"I miss Adrik," Mila muses aloud, her voice floating up and getting lost in the cloud of white that has enveloped her room. She is currently laying on her back, the usual hardness of the floor completely lost against her flesh. It feels soft like a quilt. Like her bed. Like a cloud.

"Hm," the voice of her friend, Sofia, drawls next to her. She is also on her back, starring just as absently as Mila is towards the ceiling. Her hand sways as it holds a long tube, a black thin glass that has burning smoke coming out one end of it.

"Lemme have some more," Mila sighs, extending her hand.

Sofia gives it over without complaint, and Mila takes a long soothing drag.

It helps lessen the ache Adrik has made, escaping the palace a week ago with little explanation as to why. The two of them had never been apart like that, save some political ventures that only lasted some few days. Worse, she can't help but feel she had something to do with it. Her brother's shoulder had been cold when he explained he was leaving, his eyes distant. An anger was brimming with the tension of his shoulders yet he kept his face cool and voice polite. Only one kiss to her cheek as he left, one that felt dry and left her skin itching.

Beyond that was also the fact her little scheme involving Inessa didn't lead to anything. Worse, Adrik hadn't even snapped at her for it. The whole situation went unspoken.

Yes, Adirk certainly wasn't missing her the way she was him.

Him gone, coupling her parent's spontaneous decision to have a weekend away together, has Mila feeling very much lonely and depressed. Bold, too, as she has allowed herself to be coerced by Sofia to smoke some of this dizzying plant.

It feels nice, though. Her body feels light, and her heavier emotions have dulled so much she can't remember having them to begin with.

Mila hums and raises her hand, lazily summing orbs of light. They're like fireflies, floating through the haze. They're like ships, trying to navigate a dense fog. They go this way and that, and when Mila loses one she just summons another. She summons and summons and she feels light and lighter.

"So pretty," Sofia awes next to her, her voice sounding both close and far. Something shifts, and then Mila feels the small hand of her friend flatten against her exposed chest. "You're so pretty," Sofia continues, her voice dropping to something sultry. Her hand slides down Mila's skin, causing her to tremble with some unknown feeling. When Sophia reaches the top hem of Mila's rose colored nightgown she doesn't stop, continuing her descent till she cups one of her breasts.

Mila gasps at the sensation. Moans when Sofia squeezes and uses her thumb to rub at her pointed nipple. The nightgown is nothing but thin silk, it may as well be air.

"So pretty," Sofa whispers again, and now leans over to place a sweet kiss to the corner of Mila's mouth. "Pretty," another whisper, now kissing Mila's lips.

Mila feels Sofia's other hands skin down her gown, till it easily moves under it, and she cups her mound with a breathtaking softness.

"Oh," Mila sighs when she feels Sofia's finger circle her clit. She's so wet, she didn't know she could get this wet. All she has ever known is her own hands and fingers. She didn't know it could be like this.

Mila whines when another finger delicately part of her folds, and inches inside her. Body burning, she now reaches forward to capture Sofia's lips, tasting and licking them with a fevered need.

So sweet. Oh, so sweet.

When Sofia adds another finger, Mila is truly lost. She thought she was light before, but now she feels like her balls of light, shining so bright that they disappear completely.

"What do you think?" Alina questions, her chin propped up on her husband's chest and her naked body laid out over the rest of him.

Aleksander is still coming down from his orgasm, his cock still buried in his wife's cunt and his chest laboring up and down to suck in much needed air. Alina had said something he distantly registers annoyed him, but he can't be sure what the exact words were. "Hm?"

"Aleks, are you listening to me?"

"Alina, I still have your taste on my tongue and your wetness coating my thighs. Could you spare me a minute?"

In retaliation, Alina clenches her inner muscles around her husband's dick, grinning in satisfaction when she feels it harden.

"Alina-" Aleksander groans but loses his train of thought when Alina sucks at his neck, scraping the skin with her teeth and lathering it with her tongue. He grips her waist for-what? He's not sure. To pull her closer, to feel her body, to just hold her. His mind isn't even thinking when he bucks up, pushing deeper inside her.

"Oh, Sasha," Alina mewls, grinding down in answer. She leans down to flick his nipple with her tongue. "So good for me."

It's all too slow, suddenly, so Aleksander rolls them over to place Alina beneath him. He ruts into her with sharp thrusts, capturing her gasps with his mouth.

"I want another," She pants when he pulls away.

And Aleskander remembers why he had been annoyed.

"Alina," He growls, giving her a hard fuck that conveys just how he exactly feels about this line of thought. "No."

"Sasha," Alina whines, wrapping her legs around his waist, pulling him impossibly closer. "Please, Sasha, I need-"

"My cock, I know, milaya. It's yours," He keeps pumping in and out of her, memorized by every expression her face makes. "Take it, but nothing else."

Alina may love getting lost in their passion, but she also has her stubbornness to appease as well. "Not now, we can wait. But in the future. So there's more of us. So they don't have to be alone."

