Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter One Hundred and Fourthen

Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen

I woke up to Trian by my side.

After the bath last night, he brought me back to bed; I didn miss the fact that he had replaced the sheets with fresh ones. Despite the throbbing pain between my legs, I couldn't help but feel satisfied.

It was better than I had ever expected, and I was glad Trian had been my first.

Now I lay there, staring at him like some creep while he slept, noticing how tense he seemed-even in sleep. Maybe that was something all soldiers had in common. The thought of tracing my fingers down his perfectly sculpted face was enticing, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, afraid I might wake him-and then things would get very... awkward.

I managed to rise to my feet, certain I'd be feeling him down there for days. Himped out of the room, planning to take a small tour of the house, and made my way to the kitchen. That was when I realized something I had completely

overlooked-I didn't know how to cook. For most of my life, the maids brought me food, and I ate whatever the empresses saw fit.

I didn't want to dwell on that thought; It was never too late to learn.

I moved on and found another room-maybe a guest room. I tried the door, but it

was locked. The next room, however, was unlocked, so I stepped inside. My mouth dropped open at the sight before me.

The walls were lined with all sorts of swords-Trian seemed to have a particular fondness for them. On the tables guns were arranged by size and type, alongside daggers and crossbows.

Why did he need so much weaponry?

It was understandable to have a few of these, seeing as he was a soldier, but having this many... it was like he was preparing for something. My eyes fixed on the golden glow of a familiar object as I walked toward it. It was placed inside a transparent box-a gold bracelet with a dark-colored gem at its center. It looked so familiar. I had seen this somewhere before, but I couldn't quite remember where.

It only took a few minutes to remember.

I had seen it in one of the books Julia had forced me to read. Nexus' Amulet, it was said to be one of the most powerful jewels to ever be created. Staring at it, I couldn't tell if this was just a copy, there was something about the gem that seemed alive. I stared at it more closely.

"Aliya." The voice called from directly behind me and I jumped. Startled.

I hadn't heard him enter-it was as if he had appeared out of nowhere. Appear.

Just like he had 'appeared' in my room after escaping The Pit.

"Sorry if I scared you.” He said walking to me, but I found myself taking steps back. He paused, cocking a brow at

1. me.

I swallowed. "How did you escape The Pit?"

"What?"

"The last time I asked, you said you couldn't explain then. Well, we have all the time now."noveldrama

"I found a way out," he said with a shrug.

Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen

"The Pit was built long before the city itself came to be. the former residents of

the castle used it as a form of lifelong punishment; no one has ever escaped it, no one but you."

"Maybe that's because I am different."

Different.

"The fortune teller, when she read you... She seemed afraid she said all she saw was darkness."

"For fuck's sake, Aliya, fortune tellers lie."

"Well, most of what she said did come to pass, so I won't call her a liar yet."

"Do you see darkness in me?" He asked, walking closer to me.

To me, he was the man who had made love to me, the man who had saved me

from the cage I had been trapped in, the man who took the blame on his shoulders in my stead and did his best to keep me out of harm's way, the man I've fallen in love with.

"I don't know." I responded, my eyes trailing to the amulet "Why do you have that?"

"I can't tell you."

"That's the problem. I believe you are a good person, but I only know little about you, and... it's not enough.'

"Maybe you are right to doubt me; you are smarter than I gave you credit for." Chapter One Hundred and Fitects