Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Five

Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Five

DAEMON

"You really want to know who Ash is? He's my soulmate," she said.

A memory flashed back into my mind. Right before I killed the human girl Tasha,

she had mentioned a man. I hadn't thought much of it, not until now.

"How long?" I asked. "How long have you known him?"

A moment of silence passed.

"My whole life."

My chest tightened with an unfamiliar emotion I hadn't felt in a long time- betrayal.

When I tasted his blood, I felt it; it reminded me of hers. It was strange, but I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was something more between the two of them, and now I understood why.

I deserved this. I deserved to lose her. In fact, I should be thankful to Ash for saving her life when I couldn't. But I wasn't a good man, and I wanted her for myself. I wanted her so badly that the thought of letting her go wasn't even an option.

She believed I had abandoned her. If only she knew that she was all I could think about. Right before she walked in, Kaida and I had been picking out possible locations where she might be, but we had no leads, and that only made things more difficult. Still, I was never going to give up.

"There was a spell on the castle; I tried to get in, but I couldn't. I made a deal with Alexander and his mate because they could at least get inside, but by the time we arrived, you were already gone, all I knew was that someone had taken you away. I never stopped thinking and worrying about you, Aliyah. I never stopped

regretting my decision. I made a mistake, and I deserved to be punished for it, but I can't lose you."

"I... I don't know what to believe anymore," she said, tears streaming down her face.

The first time I laid eyes on her, back in the castle, she was full of life, despite being locked away in her room. All I had given her since then was pain and suffering.

The rain fell harder, soaking her clothes. The light blue gown clung to her body, her tears blending with the rain.

"I will correct my mistake. I will let it all go-the title, all of it. I would renounce my position as the Demon Overlord. None of that matters to me; Not if you aren't a part of it all."

She stared at me for a long time, as if trying to read me or figure out if I was truly telling the truth. Then she shook her head.

"I can't do this anymore, Daemon," she said.

I was losing her; I could feel it.

The thought on my mind was to take her by force. I could take her to one of my other buildings, lock her up, and soon enough she would give in. She would love me again, and I would claim every inch of her. That's the kind of thing I do, but I couldn't bring myself to follow through this time. Looking at her all broken, I couldn't make a decision for her, and so I watched her walk away from me, and I let her. I let her leave, and I did nothing but stand

there.

A voice cut through my thoughts.

"The universe always finds a way to bring you back to me, doesn't it?" Sebastian said with a smirk, but I found it

Chapter Two Hundred and ThirtyE

hard to reciprocate.

"You're always in the middle of everything. I should have come here first."noveldrama

4

"I try not to get involved, but sometimes I don't have a choice. The lad came to me years ago. He said he needed a spell to turn into an animal-a wolf. I found it strange, if not stupid, why anyone would want that. His reason was that he wanted to protect a girl, his soulmate. I did him the favor, mostly because I was intrigued by him and his... soulmate."

Now it all made sense. Those eyes had struck me as familiar I had been trying to place them-of course, wolves weren't on my radar. The man had been the wolf Aliyah had kept hidden in the castle. The very wolf that had protected her from the flesh-eaters that attacked.

"I believed only werewolves are blessed with mates," I said

"When beings are created, they're made in pairs," Sebastian began. "I believe every person has their match- their second half. The boy was made to be her guardian and protector. Until the day she dies, he'll never stop trying to protect her."

"They would have been a perfect pair," I admitted. "If it hadn't been for me."

“No. What she feels for the boy is dependent on the bond, but with you... it's true."

I wanted to believe that, but 'the boy' had given his life for her, and I had given her away for a title.

"Your wife doesn't seem to be over our little past yet. Any hopes she'll ever get over it in this lifetime?"

"Don't get your hopes up. She believes you're the reason our daughter died." "Well, I can't really blame her," I muttered.

"Daemon, give her some time," Sebastian said. "She'll come around soon."

I knew then that we weren't talking about Kate anymore.