Always considering her children, his little Sun Summoner. In truth, Aleksander isn't sure having another child would appease the inevitable loneliness Mila and Adrik would face. It would, also, just be damning that child as well. But Alina has been forlorn recently, ever since what happened with Mila and Adirk's sequential departure. She's been desperate to find some kind of answer to it all, anyway to make the situation that has enveloped their family better.

"Alina," Aleksander warns, both done with the conversation and feeling his release coming. He leans his body over her, pressing harder and sucking a nipple into his mouth.

Alina moans and arches up to him, feeling her own pleasure reaching its height. "Please," She begs, for his body and consideration. She smiles into her shoulders when he hears a groan that doesn't happen because of how tight her cunt is around him. She continues to smile as Aleksander turns feral and loses all semblance of control, slapping their bodies together until their orgasms wash over them, and their bodies fall boneless on the bed.

Another child will not fix everything, Alina knows this. But seeing her children slowly become adults, and having to deal with the problems of loneliness and romance, Alina feels older than she has in years. She longs for things to be simple again. She misses it. The innocence of a child, the joys of raising one. Perhaps it was a bit immature of her to want. But everyone had been so happy when she had been pregnant with Mila. Raising her had consumed their attention, had made them blissfully unaware of anything else.

It wasn't a long-term solution. And Alina was actually considering the idea long before this all arose, which made her feel not completely insane.

Besides, watching Aleksander raise a child was something Alina had grew quite addicted to with Mila's arrival. She could only wonder how much he's softened since then.

"So?" She prompts, kissing his neck. His body has grown slack against her, but his weight doesn't cause any unpleasantness. His beard tickles her neck as he breathes in and out, and his lips fluttering against her pulse could almost be considered a kiss.

"Ask me in again the morning, Alina."

She hums pleasantly and drags her nails through his hair, his following purr enough proof she has won. She will ask tomorrow morning. She will ask every morning until she doesn't have to anymore.

She knows what his answer will be.

Adrik has never hated baths so much in his life.

They were a luxury in the little palace, with warmth and bubbles and such a thick scent of florals he dozed off more than once. Growing up with his mother, they weren't as lavish, but cherished in their own way. Alina took such great care to warm the water she, and eventually he, would bring from a nearby stream. They were a cherished gift each week, and more frequent if one of them were so inclined to take extra trips.

This was not the baht he was in right now.

The water was frozen, and the water murky. The supply by the Frejdan border was a desolate bay, abandoned by a village that no longer existed and ignored by seafarers as it offered no enticement to port. The men hoped in and out, doing their business as fast as they could, making the insides of wooden rustic tub grimier and grimier. No one dared bathe in the bay itself after a woman wadded in the first week there, and the otkazat'sya mysteriously was pulled into the depths never to be seen again.

They troop's only fire Fabricator was off scouting for the past three weeks, constantly patrolling the border with another group and sending messages back to the base when needed.

Adrik cursed not inheriting the gifts of his mother as he rubbed a thick and unscented bar of soap across his chest. More like a rock, in his opinion.

"Two more minutes," the gruff voice of the otkazat'sya in charge of monitoring the tub called from behind a haphazardly put up curtain. The raw and beaten hide of some animal, more like it, that had to be centuries old.

Adrik flung the soap to the ground and dipped below the surface once more before hopping out. He didn't need another two minutes in that cesspool. He roughly wiped the water off his body before pulling his kefta back on, and rounded the hide.

"Moy prints."

Adrik paused at the sight of the troop's Captain waiting for him. Demyan was about his age, with fine blond hair always neatly combed to the side and vivid blue eyes. Adrik had seen him around court, but never truly interacted with him much till arriving here. He was a Captain, after all, a position that didn't interact much with the royal family. But he was in second in command of this expedition, only outranked by Colonel Timur. Adrik, technically, outranked them all but he didn't want to be involved in any power plays here. When Timur had subtly assigned Demyan to be Adrik's unofficial babysitter, he hadn't protested or even grimaced. Timur was a large man with a thick grey beard, and an even thicker sense of pride. He would not react well to being usurped from leading this mission or if his orders were rejected. Adrik was here for neither.

"Captain," Adrik nodded his head.

"Good bath?" Demyan questioned innocently. But the twinkle in his eyes said otherwise. Despite his usually natural face, Demyan always looked like his eyes were laughing at something.

"Splendid," Adrik answered walking past him. Of course, the Captain was hot on his heels.

"Great to hear. I will give my compliments to whoever rolled around in the mud today that it was just the right ingredient to give the water a special something. Now, dinner,"

Adrik sighs.

"You will be happy to hear we are having rabbit stew. Though it may have lost its appeal having been served the past seven days, I dare say tonight's batch might be the best. Our chef swears he found a salt rock, but in my opinion just looks like a sparkling piece of-"

"Captain," Adrik cuts in, turning around tiredly. "Is there anything important you wanted to tell me?"

