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An insistent knocking on the door made Alina turn her head, breaking the kiss. Aleksander leaned against her, giving her a gentle nudge until she turned back into his kiss. She couldn’t help but let a laugh slip out at the absurdity of the situation. Was she, shy Alina, really making out with the feared Black General on top of his war room table?
Aleksander gave a soft laugh in reply to hers, pulling back slightly and leaning his forehead against hers in an unexpected display of softness. The pounding on the door sounded again, and Aleks shook his head slightly in exasperation before pulling away to look at her. The expression on his face made Alina’s heart skip a beat; he looked at her with so much intensity and something akin to adoration. She was still trying to make sense of his gaze when he kissed her again. She gave him a soft push and a meaningful stare, wanting him to get rid of whoever was at the door. The background noise was ruining an otherwise perfect moment.
He nodded in resignation and strode to the door quickly, clearly as eager as her to get rid of the interruption. He only opened the door a sliver, and she was unable to catch what was being said beyond his annoyed “What is it?”. As he walked back towards her, she noticed his changed demeanor with concern.
“Is something wrong?” she asked softly, clutching her kefta to her. Now that their heated embrace had been broken, she felt rather self-conscious.
“It’s nothing,” he said, but she couldn’t help noticing that he didn’t meet her eyes as he uttered those words. “I’ll leave my guards outside until I return.”
He grasped her arms, pulling her closer to him. She felt her nerves dissipate at the contact, always more at ease when they were in close proximity.
“I’ll be waiting.”
Aleksander raised a hand to cup her cheek tenderly, fixing her with a look she could not decipher. He sighed softly as their eyes made contact, before drawing away abruptly. She turned away as he walked hurriedly to the door, so engrossed in her thoughts that she did not realise he had turned back towards her until he was only one step away.
He grasped her face in both hands and kissed her with an intensity which left her breathless—the kisses and the look on his face a promise of things to come. He kept his eyes on her as he backed away, and she could not break his gaze. The door shut behind him and she leaned against the table with a smile on her face, still trying to absorb the past few minutes...the past day. She had dreamt about kissing him quite a few times since their ride to Os Alta, but reality had surpassed fantasy. He kissed her like he never wanted to let her go, and she felt more at home in his arms than she ever had anywhere else.
The sound of a door creaking open startled her from her thoughts, and she raised her hands in a defensive position, a ball of light at the ready. She gaped in surprise as a hidden panel at the back of the room opened to reveal Baghra.
“Baghra...what are you doing here?” she asked in confusion, already lowering her hands.
“Come with me child,” Baghra said, a serious expression on her face.
“Come where? Aleksander told me to wait for him here.”
Baghra shook her head in response, taking a step towards Alina. “I need to show you something, quickly. Follow me.”
Unconvinced, Alina took a step back. “How did you get in here? Why not use the main door?”
“I needed to talk to you without General Kirigan knowing.”
“Why?” Alina asked, suspicion evident on her face.
Baghra sighed in exasperation, moving closer to Alina. “We have no time for your silly questions girl, come. Now. I will explain everything once we are out of here. He can’t come back and find us still here.”
She closed a hand around Alina’s arm, trying to drag her towards the secret tunnel, but Alina resisted with all her might, getting angrier by the second.
“I am not going anywhere with you until you explain what is going on,” Alina said as she pulled her arm free from Baghra’s grasp and moved out of her reach.
Baghra seemed to consider her options for a few seconds before acquiescing with a glare. “General Kirigan....Aleksander. He is not who you think he is. You cannot trust him. Come with me, you are in danger here.”
“And why should I trust you, Baghra? You’ve been nothing but cruel to me ever since I got here...you hit me repeatedly, verbally abused me....you drugged me.”
“My methods worked didn’t they? You finally learnt to use your power. What else did you expect from me girl? I am your teacher, not your mother,” she scoffed in reply.
Alina fixed her with a cold stare; “There was a better way to do it. And it definitely doesn’t mean I am going to trust you now. At least Aleksander cares about my wellbeing...cares about me for more than just my power.”
Baghra let out a mocking laugh in reply. “Aleksander doesn’t care about you, girl. All he cares about is what your power can do for him...you know nothing about him.”
“And you do?”, Alina said angrily.
“I know more than you ever will, child,” Baghra said calmly. “He is the Black Heretic; he has been waiting for a Sun Summoner for centuries. Taking on new identities, biding his time. He needs you to weaponize the Fold. To finish what he started all those years ago.”
Alina gaped at her in shock, all her fight gone in an instant. It couldn’t be...Baghra had to be lying. “No...I don’t believe you. He cares about me, he wouldn’t lie to me like that.”
“You little fool. He has centuries of experience lying to naive girls like you. He wanted you to fall in love with him so you wouldn’t question him.”
Baghra seemed to take a certain savage pleasure in watching Alina’s resolve crumble, regarding her triumphantly as her doubt showed across her face.
