Contract With The Alpha King

Chapter

28

The woman let out a sharp hiss, her eyes red as she glared at Fiona. Fiona reacted quickly, her instincts honed by years of training. Being a Rosenthal wasn't just about healing. She was a werewolf trained to fight for her life.

The woman lunged at her again, but Fiona sidestepped, swinging her dagger with precision. The blade nicked the woman's side. She snarled in pain, her glowing red eyes filled with rage.

The woman was fast-too fast. Fiona barely had time to brace herself as the woman spun and delivered a sharp kick to her midsection. Fiona stumbled back, gasping for breath but keeping a firm grip on the dagger. She refused to back down. If this woman thought she could overpower her, she had another thing coming.

They circled each other, both waiting for the next move. Fiona noticed the slight hesitation in the woman's stance, a brief pause before each strike. She was trying to gauge Fiona's skill, testing her limits. Fiona wouldn't give her the chance. The woman lunged again, aiming for Fiona's throat. Fiona ducked, slashing upward in a sharp motion. The blade grazed the woman's shoulder, drawing blood. The woman hissed, eyes flashing in fury, and rushed forward in a blind attack. Fiona barely managed to block the next blow with her arm. The force of the hit made her wince. She twisted, using the momentum to jab the dagger into the woman's side. Still, the woman twisted away just in time, earning only a shallow cut. Before the woman could recover, Fiona kicked her hard on the knee, causing her to stumble. Fiona moved in for a finishing strike, her dagger poised to end the fight. But just as she was about to deliver the blow, a sharp clap echoed through the room.

"Enough!" Miss Rosenda's voice rang out, freezing Fiona in place. Fiona looked over, shocked to see the older woman standing in the doorway, her expression calm but stern. "Fiona, Kariana... that is enough."

Fiona hesitated, her dagger still raised, her breath coming in sharp gasps. The woman she had been fighting-Kariana, as Miss Rosenda had called her-took a step back, her glowing eyes fading to normal. She rubbed her wounded arm, glaring at Fiona but making no move to attack. "Put the knife down, Fiona," Miss Rosenda said, her tone firm. "Kariana wasn't trying to kill you. This was a test."

Fiona blinked, her mind racing to catch up. A test? She looked between Rosenda and Kariana, her grip on the dagger slowly loosening. "What?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion and lingering adrenaline.

Miss Rosenda stepped forward, arms crossed. "Yes, a test. Kariana is one of my best assistants. She wasn't going to harm you in a serious manner, but we needed to see how you would handle a surprise attack. Fiona's jaw clenched, her anger rising. "You call this a test? You nearly got me killed!"

Kariana gave a small smirk as she stood not too far away from Fiona. She was now more relaxed than she was earlier. "You did better than I thought you would," she said, though there was a hint of grudging respect in her tone.

Miss Rosenda didn't seem bothered by Fiona's frustration. "Consider it a lesson," she said briskly. "In this palace, you need to be ready for anything. Danger can come from anyone, anywhere. I needed to see if you were truly capable of handling yourself." Fiona took a deep breath, lowering the dagger completely. Her heart was still pounding. The realization that this had all been some twisted initiation left her both furious and relieved.

"Well, now you know," Fiona muttered, her voice hard.

Miss Rosenda nodded. "Yes, I do. Now drop the knife. There's no more need for that."

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Fiona hesitated a moment longer, her eyes narrowing at Kariana before finally releasing her grip on the dagger. It clattered onto the floor, the tension in the room easing as she stepped back.

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"Now, tell me what is going on with the maid?" Miss Rosenda tumed her attention to the woman lying on the floor.

Fiona frowned. She knew this was another part of the test too. Seeing her reaction, Rosenda gave her a sarcastic smirk. "You didn't actually think I would let you in without testing your capabilities, did you?"

Fiona said nothing. In fact, she had thought they wouldn't raise a fuss just because Elijah recommended her. "She's poisoned," Fiona said. "But she'll live."

Miss Rosenda glanced down at the maid, her expression unreadable. "Poisoned, you say?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "What makes you so sure?"

Fiona knelt down beside the maid again, pointing to the discoloration around the woman's lips and fingertips. "The signs are subtle, but they're there. The pale skin, the shallow breathing, and the discoloration-these all point to poison. It's likely something mild, but left untreated, it could worsen."

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Rosenda crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "And what would you do about it, then? If you're so certain, tell me how would you heal her?"

Fiona didn't hesitate. "First, I'd give her a mild dose of wolfsbane. In small amounts, it counteracts most poisons that affect werewolves, though it has to be measured carefully to avoid any adverse effects. After that, I'd use Bloodroot to stimulate her natural healing ability and flush the toxins from her system. We'll also need to keep her hydrated and monitor her pulse to ensure her heart isn't being affected by the poison."

Rosenda didn't respond immediately, her eyes narrowing as she studied Fiona. Then, with a faint smirk, she nodded. "You're not just a pretty face after all. It seems you know your way around the healing arts."

Fiona straightened, meeting Rosenda's gaze without flinching. "I've been trained since I was young."

"Good," Rosenda replied, her tone brisk. "Then get to work. I want you to treat her now. Show me that your knowledge isn't just theory."

Fiona nodded, not wasting any time. She reached into her medical bag, pulling out the necessary herbs and tools. With practiced precision, she began to mix a small dose of wolfsbane into a vial of water. Once it was ready, she carefully administered it to the maid, ensuring the woman swallowed it without choking.

Next, Fiona ground the bloodroot into a fine powder, sprinkling it over the maid's chest and applying gentle pressure to key points along her body. As she worked, Fiona explained each step to Rosenda, confident in her knowledge.

"The wolfsbane will start neutralizing the poison," she said, her voice calm. "The bloodroot will work with her natural healing abilities. We should see improvement within the next hour."

Rosenda watched in silence, her eyes keen as she observed Fiona's movements. After a few moments, she gave a satisfied nod. "Well done. Now, we'll see if she recovers, as you've predicted." Fiona wiped her hands, feeling the adrenaline start to wear off. She glanced down at the maid, who was already showing signs of steadying breathing. "She'll be fine," Fiona said, her tone sure. Rosenda's lips curled into a faint smile. "I'll hold you to that. Keep an eye on her until she's fully recovered. You've yourself today, Fiona, but don't think for a second that I won't be watching." Without another word, Rosenda turned on her heel and left the room.

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"Don't worry too much about it," Kariana interrupted her thoughts. "Miss Rosenda can be a little strict when it comes to people recommended by the Princes." Kariana lowered herself to the floor and touched the maid's wrist. When Fiona said nothing, Kariana added, "It's because of the number of assassins around the palace."

"Assassins?" Fiona lifted an eyebrow. She thought this place was secure. She'd heard stories about the council members and how each of them was strong, capable of killing an Alpha without even transforming.

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"You didn't know?" Kariana frowned. "Don't tell me you agreed to work in this place without knowing anything about the danger that comes along with it?"

Fiona pursed her lips. She knew it would be dangerous, but she didn't know there would be assassins here.

When she said nothing, Kariana sighed. "Well, you're already here. Let me tell you everything about this place." She stood up and added, "First, do not trust anyone." She made a deliberate pause as her eyes met Fiona's curious ones. Then she added, "And I mean anyone... not even the Prince who recommended you."