The otkazat'sya tilts his head to side, the picture of innocence. "Is your dinner not important?"

"No, not particularly."

"My apologies, moy prints. I was trying to make your transition here from the Small Palace as seemly as possible. I would have assumed some servant regularly informed you of your dinner plans."

Though it was already late into the night, Adrik couldn't help but summon a bit more shadow to hide his sudden flush. "Are you mocking me?" Had his father asked the question, it would have come out menacing, a promise of violence quick to come. From Adrik's mouth, it sounded like an indignant child.

The corner of Demyan's mouth curved slightly upward. "More teasing, than mocking, I would say."

Neither really sounded better than the other. And Adrik wondered not for the first time why this man seemed to be so….well, teasing with him. Ever since he arrived, Demyan was always making some joke Adrik never caught right away, whether it be poking fun at his royal roots or impromptu presence at the border. The odd thing was, though, that the comments were never hurtful or rude. They were actually…playful, as if Demyan was trying to get him to smile or laugh every chance he could.

It was very confusing.

"So, dinner?" Demyan prompted, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Letting out a cough to shake off-well, whatever that was-Adrik jerkily nodded his head and pushed on, pointedly ignoring the now openly chuckling Captain.

Mila receives a message from the King and Queen the night they are meant to return to the castle. Her mother starts it, her beautiful handwriting covering the whole first side of letter describing the "fun" weekend they are having and how it was simply too beautiful for them to leave just yet.

Then her father takes over on the other side, his writing sharp and precise, politely inquiring about her wellbeing and complimenting her continued good behavior while she's truly alone for the first times in her life.

"What's it say?" a voice murmurs sleepily beside her.

Mila smiles to herself, the prospect of more alone time a very unexpected but welcome surprise. Languidly stretching out her body, her very naked body, she deeply inhales the sweet woodsy scent her candle is emitting and basks in the warmth of her bed. And of the also equally naked body beside her.

A heavy arm drapes across her waist, and drags her deeper into the bed.

"Why so smiley, princess?"

Mila giggles and presses her face into the chest of one her classmate, Ilya. He's a Squaller who is quite possibly the most popular boy in her class, as well as one of the kindest. He always offered her a generous number of smiles, as well as not too subtle inquires if she needed help in whatever they were learning. Mila always thought him to be rather handsome, but didn't really know how to answer the number of flirts he threw her way.

But the night with Sophia had changed things.

She didn't know that it could feel like that with another person. The pleasure that had enveloped every inch of her body, the sense that she could actually truly fly. That the sun she could summon with her hands had somehow made their way into her veins, burning up everything. She wanted it back the moment it was over. But the next morning Sofia had been flushed red with embarrassment and stuttering out a thousand apologies of how the smoking had affected her wrong. That she was still "figuring things out" and she'd appreciate forgetting the whole incident.

But Mila found herself instable. She needed it again, and her own fingers felt wholly inadequate.

So when she had run into Ilya during lunch, and he had complimented the cascade of braids she had donned for the day, Mila didn't just accept the words with a nod of her head. She stopped, tilted her head with a smile, and asked him what he was eating. Commented on the sweet breeze outside and if he cared for a walk. Ilya was not so surpassingly easy to talk to, which made sense as people had to like him for a reason, but Mila thought she would have to force this more. But he didn't bring up her family, and listened intently when she spoke.

It was natural to ask him to dinner. With the royal dining chamber thankfully empty for the time being, it seemed like a shame not to. And in the slightly darkened room after two delicious cups of wine (yes, Mila was feeling particularly bold and it was a brew her mother had let her have a glass of once), the invite to her room fell easily from her lips.

Ilya looked adorably surprised at the request, but sputtered out an overly enthusiastic yes after letting out a couple coughs.

So now here they were, the next morning, completely sated and sleep still softening their bodies. Mila sighed happily, entwining their legs and enjoying the feel of his lean naked body beneath hers.

She felt deliciously sore.

Last night, it had been obvious Ilya had more experience than her, and she was happy to let him take the lead. There had only been a brief bout of pain but soon enough it was there again, that undeniable pleasure that made her toes curl and her mouth slack open.

"I'm getting some more alone time," She whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his chest. "I think I'd like to stay in bed all day."

"Hmm," Ilya hummed beneath her, trailing a hand down her back. "That would have been nice."

Mila scrunched her nose. "Would have?"

"Well, you enjoy yourself but I have plans."

Mila raised her head up to frown at him.

"I'm sorry, me and some of the others are going riding into town. Been planning it for a while, there's a peasant festival going on."

It was a reasonable explanation, she supposed, but Mila felt annoyance pinch her temples nonetheless. The princess of Ravka had invited a boy to stay in her bed all day and had been rejected? For a peasant festival? Worse, he hadn't even invited her along.