“No,” Alina said, shaking her head in disbelief. She started making her way to the door, not even looking at Baghra. “I need to talk to Aleksander.”
She was startled by a blade whizzing past her, and stopped in her tracks when she saw it dissolve into nothing once it struck the wall, though only after leaving a clean cut in the panelling. She turned around, arms raised and a ball of light at the ready, to see Baghra with a shadow blade forming between her hands.
Not sure how to comprehend what she was seeing, she launched her ball of light, making Baghra duck out of the way and her shadows dissipate. Alina pushed her light out as a shield, just in time to deflect another of Baghra’s shadow blades. Soon she was totally surrounded by shadows, only kept at bay by her light which was growing dimmer by the second.
“I’m sorry it had to be this way, Alina,” Baghra said as she advanced on her slowly, arms raised. “If you had just believed me maybe we could have avoided all this, but I can’t leave you alive for my son to use.”
Alina tried to strengthen her shield but failed, Baghra’s shadows starting to twine around her legs and making it impossible to move away. She focused on trying to create her own blade instead, panic rising as Baghra got closer. They both released them at the same time, and the light and shadow collided in a burst of energy which threw them against opposing walls. Alina felt something crack as she slid down the wall, and the last thing she saw before blacking out was Aleksander running into the room, a look of utter terror on his face when he saw her lying on the floor.
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Alina opened her eyes to a black canopy and blinked in disorientation. She was definitely in a bed, a comfortable one at that, but it wasn’t hers. She tried to sit up but was hit by a wave of pain and collapsed back with a groan.
“Don’t move Alina, you’re hurt.”
She turned her head at the familiar voice, and saw Aleksander sitting at a chair by her side, a concerned look on his face. He looked dishevelled, nothing like the put together General she was used to seeing. She smiled softly at him, wondering why he was looking at her with such apprehension. She realised she was in his room, in his bed, but still wasn’t sure why she was here rather than in her bed or the infirmary.
“What happened? What am I doing here?”
Aleksander looked at her in confusion, “You don’t remember what happened?”
“The last thing I remember is...well....you and I in the war room,” she said, a blush on her cheeks at the memory.
Aleksander looked sad at her reply, and she couldn’t for the life of her figure out why. Was he regretting kissing her? And how had she ended up hurt in his bed?
“Alina....I left you in the room and when I came back, I found you and Baghra unconscious on the floor. Baghra tried to kill you, but you were more than she bargained for.” He looked at her with pride evident even underneath his sadness. “I am so sorry Alina, I thought you would be safe in there. I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you.”
The look on his face was so full of love and pain that Alina reached her hand out to him even though she could feel her body protesting at every movement. She couldn’t bear to see him this way. “Aleks, come here. Hold me, please.”
He looked anguished at her words, but he slid onto the bed next to her anyway, being very careful not to jostle her. She snuggled into his chest with a sigh, feeling her anxiety ease at their contact, just like it always did. He made her feel safe, and he was all she wanted especially when she was in pain and disorientated.
“Aleks, why would Baghra try to kill me? I mean, I know she never seemed to like me much, but I didn’t think it was that bad,” she said with a slight laugh, trying to make light of a situation she could not understand.
“Alina...do you really remember nothing of what she told you?”
She gave an exasperated sigh in reply; “No, I already told you...I don’t even remember seeing her tonight.”
Aleksander pulled away from her slightly, seeming to consider what to say next. “You have several cracked ribs, and a fractured arm. The Healers did what they could, but it’s still going to take several hours to fully heal. And you need to rest for the next few days at least. Do you want to get some sleep and discuss this in the morning?”
Alina looked at him in confusion, not sure why he seemed so reluctant to talk about what happened. Though she really was tired, and falling asleep in his arms seemed like heaven. “I am tired…fine,but please don’t leave me Aleks. Stay with me, all night?”
“Of course, solnishka. I will never leave your side as long as you’ll have me,” he said softly, leaning down to brush a soft kiss on her forehead. She was already drifting off to sleep, but she could have sworn she felt a tear fall on her face. Was Aleksander.....crying? was the last thought she had before she succumbed to sleep.
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When she woke up the next morning, the first thing Alina noticed was that her and Aleksander were completely entwined in an embrace which would be difficult to break, as though they were afraid to lose the other. The second thing she noticed was that the pain of last night was mostly gone. The third thing was that Aleks was awake, and looking at her with an inscrutable expression on his face. From the dark circles under his eyes, it seemed as though he had not slept at all.
“Good morning Aleks. Did you sleep at all?” she said, reaching up a hand to softly cup his face. He turned into her touch, eyes closing at the sensation.
“I couldn’t sleep, not after what happened.” He ran a hand through his hair in an uncharacteristic move Alina had never seen from him before. “Alina....there are some things I need to tell you. Some things I should have told you before last night.”
Alina sat up at his serious tone, apprehension mounting when she saw how nervous he seemed. Whatever he was about to say, it was clearly important.
