Alina packed to leave, whilst Aleksander announced a wedding.

The latter was a surprise to the whole court, particularly the fact that it was scheduled for two weeks away. The servants were scrambling frantically to prepare on time, and many nobles were rushing to get to court from elsewhere in Ravka. The dignitaries from Fjerda and Shu Han remained, having been in attendance already for the trial and execution of the Lantsovs; this saved them a journey, at least.

It was not a surprise to Alina. The moment Aleksander had mentioned it the night of the celebration ball, she'd known it would happen with a resigned, amused sort of dread, even if he had only spoken about it hypothetically. She knew when he was bluffing, knew when he was deadly serious, and this was no bluff. The confirmation of the engagement still cut like a knife.

Whispers followed her as she made her way through the Grand Palace. Even in the Little Palace, her safe haven, people had eyed her with curiosity and concern. Everyone was waiting to see the notoriously explosive Sun Summoner's reaction to being so publicly - in their eyes - replaced. Snubbed, insulted, put aside, her efforts to help secure the crown overlooked (never mind that surely they all knew she never wanted to be queen, and had turned down the position multiple times).

Alina wasn't feeling very explosive. Yet. Something was brewing, perhaps, but she entered his study with nothing but a wry smile on her face. He was sat at the desk, reading through trade reports, and looked up as she came in. Oh, he was expecting an explosion too, she could see it in his eyes.

She loved to be contrary. "If you want a reaction to stroke your ego, you're not going to get it. I'm not angry, not sad, just mildly irritated that you would ruin a girl's life just to fail to make me jealous," That was a lie - some part of her could quite easily tear apart this study, fall to the ground and sob, hit him with all her strength - but in that moment, Alina felt like a layer of numbness separated her from all of those desires. Best he not know exactly how much this was getting to her; that was exactly what he wanted, and she wasn't going to let him win.

"Only you would describe being married to the king as having your life ruined," He said, watching her closely. "No doubt the Glinskaya girl has been dreaming of being queen since she was a child,"

"Perhaps she was, until she met Vasily and realised what a pig she'd end up shackled to if she did," She said. "And if that did not do the trick, then meeting you would have made her dream of becoming an old maid,"

"That is surprising, coming from you, Alina," He said. "You, who quite unmistakably preferred me to Vasily Lantsov. You, who is putting on a good show of not caring - I know you well enough to see you despise the idea of sharing,"

She laughed then, cold and harsh. "What exactly would I be sharing? She can have the crown, the title, the perfect manners, the prettier face. We both know that I overshadow her in every sense I care about,"

He raised an eyebrow. "And what sense is that?"

"Perhaps the fact I can summon the sun. Why would I mean anything else? That is the only thing that I care is mine alone," She meant her words exactly as they sounded. "I'm Ravka's darling even when I try my best not to be. No one is going to supercede that,"

Aleksander did not reward her with a reaction, just smiled. "How gracious of you, Alina. How secure you are in yourself. Most would not be so understanding about someone they love marrying another,"

You bastard. Her own smile was cruel in response. "I love you grudgingly, reluctantly, with more than a pinch of salt," She walked forward, towards the desk. "My love for you always has the potential to change. And if love equates to need - which, for you, I know it does - your need for me is considerably greater than my need for you. No matter how angry you are at me for leaving - angry enough to marry someone else out of spite - when I come back, you won't be able to stay away from me," She reached the desk, placing both hands on it, lowering her face to his level. "Marriage is a legal agreement. Sex is a pleasurable activity. Why should I care if you engage in either of those things with anyone else, when I know full well that your heart will always be mine?"

All of that was true. Love, to Alina, did not equate to need. She could love someone, something, without needing them with her all the time. In fact, she would love them more by virtue of not being constantly surrounded.

He opened his mouth to reply to that, but he was too slow; she got there first, placing one of her hands on top of his. "Do try not to say my name when you fuck her. That would be rather distasteful, though I suppose there's no danger of that happening. I was never a shy, demure virgin, least of all for you. Equally, Darya Glinskaya would never shove you against a wall with a hand round your throat and - "

Aleksander cut her off. "These are not the words of someone who does not care,"

She tilted her head to one side, considering that. "No, I suppose they are not," Her eyes held his stare, unflinching. "But they are the words of someone who is right. I meant everything I said," She smirked, then, straightening up. "I'll see you at the wedding," And I'm leaving the day after. Good fucking riddance to this place.

Alina's upcoming departure was a surprise only to her family.

"What do you mean you're leaving?" Her mother protested when she visited to tell her. "Your sister has only just been born, and your brother is busy working all the time! Who is going to be there for me?"

