Those words silenced him briefly. He paced once, trying to get back into his rhythm. “Very well,” he said. “Let’s settle this properly. I propose a comparative test. A public demonstration before the Alpha King. You and I will treat identical cases. The better doctor wins.”
“I don’t perform for audiences,” I said. “Medicine isn’t entertainment.”
He snorted. “So you’re afraid.”
“No,” I replied. “Just busy.”
He sneered. “That’s the difference between true physicians and pretenders. True physicians aren’t afraid to prove themselves.”
“And pretenders,” I said smoothly, “spend their lives proving what no one asked.”
The staff looked down, hiding their reactions. I could almost hear his pride cracking. He was losing this battle and he knew it.
His voice turned cold. “You think you can ta
