Oh my goodness, I'm so glad you love this so much! Hope you like these next couple chapters. I loved writing them! :)

Alina

How did we get out of that situation last night? Well, the short answer to that is there were a lot of secret passageways in the Little Palace the I didn't know about. The long answer involves a lot of sneaking through hallways, swearing under my breath, stumbling into the kitchens by accident, and being trampled by a worried Genya when I finally reached the main room again.

It was the most hectic night of my life. And I didn't mind one minute of it.

Because Aleksander was there the whole time, leading me through dim tunnels in the walls and smirking when I tripped over my own feet. He'd said that I should go and talk to Genya, even though he wasn't coming back to the party; he'd had enough of the constant mutters and scowls. He'd pulled me into a kiss outside the doors and said goodnight. I was floating when I went back to the party.

The next morning, I began my day with Genya, who was every bit as energetic as she'd been the night before. We were walking out by the lake, watching the creamy dawn sky reflected in the calm waters and talking about a new festival the Grisha were trying to set up at the edge of the city. Every once in a while, I couldn't stop myself from glancing up at Aleksander's balcony.

"So this is the idea," Genya began. Her hair was styled into gleaming ringlets and her eyepatch was studded with chips of amber. "All of the Inferni at the Little Palace were complaining all night long about how they thought the Grisha should throw their own parties for once instead of showing up to the ones the Queen sets up. So they were thinking of putting on something like a show near the outer parts of the city. You know, so that everyone can come watch and they won't burn the whole place down in the process."

I gave her a look. "Wait, the Inferni want to put on a show with fire?" I asked. "Doesn't that sound a tad bit dangerous?"

"That's what I said," she agreed. "But they all got mad, of course, and started yelling at me about how they have perfect control. And besides, they would take the Tidemakers with them, just in case things got out of hand."

"Thank goodness," I said. Some of the Inferni could get carried away with their powers. Fire was a nasty, unpredictable thing to command, but they loved it. "So was that all a bunch of talk or are they going to do it?"

"Actually, yes. One week from now, they will be gathering all of the people of Os Alta who have a death wish and show off their 'amazing' skills for them."

"Wow. They only have one week to put together a decent show?"

"The arrogant morons insisted that it was more than enough time."

"You know what that means though, right?"

"No, what?"

"In one week, every Inferni and Tidemaker will be gone. That's about half of the Little Palace that we'll have all to ourselves.

Genya wagged a finger at me. "I like the way you think," she said.

We giggled like children together. Happiness bloomed in every part of me. I was so lucky to have a friend like her. We had survived so much during the war; she was the closest thing I had to a sister.

Just then, she cocked her head at me curiously. "Why do you keep doing that?"

I didn't even notice I was doing anything. "Doing what?" I asked.

"You've looked up at the Darkling's window about fifteen times since we came out here," she explained. Her brow furrowed in faint concern. "Did he say something to you at the party?"

Heat rose to my face and I tried to hide it behind my hand, pushing hair out of my eyes. "Um. Sort of." Suddenly, I had a fierce need to confide in my best friend. I trusted her more than anyone; she deserved to know. "Genya, he—"

"I knew it!" she interrupted me angrily. Her hands were curled into fists at her sides. "I knew he was going to screw this up! What did he say to you? Tell me everything, and we'll march right up there and throw him out the window!"

"Genya, he didn't threaten murder!" I protested.

"...oh." She sniffed and straightened her kefta. "Well then, what did he say?"

"That...he was in love with me." I braced myself.

Genya's one eye widened and for the first time since I'd met her, she was completely speechless. She looked at me, then up at Aleksander's window, then at me again. "...what?"

"Genya," I said, hoping to calm her down, "the Darkling is in love with me."

"Are you being serious?"

"I am absolutely being serious."

"OH MY GOSH." She rested her hands on my shoulders and turned me to face her. "That is—I don't even—How do you feel about this?"

I dropped my eyes, half in anxiousness and half in shyness. "I love him, Genya," I said quietly. "Probably more than I should."

Silence.

Then she smacked me on the arm. "Well, it's about time!"

"W—what?" I yelped, caught off-guard. "What do you mean?"

"Alina," she said, smiling kindly, "when Tamar told me about what you were trying to do with the Darkling, I knew it was because you couldn't let him go. And I knew you were going to fall in love with him, even if he didn't change. Now, I will admit that I didn't expect all of this." She waved her hands, gesturing to the this. "But still."

