Author Note: Thanks for being patient with me while I was on vacation. All the recent reviews and favorites made me want to keep writing as soon as I could though, so thank you! We also just got a puppy and I'm massively sleep deprived so forgive any typos! I hope you enjoy this chapter. It is my longest yet to make up for you guys having to wait for it! :)


Chapter 5

Ivan adjusted his black Kefta with the gold embroidery winding up its sides. It was the opposite of Alina's for the ball, as she would be wearing gold with black embroidery. They were to be seen as the perfect pair, perfectly aligned with each other to tear down the fold.

Aleksander waved the man away. His Kefta was fine, but his unease was bleeding over to Ivan. He should not have told Alina his plan; he was unused to being caught up in the moment, and he had been so close to winning her over. If he had more time perhaps, but no. Alina was being naïve, and he would not fall into the same trap. 'Would it really hurt to delay killing the stag a little longer?'

Feeling his own indecision, he decided to go talk to Baghra. His mother was good at crushing his dreams and naïve wishes, and that was what he needed. The plan was ready, and General Zlatan needed to be dealt with soon.

"Stay here Ivan. I am going to talk with Baghra," he said storming out of his chambers. He would need to get Alina in a couple hours. No doubt Genya was doing her prep work already. Not that Alina needed any altering, but Genya would want to get everything perfect and everything in fashion with the royal court.

He slowed as he reached his mother's hut. Not really considering what he was going to say, he felt like he needed to pick and choose what he would share with his mother. She would use whatever he said against him if it suited her purposes. Talking voices from within surprised him. He had limited his mother's interactions with his grisha. 'What are you up to now mother?'

Leaning against one of the small windows, he let his shadows trickle through the window sill to slightly lift it, just a miniscule amount so sound would travel through. What he heard shocked him. It was Alina's voice!

"But you said it is possible!" Alina said, her tone angry.

"Do you want to destroy him that badly?" Baghra asked. Aleksander felt his anger overcome him, and had to shove the shadows down to silence. He did not want Baghra to know he was there.

"I will do what I must! Now you choose to act like a protective mother? I don't buy it!" Alina said. Aleksander did not believe it either, but what treachery was Alina planning?

"You come to me seeking a way to destroy my son! You want to destroy the fold and him with it; get rid of all the darkness at once. I do think the boy is foolish and must be stopped at times, but I will help with nothing that leads to his death. Leave me at once!" Baghra said.

Aleksander turned to hide himself in the shadows, when he saw Genya sitting on a log under the shadow of a large tree. If he wasn't a master of shadows he would have missed seeing her, and she had evaded his notice when he had approached the hut.

She was staring at him with a guilty expression. He raised a finger to his lips. She got the message and nodded. She wouldn't tell Alina he was there. He had hoped to avoid putting Genya in that position again with Alina, but considering she was asking his mother how to destroy him, he would have to do distasteful things as well. He knew Genya must have helped her leave her room, but she would not know of the plot. Genya's loyalty was unquestionable.

The hut door slammed open and Alina ran out to Genya. She looked determined with her back straight and her beautiful eyes focused. The darkling general thought he was beyond feeling deep hurt, but he was wrong. Alina's words had created a deeper wound in his distrustful heart.

He did not need to see his mother anymore. All naïve thoughts were gone as he went back to find Ivan. He would send him to talk to David and his other Grisha. The preparations would commence first thing in the morning, starting with killing that stag.


Genya looked shaken when they got back to her room. She hated disobeying the general, and Alina had spent a while the past two days convincing her to go along with her trip to see Baghra. It was even more risky that the only time that it would work was right before the ball.

Genya's assistant was waiting for them. She bowed and getting her cloak back from Alina left without a word. She was loyal to the sun summoner Genya had said.

"Did you get what you sought from Baghra at least?" Genya asked smoothly, clearly trying to hide her nerves.

"The best I could hope for from Baghra. If it's enough, I don't know. It all depends on Aleksander now," Alina said.

"I'm glad you are calling him that again. I think if you are honest with each other, perhaps you really could be the allies the world sees you as," Genya said hopefully. "Please Alina, tell him everything. He will be furious if you keep things from him, and he has a way of knowing things."

Alina looked at her friend suspiciously. It was almost like she was trying to tell her something. She sat in her chair and allowed Genya to do her hair and makeup. They did not have much time before the ball, but Genya could work quickly. She worked quietly as well, and Alina spent the time planning her conversation with Alexander. She wouldn't have much time to talk, but it was important she found a way to have a few words with him.

