Alina woke the next morning, the tent now brighter as the morning sun rose, the heat swarming her. Her head was rested on a silk pillow, black, and a heavy blanket draped on top of her. Fur tickled her neck and she groaned softly as she woke, her eyes fluttering open to remove the blurriness from her vision. Alina felt herself lying on the cot and as she turned her head to look down, she noticed that the blanket was in fact Kirigan's cloak. It was warm and he scent dripped off it, musky and masculine. It was intoxicating.
Alina slowly pushed herself off the cot, leaning on her palm. Her shoulder was cramped from the position she was lying in and she hissed as pain shot through her arm as she moved. She slowly massaged it, trying to rid the stiffness. Alina sat up now, rubbing her face and glanced around the tent. There was no Kirigan in sight. She wondered where he might be.
His cloak was keeping her warm and she didn't want to take it off but she let it fall anyway, pooling around her waist. She was surprised to see no Oprichniki stood watching her but then again, she was sleeping so would she need to be guarded.
Alina thought back to yesterday, memories flooding back. The events of seeing the emperor and forcing him to sign to Kirigan's new laws. Alina thought back to the poor guard being attacked by Kirigan's shadow solider, dying a quick death for only leading an innocent life. Then they set up camp and she remembered asking Kirigan why he didn't allow her to bow in front of the emperor.
No one will ever look at you, speak to you, treat you as anything but my equal
The words rang in her head and then the memory flashed back.
Alina kissed him again, her hands rising up to his shoulders and gripping them for support. Kirigan held her close, hands tangled in her hair and pushing her body on to his to feel the connection. She smelt so sweet to him and he breathed in her scent, his nose scrunching against hers again. his tongue swirled as they kiss, pushing inside her mouth and sucked hard to taste her inside as well.
Alina felt him push her down on the cot, the bed squeaking and it sunk from the sudden weight placed on top. Alina's hands ran up his face, brushing his beard and into his hair as Kirigan moved his kisses from her lips to her neck, sucking on her pale skin. Alina moaned softly, eyes closed and legs opening as he slipped between them.
Kirigan ran his hand over her stomach, his fingers teasing her and she felt a tingle go through her whole body, all the way to her mark on her shoulder. Kirigan pulled his hands underneath her and moved her so she was lying fully on the cot now. He straddled her, his hand cupping her cheek and he reached down to start to undo his trousers. Alina shuddered slightly and felt very shy.
Her cheeks flushed red and she tried to hide her face away from him but he kissed her lovingly on the cheek and she turned back to face him. Her breathing was heavy and she fumbled with her own clothes but Kirigan took her hands, placing them down gently before taking matters into his own hands. He slowly undid her trousers, pulling them down to reveal her legs, her skin smooth and warm. His fingers tickled her inside her thighs as he removed the black fabric and he smirked.
Kirigan placed himself between her legs, holding himself and he lined it up with Alina, slowly sinking inside. A sharp gasp escaped Alina and she held on to Kirigan as he pushed back and forth. His arms snaked around her again and she held on to him, head back as moans fell from her lips. He kissed her softly, pecking her lips and he grunted as he pushed deeper inside.
"Ohh" she moaned and Kirigan ran a hand over her chest, feeling her underneath her cotton turtleneck. Alina wrapped her hands around his neck, his skin still extremely warm.
Kirigan had been waiting for this. To make love to his sun summoner. To show her she was all his, no one else's. Alina felt her legs tingle as her release was coming and she tried not to moan too loudly to alert the guards or other Grisha. They may run in thinking someone is hurt or something with that noise.
The pull inside her grew more pleasurable and Alina kept chasing it, following it down to whatever road it was taking her. Her release was just around the corner and she pushed herself closer to Kirigan, his touch irresistible.
Alina quickly looked down to see her legs still uncovered by her trousers, eyes wide and she searched the tent, her eyes wandering all over the place to find them. They were discarded by the cot and she yanked them up, pulling them on. She stood from the cot finally, eye her kefta that had been hung up on a nearby pole holding the tent up. It was cold in the tent and she shivered slightly. She shrugged it down off the hanger and slipped it on, snuggling inside but it she was still cold.
