The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 855

Bason offered Leilani a solemn nod. "Dr. Sloan, your skills are exceptional. We were blind to doubt you, and I deeply apologize for the disrespect."

He then turned to Callahan, his tone heavy with regret. "Mr. Langley, I’m sorry. Tate is hot-headed, and his temper nearly cost us everything."

Callahan remained silent, simply looking at Leilani. She was the one they had insulted; the forgiveness had to come from her.

Feeling the weight of their stares, Leilani smiled softly and shook her head, signaling that she wasn't holding a grudge.

...

While Konrad had been successfully pulled back from the edge of shock, Leilani knew this was only a temporary fix. Because they were traveling light, she had only used the needles to essentially block the spread of the toxins through his nervous system.

The ant venom was still coursing through his veins. To truly cure him, she needed to find a specific botanical antidote.

But venturing out into the pitch-black jungle to forage was suicide. She furrowed her brow in thought and decided she would scout the perimeter of the camp at first light.

About fifteen minutes into her search, she spotted exactly what she needed growing near a babbling creek: Violet Haze Herb.

It was a potent natural anti-inflammatory that, when ground into a paste, would neutralize the specific toxins causing Konrad’s severe allergic reaction. She dropped to a crouch, pulled her combat knife, and skillfully harvested handfuls of the jagged-edged leaves, along with a few complementary roots to balance the remedy.

She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't even notice the damp mud soaking through her pants. She knew she was racing the clock—the team would be waking up soon, and they couldn't afford to lose a day of travel. She needed to administer the cure before breakfast so they could hit the trail.

Making her way back to camp, Leilani found a flat slab of rock. She laid out the herbs, meticulously stripping away the dead leaves and roots, before dicing them fine with her blade. Using the hilt of her knife as a makeshift mortar and pestle, she began to grind the plants into a smooth, dark green paste that gave off a sharp, earthy scent.