Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter

Sixty Eight

Chapter Sixty Eight

ALIYA'S POV

The man standing before me was all I could think about. Sometimes he stares at me, as if trying to figure something out, then looks away. I thought about how it felt like being completely naked with Trian, alone, free. "May I ask a question?"

"Of course!" I said a little too quickly. "Sorry. Yes, you may

"Was it your first kiss?" Trian asked.

I stared up at him and gave a nod. "You should have already guessed that; it's no secret that I have never been with a man."

"Being with a man and kissing a man are two different things, Aliya."

"I liked it," I said, shielding my face with my hair to hide the blush on my cheeks.

"I can't possibly imagine how you feel, with all your daily activities arranged out for you, so many fucking rules." "I hate it. The more I think about it, the more I hate it, so I stopped thinking about it. I made myself believe this was home, and then it felt better, bearable even. But then I went out there, and I was reminded of all the things I've been missing for years, and... I can't deceive myself anymore. I can't deceive myself into believing this was' living."

"I shouldn't have taken you out there; I put you in danger, and that was reckless of me."

"No. It wasn't. I had never wanted anything so badly my whole life. Do you know what Empress Julia would do to me if she finds out about all the things I did?"

"Not very kind things, I imagine."

"Anytime I believe things couldn't get worse, that she couldn't come up with anything worse than there already was, I end up wrong. I hate it when she touches me; it doesn't hurt as bad as the whipping, but..." I trailed off, unable to explain. How do I explain that I feel violated? I feel less than a living being anytime she does that. "If you ever had the chance to end her life, would you take it?" he asked. His question took me by surprise.

"Why would you even ask me that? She is an Empress."

"And when she dies, she is nothing but meat and bones, just like every other person."

I rose and walked to him. "You don't fear the Empress. It's unwise of you not to."

Trian led the way to Empress Cynthia's Chambers. I had been told earlier by Julia that Cynthia wanted to see me.noveldrama

I walked in, but Trian waited by the entrance.

"Daughter." The woman called with a smile on her face; for some reason, she reminded me of Julia, even if they looked nothing alike. The woman was thinner, with very short hair styled in a pixie

cut.

"Empress, I was told you wanted to see me."

"Yes, I did. Take a seat. She said, and I did. "As the Chosen It's important that you learn as many languages as possible. I wasn't born here and I had the opportunity to or a few, I would be teaching you all that I know.

Chapter Sixty Eight

"I am grateful for this privilege, but I have already been tasked with learning so many languages; I fail to

see the use in learning more." I said, and immediately the words were out of my mouth; I realized I had just made a grave mistake.

"Are you saying you are tired of learning?"

"No, I meant..."

"What did you mean?"

"Apologies, Empress, forgive me. You are right."

"When war comes, do you think your pretty face would save you from it all? Do you think you can escape the sinful world with a few smiles?"

"I... I never said that."

"Only a fool thinks she has learned enough. Leave. Now."

"But..."

"Leave!"

I stood to my feet and walked away. I quickly wiped away the tears from my face. Julia had warned me

not to anger the woman, but I hadn't said anything wrong or... had I?

"You were right, you know. Why learn so many languages when you'll waste all that knowledge locked in here?" Trian asked.

"I shouldn't have said it; I should have kept my mouth shut."

"You read day and night; that's enough knowledge to last a goddamn eternity."

Chapter Sixty Nine