Darkling POV

Walking outside was like a breath of fresh air and torture all at once to be away from Alina. Ivan pounced the second I appeared "sire how is miss Starkov is there any change, anything I can do to help?" Looks like Ivan cares for our sun summoner I raise a eye brow "she is awake and dealing with miss Safin but do I detect a hint of concern for the sun summoner Ivan?" I ask teasing but he shudders "I, I it's just I know sire that she is important to you and sire she has grown on me as a friend." I chuckle "Ivan relax already I guessed as much plus her attitude toward you isn't any better." He laughed "that is ok sire as long as you are both safe." That snapped me back to reality "is there anything else you needed other than checking in on Alina?" He nodded "you're correct sire many times today I was stopped throughout the camp by people and soldiers demanding to see her or else they wont believe she is alive. Some are even going so far as saying we have lost our saint and our only hope of ever getting rid of the fold." I growled under my breath stealing myself "as soon as Alina is dressed we will see when she is up for visitors. Then whenever that is you will gather as many people as possible and bring them to my tent but have my guard put on high alert as well as Alina's guard." Ivan looked shocked then laughed asking "can I be there when you ask this of her?" I couldn't fathom why "Ivan what do you know that I don't that you find that funny." Before he could answer Genya stuck her head out the tent then seeing us down the walk stepped out the tent walking towards me as I started towards her. "She is dressed sir and asking for you as a strange woman got into the tent after we got her dress but we got before her kefta on. The way Alina reacted it was like she was seeing a ghost or something worse and she is not reacting well at all sir." I was running to the tent at that point as soon as I go thru the flap my eyes were adjusting trying to find Alina. Finally I found her hiding behind the edge of my desk cowering in fear. Quickly moving to her side I started pulling her into my arms and she came willingly "Alina are you okay you are shaking? Did you recognize the woman that was in here?" She started nodding and crying "it was the woman from the carriage. How did she get out and to me Aleksander?" She whispers crying in my ear burying her face in my neck shock shot through me and I stood picking her up as I went turning to see Ivan hovering by the flap. I demanded the cells be searched and the guards brought to me he went away without asking why. "Please don't leave me alone again Aleksander please." It broke my heart to hear this tiny plea from someone who is so strong "I would not think of it" I said setting her down in my chair and crouching down next to her. "Tell me what happened after I stepped out and you got dressed my sun so that I may fix it." She shook her head but after a second started talking anyways "Genya and I were talking and didn't notice how she got in. Genya was brushing my hair and we caught sight of her in the mirror. She appeared out of nowhere saying she only wanted to speak and didn't mean any harm. She asked that we take pity on the men tomorrow Jasper is apparently just a casualty of war while Mr. Berkker just wanted to protect them. Saying Jasper only followed Berkker's orders and that he is normally a good man. After she said all she had to say she backed away and disappeared underneath the side of the tent." I was trying to contain my rage, how had they managed to get to her here of all places it should have been safe here I need to get her somewhere where no one knows where she is. Including the royals and all but my most trusted of grisha. "Alina did she say how she managed to get out and if the others had plans to escape?" She just shook her head wrapping her arms tighter around herself as if the extra pressure would keep the memory away.

