Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter Sixty Nine

I knew Julia was going to pay me a visit-I had anticipated it. But as the hours passed, I began to hope I

had been pardoned. That hope shattered when I awoke from my slumber to find her seated in the chair facing me.

"Empress." I acknowledged, about to rise to my feet.noveldrama

"There would be no need for that," she says.

I looked up to see Trian standing there, his gaze hard.

"I'm so sorry; I disrespected the Empress, but I didn't mean to."

"I hear you are tired of learning."

"I never said that."

"Are you calling her a liar?"

"No... of course not. It was simply a misunderstanding."

"I've already been tasked with learning so many languages; I fail to see the use in learning more." She quoted the very words I had spoken. "When I was little, I had so many questions-why did strange things always happen to me? I asked myself, why me? But as I grew older, I realized that every single 'strange' thing that happened was meant to push me toward my destiny.

Understand her through the signs she

The god of light speaks, but no one knows the exact language she uses. I shows me, but the Encounter is only a few months away. You're learning these languages so you'll be able to communicate with her when the time comes. But of course, you didn't

how that." The last part came out in a whisper. She rose from her chair and joined me on the bed. Her hands trailed down my cheeks and lower to my collar, and then she loosened my nightgown. My punishment was due.

"I wonder, Empress, why you choose to trouble yourself with someone so unremarkable. I doubt she's worth your attention." Trian says.

She stilled, and so did I-then a smile broke across her lips. "If I didn't know better, I would say you are trying to protect her." Empress Julia said.

"But you know better." He responded. I had never seen a soldier fearless enough to speak directly to the like she was just another woman.

Empress

"I have a lot of time to spend." She says, rising to her feet, What do you suggest I do with this rare free time?" she asked. She seemed to be... flirting.

"I do have an idea." Trian answered, giving her an intense look, and in that moment, I wished to be in Julia's position; I wished to have his hungry eyes on me instead,

Julia turned to me. "This is not yet over." She said, "You will have a new guard to watch over you for a night.... or two."

I didn't want a new soldier; I wanted Trian, but of course I couldn't say that out loud, not to her. I only nodded, and she walked out with Trian following behind. He turned to give me a small smirk before walking away.

In a matter of minutes, Trian was replaced, and the soldier stood outside the door, I was only notified of his presence by the sound of his footsteps. I knew he would be ke every other soldier that was too scared to look at my face.

I hardly slept Sometimes I imagine Trian and the Empress doing... things, but what if Julia had other intentions? What if she wanted to hurt film for trying to protect me? How hadn't I thought about that?

Chapter Sixty Nine

Two days felt like two months, and each day I waited for him to come. Finally, the two days came to an end, and yet he didn't return. I had never felt so restless in my life, not even when I thought Ash, my only friend, was dead.

On the third day, the soldiers posted to watch over me walked in for the first time; he had his face to the ground.

"The Empress would like to see you now." He informed me and I put down my book, immediately rising to my feet.

"Then we should not keep her waiting."