"Well then," She rolled over with an air of indifference, reaching down to the floor for her nightgown. "I hope you have fun."

Then with a flick of her wrist and a burst of light, Mila was already contemplating her plans for the rest of her parent's absence.

"Alina," Aleksander chuckles into the crown of his wife's hair.

She simply giggles in response and burrows deeper into Aleksander's chest. "Something wrong, Sasha?"

He growls when her hand reaches back and again sweeps across the soft, sensitive spot beneath his thigh. "Malyshka"

"Yes?"

He bows his head down to nose at her shoulder, nipping at skin still littered with droplets of water from the lake they were lounging next to. After a long swim taken earlier that morning, they had laid down on the soft blanket they had brought and hadn't moved since, their bodies sated with the heat from the sun and the soft touches they were giving one another.

"Don't disobey your husband, little wife."

"Oh, but I do so enjoy that. It's one of my favorite things."

He slides his hand across her stomach, all seduction and promise, till gets to her ribs and promptly tickles her.

"Aleksander!" Alina cries between laughter. Shadows curl around her wrists when she goes to swat him away, and he presses against her more ruthlessly. She can't even wriggle away from him as he bows his body around her and hooks their ankles together.

"P-please, I-I can't-"

"Beg some more, Alina. That is one of my favorite things."

Alina can barely speak, drunk off the sun, laughter, and her husband, but she manages to shout out, "Please, Sasha! I'll be good!"

Alexander smiles into her shoulder. "There she is."

With a huff, Alina elbows his chest but the pretense falls easily away as she sighs with returned contentment. She can't remember the last time she felt so relaxed. "Let's not leave," She whispers into the air like a confession, stretching into Aleksander's large, warm frame as she does. "Let's just stay like this."

"I would love nothing else, milaya," He replies, just as soft, and gives her kisses as light as the flap of a butterfly's wings. And though everything is so warm, and so perfect, there's the obvious "but" that he doesn't voice aloud.

Alina shouldn't press, she knows she shouldn't. They are having such a nice time on this trip, with absolutely no fighting or power games. And she knows her husband, of course he wouldn't just run away with her. She knows it, and yet it makes her sad in a way she can't really ignore.

So, probably damning the rest of their time together, she asks, "You wouldn't leave it all for me?"

To his credit, Aleksander doesn't grow cold or push her away. He continues to press against her, to pet and rub and kiss whatever skin he can reach. The water of the lake ripples faintly beside them as she waits for his answer, her heart pounding faster and faster.

"You know you're everything to me," Aleksander finally says, and hugs her body tightly into his chest for emphasis. "Absolutely everything."

"I'm everything," Alina sighs, "But there is still more."

"Alina…I don't want to argue."

"Neither do I," She concedes quickly. "Forget it." Neither probably would-well, at least Alina wouldn't, but they were immortal. Perhaps his answer would be different in another hundred years. Perhaps she would be different too.

That was the future's problem for now.

Alina hums, shaking away her thoughts and returning back to her bliss, and closes her eyes. "I will fall asleep if we don't move soon."

"Go ahead, love, I'll watch over you."

"Hmm, but I don't want to sleep." To prove her point she rolls her hips, and her backside rubs against Aleksander's front with obvious intention. She smirks with triumphant when she feels the twitch of his cock.

"You're insatiable," He whispers hotly, his breath causing an eruption of bumps along her skin. Then he bits at her lobe, and bucks his hips against her. "Shall I take you just like this? Out in the open were anyone can see? Is that how bad you want me?" His hands roughly palm her breasts, squeezing them through the thin material of her undergarments.

Arching into his touch, Alina lets out a breathy, "Yes"

"Say it. I want to hear you say it, Alina."

His possessiveness make her grow wet. After all these years, he can't get enough her. Can't stop wanting her all to himself. She was just as bad. "Want you, Sasha. I always want you."

He lets out a growl and reaches down without preamble, shoving his hand under the cloth covering her embarrassingly wet cunt and plunging a finger in. Alina mewls at the feeling, and wishes she could turn around to kiss and touch him as well. But Aleksander has her back pinned against him, continuing his slow grind against her ass.

"Please, Aleks, more-"

"More? Oh, my Sankta is greedy." Still, he adds another finger and pumps in and out of her with a fervor, enjoying the squelching sound of her cunt. His thumb then brushes against her clit, one, twice, before he firmly presses down on it.

Alina's whimpers turn to screams.

Aleksander's hips have begun to rut sloppily against her, and his own breathing is labored. But he is relentless to tear her apart first. He curls his fingers inside her the way she loves, sucks on her pulse point so that his hand becomes a mess with her arousal. "Close, love?"

"Yes, Saints, yes, please more. Right there-"

He needs it now. "Cum for me then." Another finger abruptly slides into her heat, and his thumb against her clit rubs obscenely with tight quick circles.

Alina explodes on his hand in seconds, screaming and trembling with flashes of light blinding the area.