Alina POV

Genya just disappeared to go get the General but not before shoving me down behind the desk to hide but it was all to welcome. When he suddenly appeared in front of me I about screamed he scared me cause I didn't hear his footsteps. I was not wanting to relive it but Aleksander needed answers so I told him everything that I could. "I have to poke my head outside the tent to summon our guards but you shall still see me." I nodded not really listening just trying to block out what happened but I watched him get up moving to the flap of the tent yelling at the head of his guard and mine to get in here now. He returned to me and stood by my side holding my shoulder for strength waiting and watching as the two lined up in front of his desk. The look on both of their faces said they could tell that they were more likely than not to be in trouble without knowing why. Aleksander started "do you know why you both have been brought in here?" They both shook their heads saying "no sir." "Well someone who was supposed to be in the cells made her way in here to the sun summoner herself." They both blanched and looked at me causing me to blanch and want to hide again. "As you both can see she is okay only due to the fact the woman wanted no harm only to talk. So Sacha as the head of my guard why was my tent not surrounded by guards knowing well the sun summoner is healing in here? Was that not my orders for this time around? As for you Calina I believe I also told you and the others to be guarding the tent as well? There are four of you here now that is four extra bodies that should have been outside this tent." He was shouting towards the end so I put my hand on his to try and comfort him it seemed to work he lowered his voice back down. Neither looked like they wanted to be the first one to start to speak but that just made Aleksander madder. I could feel the tension running off him so I broke the quiet. "If either one of you don't wish to see the General become really angry I suggest one of you start speaking now Sasha man up and go." He puffed up briefly before realizing my new rank again "yes miss Starkov and yes General that was your orders. I had believed that all sides of your tent had been covered sir. I will look over where she got in and out see who was supposed to be there and why they weren't accounted for. I myself am position at the front of the tent sir in case you are in need of myself or one of your other guard can find me during their off rotation." I nodded looking over at Aleksander trying to gage his reaction and failing miserably. Giving up turning back to Calina nodding to her to begin but she was not looking at me to notice. "Calina unless you wish to spend the night in the cells to see if that will loosen up your lips you will start talking now" Aleksander stated coldly. She shuddered "yes sir I like Sasha am up at the front and the healer is resting to prepare for the sun summoner's next healing. The two new guards are posted at the opposite sides of each other. So sir I would need to know the way in and out to know if my people are responsible for it or if she got in where there weren't. However we have heard good news the rest of the Sun Summoner guard have already picked up their fresh horses and on their way. It seems that they are stopping for nothing and no one to be here ahead of schedule at this rate we should receive them in the middle of the night instead of late tomorrow morning." I groaned more people to follow me around but after this I guess that considering everything that's just happened that maybe a good thing.

Darkling POV

They both had reasonable explanations but I wasn't letting them go just yet Alina had been put in danger yet again and I still had yet to ask her to meet with the soldiers. "You both have two hours to bring me information on how this woman was able to get into this tent. However before you go Alina after this and after your next healing. Which I'm moving up cause we need to be sure they can't cause anymore damage as well as we need you in fighting form. After that in about five hours will you be willing to accept all the soldiers and those who wish to see you are still alive they fear we have lost our saint." She scoffed at the saint part "General let's just get thru the healing and then we will talk about it as long as you will be there and I know I'm safe." I nodded "I don't plan on leaving your side again until we leave here. You seem to be safe with me and me alone. Sasha Calina you are both dismissed go do the task you are supposed to but be back as fast as you can." I watched as they quickly bowed and backed out the tent. I turned crouching next to Alina, "Alina we will have to go back home to the little palace long enough for the royals to see your safe and alive. Afterwards we are going to join the hunt for the stag they should have it nearly pinned down by time we join. When you have your amplifier no one else will ever be able to do that to you again. Here is the part I have not been able to tell you about yet is your amplifier is one in a set of three. It will also create a bond between us to were we will be able to feel what the other feels and possibly more. There is little written on the subject however I feel we will navigate it just fine. There will be one day were you will be more powerful than I Alina if you are willing that is my love." I could see the thoughts running thru her mind as I was talking she was trying to picture it but something was holding her back. "Aleksander everyone knows you only get one amplifier how would I be able to take three? That makes no sense please explain it. I could do a bond with you as long as you keep telling me you plans Aleksander I love you. I doubt I could be more powerful there is no one more powerful than you are my dark angel." I could understand her doubt and concern but her last statement made me chuckle. "Alina, llya Morozva created three special amplifiers that belong together. Since the stag revealed itself to you in your dreams and drawings since childhood that means that you were meant for them. You really would bond yourself to me by taking my families ampl? It maybe hard to believe now my love but you will be more powerful than me." At that moment there was someone clearing their throat at the flap of the tent looking proved it to be Ivan "sir if I may." Looking at Alina she nodded and I turned back to Ivan "you may enter if you have the information i requested for me." He came up to the desk as I stood taking the stance I took with Sasha and Calina "I do indeed have the information that you requested sir would you like to take this else where?" Like I was leaving her again "no nothing is kept from miss Starkov anymore". "Ok sir, the cells have been searched and it turns out they had her use a bullet that had been on a goat there is a long story there sir. There are no more bullets that we can find or are aware of. The guards that had been on duty during her escape are currently being held outside the tent waiting on your orders. Sir we still haven't been able to find the woman we don't know if she fled or is still here hidden somewhere. We have been able to tell that someone or at least two people are helping her. They either rode in with the kings army or were here within the camp already. Sir they could even be one of the four of Alina's guard we will need to double check them." "WHAT?! Ivan I thought we ran extensive checks on who would be guarding over her?"

