After a council meeting with one of the ministers, I read over the signed contracts and files for the new schools and orphanage I wanted to open. Everyone had already made it out of the council rooms before me.

Following soon enough, I went into the common room and pulled on my Kefta. Nadia and Tamar were sitting on the chaise lounge nearby. Nadia's head rested on Tamar's lap as she gently stroked her hair getting her to relax. Tamar had a book in her hand. She read from the pages, clearly and in a smooth fashion.

It almost sounded like a fairy tale.

"Hey Alina." Tamar put her book down so she could greet me. Nadia lifted her head a little, leaning on Tamar's thigh. "Hey girl, hey."

"How come you're not in the Little Palace?" I asked as I settled into a chair next to them. "On a break." Tamar shrugged.

"Yeah, those girls learn quickly." Nadia commented, sitting up from Tamar's lap. "What about the boys?"

"They don't mature faster than us girls." Tamar commented, snapping her book shut.

"Hmm."

I tapped the edge of my chair, "Did you need anything Alina?" Nadia asked. "No, just in thought." I murmured, tracing out the hexagonal designs on the plush chair.

"About Bash?"

My head shot up at her, "What?"

"We all see it Alina, Bash likes you." Nadia said.

Tamar widened her eyes, "Wait, you're with Nikolai!?" 

"I am. What I didn't know was how obvious it was to my friends." I widened my eyes at Nadia, who gave me a small shrug.

"Adrik was talking with the other men earlier and he told me. Apparently Bash liked you, he said you were pretty."

"Oh, h-he did?" I asked, easing in my shoulder. I found myself blushing a little. A warm feeling took my heart. "Yeah. Why do you like him too?" Nadia asked, her lip curling-nearly smirking.

"Yes, I mean he is a good friend and captain of my royal guard. So..." I drifted off not knowing what to say.

Tamar's eyes darted for a second, "What?"

She took a deep breath and in a low voice said, "Alina, Nikolai is my captain and my king and your-"

"-yes, I know." I sighed, "I love him Tamar. I will only choose him." Tamar relaxed in her seat as Nadia took her hand in hers and kissed her knuckles softly.

I smiled at the loving gesture before me, "I'll let you girls be."

I left the common rooms and made my way outside near the stables.

The fresh breeze around me lifted the lose strands of hair. I passed the bails of hay near me and went upto my chestnut horse. Just next to it, the Darkling's giant black steed ate sugar cubes from the stable hand. Is it strange that I missed him?

The Darkling was in my head, him riding on his black horse, him carrying me whilst I was injured. On the horse when he saved me and so much more. He looked majestic riding his horse, like a handsome devil. A perfect disguise.

Easy too lure naive girls and control them. By seducing them and making false promises-building false hope.

He wanted everything. And everyone. Always playing games, manipulating his soldiers to his advantage. All in the name of Grisha.

Aside everything, he dared to underestimate me. And that was his downfall.

But there was no one here to extort or speak his name so I spoke it softly. Aleksander.

I enjoyed the quiet presence in the stables. Then decided to go on a horse ride to clear my mind. I glanced at the afternoon sun. I wondered if the Darkling saw this before he died. He may never have wondered to be murdered in broad daylight. Perhaps at night, in his element.

I ignored the Darkling and had one of the stable hands prepare my horse. For a midday ride.

"Thank you." The young stable hand with blonde-ish hair and crystal blue eyes smiled back. He bowed then left. I mounted on and rounded its reigns out of the stables and began to ride through the courtyards-feeling the winds pick up and send a sharp breeze through my hair. It felt like one of Zoya's strong winds.

I knew it would have to be a short ride, before I'm blown of my horse by the rippling currents. I rode in the clearings of the forest, alone.

As soon as I stopped I realised I was near the fountain where the Darkling and I once rode so long ago. I tied my horses reigns around one of the large logs of wood. Just as the Darkling did before.

Everything about today reminded me of him. I strolled in, leaves crunching beneath my boots. My black hair bouncing softly over my shoulders.