Aleksander helps her through it, his merciless fingers slowing down to coax her form her high. When her breathing get decent enough, he pushes her onto her back and slots himself between her thighs. "We're not done yet."

Alina just hums, opening up for him with little thought. She feels like the water in the lake, weightless and like she could flow away at any moment. But of course there is still Aleksander, her anchor to bring her back to the shore. Or perhaps just a very large rock she can't help but keep crashing into.

"Come now, Alinochka, don't you want me to put a baby into you?"

Her eyes snap open.

"Aleks-" Her voice breaks off into a moan when he enters her with one swift thrust. He must have already undressed while she was blissed out, and oh, is he so hard and deep within her. The drag of his cock against her walls is so delicious, she vibrates with utter pleasure. Her voice is lost as Aleksander pulls out only to go back in. So slow, so deep, he guides her hips up and down like the languid lapping waves.

"Solnishko," Aleksander breathes, starring down at her with eyes as black as night. "Gonna fill you up so good. So full of my cum. It's going to be dripping out of you."

"Yes!" Alina cries, arching as high as she can. But Aleksander's grip is like steel, like mythical strength of the shadows he can summon. He's in control right now, and she is just his to use. It thrills her even more.

"You want it, Alina? You want my cum? Want me to fill you up with my baby?" He punctuates each question with a harder thrust, pushing Alina farther and farther up the blanket. She feels the grass on her neck now, clutches dirt instead of quilt we she needs some kind of purchase. The slap of their skin together is only drowned out by the building of her pleasure, the feel of his cock and the promise of being filled up.

A slap to her ass has Alina come back to focus.

"Answer me, Alina."

Aleksander has leant further down now, close enough now he sucks a nipple into his mouth. When Alina whimpers with this new sensation but then gets another slap, harder this time.

"Yes!" She gasps, gripping his mussed hair with her hands. She tugs and drags Aleksander's face to her own, their eyes wild and focused wholly on the other. "I want your cum. I want your baby. Please, Sasha. Please give it to me."

Aleksander all but bites her lips into a kiss, fucking her harder into the ground.

"Mine," He growls pulling away. "All mine. Forever."

"Forever," Alina moans and then she is there, getting pushed over the edge again. Her husband comes with her this time, roaring into her shoulder.

It is turning out to be a very good trip.

Adrik doesn't quite understand how the Captain wound up in his tent, sharing a bottle of kvaas with him.

Or how they both ended up on the floor, starring into the small fire pit built there and talking about everything and nothing.

Demyan comes from a family of five boys, and he's the youngest. His father died in some skirmish while he was young, leaving his mother to fend for them all. He had two other brothers in the army, a map maker and tracker, while the other two got into different trades. Demyan is the only one who managed to get a higher rank. He's likes the water, and swimming. Fishing in particular. Forestry was never his strong suit and he prays all the time for a post that keeps him away from it.

He thankfully doesn't ask about his family much, at least nothing beyond some polite inquiries. And Adrik has never had problems gushing over Mila, even his mother in certain regards. But his father was a topic he just didn't know how to broach, whether it was in a good or bad light.

"So Shadow Summoning, what's that like?"

"I…" Adrik licks at his lips when some kvass drips onto them. Does he notice Demyan notice? Is he just drunk? "It's, ah, just like any other Summoning I suppose."

"Well, I wouldn't know much about that either."

Right, not Grisha. Adrik nods jerkily, unsure how to fix his mistake. "It's…well it's-" Adrik flings up his hand and rips a shadow from the floor, letting it swirl like an angry rain cloud over the fire before he lets its dissipate in the air.

"Wow," Demyan whispers, starring with large blue eyes. "Isn't that something."

Adrik just shrugs.

"Not a man of many words, are you?"

Adrik frowns.

"Alright, stop proving my point so well."

"I just…" He lets out a pitiful sigh. "I'm fine at talking, with my family. And my students. But other people, well, I've never really had-" There he stops. Because how embarrassing is it for a grown man to say he's never had friends? Not even partner? Someone who chose to talk him of their own free will. Saints, he was pathetic.

But Demyan seems unperturbed. He shrugs as if Adrik just commented it had begun to rain, and flicks some hair hanging over his eyes. "Been bit of a loner myself. Besides my brothers. Growing up was more about surviving than living. Didn't leave much room for a social life."

"My childhood too," Adrik says, shocking himself. Because he doesn't talk about his childhood. Never has with anyone, not even his mother since she was right there alongside him. But something in him wants the words to come out. And of all people, Demyan to hear them. "It was-well, in the moment nothing was really wrong. I had my mother, who liked to keep to our home. I suppose, looking back, everything now seems so much…lonelier. I always thought my mom was so lonely that I would spend all my time with her. She gave me lessons and I had to help us earn money too. Friends just didn't seem important. And my shadows. I wasn't great at controlling them so I always did come off a bit…odd. I didn't care then, though. But when I look back on it, and I see how I am now, I can't help but think…" Again he trails off, embarrassed to go any further. He's socially stunted, he's not an idiot. But he's come to terms with it, it's alright, it's-

"It's okay," Deyman's hand has found its way atop Adrik's. It's warm, like the fire and the liquor. "You don't have to explain. Are you happy? I think what matters is that you're happy."