Alina POV

Fear ran throughout me the more Ivan spoke the worse it got. When Aleksander yelled I yelped jumping in my seat causing him to stop and both of them to look at me. "I apologize my love I didn't mean to startle you I was just not expecting that information forgive me." I nodded and he turned back to Ivan "a bullet she used a bullet and no one heard it? The soldiers are not to stop until she is found no one is to stop till she is found and this whole camp searched. You and I, Ivan will be finding out who is helping her." He turns looking straight at me "if for some reason I have to leave this tent then Genya will be keeping you company Alina but I will try not to leave." I nodded barely keeping up with all the information so I was glad when Ivan started talking again taking the focus back off me. "Yes sir I thought we had as well but that is were the facts are leading us and yes sir a bullet. Which is why we are leaning more toward more than one person who is helping her. Dima is commenting that if more goes wrong than the king is sending out the crown prince to scoop up Alina and take her to the palace. Holding her there till you provide answers and proof she is safe. Saying the king is mad having wanting her back behind the safety of the walls already as Dima put it." I scoffed at this and Ivan looked at me "I wasn't very safe the first time what makes that stupid man think I'll be safer a second time around in his slimy hands" I mumbled under my breath. Aleksander being close enough heard heard me and burst out laughing while Ivan just looked completely confused. "Ivan start questioning the guards who were on the cells and I'll start be there in a moment. "He nodded and left the tent leaving me to wonder why he sent him away but I wouldn't have to wait long for the answer. "Alina my love are you okay? You normally don't say such things against the king or at least where you could be heard." I scowled "I would not have been over heard Ivan didn't know what I said. You only know cause your standing so close your tight is pressing into the chair like you can't get close enough to me." He laughed again and knelt down to my level "when will you learn I can't get enough of you or be close enough? I thought I proved that last night when you won as you say though had the elixir not blocked all of your pain we would not have. However right now I need you to get healed and I have to start interrogating the guards with Ivan. I would normally stay here and do that but I don't think that you want to see that my sun." Shivering at both thoughts "okay my dark angel but hurry back and don't cover the tent if they hear my screaming they know that I'm not dead plus after hearing Ivan I don't trust the healer." He nodded "okay my sun as you wish I will be sending Genya to you again soon so you won't be alone with the healer for long." I stood and he stood with me "if I'm going to be healed I'm going to be laying down but first kiss me Aleksander cause I know we won't be interrupted for a moment." He chuckles and pulls me into his embrace "gladly miss Starkov" was the only thing he said before his lips met with all the usual passion. I lost track of time and where his hands went until he back me up against his desk. When we needed air instead of breaking the embrace he started kissing down my jaw and neck nipping the one spot known to make me moan. Which is when he let go saying "all in good time first you have to healed the rest of the way." I growled and he laughed again leaving me to go get the healer that possibly could not be trusted. How long before Genya gets here?