There was a knock on her door, and she expected to see Aleksander. Instead Ivan greeted her. 'Why isn't he here?' She wondered.

"I am to take you to meet General Kirigan at the ballroom entrance. He had other important matters to attend to beforehand. Follow me," Ivan said, then left. Alina glanced at Genya, who also looked worried, and followed Ivan.

She had hoped to start the conversation with Aleksander before they reached the ballroom. He hadn't seemed angry with her at their dinner, just resigned and determined. She needed to get through to him before the night's end or she might be doomed to be his slave for eternity. She shuddered at the thought.

Ivan had stopped and her eyes lifted. The man of her dreams and nightmares was staring at her with cold unreadable eyes. He was so handsome in his black kefta with gold, she forgot to breathe for a moment and realized she had stopped short of the general. Blushing, she rushed forward.

"Aleksander," she said warmly with a smile as she took his offered arm. He nodded, but did not return her greeting. She looked at him quizzically, but before she could ask what was wrong, he had walked them into the the ballroom.

All eyes were on them as they were announced to the assembly. The applause was thunderous, much louder than last time. They all knew who she was now, Sankta Alina, the sun summoner that would save them all.

They were presented to the king and queen and bowed, then turned to face the crowd. The royals would expect them to show off for their guests again. Aleksander turned the room dark, and she grabbed his hand and exploded light into the room like a sunburst. She did not need him anymore to put on a show, but they wanted to come across as a team, and Alina was happy to go along with it. She wanted Aleksander to see what they could do together as allies.

The dancing commenced soon afterwards. Thankfully, they did not have to be on the dance floor alone as several dozen dancers joined them. Everyone did keep their distance, and this was the chance Alina was looking for.

"Hopefully I don't trip you," Alina said with a laugh, "I've never danced before." She found herself not doing too badly though as Aleksander led her expertly across the floor.

Instead of responding, Aleksander continued looking over her shoulder. Was he steeling himself for what he would do to her tomorrow? Was he trying to distance herself from her? She would have to be direct to reach him.

"Aleksander, I have a condition," Alina said. There was no response for a minute, but finally he looked at her.

"A condition for what?" he asked, and to her surprise he sounded angry. It was a tightly reigned in anger, but she could feel it as a physical force radiating towards her. She forgot what she was saying for a moment and stared. What had happened?

"Aleksander, will you speak to me in private after the ball?" Alina asked. She hadn't planned to say that, but there was something going on that she didn't understand.

"No," was the short reply. Alina looked into his eyes, but saw only coolness and masked anger that she would not have seen unless looking for it. He was putting on a show, but something seriously was bothering Aleksander. If he would not talk after, she would have to say it at the ball.

"I will obey you without the stag, let you use my powers as you wish, and be loyal at your side for as long as you want me there," Alina said, then paused to see his reaction. It was not what she expected. Aleksander laughed darkly.

"You expect me to take your word for it? How naïve do you think I am, child? I will not stake the whole future of the Grisha on you deciding to change your mind if you don't like what must be done."

Something must have happened between now and their dinner. This dark cynicism had not been present last time they spoke. He might not trust her completely, but this was much worse.

"I will swear it to you on my parent's graves! I will prove it to you, please let me show you," Alina begged.

"Quite convincing Alina, and out of curiosity, what is this condition? I assume you were saying I would have your undying loyalty if I met your condition. Is it to let the stag live?" Aleksander guessed.

He was close. She had considered that, but she couldn't go along with what he would ask her to do if he just spared the stag. One act of mercy would not change the man he had become. That was why she had had to talk to Baghra. She remembered Genya's advice of being honest, but it was hard to say what she wanted to Aleksander's face.

"Aleksander, I will be completely loyal to you and do what you say if you do this because a part of me longs to be at your side, and because after talking with you, I understand the man you were before the fold. I know at your core, you aren't evil like Baghra wanted me to believe. I've seen your goodness and kindness. I know it is not all a grand manipulation. You've been corrupted by the Merzost."

"I was always the Darkling Alina. Darkness has always run through my veins. I might restrain it at times, but I am not a good man," Aleksander replied.

"You admitted to me at dinner that the Merzost took away some of your humanity. It's corrupted science," Alina said, then paused. She didn't want to admit the next part, but she had to tell him.

"Please don't be angry at Genya, but she helped me see your mother earlier today," Alina said. Aleksander looked surprised and upset.