"I-uh, yea. Yea, I'm happy." Adirk thinks for a moment. "Most of the time."

"Most?" Deyman asks, titling his head. "And the other times?"

Adrik sighs, closing his eyes. "I don't know."

"Adrik"

His whole body starts with surprise. Deyman has never said his first name before. Ever. He's sure of it. But now he has, and it's out there just-just-there between them, and Adrik is starring at him helplessly, not knowing what to do-

"Adrik," Deyman says again, leaning forward. There is purpose in his eyes. No jokes, or teasing. Just a shade of blue that seems so bright in this dark tent. So bright not even Adrik's shadows can snuff them out. Adrik is focused so wholly on his eyes that the moment their lips touch, he doesn't register it at first.

But then he does.

He is kissing someone.

Adrik is kissing someone.

Well, he better start kissing back if he actually wants it to count. The kvaas helps pass his usual walls of anxiety, and his mind turn off instead of bombard him with every possible awful conclusion this will end with. His fear that yes, this is a bad idea, he can't have anyone in life, everyone will always end up leaving him.

But it's already started, so what's the point?

So he finally kisses back, tentatively responding the Daymen's soft caress. Naturally, it ends quickly at this point, Dyamen pulling back to inspect Adrik's reaction.

"I'm-uh, sorry?" Oh Saints, he was making this a mess.

But Daymen just laughs, and finds his hand again to give it a reassuring squeeze. "What the Saints are you sorry for?"

Adrik wishes the tent would just fall on them. Or maybe he could Summon some shadows to swallow him up. Even a Frejdan attack would do.

"I'm not good at this."

"Obviously."

"There's no reason to be an ass about it."

"But you make it so easy."

Adrik huffs and tries to get up but the liquor hits him first and then Daymen is clutching his wrist and keeping him where he is.

"I think it's adorable." He grins, knocking his shoulder. "And you're just way too easy to tease."

"You're lucky I don't take after my father," Adrik mumbles, but does feel infinitely better after the comment. It then occurs to him that since he hadn't screwed this up, he should take it upon himself to make the situation better. Do something, instead of just thinking about. Like he was currently doing.

"Adrik?"

Again, his name. It sounds like something special coming from Daymen's mouth.

"Hm?"

"Stop thinking for a moment and come here."

Yes. He can definitely do that.

"Alina,"

Hm, her husband does not sound happy. In fact, she can even hear his teeth grinding together he emits so much unhappiness. But Alina is still basking in the afterglow of their trip together, and had been content to reacquaint herself with their bed in the Palace for the rest of the afternoon. Of course, Aleksander went straight to work, talking with advisors and looking over piles of endless papers. She left him to it about a couple hours ago, and had been napping, reading, and snacking of some fruit since then. The tsarista could jump back into the fold of things tomorrow, today she need to acclimate herself back into palace life.

Of course she had requested Mila be sent to her rooms, as the princess was suspiciously not present during their arrival, but the guards informed her she was attending an extra circular class that afternoon. The pleasant surprise that rolled off her at that was enough to confirm for Alina that returning home might not be as stressful as she feared.

Oh, how wrong to hope.

"Yes, Aleksander?" She sighs, wearily placing her book down on her lap.

He is standing at the foot of their bed, hands on his hips and that menacing eyebrow arched. She knows this pose. He expects her to know what he's about to say. Or at the very least, quickly join in on his anger once he reveals the source.

Alina hopes it's not what she thinks.

"Do you know what your daughter's been up to since we've been gone?"

Alina breathes in and out through her nose a couple times before answering. "Seeing as I was with you, no."

His eyes thin at the sarcastic retort. "She's been sleeping around, Alina. Bedding a different person every other night."

Now that Alina had not been expecting. Mila had only broached the idea of romantic partners-what was it? A month ago?

"She's a Princess of Ravka. This is outrageous-"

"Aleksander,"

"And she's a child to top it all off. She shouldn't be bedding anyone let alone multiple-"

"If I recall you tried to sleep with me at her age."

Ink black bleeds like droplets from the ceiling, threatening to become a waterfall of much greater force. "Don't," He begins, in that usual quiet and furious way of his. "Throw that in my face."

Alina rolls her eyes. "Well it's true, isn't it?"

He quite literally snarls and begins to pace to room like the leopard he just imitated, no doubt his fingers itching to Cut something to pieces. His shadows keep at bay, thankfully, but don't totally disappear from their darkened corners of the room.

"Get it out now," Alina advises, patting her blanket more securely around her legs. Might as well be comfortable for this little temper tantrum. "Because you will not act like this in front of Mila."

