Contractually Yours, Alpha by Giftemmy

Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Six

ALIYAH'S POV

The light blue gown I wore clung to my skin, completely soaked. I was cold. I should change into something dry, something comfortable-but I couldn't bring myself to move.

My mind reeled with everything Daemon had said.

Would he really have given up his title for me?

Who was I kidding? He only said that to manipulate me. The title meant everything to him—at least, that's what the more cynical voice in my head argued.

But what if he hadn't been lying? What if he really had tried to get into the castle, but the spell kept him out? What if everything he said was actually true?

That was always my problem. With him, I could never tell the lie from the truth.

A part of me wondered if he was still standing out there in the rain or if he had finally given up.

Still in my soaking wet clothes, I stepped into the room where Ash had been kept, surprised by how quickly he was recovering. His once pale skin had started to regain its color, and his breathing was no longer labored. He looked peacefully asleep.

Daemon had taken out the venom, not caring about the side effects or what it might do to him. He did it because I asked-because he knew I cared for Ash.

I couldn't shake the image of betrayal on his face when I told him who Ash was- and that I'd been hiding him all this time. Maybe he wasn't the only one who'd been manipulative.

with him would be everything I've ever wanted:

believed Daemon and his complications were too much for me to handle. For the first time, I pictured a life with Ash-and I realized it wouldn't be enough. I would always crave more. I would always crave Daemon's brutality. In the end, Ash wouldn't be enough, and I would break

placed a kiss on his

I whispered.

I exited his room.

Daemon's words. I was going to give

of the house in search of Daemon; the

my voice was swallowed by

wasn't here. He was

to get back to the Nightshade

I heard footsteps.

it was just the rain playing

"Daemon?"

Two Hundred

heavy slammed into the back of my head,

ALEXANDER'S POV

you back here," I said to

in the woods, standing there, numbly

my

reconciliation didn't go very