“I...I haven’t been totally honest about who I am. My real surname isn’t Kirigan, it’s Morosova. I’m not descended from the Black Heretic, I am the Black Heretic.”
He looked straight at her as he spoke, and she could see the effort it cost him to utter the words. She stared back in shock, the words bringing forth memories from the night before. She leapt out of bed as she remembered what Baghra had told her, the words she had not believed. And yet, here he was, telling her the same thing himself. What if everything Baghra had said was true? Had she lost her one chance at freedom by trusting in him?
“You....you’re... Baghra was telling the truth!”
“I don’t know exactly what Baghra told you, but she has a way of twisting the truth to suit her purposes. Please, let me explain,” he said softly, a contrite expression on his face.
She looked at him angrily, hands raised and ready to attack if need be. “Why should I let you explain anything? You should have told me the truth weeks ago.”
“Alina, be reasonable, please. I had to know I could trust you before divulging my deepest secrets. In the wrong hands this information could cause a witch hunt against all Grisha! It could undo all I have managed to accomplish for us since the Fold.”
She considered his words, but they did nothing to calm her anger. “And why did you create the Fold in the first place? You killed all those innocent people, caused Ravka so much pain.”
“It was a mistake,” he said, a look of despair on his face. “We were surrounded by Anastas’ army; I tried to bend them to my will to stop them from killing my Grisha...but the merzost took over, I couldn’t control it and it created the Fold. It was never my intention...but it did eventually help Grisha become more valued, and for that I am grateful.”
“Then why do you need me?”, she said, a dawning expression of horror on her face. “You don’t want me to destroy the Fold do you?”
“I could never control the Fold, but with you by my side I can...we can create safe passage for the ones we want to, ensure the ones trying to harm us do not manage to cross.” He moved towards her as he spoke, an impassioned plea in his voice as he reached a hand out to her. “Together we can make Ravka a safe haven for all Grisha, Alina.”
She put up a defensive shield at his movement, anger and mistrust evident on her face. “Don’t come any closer, General.”
He put up his hands in a gesture of surrender, moving away from her. Even through her anger, she could see the heartbreak in every line of his face.
“And what happens if I don’t agree with your plan, General?” she spat. “Are you going to make me your prisoner and force me to do your bidding?”
“Alina....no.”
The look of horror on his face calmed her down slightly, but she kept her defensive pose just the same.
He looked ashamed as he continued speaking, not meeting her eyes. “I must admit, before I knew you...yes, I had planned to get the Sun Summoner to do my bidding in any way necessary.”
She started at his words, sending out tendrils of light to wrap around his hands and feet and keep him in place. He accepted her restraints without complaint, not even trying to fight against them.
“I know you have no reason to trust me, but Alina, even if you didn’t know my real name, you know me. I have shared things with you I haven’t told anyone in centuries...the time we spent together, none of that was a lie. I care about you. I could never keep you here against your will.”
One look at his face told Alina all she needed to know, what she had known all along deep down – he truly did care for her. That didn’t mean she was ready to forgive him yet though. She looked at him in silence, and he looked back beseechingly. She could see the fear in his eyes, and it wasn’t fear of what she could do to him. It was fear that he would lose her, that she would leave him.
“Alina, please. You have to know what I feel for you is real...you can feel it when we touch. I cannot hide my feelings around you, our connection makes it impossible. I want you by my side, to lead the Grisha. Together.”
She lowered her shield, trusting in her instincts which had been screaming at her ever since Baghra revealed his secrets. He might be centuries old, he might be the Black Heretic, but he was still her Aleks. He had suffered unimaginable loss in his life, and yet he still wanted to help and protect all the Grisha. He was ruthless when crossed, but who wouldn’t be given his history?
“Is Baghra really your mother?”
He grimaced before replying. “Yes, unfortunately. And I will never forgive her for what she tried to do to you.”
The look on his face as he said that would have terrified anyone else, but to Alina it meant the world. He would kill for her, and she knew at this moment that she would do the same for him. She couldn’t understand how his mother could not see the good in him. He was far from perfect, he definitely needed guidance to keep him from becoming a threat to them all...and yet instead of trying to guide him, his mother tried to kill the person he cared about most. His chance at happiness. How could a mother do that? She released her light, setting him free of his bonds, and he gave her a look full of hope.
“Aleksander...we have a lot left to discuss, but I believe you. I feel it too, I know you wouldn’t hurt me. I want to stay by your side, help you lead the right way. But only if you accept me as your equal.”
He fell to his knees at her words, a look of pure awe on his face as he looked up at her. “Alina, of course. I want nothing more than to change the world with you. You are the light of my life, solnishka. I have been waiting centuries for you, and you were more than worth the wait.”
She drew him up from his knees, giving him a slight smile as she squeezed his hands. She felt the rightness she always did at their contact, and she knew without a doubt she had made the right choice.
“Then let’s do this. Together.”