Darkling POV

In the earliest moments before sunrise I woke as I always did looking out the window. Until I realized I was still holding Alina again she had stayed with him. Instead of sneaking off after he fell asleep. In their sleep she had turned to face the window while I had my arms one under her head as if to support it. The other one was on her stomach. She fit perfectly into the curve of my side. Normally at this time of morning I'm dressing watching the last of the shadows fade. Today I have no plans on moving till the girl beside me does she will choose he future today and hopefully she will continue to choose me. Her hair was half cross her face so I reached up and delicately brushed it off with my index fingers. I chuckled when the first Ray's of sun peaked thru and hit her she murmured and rolled over hiding her face in my chest. "It's not nice to stare nor laugh at someone who doesn't want to wake up." She surprises me "I thought that you were still asleep my sun." "Your curtains are open it's to bright in here." I chuckled again "and here I thought you were the sun summoner how can you not like the sun?" "I do just not so early. Why are we up this early?" "I am always up this early my sun, how are you feeling?" I asked pulling her even closer so she could feel I was hard just from waking up next to her. "I'm fine just a bit stiff." "I can help loosen you up if you would like." Cupping the back of her neck I brought our lips together in a breath stealing, teeth clashing, no holds bar kiss. Only to be interrupted by banging on the door. We broke apart both groaning "GO AWAY" I yelled as Alina giggled on his chest. Whoever was at the door pounded on it again shouting "moi soverennyi you are needed for a great deal of many things. I have your answers you requested. Are you unwell shall I send for a grisha healer?" I looked at Alina she blushed then giggled again driving me insane. Gripping her hips knowing this causes her pleasure i yelled " no Ivan just haven't made it out there yet i overslept. There is no need to call a healer. I'll be out soon to deal with all those things. Are they answers or are they lies?" "moi soverennyi they are both sir I'm afraid he does not choose to answer all my questions. Also sir do you wish for me or miss Safin to go get miss Starkov?" Alina buried her face in my chest to hide her face and blush, I silently chuckled. "No Ivan I'll get miss Starkov meet back here in thirty minutes." "Yes moi soverennyi" Ivan yelled thru the door.

Alina POV

I couldn't decide if I wanted to kill the person at the door or be grateful since we still needed to talk too. So I just quietly giggled into his chest and listened to the conversation. When Ivan mention grabbing me I hid my face in Aleksander's chest to try and hide my blush it didn't work if his chuckle was anything to go off of. Finally when Ivan was gone Aleksander cupped my chin to get me to look at him. So looking up he lightly brushed a kiss on my lips "we have to get up my sun, but I want you with me for all my meetings today. I no longer want you kept in the dark" he said. She looked up at his startled "are you sure you want me to attend your meetings? What happened Aleksander what changed other than one night together?" His eyes softened even more "Alina as I said, I don't want to hurt you. So from here on out I want you to choose your own way. You are the most powerful grisha other than myself. Plus you need to know of the events that occurred last night. So dress my sun we have to begin our day." He said I kissed him passionately but also fearful to begin a new day. "I don't have anything clean to wear under my kefta" I suddenly panicked realizing we weren't in my room. Aleksander cleared his throat I looked up he looked suddenly uncomfortable "I had a few outfits and gowns made for you in my color I was hoping to give you as a gift later but now works." "That is wonderful Aleksander, that works out really well this morning" I say giggling. We move to get up I notice him staring at me standing there naked "that is not showing me my clothes Aleksander or putting on your own not that I'm minding the view." I couldn't believe I just said that but it got him moving just not towards clothes but towards me. He in golfed me in his arms "sorry you're a distracting woman my sun." He kissed me passionately and let me go to run his hands down my arms releasing my other hand and showed me over to a larger black trunk by the end of the foot of the bed. He knelt and opened the trunk he reached in and pulled out a box big enough for her to sit in and placed it on the bed. "For you my sun" and turned to get dressed. I opened the box and was taken back. I had expected a few dress not a few dress, shirts, parts, underwear, and different types of shoes.

