Chapter10

After Mal stormed out Nina snuck in, "are you okay" Nina said seeing Alina holding her hand on her belly.

Nina put her hand on Alina stomach, "I have cramps" Alina said as she moved her hand around her stomach then moved how she was seated.

"did Mal?"

"Please" Alina pleaded looking at Nina.

"Lie down on the bed and I will check you out" Nina replied

Alina moved onto the bed further and turned to lie down, Nina lift Alina knees up moving her skirt so she could check her. She also felt Alina's stomach, "The babies have a good strong heart beat and there is no signs they are upset, your heart beat is a little fast."

"Mal upset me" Alina said.

Nina passed her some water to drink, once she had finished the water Alina handed it back to Nina.

"Rest Alina forget about everything you need to concentrate on you and the babies you will need it, hopefully we will be back on the boat on our way home in the next few days" Nina said rubbing Alina belly seeing her fall asleep again.

As Mal stormed away he thought he better have a word with the General, the General had been given a space to turn into his office. Mal slammed the door open and one of the Heartrender that was guarding the General looked up "what do you want?" he asked

Mal spat, "To talk to the General alone"

The General looked up and nodded at his guard to leave, when the guard closed the door he looked at Mal and ask, "Okay Mal what do you need to speak about"

"Alina"

"What specifically about Alina?"

"She is better than you and I and she deserve the world"

" I would agree with that" the General replied

"what are your plans because she is not a slave or your tool"

"No she will never be that again, my plans will change I just don't know what they are till I am back at the Palace with my war council and a few additions. Mathias has been asked to join as well as Kaz, Jesper and Inez will you join them Mal"

"I don't trust you.."

The General put his hand up, "For a long time all I have thought about was Grisha and how the have been hunted and tortured. And I still have Grisha as my top priority as I need to keep them safe.."

"yer yer and you forget us little people suffer"

"That has do with the Royal family not Grisha"

"How is not one of the same?"

" Did you take a proper look at Alina?"

"I knew she was whipped and that happens to servants"

"Mal I'm not talking about that I am talking about the scares on her body from where the Fjedran's cut her body to torture her"

"oh"

"Did Alina not tell you she was tortured"

"She did tell me but not the specific"

"Mal they ran a knife over her body and when they found her bump they tried to cut our children from her womb" the General stood up.

"I'm sorry she didn't tell me, I'm glad that your healers were able to save them, she is my family I don't want to see her get hurt. So I will help you with this war but it has to be so that no one will be treated badly for who they are"

"Well that might mean the Royal family may have to go"

"That family .."

"I know Mal they do not care for the people and they should" the General gave him a grim smile

"On a personal note if you hurt her I will kill you and since she is pregnant I want you to marry her and do the right thing"

"I would Marry her in a heartbeat Mal, but I need to fix the trust I broke with her"

"Then fix it" and with that Mal left the office.

Aleksander knew he had to fix what he had with Alina and hope she would fall in love with him again, but his top priority was making sure that her and the babies were happy and health.

Alina woke up with the smell of food and decide to get out of bed and head down, she looked around her room and bed and realised it was a lodging for 1. She was a bit disappointed she had shared a bed at the farm house with Aleksander they had cuddled and kissed several times. Aleksander even told her that he Loved her but maybe pushing him away, he may have started to change his mind. Slowly tears came down her face but she was hungry she didn't want to think anymore, she opened her door slowly and looked up to see Aleksander with his hand up about to knock.

She was in shock and more tears come down her face, Aleksander saw this and took a step forward and engulfed her in a hug.

"My sun why are you upset" he whispered

Alina lifted her hand to her face and wiped her tears away whilst still having forehead on his chesf, "Sorry I'm just hormonal and hungry"

"Alina, I know when you are lying," he kissed her head, "but Patty told me you will be very emotional, plus after everything you need to eat, so let me escort you down"

Alina didn't lift her head she was enjoying being close to Aleksander and having him rub her back, he could sense this until her stomach growled.

"Come my love" he turned taking one arm off her and lead her downstairs, "our babies and you need food"

He sat her down next to Nina, Alina looked confused then saw Aleksander come back with a plate of food for her and himself. She smiled at him but once the food was on the table she dived straight into the food, she was hungry. Aleksander just smiled at watch Alina when she finished, she frowns

"Still hungry my love?" Alina looked up and nodded he swapped their plates and she kept eating. Mathias saw this and got up and got a plate for Aleksander and brought it back to the table.

