Kirigan perched on his throne, eyes fixed on the floor as he sat deep in thought. He codlin't get the words out of his head.
Did she tell you we kissed?
He didn't want it to be true. He wanted the tracker to be lying. If only his Heartrender had been there, he'd know straight away if he was lying through his teeth. The possessiveness he had over Alina had reached the surface. How dare the tracker come into his bedroom and touch his sun summoner.
He could have killed him then, used The Cut on him and ended his life. Things would bee easier then. No more childhood friendship between orphans. He'd have Alina all to himself. But she wouldn't have him. No, Alina would never forgive him for that. If Kirigan was going to bond himself to Alina forever, he'd need the tracker here to keep her happy.
He understood why they were inseparable. Growing up together, they only had each other and he assumed growing up in that orphanage wasn't the most pleasant experience. Things would have been different if she had known she was Grisha then. She could have been taken to the little palace back then and things would have been different. But there was no way of going back in the past, only forwards in the future.
Kirigan had great plans for him and Alina. He was going to have the sun summoner by his side for eternity while the tracker would wither and die away in darkness. The thought put a smile on his face and only then had he found he had been gripping the arms of his throne, his knuckles turning white and veins popping out the back of his hand. He released his death like grip and let out a deep breath.
"Ivan" he called and the sound of boots clunking alerted his Heartrender was nearby.
"Bring me Miss Starkov" he ordered, not taking his eyes off the floor.
"Yes Sir" the boots disappeared and Kirigan relaxed in his throne. The throne had been replaced as soon as he took over as king. The once gold throne had been thrown out and burned by inferni, replaced with a black one with velvet cushions. It was much more fitting for The Darkling.
His eyes shot up as he heard footsteps and his dark irises met with Alina's as she was dragged forward by Ivan, a hand on her upper arm. He brought her forward and with a swift push, she was shoved to her knees, a gasp escaping her and her hands lying out flat on the cold floor. She didn't look up, only kept her head down with a scowl on her face.
"Thank you" Kirigan nodded and Ivan gave a short bow before walking backwards and standing guard a few feet away. Silence came over and Alina slowly glared up at Kirigan. Dressed her in black kefta, her hair covered her face and she peaked through the strands.
"I just had a very interesting conversation with your friend" he states and Alina's eyes widen slightly, her mouth parting and she shrinks back.
"What did he say?" She was nervous to ask and Kirigan smirks, chuckling softly.
"Well, it seems you two did more than just talk the other night, when he managed to flee from his cell" his eyebrows rise and Alina blinks.
Oh Mal, what have you said
"He said that he kissed you, is that true?" Kirigan asked. Kirigan would know if she was lying. Even without his Heartrender there.
"We just talked, that's it, I don't know what he's talking about" she spoke with all the confidence she had but it was quickly taken away as Kirigan stormed up from his throne, hands tightened in fists and eyes dark with anger.
"Do not lie to me!" he yells and Alina jumps from the boom of his voice. Silence falls again and Kirigan lets out a deep calming breath.
"Why do you care, you have everything you want" she whispers with disgust at him and Kirigan steps around her, circling her like vultures eating prey. So the tracker was telling the truth.
"Well you see the thing is I don't, I don't have everything" he says calmly which is more frightening that when he's yelling. He steps back in front of Alina and stares down at her.
"Why is he so important to you, he will never understand you, what your power means, who you are, you are Grisha and he… he is nothing" Alina fights the urge to stand up and strike him. He'd easily be able to defend himself, especially with his control over her.
"Because he is the only person I had when I was growing up, he was the only person who ever knew me and he does understand me, just because I'm Grisha doesn't mean he thinks different of me" Kirigan chuckles and shakes his head.
"That's where you are wrong Alina, no one will understand you, appreciate you… only I will" he sat down slowly on his throne as Alina blinked in surprise.
"There is only one person who will ever be enough for you… me. We were made for each other, to be equals" he says softly.
"I'll never be your equal" she spits.
"You know so little. Did you know that you will live for centuries, remain ageless, live for eternity… and your friend, he will grow old, his hair will grey, he will lose his sight and hearing and in the end will die".
"And who will be there with you when that happens… me" he whispers.
"So why not get rid of him then, what use is he to you".
"Oh he has great use to me, his tracking skills are one of a kind" Kirigan lies. At this moment in time he didn't have a use for Mal. The only thing he was keeping him here for was to torment him with the fact that he had Alina and there was nothing he could do about it.
"You have me, you have my power now isn't that enough!" She yells and Kirigan seems surprised by her confidence. It wasn't enough for him, not until he had her completely. But he wasn't going to tell her yet. It was too early.
