He slightly chuckled. "aah, sorry Alina. Not everything's about you. You are my enemy and my muse, but I would never try to kill you."

He sat nearer to me on the window seat, closing the gap between the space of my legs and his back. I sighed gently. I pulled up my knees closer, resting my head on my arms.

"But I will kill Mal and the rest of your friends. That's a promise."

"I will stop you. That's a promise." I retorted. He is not killing my friends. I will prevent that, save them and kill him. Even if it takes me centuries.

"They'll fade in a century's time. You and I will be the only immortals! Better you understand that now then go through heartbreak when your friends die." His tone was so calm and relaxed. My heart slightly jumped when he said heartbreak.

What did he know about heartbreak?

"Anything can happen you know. Maybe I'll find a way to make sure my friends live longer or I don't." I said challenging him. He smiled. "Perhaps you will, or perhaps you would see I am a better fit for you then your tracker."

"You think so highly of yourself, who's to say there won't be another girl much prettier and much more obedient to you then me!"

The Darkling lifted my chin up, forcing me to look into his eyes. "Alina, there will be many other sun summoners but none will be like you as there are many other shadow summoners-"

"None who are diabolical as you." I cut in, smiling unkindly. He smiled just as unkindly. "We are alike," he said, "as no one else is, as no one else will ever be."

The truth of it rang through me.
'Like calls to like.'

"If you think you can win my loyalty and forgiveness with this trinket then you are-"

"I'm not trying to win your loyalty." He cut in, with his piercing eyes. Sharp as diamonds. Everytime he looks directly at my eyes, its like he's looking directly into my soul.

"Then what are you trying to do? I am not a prize to be won!" I said sternly, emphasis on the 'not.'

"I admire the strength Alina. But the bracelet is just a gift, keep it and when you forgive me you'll wear it." The Darkling was so sure that I would forgive him.

"I will never forgive you and I will definitely not be wearing this bracelet anytime soon."

I put the bracelet on the night stand then sat back up, with my knees to my chest.

"Perhaps or perhaps you already have forgiven me."

He took the other bracelet in his hands. That must be the original bracelet, mine must have been a copy, modified in my desired fashion. He caught me eyeing the bracelet in his hands.

"This one belonged to Baghra. When she was married to my father!" He brought up his bracelet to my face.

His words surprised me. The Darkling was over hundreds of years old, Baghra must have been double his age.

"Why do you have your mother's wedding bracelet?"

He sighed heavily. I could tell his anger was slipping, he was almost remembering the past. He didn't look at me, he simply observed the pattern on the bracelet. He ran his thunb over the design. "Before the fold, my mother and I were on similar terms."

Clearly Baghra was a little bit more sympathetic and friendly then she is now. Especially towards her own son. Who could blame her? She knew the fold was a terrible idea and she would never forgive her son for creating it. The thought of the story behind it, made me miss her.

"She gave me this bracelet soon after my father died and told me to keep it for the foreseeable future."

He said bringing me back to his attention. I looked confused at him. "Why are you telling me all of this?" He usually never tells me anything more then a cryptic threat against me or Mal.

"Because Alina..." He looked at me directly. The tension from his gaze, caught me of guard. "I kept the bracelet to give to my future bride!"

I scoffed. The thought of it made me laugh. Anyone who married the Darkling would definitely be demented and would live to regret it. The woman would suffer with a husband like him. It reminded me of my marital experience. I'm glad nobody knew. Still, the thought of an innocent woman becoming the Darkling's wife was terrifying.

I stopped laughing when the Darkling's gaze pierced directly into my heart. He was clearly offended. "Who would possibly want to marry you?"

"You'd be surprised how many girls want me."

I rolled my eyes. "So why would you keep the bracelet knowing nobody would marry you?"

"I don't know, perhaps because Baghra gave it to me or maybe because I have hope." He said rather quitely. The Baghra part made sense. It was pathetic for him to think he would ever wed anyone. Guess even phycopaths have their small hopes.

***
A couple days later, I was allowed to sleep in my own room for the night. The next day I would have to return to living in the Darkling's chambers. Unfortunately.

I dressed in a night gown and decided to write a letter. I know it's been more than a week at the Grand Palace. The Darkling said it was political matters he had to attend to here. But I don't believe him. In a day or so we would return to the Little Palace, where most of the Darkling's soldiers are.

I wrote the letter, it was addressed to someone who I met in that month without the Darkling. I wrote to Sir Jorah Mormont.

Someone I met on a life changing day. He presented me with gifts, books on old stories and songs of Westeros.

Published: 18:35pm 12/12/21