Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 90

Mated to Her Alpha Instructor

Chapter 90

Eileen

After finishing dinner in a comfortable atmosphere with Regis, I retreated upstairs to review the materials Ms. Ward had given me.

The infection patterns made no sense.

I’d been staring at the same diagram for twenty minutes, cross–referencing it with three different herbology texts spread across the desk. The wounds showed characteristic darkening at the edges, gray–purple discoloration spreading outward in irregular patterns that suggested some kind of toxin. But none of the standard antidotes seemed effective, and the case notes mentioned a strange burnt–herb smell beneath the decay.

Like scorched wormwood, one healer had written. But sharper. More medicinal.

I chewed my lip, flipping to another page. If it was wormwood–based, that suggested a deliberate poisoning rather than simple infection. But what combination would resist both purification salves and regenerative treatments?

“You’re frowning.”

I jumped, nearly knocking over my tea. Regis stood in the doorway, still in his teaching leathers, watching me with that soft expression he got when he thought I was working too hard.

“Just thinking,” I said, gesturing at the mess of papers. “These infection cases–they don’t match any pattern I’ve seen before.”

He crossed the room, settling a hand on my shoulder as he peered at the diagrams. “Ward gave you access to the border reports?*

“She asked for volunteers to research treatment options.” I tilted my head back to look at him. “I thought… maybe I could help. If I can figure out what’s causing this-

“You want to go to the observation ward.”

It wasn’t a question. I nodded, watching his expression carefully. “Ms. Ward said I’d need supervisor approval. She didn’t think the administration would allow students into active treatment areas,”

I stood, moving to his side as he signed the document with both his personal seal and his tank designation. The sight of it–his name, his authority, used to open doors for me–made my throat tight.

The weight of his faith settled warm in my chest. I leaned into his touch, letting my eyes drift closed. “I just… I saw it in the forest, you know. When I found you. The way the corruption was spreading through your system–and everything I’d learned from that book came rushing back to me in an instant. It was

like the knowledge simply took over, telling me exactly how to save you.”

“You are brave and brilliant.” His forehead pressed to mine. “And now you’re going to use that same gift to help others. That’s what healers do.”

I’m not really a healer,” I whispered. “Not like the certified ones. I just… I read a lot. And I remember things.”

“You have instincts they’ll never develop in a classroom. He kissed my forehead, soft and lingering. “Trust yourself the way I trust you.”

The observation ward smelled like my nightmares.

Mira wrinkled her nose as we stepped through the heavy oak doors, the scent of medicinal herbs barely masking the sweet–sick odor of infected flesh. Moonstone lamps provided dim illumination–bright light apparently agitated the wounded–casting everything in shades of blue–gray.