"Thanks" Aleksander said to Mathias

Mathias laughed, "Hopefully she won't take this one"

Aleksander smiled and started to eat his food.

Alina was so oblivious to what was going on when she had finished the second plate she looked up and said, "Sorry I shouldn't have .." and she saw he had another plate. Alina looked at Nina and Mathias who smiled at her.

"Alina if you are still hungry have my plate" Mathias laughed.

Alina pulled her face, "No the babies want something sweet now" she said as she put her hand on her belly.

Nina piped up, "oh when we went shopping in the market one of the sellers was saying they have a night market tonight with foods and desserts maybe we should go looking"

Alina looked down at what she was wearing, "umm"

"The General asked us to get you clothes that are more suitable for our trip home, they are in my room at the moment"

"Thank you, Nina, thank you General" Alina turned back to the General and gave him a shy smile, " but I don't know if I want to leave here"

"Oh Alina I'm sorry, we had guards with us plus Jesper and Inez. But I understand maybe we should just head in and grab something for you do you know what you would like?"

Alina looked down rubbing her stomach and her tears started, Aleksander broke her thoughts, "I will go with Alina, I will protect you then you can see what the babies want to eat"

Alina nodded her head and Nina helped Alina up and took her upstairs to get changed. They were back down shortly, Nina wearing her normal peasant clothing which she loved to wear. But Alina was wearing a black dress with long sleeves and it had a empire waist to cover her bump that slowly was getting bigger.

She started to bite her lip when Aleksander walked up to her, "my darling you look radiant" he whispered in her ear.

"Thank you" she smiled then turn and walked behind Nina and Mathias. She had started to get upset again whilst changing as why she was in a room by herself and not with Aleksander and she didn't want him to see that.

When they were in the market Aleksander was a foot behind Alina letting her decide what she wanted and she sighed.

"Aline talk to me" Aleksander putting a hand on her waist.

"Where do I start" she looked at him upset as she turned around

"I'm here my love and listening what is on your mind"

"why are we in separate bedrooms" she pouted

He smiled his heart fluttered he knew then she had chosen him so he kissed her on her mouth when there was need for air they parted, "if I had known you were that upset I would have you in my bed and we can still do that tonight. But the reason I put you in another room is your attraction to the tracker"

"Not anymore and not for awhile." She placed her cheeky on his chest, "he will never accept me as Grisha. He wants me to stop using my powers and be an obedient wife, I want more than that"

"I'm sorry Alina, (Aleksander was rubbing her back whilst talking) I know you are pregnant with my children but I hurt you and I want you to make your choice"

"I thought it was Mal I had loved him for a very long time (she looked into Aleksander eyes) but I realised I was the little girl who chased him. I was his little friend and ignored me until someone paid attention to me, then he would have them back off until he was bored of me. He fucks anything that move but I was to stay a virgin until he was ready to marry me. (Aleksander wiped her tears from her cheek but let her carry on) I heard him tell those girls they were sexy or beautiful but never me I feel so stuiped"

"Oh no Alina you're not stuiped, I fell in love with a girl when we moved into a Grisha camp with my mother however the girl betrayed me and the other Grisha children hurt me. I learnt to guard myself that day, I have had lovers over the years but I never let them get to close. Until you, I'm not going to push you into something you're not ready for but I am here for you when you want more"

"You hurt me"

"I know Alina (he said kissing her head) and I will prove to you I am a better man because of you. What else is going on?"

Alina stepped out of Aleksander embrace.

"I'm suppose to be the saviour and I'm scared to go out" she stomped her foot

"Alina you were kidnapped and torture nobody is expecting you to be alright after a day, even Nina is struggling. You both need to heal and when you are ready I can show you some more science to help you defeat your enemy."

Alina looked down and placed her hands around her bump, "soon I'll be to big to do anything"

Aleksander step forward and place his hand over her belly, "you will still be beautiful to me and by that stage you will have guards to protect you when I'm not around"

Alina nodded then looked around where saw some strawberries with chocolate on them she wandered over and smiled back Aleksander, "we will take a 2 (Alina frown) 3 boxes please" Aleksander asked and Alina smiled at him.