Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty Six

Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty Six

The soldiers let us in without issue-they'd seen us arrive with the 'High Regent.' I kept my scarf on, and so did Alexander. Despite everything, I couldn't help but marvel at how he made everything look good.

"We'll have to split up," I told him. That had been the plan-he'd go find Cynthia, and I'd go for Aliyah. Daemon had detailed exactly where her room was, so I didn't think would be hard to find.

"We don't have to split. We could find the Empress together, then the girl," Alexander said.

I knew he was worried about me, but we both understood it wasn't a practical decision. By the time we captured the Empress, the alarm-or whatever system they used here-would've alerted everyone in the castle, and the Chosen would be heavily guarded against the intruders: us.

"We'd get caught easily if we stayed together," I told him, then paused when I noticed him watching me. "I'll be fine."

"Be careful," he said, and I nodded.

"You too."

"I'll find you. Go."noveldrama

took off, tracing the path through the castle. I'd been here before-while I hadn't had the chance to explore the entire place, it wasn't unfamiliar. I moved past guards, keeping my head down, though I could still feel their stares burning into me. I just hoped I didn't look too suspicious-and that I was doing a decent job of blending in. I stopped in front of the room where Aliya should be, and a part of me knew she wasn't in there. For one, there would be guards situated at the door if she were here-at least that's what I thought. I pushed the door open and walked in before closing it behind me.

There was someone else in the room. The girl had her back to me, her hair pulled into a ponytail. Something about her felt familiar. I didn't think she was Aliyah-I'd seen Aliyah before, though only briefly, through the curtains of a carriage. Daemon had described her though, and this girl didn't match that description.

"Hi?" I called out. "Do you by any means know where..."

My words trailed off when the girl turned to me. Amanda.

The girl Alexander had saved from the Gray Moon pack-the same one who'd been turned into a demon and had taken off with Cynthia.

"Amanda?"

I was still in shock. I hadn't realized she was armed until the dagger flew at me. I dodged it at the last second, and the blade embedded itself in the wall behind

me.

The fact that the girl was here could only mean one thing. They knew we were here.

"I don't want to hurt you. You remember me, Amanda-we re friends."

She lunged at me without warning. I dodged again. Her next blow was fast and strong; I blocked it, but I hadn't expected the kick that followed. She hit my knee hard, and my leg buckled.

I didn't want to fight her. She was just a child-and I had a rule against harming children.

She landed a kick to my ribs, but before she could strike again, I grabbed her legs and dragged her down beside me. Climbing over her, I wrapped my hands around her neck, holding her still. She thrashed beneath me... then went quiet.

Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty Six

That had been a pretense. Of course, demons weren't killed so easily. She headbutted me hard in the nose. Blood gushed down my nose.

"Amanda, I don't want to hurt you-

She snapped her teeth at me, fangs aimed at my neck, and that's when I realized something. This wasn't the same girl I saved; this wasn't a child; this was a demon, and she had to die.

I flung her off me and raced to the window, throwing it open to let the sunlight in. She hissed, quickly retreating to the shadowed part of the room. I walked toward her.

"Please. I don't want to die." She begged, but I knew that was only a ploy; she was using my emotions against me.

"It's alright," I reassured her, closing in and embracing her. "It's alright," I repeated. From the mirror, I saw her aiming for my neck again; her eyes had turned completely black. Just before she could strike, I shoved her in front of the window. She let out a shriek, scrambling to escape, but I held her there, watching as her skin burned away to nothing.

A single tear slid down my eyes as I wondered if taking her away from her pack was ever the right option.

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