Darkling POV

"Soldier's you have your orders you should be searching everything. Now Mr. Berkker you or your three have five seconds to tell me where the fuck she is or I will kill you where you stand and move on to the next person." We have found them but from frist glace it was only the three off them in the carriage with a lot trunks in there with them. Where they got a carriage full of trunks I wasn't sure and didn't care. "One... two... three...(I started pulling shadows to perform a cut) four... fiv-." The Mr. Berkker yelled "stopped fine I'll tell you just let them go." "Where is she?" I growled once more "well you men dropped her a few moments ago and rather harshly better hope she can still breathe. "I spun on my heel towards the carriage "she's in one of the trunks move it start opening em fast. Someone get a healer up here now we may need it." I spun back around glaring "which trunk is she in?" Bekker wasn't talking though growling I was thinking over killing him when I heard the woman talk. "She is in the purple and blue one sir I never wanted to hurt her I'm sorry." Turning once more I ran to the coach Ivan having heard came with me to help me find it soon we did. "Mila open this" I ordered and she immediately got her tools out. I swear she had the hinges and lock was off before we could blink and her and Ivan were lifting off the lid. I had the first view inside and what I saw terrified me and caused my heart to fall. Rushing foward Ivan and I reached in and gently pulled her out that was when we noticed she wasn't breathing. "Ivan is her heart beating if so keep it that way if not get it that way. Where is my healer and now someone get me a squallar." Ivan nodded and I got my squallar before my healer. "Start getting getting air into the sun summoner's lungs get her breathing now." "Yes moi soverennyi" and quickly got to work only then did the healer show up. "Moi soverennyi you called for a healer sir." "Yes you will heal the sun summoner's wounds when they have gotten her stable unless you can help now." She bowed and went to work along side Ivan and the squallar "you had better not be in the way." It was ivan who responded "sir I don't know what she is doing but Alina's heartbeats are increasing without my effort." That was when we finally heard the sound we had all been waiting on Alina to take a breath on her own. Calling for a guard I told him "make the prisoners walk behind us tied to a horse and guard each. While ivan, me, Alina (Untied), and the healer would be on the carriage. We will go into camp stash those three in the cells until Alina is healed and we can go back home. I will determine their fate once we are back home." I picked up the still unconscious Alina and waited for Ivan to climb in so I could hand her over just long enough for me to get in. "Get us moving" I shouted to whomever was driving us and we were off. I knew the other would follow bringing the three prisoners for now though I was headed to take Alina to my permanent tent in the army camp that boarded the town with the skiffs. "Why do we keep slowing" I demanded to know. Ivan came back with "moi soverennyi this is not your normal carriage. They do not know to get out of the way yet sir." I growled under my breath and look down to see the healer working to close another of the wounds. "Moi soverennyi when we get to camp I will need Aliha laid flat sir she has broken ribs both front and back left and right sides. If she regains consciousness I suggest we put her back under she has to be in an untold amount of pain sir. For now I'm just trying to stop the blood." "Give me a rundown of her other injuries back at camp we will take here to my tent." I will kill them all I thought and Ivan's face read the same.