She tried to watch her tone. It was a struggle. "I have bought you a furnished townhouse in the Inner City that is at least three times the size of the house in Temgora - the contents of which I arranged to have brought here for your comfort. You are guarded day and night by half a dozen oprichniki. You have a maid to cook and clean, and a nanny to help you with Demetra. You have also somehow already wormed your way into many social circles using my name. How could my presence here possibly benefit you?"

"You're my daughter, Alina! My eldest daughter! Why on earth do you think I want you here?"

"When I am here, all you do is complain I'm not good enough - that I don't visit often enough, that you need more money, that I'm acting like a whore being seen 'cavorting' with the Tsar, that I'm a fool for turning down his proposals," She was unable to keep herself from snapping. "It doesn't exactly make me want to stay,"

"Don't put it all on me," Her mother's voice rose to match her own. "It's him, isn't it? He is why you're leaving? I told you years ago you shouldn't get tangled up with that man!" You also told me to be his queen.

"Only because you wanted him instead. I had to sit through hearing how my mother propositioned the then-General of the Second Army. Disgusting behaviour, at your age,"

"He's closer to my age than yours," Her mother sneered. Not technically wrong. "And that's a blatant lie. As if I would act in such a way! Do not tarnish your father's memory with such filth!"

"Father's memory," Alina scoffed. "All I ever saw of the two of you was bickering and cold silences. Did you ever even love each other?"

She regretted those words as soon as they left her mouth, as her mother's eyes welled with tears. Not the usual attention-seeking kind, either; real tears of grief and hurt. She knew that because Saran Starkova did not fire back with a spiteful or self-pitying barb. Instead, her mother turned her face away, sitting down in a chair, hand covering her mouth, shoulders beginning to shake. Alina refused to apologise, but did not press forward with the attack, just watched with her arms folded, waiting for the woman to speak.

"He did love me," Came the choked reply. "And I loved him. Why else would we have chosen to marry someone who caused the other nothing but scorn and judgement?"

"How did you even meet?" She said with more than a little impatience, granting them both a reprieve.

"It's not a fun story," Her mother sniffed, turning to look at her with tearstained eyes.

"With the two of you, I never imagined it would be,"

That earned a slight scoff; amused and irritated both. "Fine, then. Have it your way. But shut up and listen, Alina, for once in your life,"

"Pot kettle black," At her mother's raised eyebrow, Alina relented. "Fine. I'll listen," She was intruiged, on some level.

Saran Starkova took a breath, avoiding eye contact. "My village was attacked by rogue Ravkan soldiers, when I was fifteen. My father, my brothers - all of them were killed. My mother had died of a fever the year before. The soldiers, they - they used me, as soldiers do. Everyone knew what they did. So the village rejected me, for being a traitor to Shu Han, tainted by the enemy. I had to leave. You think you know hardship, Alina, but you know nothing compared to that,"

Alina had not known that had happened to her mother. Had not even thought that was a possibility (though of course she had to turn it into a competition of suffering). She did not say a word, watching the woman closely as she continued. In truth, she had no idea how to react.

"I didn't know where I was going. I'd hoped to find a town, but I'd never left my village before, and ended up stumbling around in the wilderness, lost in the mountains. I was so hungry, so cold I thought I would die. There were wolves in the mountains, too. I could hear them at night. So who can blame me for stumbling towards the first fire I saw? It was Ravkan soldiers, a whole company, but at that point I did not care. It was certain death on my own, or simply misery at their hands," The woman gave a sour laugh. "You wouldn't understand that choice, Alina. You've always been fierce, strong, even before you could summon the sun - too proud for your own good, I always thought. I worried that if you ended up in the wrong hands, you'd sooner get yourself killed than play along. What I did takes a different kind of strength. Surviving, enduring, rather than fighting,"

She could not deny that. Alina had been in the wrong hands before, at the age of twelve. She had fought with tooth and nail; if they hadn't needed to get her to the Fold, if she wasn't worth the trouble, no doubt they'd have killed her early on. The same in Fjerda. Her whole life, with Aleksander. She could never accept the shackles of another, even if it meant her own death. Her mother had clearly changed over the years, however, as she had fought the Lantsov guards the whole way to Os Alta, against all sense and reason.

"These men were not so bad, thankfully. Most of them, at least - but they let me come with them if I cooked and washed for them. Your father was amongst them. He was recovering from his leg injury - the one that didn't heal right in the end - so he stayed in camp with me while the others went hunting or fighting. He hated the Shu for killing his own family, and I hated the Ravkans, but we were bored and taught each other to speak the others' tongue. Somewhere along the way, we began to love each other,"

"Just like that?" Alina raised an eyebrow. She didn't particularly want to hear much more about her parents falling in love.

Her mother glowered. "I was very beautiful when I was young, Alina,"

"I don't doubt it," She rolled her eyes. "You still are. That's not what I was getting at," More your nightmare personality, and Father's less-than-agreeable disposition. She supposed desperation truly did force people together.