"So you're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" She put an arm around my shoulders in a comforting way. "I know the Darkling did horrible things in his past. But if he's willing to become a better man for you, then of course I'm going to be happy for you. You're like a sister to me, Alina. You lost so much in your deserve to be loved."

My heart swelled and I hugged her. "Thanks, Genya."

She sniggered mischievously. "I will expect details about everything you two—"

"Shut up."

Aleksander

I was standing on the balcony, leaning with my hands on the railing, when I heard the door creak open behind me. Immediately, I knew who it was. Only one person ever came to visit me here. I waited, faintly bewildered at the way my heart was racing, until she was behind me; her arms coiled around my waist and I felt her cheek rest on my back.

"You're very quiet," Alina commented matter-of-factly. Her voice was muffled by my shirt. "What're you thinking about?"

Her body heat seeped into me. I decided to tell the truth. "You."

"Oh," she said, delight in her voice. She paused for a few seconds. "What about me, exactly?"

"Dancing with you last night," I admitted, somewhat reluctantly. I wasn't used to telling her what I thought. I'd never trusted someone like this before.

She laughed softly. "Really?"

I nearly smiled. "Yes."

We didn't speak for several minutes. The sun was high in the sky, burning away every cloud. The forest rustled in the breeze and the lake glittered brilliantly in the midday light. Grisha were clustered around it, enjoying the beautiful day together. I watched them absently. When was the last time I'd been that happy? When had I ever been happy before?

I tensed when Alina shifted her arms so that her palms folded over my stomach. She was hesitating, unsure of herself. Then she held her breath and I felt her slip one hand up under my shirt. Her hand fell on my bare stomach, brushing her thumb over the muscle. I exhaled a rough breath. I hadn't expected my skin to burn the way it did, responding to her touch. I wasn't used to being vulnerable in this way. Her thumb kept moving, stroking over my abs and I heard her breath catch.

I surprised both of us when I turned around in her arms and took hold of her waist. I leaned back against the railing, pulling her with me until she was up against my chest. Her soulful brown eyes gazed into mine. "Do you love me, Alina?" I asked, before I could stop myself.

"What do you mean?" she asked in puzzlement.

I reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You should hate me, after everything I've done to you," I murmured. "You have every right to turn away from me now. Why don't you?"

"Because I know you regret what you did," she answered gently. She cupped my face with one hand, so sweetly that I lost my breath. "I forgive you. And yes, I love you."

My whole being filled with warmth when she said it. I'd never imagined that I could feel this complete with someone, after all that had happened in my life. I buried my fingers in her hair and eased her head back, so that her lips met mine. I kissed her as I had before, slowly and surely. Then her mouth left mine and she kissed along my jaw. Her hands pushed under my shirt, sliding over my stomach to my chest. I was stunned by the way my body reacted to her, my back arching, everything electrified. A low groan escaped me.

"Alina," I gasped, and her smile curved against my skin. I was drowning, falling deeper and deeper underwater, and I didn't care at all.

Growling, I pushed off from the railing and lifted her into my arms. Instinctively, she clung to my shoulders to keep from falling, her legs wrapping around my waist. I started at the sensation and how it sent a jolt down my spine. Frantic for more, I pressed my mouth to hers. She kissed me back, her mouth coming alive, and I blindly carried her from the balcony and into my room. Her fingers spread through my hair, cool on my scalp. Her legs tightened around me and the way our bodies pressed together made me crazy. I broke the kiss, breathing heavily, and my eyes flicked to the bed. She followed my gaze.

"Aleksander," she breathed, and I shuddered. "I don't want to rush this." She avoided my gaze, as though afraid that I would be upset with her. "I'm sorry, I'm just...not ready."

"Don't apologize," I said. I kissed her forehead. "I would never push you into something you didn't want. You have to believe that."

She nodded and slid her legs from my waist to stand in my arms. She laid her head against my chest. "I don't think I can live without you now," she whispered, listening to my heartbeat. "Is that crazy, after all that's happened?"

I don't deserve her, I thought, as I rested my chin on top of her head. I will never deserve her because she is much too beautiful, inside and out. "After hearing you say that..." I trailed off, overcome by this new feeling inside of me. "I'm so in love with you, moi svet, I can't even put it into words. You are my life."

"Aleksander," she said, in a doubtful tone that told me she couldn't believe that anyone would love her that much.

"It's true," I murmured. "You own me now, my body, my soul. All that I am is yours." She didn't answer. She hugged me closer, letting out a small contented sigh. I wanted to hold her there forever.