Alina POV

My passage of time was pain, someone screaming sounding like me, and the blackness that brought the numbness. I thought I seen Aleksander's face somewhere in the haze but when I tried to call out to him the blackness took me again. The darkness was letting up again but the pain (for the most part) was almost gone I found I could open my eyes finally. Opening my eyes I found I was on a bed alone and Aleksander was sitting on a chair next to the bed a sleep. A coughing fit started thanks to a soar throat waking Aleksander "my sun you are awake finally I was so worried." I tried to speak but I just came out a croak so he rose to go get me a glass of water and held my head up so I could drink it. Looking around after he laid me back down I could tell we were in his tent. "You came" I croaked throat still sore. "Did you doubt I would my sun" he asked looking at me like I was a subject to be inspected. "Well there was a moment in the trunk when things went dark." He leaned forward "I thought we lost you for a moment seeing you in there unconscious it was horrible. I thought you were gone and I was alone in eternity again." As I was raising my hand tears in my eyes about to try and comfort him in walk Ivan and some woman. On slid Aleksander's mask and I growled under my breath having lost such a moment. "I see she is awake, about time gave us all a scare miss Starkov" Ivan said. "Gee thanks Ivan I thought I was still out thanks for telling me otherwise and you had a scare? Try waking up in the hands of someone who you have no idea then get locked in a trunk and almost die and then talk to me about fear." Apparently I had no tolerance for either Aleksander's second or his wit because all eyes looked at me after that and I flushed. "Alina are you ok?" Was I, I asked my self after Aleksander did. No my head was splitting and I was missing time which I hated. I had no clue where we where but one of Aleksander's famous black tents. I had no clue what has happened since I passed out in the trunk. Who was the screaming lady from before? "No but I will not discuss it with you Ivan until I get answers." No one expected me to go on the hostile like this so it was Aleksander who responded. "Alina whatever you wish to know we will tell you, we will hide nothing from you." "Well Ale- ( he raise his eyebrows) General where are we? Where are my kidnappers? What will happen to them? What happened to the screaming woman?" He gestured for me to stop "how can I answer if you dont pause" he chuckles. "We are in the army camp boarding the town with the skiffs. The kidnappers are in the cells and I'm not sure what will happen to them yet. Seeing as you and I will oversee that matter. Alina there was no screaming woman at least none other than you while they where healing you your wounds were quite serious." I was the screaming woman? We had all forgotten the woman that had walked in with Ivan until she spoke breaking me out of my thoughts causing me to jump making and making Aleksander mad. "Moi soverennyi the kings men have finally caught up they brought the kings second Dima and the tracker both are demanding to see the sun summoner and see she is well." I froze I didn't want to see people let alone Mal or the kings second. However it seems that I was not going to be able to get away from it. Aleksander helped me from the bed as I insisted I would not be seen there to an oversized chair. I was immediately covered with blankets and the pair was escorted in to see me.

Darkling POV

I was about to kill Irina when she delivered even worse news from the looks from what see said Alina look like she wanted to bolt or die but she couldn't run and I wasn't letting her die. Of course she wouldn't stay in the bed no she wasn't going to appear weak. Normally he would love this about her but right now he just wanted her back in bed safe. Dima walked in followed closely by the tracker. "Alina!" The tracker ran to her only to be stopped short by Ivan hand on his shoulder. "You stop here she had many things broken and they will easily break again." He just did a stiff nod Dima on the other hand witnessed all this and approached bowing to her. "Sun summoner I am glad to see that they found you in time and I apologize for your injuries. I also wish to inform you that the king and queen wish to see you. Afterwards the crown prince wishes to meet with you as soon as you reach the palace grounds." I move forward from behind her "you are overwhelming her, she has just come to, come back and do your political work later." Dima turned red and stormed at out my tent. "Are you going to be problems boy or are you going to behave?" He looked at me "I'm her best friend I'm here for her. (Facing her) Alina are you ok?" "No mal I'm not I'm not ready for visitors but yet they keep showing up. I've been kidnapped, beaten, I've almost died, and getting healed isn't a picnic. So all in all Mal no I'm not." I felt a hit to the gut but hid it while everyone else in the tent (Ivan, Irina, Mal) blanched." I took it as a sign once more "everyone out, Ivan clear this tent. No one enters till Alina says am I clear?" He nodded "yes moi soverennyi" and the tent was clear within minutes. I turned towards Alina "may I stay my sun or am I kick out too?" She looked shocked "I thought you would stay with me. Besides how else am I supposed to get back to the bed unless you don't want me sleeping with you." I chuckled "unless you tell me to leave I am your personal shadow. I am not letting you out of my sites. Now wrap your arms around my head so I can lift you." As I lifted her she kissed my cheek and said "I'm glad you rescued me my dark angel." Laying her on the bed I looked down "Alina it's my fault that they got to you I left the door unlocked. Looking back I must have but of course I would come after you always." She grabbed for my hand since I had returned to my chair and said "Aleksander look at me please." I did "they would have gotten me sooner had you not been in my room. They were planning to pick the lock I don't blame you." How did she know that? "How could you know that my sun we have yet to question the prisoners." No she looked down shuddering so I got up to move to the side of the bed and sat on the edge. Lifting her chin "what is it my sun you can tell me." She sighed "when I was in the carriage I wouldn't answer Mr. Berkker's questions so he beat me the woman stopped him. However when they stopped long enough to change drivers Jasper was answering and well it came up." She stopped talking I was pissed "was Mr. Berkker the only one to lay a finger on you." "I don't know" she looked puzzled. "What do you mean?" She sighed again "I don't actually remember being taken. I remember being in bed with you then in the coach but Jasper said he and I faught at the little palace. Before he smashing my head to knock me out he kept my hands separate so I couldn't summon." So that explains the seen Genya and Ivan had seen and why there had been so much blood. "Alina I am so sorry." "Aleksander it's not your fault will you please come lay here and hold me already I missed you." Smiling I kicked off my boots and climbed on the other side of her "as you wish."