"Oh won't I?" He counters, turning on her with wild eyes.

"No, you won't. I will talk with her, at length, about the situation and you may add a couple thoughts."

"Thoughts?" He exclaims as if it's the most ludicrous word to pronounce.

"I will assure she is being safe about all this, and ask her to be more discrete being what her title is."

A shadow knocks a nearby vase to the floor, thankfully empty of any flowers. But she does believe it had been a gift from some foreign dignitary for their once long ago wedding. "That is not near enough, Alina. She shouldn't at all be-"

"We can't ask her to do that. We can't, Aleksander. If we forbid her she'll only want to do it more and then that will just escalate into something worse. We're her parents, we can be concerned of course, but we have to realize that people her age are entering this stage of life."

Aleksander shakes his head hearing each word, and scrapes a hand through his hair. "I don't want anyone touching her."

Well, at least he isn't yelling anymore.

Alina smiles fondly at the immortal boy before her who once again has come to the conclusion that he loves a girl he can't control. "Come here, Sasha," She whispers, reaching out to him.

He eyes her warily for a second, but then she sees the defeat take its toll, shoulders sagging and shadows finally disappearing from sight. He comes to her with a frailty only Alina has ever been allowed to see. He comes to her as a human, the one so stubbornly hidden under layers of years, hurt, and anger.

Uncaring of her book or tray of food, he crawls onto the bed, clothes and boots and all, and covers her body with his own. She sighs when he nuzzles into the crux of her neck, brushing her skin with his lips and breathing her in.

"It will be alright," She promises, combing through his unruly hair. "You had to know this day would come."

"Someday," He mumbles back. "Not today."

"How about if anyone hurts her, I promise you can unleash the Darkling on them?"

He doesn't answer, but the muffled noise he gives sounds something of an affirmative.

"Of course, that's assuming Mila won't take care of it herself first. Which is a very bold assumption being the daughter of the Darkling."

Alina smiles when she feels Aleksander do the same against her skin.

"Well, moy prints, I do believe you scared then enemy off."

Adirk huffs, and lightly pushes Demyan's shoulder. He's always been shy, even modest if he allowed himself to kindness of the word, so he wouldn't feed into this particular line of teasing. Yes, he had joined the soldiers yesterday when news came the rogue Frejdan soldiers were going to attack again. And yes, he may have gone overboard with his Summoning. But not to showoff, never that. Adrik had never been in actual battle before, so he wanted to make sure when he attacked, he did it well and without any room for error.

So perhaps the skirmish had largely been encompassed in a cloud of black with the enemy begging for mercy within minutes.

Scouts came back that night saying all rogue Fredjans were heading back to their country and leaving no others on Ravka land. As such, it seemed it was time to go home. Of course a small troop would be left just to survey the area and make sure no one returned, but the threat was apparently gone for now.

He was going home.

It was nearing four months now, and Adrik had been missing his family. The letters were plentiful, even his father had sent him one commending him on accomplishment. But they hadn't been enough. He missed Mila's face, the expressions she would make when telling him a story. His mother's warm aura, hugging him at random moments during the day. He even missed his father's strong presence, one he used to fear but now grew accustomed to.

What had drove Adrik from the palace seemed so minuscule now, especially considering what has happened with Demyan. Perhaps he had built up the whole thing too largely in his head, credited with more significance then it actually held. He had viewed another person like some saintly deity, untouchable and worthy more than anything he could ever have. She had just been a person, and he had been a fool. Adrik saw now, with Demyan, it was simple as wanting to be happy and someone wanting to do it with you. Yes, it wouldn't and couldn't last forever. But Adrik didn't want to think on that. He wanted the now of them together, no matter how long that may be. Just now. Just being happy.

"We are you heading back to?" Adrik inquired, trying not to sound too eager. He honestly had no idea where Demyan would be stationed after this, or if his plans lead back to his home. He was hoping neither

The other man shrugs, and flicks a berry into his mouth. "Wherever I'm ordered, I suppose."

"There's no current situations requiring attention," Adrik muses. "You would have the choice."

Again, Demyan just shrugs and Adrik feels frustration prickle up his spine.

"Is there something specific you want to ask me, Adrik?"

"I believe I already did."

Those blue eyes twinkle in the way Adrik is becoming terribly familiar with. "No, I think you want to ask me something else."

"I-" Well yes, of course he wasn't asking what he was really thinking but he couldn't do that either. He would sound like a fool in love. An eager boy who didn't know what to do with his newfound feeling. He was a prince and Shadow Summoner, he needed to show some decorum. But it seemed pointless now with the knowing look Deyman was giving him.

It's not like they discussed, exactly, what they were to each other. Whether there were any commitments. It was natural for Adrik to be curious, wasn't it?

"Have I mentioned I find you adorable?"

Adrik huffs and turns his head away. "Once or twice."