"Not yet, when everyone has bowed down to me, to Ravka , then it will be enough" he smirks and Alina scoffs, looking down on the floor. There was no stopping him. If Alina was going to escape, she'd need a cunning plan. She hadn't even thought about an escape plan yet. Her mind had been focused on why Kirigan had captured a Volcra. What was he going to use it for? Surely the Volcra wouldn't survive out here.
Kirigan furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes at Alina. Her attitude towards him was starting to spike something inside.
"These are your people as well Alina, Grisha have been attacked, kidnapped, treated like slaves, experimented on and killed. Do you not want to bring peace for them, bring them to safety, have them treated like others… I thought you of all people would understand what it's like to be different" Alina pounced from the floor, her face alight with fury and she stepped forward as if to attack Kirigan. Ivan stepped forward, holding his hands up ready to restrain her but Kirigan held his hand up to halt him, his eyes flickering between the two.
Alina puffed her chest and held her hands by her sides. If she was to attack, she could put Mal's life in danger and she didn't want anything more to happen to him. Ivan released his hands but stayed forward, hands clutched in front.
"You know nothing about me" she seethes quietly. He wasn't there, he didn't know what it was like growing up in Keramzin. The only person there was Mal. He was the only friend she had and he'd never understand that.
"I know everything about you, I said it before Alina, we are equals, there is nothing that your friend or anyone else can do to change that, he'll realise that soon enough" he says darkly.
"If your hurt him-"
"I wouldn't worry, he's more likely to get himself in trouble than you are" Kirigan stands and steps closer to Alina, his tall statue towering over her and he gazes down at her.
"He certainly has a temper he needs to control, just the mention of your name off my lips and he's going for me, you'd think he'd control himself being in that situation".
"He's only there because you put him there" she barks back and Kirigan smirks.
"If he had stayed away like I wanted then he wouldn't be there, he brought it on himself and now he will spend eternity in darkness" Kirigan reached down and took Alina's hands in his, holding them tightly.
"I am all you need Alina, you'll realise that soon enough, your heart will ache when I'm not there, you'll feel weak and scared and I will be your only shelter, as you will for me" he whispers softly and Alina stares up with big eyes. A sudden tingle shoots through her arms to her chest like he said and she feels a pull against her. As she looks up into his dark eyes, she cannot help but want his embrace. She hadn't felt this since the winter fete, or the first time he had amplified her power in front of the king.
No, I don't want this, I want Mal
She tries to tell herself that, scream it at herself. She wants to fight the feeling but it becomes stronger. The pull bringing her closer to him, that wanting of his body around hers.
No Alina, you have to fight this, for Mal… for you
Alina takes a shuddery breath in and as Kirigan cups her face gently and looks down at her, Alina finds herself falling into his hold. Kirigan leans down slowly, his lips pursing and he presses them gently to her's taking in her in for a powerful but loving kiss. She feels an electric shock through her body, as if she had just summoned the most power light ever and without thinking, she kisses him back. The kiss is faster and Kirigan lets out a breath through his nose, the air tickling Alina's cheek and her hands reach up to his shoulders, gripping hold of him.
His forehead rests against hers gently and as Alina opens her eyes, she sees Kirigan looking off to the side, the familiar smirk on his lips, filled with greed and possession. Her gaze follows his and her heart drops.
Mal
He stands at the end of the throne room, held tightly between two guards and hands shackled in front. His eyes are popping with rage and he's staring directly at Alina.
No, no, no, its not what you think
"Mal" she whispers but before she can even move or speak, he's been tugged away from her. Alina feels the tears reaching her eyes and she turns sharply to face a pleased Kirigan.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you" she snapped and he only smirked.
"I had to make an example" he says.
Before he had time to react, Alina smacked her palm against his cheek, his head whipping to the side with a grunt.
"Ahh" he gasped and Alina felt a tug on her chest, like it was caught in a vice as Ivan held his fingers up, bringing her slowly to the ground as she gasped for air. She clawed at the floor and winced as she felt her lungs being crushed, her face turning blue and her body convulsing.
Kirigan turned back, his hand resting on his cheek from where he'd been slapped and he glared down at Alina for a few seconds, watching as she fought for her life.
"Stop" he ordered quietly and Ivan released his hold, Alina taking the chance to breath and her chest felt like she had been stepped on by a horse. Kirigan's boot came into her line of vision and her body shook as she pushed herself onto all fours. His voice was deadly and evil.
"You'll regret that".
Hey so I decided to change the chapter, I didn't like the other one I wrote but I might keep it and use it later on in the story. I hope you like this one, let me know in the reviews what you think. Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews, I love reading them.