Alina stared at the scar on her hand, her thumb rubbing over it and she was deep in thought. Her head was aching from thinking too much and everything was becoming an obnoxious blur to her. Her feelings were so conflicted and she didn't know how to proceed.

After spending a week down in the cell, feeling alone and empty, she had realised now that she was in deeper than she thought. She at first thought she may have a second chance to get away but now, with her eternal bond to Kirigan, she wouldn't be able to escape him. That pain she felt was stronger and harsher than she imagined. She would forever be longing for him. Perhaps this was the only way now.

But then she thought about Mal. She couldn't let Kirigan win. She couldn't let Mal spend the rest of his life locked away watching the love of his life be with this murderous monster. That was another truth she realised. Not only was her bond eternal but so was her life. She'd live on while Mal would die in the end and then who would she have.

Alina was so confused and the more she thought, the less she was able to come to a clear decision. She was currently sat in his bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed. She was dressed in that black kefta, her hair curled over her shoulders. She wanted so badly to fight that control he had but it only made her hurt more. Her mark on her shoulder twitched now and then and she flinched ever so slightly when it did. She wanted to scratch and claw at it, hoping it would relieve the pain and pressure but nothing did and nothing would… only he could take it away.

The door opened and Alina jumped from the bed, eyes staring as Kirigan walked inside, shutting the door with his palm.

"Did you get enough rest" he asked softly as he slowly walked over. Alina clenched her fists by her sides. Now that she had gotten over her diving in to him for comfort, she was back to hating him.

"Where's Mal" she demanded and Kirigan huffed, shaking his head.

"And here I thought you had moved on from him. Perhaps I should send you back down to that little cell of yours for another week, or a month, maybe that would knock some sense into you" he threatened and Alina swallowed hard. He sounded like he was being serious but she stood her ground.

"I'll move on when I know he's not here" she said and Kirigan narrowed his eyes.

"Is that true or are you just trying to fool me. You should know I can tell when someone's lying, I don't need a Heartrender nearby" he said as he inched closer to her. Alina felt her mark pulse but she ignored it and kept her body straight and tall.

"Just let Mal go, what use do you need him for, you have me, you have your shadow army now" she questioned as Kirigan now stood a few inches from her, eyes down and lips turning into a smirk.

"Yes, I do, but doesn't mean to say I won't need him and not only that but he is a traitor to my country and they will be punished" Kirigan said with a deadly tone and Alina stared up.

"Don't you dare kill him" she whispered angrily and Kirigan chuckled.

"I can assure you I won't, but he is a prisoner and a wanted man now and if he does try to flee, he will be brought back here" his eyes darkened and Alina didn't take her gaze of him.

"He is mine now Alina, just like you are. He belongs to Ravka and he will spend his time in prison for the rest of his life". Alina clutched her hand with the scar, he thumb digging into it as she shook her head.

"If you keep Mal here, he'll stop at nothing to escape and take me with him, you might as well let him go otherwise you'll be spending your life making sure he doesn't run and finding him if he does" Alina urged and Kirigan took a deep breath.

"And so, what… if I let him go, you'll… just forget about him" he said and Alina sunk back, as long as she had her scar, she never would. Kirigan took a deep breath and his eyes softened.

"Alina, you know how this will be, you know now what it's like to be alone. You might think I purposely wanted to leave you down in that cell but I didn't. I felt it too while we were apart, it wasn't just you. I needed you to understand" Kirigan took her hands in his and squeezed them tightly. Alina felt his finger graze the scar and her stomach did a nervous flip but he didn't make anything of it.

"And you can't lie to me and say the second I walked in there you didn't want me there, you didn't want to feel my touch, feel my presence and just sit there in my arms all day" he whispered. Alina looked down at their intertwined hands, his fingers delicately touching her hands and she shut herself off from him to think for a minute.

He was right… she did want him as soon as he arrived. But it didn't mean to say she was happy about it.

"I did" she whispered and she felt his hand take her chin softly, lifting her head up to meet her eyes. Kirigan looked at her for a second before leaning down and kissing her softly, his lips taking over hers and Alina stayed still for a moment, a million thoughts swirling in her head. Pleasure sent down her body and through to her mark. Alina felt him pull back a little, his lips no longer touching but his face still close. His nose rubbed across her cheek and she let out a soft breath.

His hand rubbed hers and she felt her fingers graze over his stag's antler on the back of his hand, the bumpy ridges and thin pieces of skin covering it.

"Just let him go please" she whispered and Kirigan stared at her, eyes a little contempt and he sighed, shaking his head as he looked down at their adjoining hands. He rubbed hers a little more and Alina felt her heart stop when he stopped over the scar. Slowly he turned her hands over so her palms were facing up and his thumb traced the scar more. Alina stared at him, worry pulsing through her and she saw his look change.

Darkness fell over his face and he slowly look back at her, eyes big as realisation hit him.

No, please

He grasped her wrists tightly and she gasped, trying to pull back but he held her tightly.

"This is for him, isn't it" he said and Alina didn't answer. Kirigan pinched her skin tighter and Alina gasped in pain.

"Answer me" he gritted and Alina said nothing but only looked at him.

Kirigan turned quickly, his hand still grasping Alina's wrists and he dragged her behind her, Alina stumbling with every step. She tried to pull away but his grip was so tight she couldn't and he was holding back her power.

"Let me go" she breathed but Kirigan ignored her.

They turned a corner quickly and Kirigan pulled her down to a door, opening it abruptly and yanked Alina inside.

Alina looked across the room and her eyes widened.

"Genya"

Hey, I'm sorry for the long wait in updating, I've been focusing on some other stories I'm writing, I would appreciate if you checked them out, they are called Sun in the Shadows and my newest one is The Heart of the Stag. So I hope you like this chapter, sorry it's a little bit shorter but what do you think will happen next, let me know in the reviews.