"Well I'll have to do it more then. Adrik," There is hand on his cheek, gently coaxing him back into Demyan's gaze. His eyes are soft, his smile even more so. Those blue orbs dart down to his lips before fixing on his eyes. "Please, just ask me."

There is a tug on his heart he is not at all familiar with. Beyond all reason, it makes him want to give Demyan absolutely everything he can offer. To fall on his knees and ask him for his heart, mind, and soul, and to offer his own in return. It scares Adrik. Terrifies him, actually. He wonders, with shocking realization, if this is what his parents have. That despite the turmoil between them, and the horrid past that had them at each other's throats, there is a bond that they can't shake or ignore. That makes them cling to each other despite any ugliness, and love each other with a ferocity that could burn the world down.

Is this love? Is it always this terribly powerful, something that makes him want to run but stay at the same time?

"Come back with me," Adrik says before he can overthink it. "To Os Alta."

The smile Demyan gives is all the answer Adrik needs, and makes his heart swell all the more.

It isn't till an hour later, when he alone and packing his things, that Adrik realizes he is going to have to introduce him to his family.

Alina giggles like a young girl when Aleksander nips at her neck, a playful admonishment for her teasing comment on how much he's let his hair grow.

"I am right here," Mila says dryly, poking at her cooked meat with more force than necessary.

Alina shoots her a playful look, and considers kissing her husband soundly on the mouth right then and there, but he pulls back with a cough and nudge to her knee.

"I would think you'd be in a better mood," Aleksander comments while sitting back in his seat, "Considering your brother should be back tomorrow."

"I am happy for that," Mila states with a sniff.

"So the attitude then?" Alina inquires with an arched brow. "You've been snippy since breakfast."

Her daughter then looks pointedly at Aleksander, and Alina swears she can see restrained light hidden beneath the skin of the younger girls' hands. Aleksander barely flinches though. Perhaps it is a Sun Summoner thing.

"Ask him," Mila says with not to subtle venom.

Truly confused at the situation, Alina looks to Aleksander for some clarity.

He looks as calm as usual, and not at all put off by Mila's too general accusation. He doesn't even answer Alina's unasked question. "Moya lyubov," He says with a leveled voice, "Whatever do you mean?"

The glass in Mila's hand comes down hard onto the table. "Don't pretend you don't know! Ivan received news today he is to return home because his mother needs him. That money has become hard, somehow. He hasn't even finished his studies."

"Well it sounds like he is doing the right thing," Aleksander counters quickly.

"His family is wealthy, they don't need for anything!" Mila snaps. "You did this all because he and I are-"

"Careful how you finish that sentence," Aleksander intercedes with a new firmness.

Mila bares her teeth. "You can't keep doing this. Every time I get close to someone they oh so conveniently find some reason to distance themselves."

Oh, so this is the problem. Alina sighs, and takes a healthy swig of her drink. Of course, she knew deep down Aleksander would never abide by their daughter's escapades. She didn't even dare hope, despite assuring him herself she had talked to Mila. Of course, she had gotten better at being discrete and though Alina wished she would find a more regular partner, Mila was apparently taking her immortality to heart. Alina couldn't argue with her on that, still guilty over the fact her daughter would never find the person Aleksander was to her.

"Aleksander," She says in a tired voice.

"Have you ever considered the kind of people warming your bed?" He asks, ignoring Alina. "How unworthy they are of you?"

Mila grows red at her father's bluntness, but finds the courage to keep speaking. "Who is worthy then?"

At this, Aleksander actually grows quiet. The fact he can't actually answer his daughter's question makes him all the more angry and even Alina wants to warn Alina to leave the room.

"None of them," Aleksander settles on replying, when his fists finally unclench. "No one will ever be worthy of you."

Mila shakes her head. "Then what does it matter? What does anything ever matter for us?"

"Mila," Alina whispers. "Please."

It's a line of conversations she can't follow. Wont' follow. They all know where it would end, the only inevitable end. And Aleksander was only being a helpless father to an unruly daughter, which neither it seemed was willing to acknowledge.

"Adrik has attached himself to someone," Aleksander abruptly states, shocking the whole table. "It seems you both want to indulge in pleasures you can't hope to keep."

"Stop spying on us," Mila hisses.

"I agree," Alina snaps, and now nudges his knee.

"You support all this nonsense?" He growls.

"They are their own persons," Alina argues. "You can't control them like you do everything else."

"Alina"

"Aleksander"

Mila rises from the table and flings her napkin down onto the wood. "I'm leaving before you two start whatever it is you two do. Just know, I would truly appreciate not being watched and handled. I'm sure Adrik does too. We both know that can't last forever."

Aleksander stares coolly at her. "Do I?"

Mila gives a grin Alina has never seen exchanged between father and daughter. "I am my mother's daughter." With that, she saunters off, the door closing soundly behind her.

Despite it all, Alina feels oddly proud.

Aleksander turns to her. "This is why I did not want children."