Darkling POV

I walked to my wardrobe after setting the new wardrobe I had made for her on the bed. I choose my normal black shirt and pants and turn to see Alina bending to put on a pair of pants. she appears to have chosen all black again but that's not what caught his attention. What caught his attention was she turned from him bent over hair spilling over her shoulders with black silk and satin underwear set she was a vision. As I was watching her pull up her black Jean I asked "do you remember where we left my kefta?" She looks over her shoulder and smiles "it's out in the war room floor. Wonder what Ivan thought of that or if that a normal thing?" I walked up behind her before she could slip on a shirt and slipped my arms around her. "No my sun it's not a common thing so I wonder indeed what he thinks of it lol" I got to watch as she turn beet red from her head to her breasts embarrassed. I let her go she quickly put on a shirt and picked up her kefta and put it on buttoning quickly. When we were finally ready after more kissing and longing glances they walked to the war room were I picked up my kefta to put it on. Alina pipes up before I can "may i?" Gesturing to my kefta reminding us both of the time she put it on for me the first time. I handed it to her and turned around she help me put it on. She kissed my check when she was done I turn around to take her in my arms when the knocking began. They laughed for a second the Aleksander looked at Alina "today while we are with others I need you to call me either General Kirigan, or Darkling you cant you my name please for me." She looked at me all serious "I would rather call you General Kirigan cause you are no longer Darkling to me". I cupped her face as Ivan knocked once more "I hope you feel that way after today's meetings cause I'm no longer hiding things from you." I left her there standing stairing at me as I went and let Ivan in. As I opened the door I noted Ivan's worried face "what is it Ivan spill." I still hadn't let him in the room "sir I know you said you would grab the sun summoner however listening to whispers no one has seen the sun summoner since she was in your company last night and miss Safin had went to her room and she isn't there I'm afraid she is gone moi soverennyi." I opened the door to let Ivan step into the room "oh I beg your pardon I didn't realize that you got to her first." "Yes he did good morning Ivan" Alina said. "Ivan I thought I told you meetings started in thirty minutes where is everyone? " just as I made my way to my chair and gestured to the second largest to Alina taking her hand there was a knock on the door. Ivan went to get it in came the head of the grisha groups(summoners, Durast, so on), Mal the tracker (Alina tensed at this), Genya, and a guard. Finally the door shut.

Alina POV

He put me in the chair next to him it was the second largest. From the looks I was getting from Ivan I think this was his normal spot I stick my tongue out at him he frowns I laugh. Aleksander looks over and frowns too I think he looks jealous. So I squeeze his hand and smile at him, he smiles and demands where everyone is followed by a knock. At first it seemed normal the heads of the different groups but she was expecting mal she froze up see him. Then Genya came in and that confused me but no where near as bad as the single guard. Aleksander (the General as she had to think of him for now) gave her hand a squeeze before he let go and stood up. "Morning all we are going to begin this meeting with the easiest facts and move up." Everyone who was not Alina was still standing bowed slightly saying "yes moi soverennyi." He sat back down taking my hand which I could see mal noticed flawed jaw and clenched fist. Alina tuned out most of the meeting cause it seemed like a status update. The heads of groups were released from the meeting. Leaving five left being four out of the five she cared about I started paying more attention. Mal was next, he walked up squaring his shoulders "Alina, how have you been? Are you ok?" I looked at him I was done playing his game " hey Mal, I am fine I am better than fine. Yes I am ok Mal I have neve been better." I couldn't help the smile on my face but mal look disgusted "have you let him take you? have you turned yourself into a whore? Do you take anyone now or just grisha?" Mal spat at me I was close to tears. Aleksander stood up surprising her with how much venom was in his voice "boy you did not hardly care for her before she came here. You will watch how you speak with her or I will slice you clean in half standing there." I could see Mal puff up his chest and look back at me "did he even tell you I was here last night asking to speak with you." Before I could answer before I could blink Aleksander answered again "no I didn't what I am about to say does not leave this room but will explain why i did not tell her why until this morning." Oh saints he isn't about to tell them about our night is he

