Chapter Text
He never thought it would come to this.
Revealing the truth about himself, choosing to do it. Even the idea of having someone he would want to tell seemed like a silly dream, something – someone – unattainable.
A secret he’s been hiding for centuries, the one he’s never imagined he would share with another living soul.
And yet, here they are – he, his failed creation... and her.
He knew how she felt about the Fold and more important – how she felt about him . But over the years she got under his skin, sneaked her way into this emptiness inside Aleksander... He gave her his books, little secrets, private thoughts, finally - his name. He would give her anything and he would let her drag him into the place he feared and wanted most.
The harm was done and there was no going back.
Aleksander was hopeless – and now he would give up his last, most terrible secret, just to make sure she knew what she was getting into.
Oh, she was radiant as always, even in such miserable weather, hovering over the maps and explaining one of her ideas happily. But she paused and looked at Aleksander when he took both her hands in his and squeezed lightly.
“Alina,” he began the confession, “I am, unfortunately, the Black Heretic.”