Alina looked around, still seeing she was alone and sat back on the cot, holding her hands in front of her. she summoned a small ball of light, instantly warming her and she relaxed into it. her mind was running wild.
Last night… was that a mistake? Do I regret it?
After hearing that Kirigan didn't want her bowing because she was his equal and no Grisha would bow down to anyone now, she realised he still had that side that he cared for her. Her mark had twitched and pulled her into him and she followed it. She wasn't so much as giving in to it as she was wanting it. she wanted him then, wanted to feel his body against her, his warmth. She wanted to breath in his scent. She wanted everything about him.
But had she been too hasty in giving herself to him?
Alina jumped in a fright as the tent flaps opened and she dismissed her light quickly, her hands falling by her side as Kirigan walked inside. He was carrying a small plate of what looked like fresh fruit. He was dressed in his kefta as normal, his hair styled back with volume and a small smile on his lips as he walked over.
"Good morning" he said softly and Alina was quiet with her answer.
"Morning" she said. She suddenly felt nervous around him, as if it was her first time meeting him. It reminded her of when they first met in the tent at the boarder to The Fold where he revealed her power.
"Here, eat this" he handed her the silver plate and Alina took it with slight hesitation. On the plate was an array of fruits including apple slices, grapes, cherries and banana. Only then did Alina realise how hungry she was when he stomach rumbled and she hoped Kirigan didn't hear it.
"Thank you" she took the plate and quietly ate the fruit. As she did, she stole a glance up and saw Kirigan staring down at her, the smile still on his lips. There was an awkward silence surrounding them. Alina didn't know what to make of this situation. She didn't know what to feel. She hated him… wanted to hate him but after last night, something inside her told her she didn't regret it and she wanted all of it. She was the one who made the move first and sparked the connection between them. He told her he wanted her and she gave in.
"When are we leaving?' she asked, making the silence go away and Kirigan pulled away from his stare.
"Soon, the Grisha are still rounding up the others but we'll leave before them" Kirigan turned to the table on the far side of the tent, gathering the documents laid out. Alina munched on a piece of apple, juice collecting at the sides of her mouth. It was delicious and she wondered if Kirigan had made this plate for her himself.
"Thank you" she called and Kirigan turned, his brows furrowed with confusion.
"For the breakfast" she nodded to the empty plate.
"Your welcome, it's a long ride I didn't want you to be hungry" he smiled and he placed the documents in a neat pile before turning fully to Alina. So he did make it for her.
"Do you want anything else before we leave" he said softly as he padded over to her, his boots clinking and Alina shook her head. As he neared her, she felt the pull on her mark again but she tried to ignore it this time. She didn't want to give into it again. She wanted a clear head for the ride back.
"Come on, let's get going" he said and he reached for his cloak on the floor, whipping it round his shoulders and buckling it at the front. Alina stood and followed Kirigan outside. His black carriage was parked outside his tent and the door was open for him. He stepped inside with grace and sat down on the leather seat. Alina took one last look at the camp grounds, watching as enslaved Grisha were being tend to by healers, helping them into new kefta's and comforting them from their life of being tortured. Alina felt her heart ache for them and she felt tears well behind her eyes. No one should be subjected to that.
Alina stepped into the carriage and saw Ivan already sat opposite. She couldn't help give a glare to him and she settled next to Kirigan, the door shutting leaving the three inside. With a crack of the reins, the carriage took off. Alina sat silently by Kirigan, staring out the window through the crack in the small curtain, watching as they rode through the Shu Han hills.
Her mind was so confused. After last night, would things between her and Kirigan get better? what would life be like when they got back to the little palace? As she watched through the window, her head was pulled away as she felt her hand squeezed. She looked down to see Kirigan take her hand in his, squeezing it gently, giving pleasure to her mark. She looked up to see him once again smiling down at her and instead of pulling her hand away which she probably would have done days and weeks ago, she kept it there and returned her eyes to the window.
Hey so I hope you like it, let me know in the reviews what you think. Thank you all so much for the lovely feedback, I love hearing what you think.