Looking into the mucky waters, I pictured the Darkling standing behind me asking me what I saw in the reflection and the lie he told me of. His past. I was so much more foolish back then.

Underneath, I saw the frescos of the Heretic images carved nearly a century ago, two maybe. My fingers traced over the carving, I feel like a chisler should add another image.

Sankta Alina of the Sun, killing the Black Heretic on Rusalye's Island and freeing the world of the fold. Only a religious sculptur would chisle that down. Maybe Nikolai would get one and chisle himself onto one of these. Unsurprisingly.

I smiled.

Some amazing accomplishments I guess. I never thought it to ever come true, the Darkling had destroyed the little hope I had left. In the end I won, the untrained, clumsy Sun summoner had won.

And that was celebration worthy. Definitely when Genya had partied, getting drunk the night before.

I didn't know how to feel about visiting this place, there was so much history surrounding us.

Soon, I would have history surrounding me. The Sun Summoner legacy. 

"I'll have to wait another decade for that." I murmured.

I stroked the edge of the fresco again and didn't realise that a salty tear had slipped. If things had been different, the Darkling could have lived. And we could have been happy. All of us.

But it was too late now. Now that he is gone.

"Alina." A voice called out, I half- expected it to be the Darkling's voice beyond the grave, my heart hammered in my chest. When I turned around, it was in fact Bash.

"Bash, wh-what are you doing here?" Then I remembered I rode all the way here, "Did you follow me?"

Bash shook his head, "I was already passing by when I noticed a horse took out of the royal stables. I knew it was yours." He said, as he gently dismounted his own horse.

"So what are you doing out here princess?" He asked, walking towards me.

"Just...thinking." I wasn't lying. I didn't want him to ask who I was thinking about.

He cleared a few of the branches in the way of his horse. "We should return, Nikolai must be worried about you." I noticed his voice on the verge of shaking. I wondered did he find it hard to speak such things.

I didn't know how to respond so I let him swiftly lift me onto my horse and take both horses by the reigns. Leading us out of the clearing.

"You followed me all the way out here." I asked, watching his back. "I would follow you across the seas." He said. I didn't speak to him much after that. As I tried to make more sense of my confusing feelings.

***
As soon as I got back to the Palace, Bash took the horses back into the stables and I went to find Nikolai. I knocked on the doors before I wandered in. "Nikolai?" I knocked again.

I heard the noises of footsteps and shuffling of papers. I heard objects clatter to the floor in a rush. "Nik...olai?" I stopped on my words as soon as he opened the large doors.

I witnessed Nikolai with messy blonde hair. My eyes wondered to his bare chest. He must have been changing before I came in. He leaned against the doorframe. "What is it my princess? Are you okay?" He said rather quickly.

I blinked confused for a moment. "I...I just came back from my horse ride. I just wanted to know if you were okay?"

"It's nearly dinner time and we are all waiting for you to dine with us."

"Oh, uh-yeah." He nearly stuttered. Nikolai never stutters, he always speaks perfectly. I noticed his lips were lightly swollen. His dark circles were cleared, even after the sleepless nights he has endured. Then I noticed a red blemish on his neck.

"Did you hurt yourself?" I was concerned as I reached for his neck. He gently pulled my hand down. "I'm fine beautiful, I-I started scratching my neck because of stress."

He cleared his throat and tightened his grip on the edge of the door. I noticed his eyes dart back into his bedroom and then to me. "Are you alone?"

"Are you with someone?" I asked. Trying not to sound suspicious of something that never could be.

His eyes pierced into mine, "Tell everyone I'll be down shortly." He spoke sternly. The kind of voice he uses to scold soldiers in the regime or to command the attention of his Lords.

I gaped,
"But Nikolai–"

SLAM

The door was slammed shut in my face. I was left startled by the sudden motion. I must have gotten him really angry. But instead of dwelling I went down to the dinning room.