Alina POV

Aleksander blames himself I realized and as he climbed into the bed I waited. When was settled I scooted over laying my head on his chest chin propped up on my hands looking into his face. "Aleksander I don't blame you for this so stop blaming yourself." He huffed "Alina it is not that simple I was supposed to protect you. We nearly lost you and I was scared seeing you laying in the trunk half dead I thought we lost you and I was alone again." I was shocked "Aleksander you will never be alone I love you." I didn't realize that I had added the last part but when his eyes went wide I knew I must have. "Aleksander please I thought about this for awhile it was the only thing keeping me sane. What I had with Mal wasn't love it was childhood longing for someone who didn't and doesn't see me for me. You have always seen me always tried to get me to believe in myself. Your the only one who has ever called me beautiful and you are who I gave myself to. Please say something anything." Instead he hugged me closer to him drawing me up to kiss him. A deep passionate kiss that did end till both were gasping for breath. "Alina I was afraid you would hate me for failing to protect you or that I would have to work to make you love me. You have turned my world upside down and torn down all the walls I have put up I love you Alina. However you need to know that you are moving suites." My mouth dropped as he spoke however I recovered quickly "my dark angel I would not hate you for that I could only hate you if you hurt me. I am glad I've turn your world upside down and torn down your walls. Why am I moving suites and where am I moving?" Oh God was I gonna like this? He cleared his throat and looked away for a moment now I was really nervous. "Well my sun you know the ivory doors just inside mine?" "Yes." "Well those open to a set of rooms that match mine." I gasped "what why how?" I asked my brain not catching up with what he said or was meant. "I've been looking for you for a long time. I wasn't planning on moving you there till you were further in your instructions and ready. However seeing everything that has gone on your old chambers aren't safe plus there is a secret tunnel from the chambers of that one the my personal chambers and nowhere else. So there is no worry the tunnel could ever be compromised." I smiled like the idea we can see each other more the idea make me reach up and kiss him. Soon I feel the soft swipe of his tongue asking for entry and I am all to keen to give it to him. Before long he pulls back I made a disgruntled noise and he chuckled "my sun you may look healed but a lot of it was more on the inside you still will need at least two healing sessions before we can leave. Until you are given the all clear we cannot do anything as much as we wish otherwise." I huffed "but Aleksander we just told each other we loved one another for the first time I want to do more than just lay in your arms." He laughed "I know my love but I need you safe more than personal desire I will make it up to you afterwards. I also have more news that you might not like but it will give me peace of mind I am assigning you a personal guard that will be with you at all time or posted in certain places." What the hell "Aleksander I don't want a bunch of people following me around all day." He turned hard faced "Alina you were just kidnapped I won't take no for a answer the only times your guard won't know where you will be is when you use the tunnel. You will be able to order them out but they wont go very far." I huffed "there is no way in talking you out of it is the?" He hugged me closer and said simply "no now sleep my love." I laid down more getting comfortable I looked up and kissed him "goodnight Aleksander." "Goodnight my love sleep tight." That was that last thing I remember that night.