Darkling POV

I could see Alina tuning out the meeting which for now would be ok but when we lead ravka she would have to pay attention. When I released the heads of the factions is when hell broke loose. I look at Alina and note she is trying not to blush what could make her blush? She is looking at me and no one else so I think about what I just said I bet she is worried that I will give away our night. "Alina these things will be hard for you to hear that is why I have as Genya here. Genya if you please start with your account first then you can move to comfort Alina." Genya rubbed a spot on her chest looking down "yes moi soverennyi, I went into the dressing room and caught and attacked who thought they killed Alina instead they got Marie. I tried to fight him he shot at he when hand to hand wouldn't work. My kefta stoppedthe bullet but Marie wasn't as lucky" I looked at Alina she had silent tears going down her cheeks. I looked up "Ivan go." "Yes moi soverennyi, I have been with said assassin trying to get answers as you requested. He has been spewing lies but I have gathered he came with other who had orders to kidnap her not kill her that was all him." Alina gasped "why are they after me like this?" Genya came and pulled her into a hug and is murmuring to her that she was ok and that the darkling wouldn't let anything happen to her. Turning to look at Mal I could see his face lost its anger while mine just grew. How could someone try and hurt someone so innocent. "Do you see no tracker why you were not prioritized into the night not only tried to be killed but tried to be kidnapped twice? I stopped the second attempt myself. She is to special to leave in the hand of others she is too powerful. You can't understand how powerful she will become but I do and someone is guessing and trying to kill her for it." The tracker paled opened his mouth and closed it a few times before he found his voice again "I didn't know Alina are you ok? (All Alina could do was nod) Yes I'm sorry I realize why you weren't told of my arrival last night." Looking to me when she still wouldn't respond "she isn't safe here, she doesn't belong with you" he spat. I laughed, Alina jumped "I'm sorry Alina I didn't mean to cause you to jump. Boy if she left here she would be dead in a month as soon as enemy says knew she was with you. She is safer here than anywhere again look at what was avoided last night. As for who she belongs with that is up to her boy not me I do not control her." Again the boy puffed up his chest in act to seem tuffer "I could take care of her I am in the first army, I can fight, I can hunt, track and provide for her. She would not be dead in a month I would protect her till I died. Safe here you said yourself you had to stop one of the kidnappers they got way to close if that's the case I'm not stupid. She is meant to be with me I love her."

Alina POV

I was freaking out being held by Genya listening to the General and Mal fight about me like I wasn't there. However at this point I might not mind disappearing Genya is brushing my hair back and I'm content to stay quiet and let the boys have it out till I hear the last sentence out of Mal. Suddenly startling everyone in the room I stand slamming my hands on the table. I was shooting death glares at Mal and shouted "clear the room coom back in twenty." Everyone but the General left he sat in his chair I could feel him as much as I could see him in the corner of my eye. "Does he have to be here?" Asked Mal "don't worry about him you have bigger things to worry about Mal Than General Kirigan. I am going to talk Mal and you are going to listen because I am done. After all of these years of me following you around protecting you when you needed it. Be it from stitching up a bad cut when we were younger to hide it from the head mistress to letting you hide under my bunk in the army when someone was made cause YOU SELPT WITH THEIR WOMEN. I'VE SAT BACK AND WATCHED AS WOMEN HAVE TROWN THEMSELVES AT AND YOU NEVER TURN THEM DOWN, BUT YET YOU CALLED ME A WHORE NOT KNOWINGIF I WAS A VIRGIN OR NOT STILL YOUR A HYPOCRITE. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TRUE LOVE WAS IF IT WAS A FOX BITINGYOU IN THE ASS." I was screaming by the end of it and Mal took a step back while the General stood I heard the boom and everything went dark. My other senses heightened and my body cried for me to call the light but I didn't I clamped down on that feeling and pushed it down. I stilled feeling the General behind me I was expecting it this time so i didn't shriek when he whizpered in my ear after moving Genya away. "Are you ok my sun? We can end this part of the meeting and send the boy off if you would prefer. You can calm down and we can continue this meeting then." I couldn't stop the tears, I just wanted to be alone but not be alone. Finally I whispered back "I don't think I can handle anymore of this meeting but I dont want to be away from you." He hugged me once before saying "call you light in a second I'm not going anywhere nor are you leaving my sight. I'm gonna stand again them call the light." I listened I didn't hear him move so instead once he was ready he said "Alina please call your light. Now everyone we are going to take a break from this meeting those of you who are in this room will be called for when we are ready to restart." Everyone fled the room without one last glance beside Mal and he looked like he had a lot to say but Ivan dragged him out and shut the door. Aleksander came a knelt in front of her "are you ok my sun?" Was she, she just lost her best friend she wasn't sure she could forgive him for that. She has learned someone else tried to kill and kidnap her. She needed a moment to think. "I don't know Aleksander and our day not over with it's just starting so I just don't know. I got up walking in his bed chambers to his window to look outside I didn't realize that he followed me till he put his arms around me hugging me to him "no one will hurt you my sun they have to get thru me."