Entering the library, I thought of how many books would their be on mystical swords or any substitutes for amplifiers. Since the Darkling busy, with whatever he was doing, some of his guards kept watch over me in the library.

I didn't mind them being around me and they kept their silence. Allowing me to focus on reading.

I looked through volumes of mystical books or at least the volumes of the Mad King i found when I first returned to the palace. I found them and started to read the third volume of the series. But most of the pages, especially the ones at the end, were all blank and inkless pages.

I kept the blank paged books in one pile whilst I focused on books that talked about mythical and powerful swords. They were all based on Westerosi magic. Apparently, some of the Ravkan land used to be in Westeros. When one of the Westeros Lords took over Westeros.

That fraction of land was poisoned with magic, so he left it for Ravka and made most of his colonies and territories, along near the Fjerdan boarders and out near the true sea. Near the Dothraki lands.

The history was fascinating and gave me goose bumps when I learned about the Mad King. Uh-i guess. My Father.

It felt strange to call him my father, but I cannot change the historical truth.

I began to carry some of the books out of the library but they were all too heavy for me to carry. I asked some of the guards to help me carry some of them. It was around 10-12 books. It's not like I had anything else to do as a prisoner of the Darkling's, so might as well spend it researching more about the sword and Westeros.

The guards kept their silence and directly ignored me. I sighed and tried to carry some of the books on my own. I don't have a lot of upper body strength and the books all dropped to the floor with a thud.

Kneeling down to the floor, I slowly picked up some of the books.

"Need some help?" An unfamiliar voiced called out. "No thanks." I looked up and found a young man around his early 20s, with thick brown hair and gorgeous brown eyes. Dressed in dark leather, with a scabbard by his hip. He kneeled before me and picked up some of the scattered books, as I did too. We held six each.

"Thank you."

"Who are you?" I asked. Looking at the stranger before me. The guards didn't grip their weapons so they must have recognised the young man. He was handsome though. His chocolate brown hair fitted his much more muscular physique.

"I'm Sebastian. But you can call me Bash. Princess Alina." He nodded his head as a replacement for a bow. "you know who I am?"

"Yes, the General assigned me to be your Royal guard. For your protection." Sebastian explained.

Of course he did.
Ever since he had me back at the Little Palace or the Grand Palace–the Darkling constantly talked about having me under supervision. He always failed, one royal guard would be no threat.

Bash began to help carry the books I chose, to the Darkling's chambers. "So Bash?"

"Yes Princess?"

"Please just call me Alina." He nodded, smiling at me–behind the pile of books. "When did you start serving the Dar-General?" I quickly corrected myself.

"For a couple years now, you know he's not so bad once you get to know him."

"Oh trust me I know how he is." I mumbled, feeling my eye-brows go up in a mocking fashion.

We reached just outside the Darkling's chambers and two Heartrenders, opened the doors for us.

I talked to Bash some more when we entered. "So why these books from the library? The General has many in his collection."

"I prefer the library, If I could, I would spend the rest of my life reading books and gaining knowledge. If it meant I never had to see him." I said putting down the books on the Darkling's table. It was the same table he made out with me on, during the Winter Fete.

Such mistakes I made. I will never make them again. Bash put his books down as well. A thought soon occurred to me.

"How come you–or anyone for that matter, don't call the Darkling, the king?" I squinted my eyes In confusion, looking at Bash. He was about to answer until a voice intervened.

"Because I prefer them not too." I flicked my head back to see the Darkling come up to me. Sharp looking in his kefta, silky black hair slicked back and a face fresh of beauty. That I wanted to punch in.

"Thank you Sebastian you may take your leave now, I will be with the Princess." The Darkling smiled weakly at Bash.

Bash bowed to the Darkling then turned to me. "See you Bash."

