I was kind of nervous about entering Kirigan's room, but the guards nudged me in and i suppose i should talk to him properly. He has a lot to explain and answer for. Nostalgia hits me in his room, hard. The last time i was here was at the Winter Fete and we kissed until he had to leave when Ivan knocked for him. Baghra snuck me out and i found out the truth about who he was. From that moment i made a pact, to never trust or believe whatever he would tell me. I really thought he had died. "Alina" A voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

It was his.

I refused to look up to him, i could hear him walk towards me. His tall figure overshadowed me. I tried to hide in my black hair. But his hand came up to my face. I froze.

He lifted my chin forcing me to look directly into his eyes. Now i could clearly see him, i wasn't drugged and Ivan wasn't around. It was only him and me. I see the table over his right shoulder that had stacks of paperwork and other documents on it. I was avoiding seeing him. But his hand was under my chin, he let go after a minute. "Alina"

I hate when he says my name with that sympathetic voice. But i'm not going to delay any longer. "Why did you bring me back here?" I looked directly at his eyes with a stern voice. His calm expression slightly changed. "Because i need you!"

"For my powers?"

"That's one of the reasons!" He moved back to the table, his agile movement was starting to worry me. "What exactly happened in Fjerda? How did you get me out?" The Darkling looked back at me over his shoulder, "I traded you out!"

"What? What did you trade me out with?" I started to panic, i could tell he sensed it. He stood completely in my view. His eyes trailed down my body and back at my eyes. I looked away not feeling safe still waiting for his answer. "Fjerdans experimented on you and had your tracker in their possession, i made a threat and they released you!"

Mal. I totally forgot.

"Mal, where is he? Do you have him?" I walked closer to him with a worry of panic in my voice. The Darkling's expression had changed, a slight anger had enraged him. "The Otkazat'sya is fine."

"Where is he?" I asked, he wasn't giving complete answers. Slightly nervous, i rubbed my forearm. "He is safe for now. Be on your best behaviour and i shall allow you to see him!"

So that's why he threatened his life. Mal was his leverage to use against me. To make sure i would comply to whatever he asked me to do. Without question. Or he would hurt Mal.

My eyes squinted at him, "Release him, he has nothing to do with this!" The Darkling's posture straightened and he walked up to me. "Oh that he does, he was the main reason i ended up being devoured by Volcra in the fold!"

"Yes how did you survive? Did the Volcra decide to take mercy on their master?" I slightly mocked, he didn't find it that funny. He look angered.

"That is none of your concern, but if you do wish for the Tracker to be returned to you then i suggest to not keep up that attitude of yours. Do i make myself clear?" His voice had a tint of anger in it. I didn't reply this time. He took long strides towards me as i stepped back, i was pinned by his gaze against the wall behind me. I knew it was the book case behind me. His posture straightened more. He was trying to intimidate me and maybe it was working. "Do i make myself clear Alina?"

His voice sharp and clear as if rehearsed.

I gently closed my eyes and opened them breathing heavily, "crystal!" I looked away, his eyes trailed down to my neck and they darted from my breasts and back up to my lips. I could tell as he was inches away from my face. I hated how he didn't even have to use his hands to pin me back, he could do that with only his gaze. He could sense i wasn't comfortable and stepped back. "You should go rest, tomorrow you will need all your strength!" He tucked some of my curled strands behind my ear. I moved out of his grasp, "what is happening tomorrow?"

"You'll find out, go rest up Alina!" He moved up to his room doors and opened them up for me. I rolled my eyes walking out of the door he held open for me. "Goodnight Alina!" He said behind my back as i walked out. "Go to hell Darkling!" I walked off to my room. I could tell he was slightly impressed, in his own wicked way.

***

Well since i'm officially back in the palace, with my will or not. I want to visit the library. I miss all the books there and maybe i could find out a little more about my powers. Something has been happening to my powers for the past month. I have been feeling more developments to my powers, i'm stronger then i was before. But i don't want the Darkling to know. He would use another amplifier or worse join my powers with his. Permanently.

I didn't go off to my room, i went to the library and did some late night reading. The library was dark, guess no ones been here in a month. I summoned some light and went up to the first section of books. There were books on Grisha History, Ravkan Economics, Ravka's History, World Maps and more. Books on amplifiers- Otkazat'sya and what they've done to Grisha. But there were some books that were completely different, they weren't on Grisha or anything based on Ravka or any of its wars.

I pulled it of the shelf and laid it on the table nearby, i pulled out two more that were similar to it. Three out of six volumes were on the shelf. I opened the first volume, it was dusty i blew off the dirt of the cover and rubbed off the dust on the side of the book. No title was on the books either. It slightly looked like a biography, someone's diary? One page stood out to me, i flipped it over and looked at the last page. Something was written in pen. It wasn't the same font used to write the book.

I tried smudging it off, Targaryen It read.

"Targaryen, where have i heard that name before?" I whispered, my eyelids started to feel heavy but i wanted to read on. So i flipped it to the beginning and started reading it.

There have been many Monarchs in the Queen line. But their direct line starts from Targaryen...

I read more, it was intriguing to start off with Royal Ancestry.

The Mad King.

A king who murdered sons in front of fathers, who killed, burned and sold female Grisha. He ascended the Iron throne and had two heirs. A Prince and Princess.

A Princess born of beautiful black hair and brown eyes. Qualities, part Shu and Part Ravkan, with the blood of old Valeria. Of House Targaryen. Second in line for the throne.

I felt my body starting to relax, i guess i was getting sleepy. I saw shadows surrounding me, he- he was putting me to sleep.

No

A voice came in my head, it was him. Sleep Alina, you need it.

I didn't feel like fighting him so i put all the books back onto the shelf and went of to my room. I changed into a simple night gown. All of my clothes were either dark blues, purples, reds and of course black. I guess the Darkling didn't want me in bright or warm colours. I picked a dark purple and went asleep in the comfortable silk covers. Tomorrow I'll finish of the book. I want to know more about the Queen line.

But how did the Darkling communicate with me? He was in my head, did he control my nightmares.

I rested finally putting my mind at ease.

***

Published: 11:45PM 13/10/21