When I entered, I saw my friends surrounded around the large table full of food. Before, there were individual tables based on Grisha orders. Now, one long table remained. I saw the head of the table unnocupied and sat in its place.

Genya and David sat together with Tamar and Nadia on their right. Zoya, Adrik, Riya and Tolya were on the left. But no Bash.

"Where's Nikolai?" David asked as he picked at the plate with his fork. Apparently they all didn't seem to carry much of an appetite.

"He's busy. He said he would be down in a bit."

"You should all start eating. You know he would be mad if you didn't." I cracked a small comforting smile.

"Thank saints." Zoya said as she attacked her plate. A servant came around to serve me borscht soup. I thanked her and she was dismissed. I picked up my spoon but instead of eating I stirred the contents of the bowl whilst leaning on my hand. Adrik noticed something was wrong.

"What's wrong Alina why aren't you eating?" He said pausing between eating blini. He was having dessert first. "I don't know." I murmured. "Where is Bash?" I tried changing the subject.

"Oh near the lake. He said he wasn't hungry, I guess he just wanted some time to himself." Tolya said. "Isn't it kind of dark outside?" Riya furrowed her brows. "It's sunset, he'll be back before dark I'm sure." Nadia stated, she choked on her water. Tamar rubbed her back. "Thank you."

I left the dining table sooner than the others after my poor attempts of eating. Genya forced me to at least have a tasty treat before I left, so I wouldn't be walking on an empty stomach.

I saw Bash sitting down on one of the giant boulders near the lake. He had a flask in his hand. It was a source of warmth in the chill. "Hey." I approached, sitting aside him on a rock just behind him. "Hey." He said, his voice not slurring on drunken words. The drink hadn't taken affect yet.

He handed me the flask and I drunk the kva, the liquid burning my throat. I swallowed the taste.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked.

"I could ask you that princess." He said, looking at the horizon. The sun set slowly and now clouded us in the moon light. As the stars begun dancing in the dark sky.

"I was with Nikolai." He turned to look at me briefly. I continued upon his interest, "He was acting suspicious, I think I made him angry somehow. I don't know if he wants to see me." I spoke softly, not meeting his eyes. The thumping in my head began when I took another sip from the flask.

"My brother tends to have that effect on people. You get used to it." He said dryly. "Bash have I upset you in some way?" I looked at him. His eyes darted to my eyes, then to my lips.

"No." He disagreed softly.

"Am I boring you?"

"Not at all." He smiled. I think it was genuine. I took another sip of the flask and leaned into kiss him. His lips were rough but gentle against mine. He hesitated before kissing me back. Suddenly, I pulled back when I realised what I was doing.

No.

This is wrong.

My brain warned me but it was hard to fight over the drunken feeling in my limbs. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to–" I was cut off when he kissed me this time. His hands wrapped around my waist gently. I pulled him in closer wrapping my arms around his head. It went from a passionate kiss to a slow, gentle one.

My head buzzed as we pulled apart. I wanted to kiss him again but he let go of me abruptly and left me disappointed. I took another sip, but the flask was snatched out of my hands.

"Give me back."

Bash hid the flask into the folds of his jacket. "You're drunk Alina come on I should take you to your rooms."

"No. Give me drink." I said scratching at him. He stood up and grabbed my arm softly. I wobbled on my legs. "You can barely stand, come we should go...back." His voice trailed off for a moment when he turned his back to me. I couldn't see through the blurriness but I think he was talking to someone. I blinked vigorously. All I wanted to do was sleep.

And then I felt two gentle pairs of arms, slide around my waist from both sides.

I trusted Bash and whoever else to help carry me back to the Little Palace. The last thing I felt was the softness of silk and velvets beneath me, before I saw nothing.

***
Published: 20/12/2022

A/N: I am so sorry for not updating in along time. I have been so busy with college studies and writing up other chapters. Especially after the giant writers block I had for a month. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Another is coming soon enough. What was your favourite part? Mine was when Alina began thinking about the Darkling. And when she reached Nikolai's bedroom.