"It was nice meeting you Princess Alina." He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles gently. I felt a wave of jealousy and anger rush up through me. I weakly smiled as Bash took leave of my hand and paced out of the chambers. Leaving me alone with the Darkling. I turned back to him. I saw the Darkling clench his fist slightly. The emotions I just felt. They were his wasn't it?

"Why did you put Bash for my protection?"

"Your on a first name basis with each other already." He rolled his eyes slightly. "I put Sebastian as your Royal guard because I needed more of a guarantee he'll supervise you more then my guards." He said coming up beside where I stood, near the table full of books.

"If that's true, then why not have Ivan or Fedyor with me?"

"Ivan I need and he would most likely, crush your heart in two seconds. Fedyor is too sympathetic, you have an easy ability for turning those who are loyal to me on your side."

He must have referred to Genya and Zoya. Two of his Grisha, who chose friendship with me, over fear of him.

I smirked slightly. "It's called admiration, they believe in me."

"It's called foolishness, you offer them false hope." He said casually, as if I'm a fraud.

I lifted an eyebrow, "At least its better then what you offer. Hospitality, only to be manipulated into doing something that benefits you and you alone."

"You always assume the worst of me, Alina. What about what you've done? Left a skiff full of Grisha to die. Including me." He almost shouted.

That hurt. I hated seeing most Heartrenders and the innocent people they killed. Become lifeless corpses on the skiff. But that wasn't my fault.

"That was not my doing. It was yours. You hate anyone pointing out your a heretic, when they only see you as one. You took it to your pride and had Ivan crush innocent hearts on the skiff. Their deaths were on your hands, NOT mine!" I exclaimed, anger boiling inside me. I could tell, without the bond, the Darkling felt it too.

"It is as much on your hands as it is on mine. You betrayed me and all our people. Your country and home." The Darkling came closer to me. I could almost taste the spite of his words, dripping of his tong.

"You betrayed all of us. Your main goal was to see Grisha free and safe. How so? By using the fold. The abomination you created to intimidate surrounding countries and murder any opposing village or city?"

I referred to him turning the fold over on Nova Kribirsk, how I tried to stop him but ultimately failed when he pulled my arm down on the skiff.

"I am not telling you this again. I did it for Ravka." The Darkling's tone of voice, slowly dialled down to his calm, unnatural tone.

"I'm tried of hearing it over and over again. You did it for your self. Out of your own selfish purposes."

"Is it so selfish to protect your own people? To protect the country." He strode forwards and backed me into the table. His hands came to grip on my forearms. His eyes stared coldly into mine.

He got me stuck. I closed my eyes in frustration, it was exhausting, physically and mentally draining to argue with him. He was irredeemable.

Feeling claustrophobic, I broke free from his grip and took a couple steps forward to have some room to breathe properly.

"You are prey to naivety aren't you Princess?" The Darkling mocked, getting me to turn back.

"Stop calling me princess! I AM A QUEEN!" I shouted at him.

"You are no Queen. Not of Ravka. Not yet Alina."

"I am born Royalty. If I want the throne I will take it. Even if it means killing you in the process to obtain the power that was and is rightfully mine!"

Selfish to say the least. But was it though? The position, the life and power that was denied to me. Does it make me any better than him?

"Seems like you have your own selfish agenda."

He quickly pulled me in by my waist and pushed me onto the table. My arms lay flat on either side of me and my mind went back to an uneasy memory. Us on the night of the fete, making out. How easy it was for him to pick me up on the table and touch every inch of me. Now look at us.

"So how about you stop treating me like the enemy, because Alina." He leaned in closer to my face. "You haven't seen my worst side yet. I could have everything stripped from you and cast you down in disgrace or imprisonment. I could have you whored off or sold. There are plenty of ways to make you suffer, rather than just use your friends as leverage. So don't tempt me!" His face was hardened rock. He left go off my waist and my body slipped off the table and landed on the floor with a thud. As I heard his footsteps carry off to his war room. I put my hands over my face and cried.

Published: 20:28pm 27/02/2022