're describing-if

her palms. "That's what I'm trying to tell you," she said. "She's hiding something. She isn't just some inexperienced healer. She's dangerous. More dangerous than any of us realized." Thomas stopped pacing as he turned back to her. "If what you're saying is true," he said slowly, "then we have a much bigger problem on our hands than you being humiliated at the banquet. We need to find out exactly what Fiona is capable of. And

her. "We can't let her keep this power unchecked," she said. "She's already manipulated everyone. She's already trapped me in her

cutting off her spiraling thoughts. "We'll deal with this. But not

floor. "Fine," she said reluctantly.

his expression remained tense. "We will," he said. "But for now,

anger simmering just beneath the surface. She knew he was right, but it didn't

frowned as