"It really wasn't her fault! I convinced her I was doing it to help you. I went to Baghra because no one knows more of the Merzost than she does," Alina said.

"And what did my dear mother say?" Aleksander asked cooly. His anger surfaced again. She had snuck out without his permission so he did have some right to be angry at that.

"She said it is possible! We have to destroy the fold first, but you can get your humanity back."

"At what price?" Aleksander asked.

"What do you mean?" Alina asked, confused.

"Oh, not going to tell me that part? First I must destroy the fold, our only defense against our enemies. Then cast some magic spell, some untested science, that my mother has discovered, and hope that I'm not destroyed in the process? But that would solve all your problems wouldn't it, if we destroyed the fold, then you destroyed the only one capable of making another?" Aleksander said, and his anger was on full display.

Then it dawned on her. He knew, had known since the ball began, that she and Baghra had talked. That was why he was so angry. Genya's warning that he knew things was ringing in her ears. Had he talked to Baghra before the ball? There hadn't been much time between her leaving and the ball starting.

Had he overheard the conversation? She blushed at the thought as part of it ran through her head.

"And why are you here? Do you want to get me in trouble with my son? He told me to not talk with you."

"And you always do what Aleksander says? You seemed eager enough to call him a monster last time we talked."

"I ask again, why are you here," Baghra said.

"I care about your son. I feel a deep connection with him. I want to fight with him to protect the Grisha."

"He'll just make you his slave in the end. He doesn't trust people anymore."

"I don't believe that. I'm willing to risk it."

"Are you in love with him girl?"

"That is none of your concern. I care deeply for him. He is my balance, the shadow to my light. I don't know what I feel beyond that," she had said flustered.

Then they had talked of the Merzost, and somehow the woman went from accusing her to being in love with her son to her wanting to destroy him. She realized they had been dancing quietly for a while and the song was almost done.

"Aleksander, I have no intention of keeping things from you. She said if we did not do it right, the Merzost would destroy you. We will research it further. I do not suggest we just trust Baghra," Alina said.

"You have thought it all out haven't you," Aleksander said sarcastically.

"I will not see you destroyed!"

"And General Zlatan? Our enemies? We talked about what would happen if we just destroyed the fold today," Aleksander said.

"If you swear to me that you will help me destroy the fold, I will help you stabilize Ravka. Then we destroy the fold and get rid of the corrupted science flowing through you," Alina replied.

"What you propose requires trust on both sides. Every time I trust someone, they betray me. You ran away, then you snuck out and talked to my mother behind my back, possibly looking for a way to destroy me," Aleksander said sadly.

"Did Luda betray you? No, don't tell me. I know she didn't. I…care for you as well. I won't run off again, and I am looking for a way to save you, not destroy you."

"I don't need saving," Aleksander said, and the music stopped. "I have fulfilled my obligation here so I will be leaving. I have an early morning."

Aleksander turned to go and Alina followed him. She trailed along behind, not saying anything where people could overhear until they left the ballroom.

"Will you consider it Aleksander? We can accomplish so much together. I want to be by your side," Alina said as they walked down the hall. He had been ignoring her presence, but finally turned to look at her as he continued walking.

"You will be by my side. There is nothing to consider," Aleksander replied. Alina felt like screaming. What had Baghra said to him? What could she say to convince him?

"And it makes no difference to you whether I'm your slave or your ally?" Alina asked. She had been about to say lover, but caught herself before the embarrassing slip. Aleksander hesitated before answering.

"None."

"I know you are lying!" She said, angry at him for not admitting he cared for her as well. He wanted her loyalty, freely given, and they both knew it.

"Am I?" Aleksander asked dangerously. The lamps in the hall suddenly went out, but Alina refused to let him intimidate her.

"Yes," She said simply and held a ball of light hovering above her hand between them.

"I am not willing to risk everything on your word Alina," he said in a calmer tone, but it was said with finality. He expected no more argument.

"We're worth it Aleksander! Please, you said you are not a rash man. Prove it to me. You can always kill the stag and make me your slave later if I don't keep my end of the bargain," Alina said, stepping closer into his personal space.

"I will see you tomorrow morning Alina. I will send Ivan to fetch you to the church," Aleksander said, and briskly departed. Alina did not try to follow. Soon the hallway was lit again, and she dropped her light.

She had tried everything and it hadn't worked. Alina walked back to her room in a daze, not seeing the pair of eyes following her.