Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

"That- Lady... Lady Elise..." a voice interrupted Elise's attention. "That-your arm..." Elise frowned as she looked at her arm.

Almost immediately, her breath hitched as her eyes locked onto it. The dark veins and ominous pulsing patterns that had spread like cracks across her skin were gone. Her arm was pristine, its normal color untouched by any trace of the supposed curse. She froze, her mind reeling.

"No," Elise whispered, staggering back. "No. That's impossible!" Her hands trembled as she turned her arm over, examining it from every angle. There was nothing. The dark lines were completely gone, as though they had never been there. A cold chill swept over her as her gaze shot to Fiona, who stood a few paces away, calm and collected.

"What's wrong, sister?" Fiona asked, tilting her head slightly, her expression serene. "Where is the proof you promised to show?"

Elise's lips parted, but no words came out. She turned toward her father, desperation flickering in her wide eyes. "Father... I've been framed!" she said, her voice rising with panic. "It-it was there! Just moments ago. I swear it was there!"

Thomas's frown deepened as his gaze shifted from Elise's arm to her face. He stepped forward, taking her wrist and inspecting it himself. His eyes narrowed as he ran his fingers along her forearm, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. "Elise," he said slowly. "What exactly is going on here?"

"It's her!" Elise snapped, pointing a shaking finger at Fiona. "She did something to me! She's trying to make me look like a liar!"

Fiona raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she regarded Elise. "Me?" she asked. "You were so confident just moments ago. You said this was a curse, that I used dark magic to harm you. Yet now, your arm is perfectly fine. Are you suggesting I somehow made it all disappear? How?" Elise's breathing quickened as she looked around the room, her gaze darting to the faces of the council members, the Queen, and the King. All of them were watching her intently, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Her heart pounded as she realized she was losing control of the situation. "It was there!" Elise insisted, pulling her arm back from her father. She held it up, turning it toward the crowd as if willing the dark veins to reappear. "It was real! I could feel it-I could see it. She must have... she must have done something to make it vanish!" Elijah stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Elise. "Lady Elise," he said, his words deliberate. "Where is the proof you promised to show the King and Queen? A curse, as you claimed, doesn't simply disappear."

Elise's head snapped toward him, her expression wild. "It's her!" she shouted again, her voice trembling. "She's trying to ruin me! She "

"Enough," the King interrupted, his tone cold and final. He gestured toward Elise's arm. "Lady Elise, you made a serious accusation against your sister, one that could have severe consequences. Yet now, you stand here with no evidence to support your claim. Do you realize the gravity of what you've done?"

Elise's knees buckled slightly as the weight of his words pressed down on her. She glanced at Fiona, who stood silently, her expression unreadable. A slow, creeping realization settled over Elise-she had fallen into a trap. Fiona had set her up, and she had walked straight into it.

into a faint smile as she stepped closer. "Sister," she said softly.

body trembling. She had no way to explain what had happened,

worry the King and I are always here to ensure justice is served-fairly." Elise's eyes darted to her father again, but his expression was unreadable. Her breath caught as she realized she was alone in this, her credibility shattered before the most powerful figures in the room.

marched toward Fiona and tried to slap her. However, Elijah intercepted her

teeth, trying to pull her arm free from Elijah's grasp.

try to harm Fiona?" he asked,

him with defiance. "You were there!" she spat. "You saw what your

grip tightening slightly. "Careful with your words," he warned. "Accusing a Prince's wife

of the Rosenthal family!" she said.

suddenly oppressive. "Are you trying to challenge me,

breath caught as the

her seemed to thicken. A suffocating wave of killing intent pressed down on her, making

to speak,

Her chest heaved as she fought for breath, her body

Elijah's presence.

forward. He grabbed Elise's other arm, yanking her away from Elijah. "Let her go," he said, his tone

Elijah suddenly released Elise's

The abruptness