"Didn't I tell you to be quiet and listen?"

"How did that even lead to you getting married?"

"The others in his company began to talk. A few made crude comments. So he married me, and they shut up. That didn't go down well, though, and that, along with his leg, was the reason he was discharged without pay,"

That sounded a lot like her father. A big 'fuck you' to anyone who questioned him, whether that was self-sabotaging or not. A lot like Alina too, actually. Though marriage was one of the few things that she didn't think she'd do to prove a point.

"We had no choice but to try and find our way back to his family's crumbling house in Temgora. The journey through the mountains was hard, but he knew what he was doing. He knew the house would need fixing up - his old uncle was the only one who still lived there, and he may not even be alive - but we had no money. So when he saw a magnificent firebird streak across the sky - "

"What?"

Her mother looked impatient. "I just told you. Like from a legend itself - you know the stories! A firebird. Huge, gold, red, beautiful,"

"But it's not real," The Stag was real, though, wasn't it?

"I saw it with my own two eyes. Your father did to. Why would I make it up?"

"I don't know why you do a lot of things,"

The woman tutted and tossed her hair in disdain. "Believe me or don't. Either way, it was there. Dmitri wanted to hunt it and sell it. I told him not to. It doesn't do anyone any good, messing with things you don't understand, things older than your grandfather's grandfather. He didn't listen to me, of course. I was right, though. From then on, it was like the bird knew he wanted to kill it. It attacked us both, again and again, and somehow the fourth time, Dmitri got lucky,"

"Father killed a firebird?"

"Are you going to make a habit of repeating my words back to me, Alina?"

"I'm just wondering if you've taken too much of the opium the midwives left you,"

"I threw that poison out three days after Demetra was born - unnatural stuff," The woman pointedly ignored Alina's scoff. "As the firebird lay on the ground dying, I saw there were tears in its eyes - I reached out and touched it, pointing it out to Dmitri, who touched it too. Then the bird burst into flames. Both of us were burnt a little. And then, from the ashes, a baby firebird emerged. I was scared half to death, and so was he - a lifetime spent hunting in those mountains, and he still had never seen anything like it. We swore to never speak of it again,"

Alina noted the look on her mother's face. "What is it? Why do you look like that?"

"I didn't realise at the time," She said. "But I was newly pregnant. With you. You were growing inside me when I touched the firebird's tears, when I was burned by the flame of its rebirth. I didn't think anything of it, when we finally made it to that rickety old shack in Temgora that your father called a house, and you were born. But when you were taken away, when they said you could summon the sun, I did wonder - was it because of that creature?"

She was silent for a long moment after her mother finished talking. That last part had answered a question she had not even known needed asking. Alina had never wondered why it was her who was gifted with Sun Summoning, and no one else. Baghra and Aleksander were the result of Ilya Morozov's experiments with merzost, but no one knew where her powers had come from. She hadn't cared to find out, just thought it was the same as Corporalki, Etherealki and Materialki, only more rare. Much, much more rare.

"Don't tell anyone else this," She said eventually. "Not even Misha or Demetra. It would put both of them in danger," This was a story best kept hidden. It may be a coincidence, but it might not be. The last thing she wanted was for Aleksander to get it into his head to create more Sun Summoners.

"Which is why you need to stay!" Her mother, of course, seized on the opportunity. "What if it affected both of them too? What if the Tsar finds out? You need to be here to protect us. He already took you from me, Lina, and had his way with you - "

From upstairs, Demetra started to cry.

"Right," Alina threw up her hands. "I'm going back to the palace. It's been a pleasure, Mother, and thank you for telling me everything you did, really - but I have to go and prepare for the journey. I'll see you all before I leave - make sure Misha is in,"

The morning of the wedding saw Alina and Genya in Alina's chambers in the Little Palace. Her friend did not ask if she was sure she wanted to attend; Genya, in fact, seemed to be in the same mind as Alina, entering with a steely determination.

"Do what you do best," Alina told her as she sat down in front of the dressing table. "You have completely free rein, for once. You know what I'm going for today," It was hard to put in words; just a general feeling.

Her friend smiled rather wickedly. "Oh, I know exactly what you're going for,"

She was right. Alina ended up with lips in a poisonous shade of the darkest red, eyes shadowed in kohl, and cheekbones that could cut glass. Her hair was scraped back into a severe high braid, and as for her dress...

"You're sure?" Genya did ask then, looking at her reflection in the mirror from behind her.

Alina smiled humourlessly. "Of course. Look at me,"

Her friend laughed. "You look beautiful. More than beautiful. Striking. Untouchable,"

"Entirely the point,"

She wore a magnificent gown, such that she had never worn before. It was made of jet black silk, with lace and vivid gold accents, in the Ravkan style - cinched waist and tight bodice, with a voluminous skirt - but with unconventional touches like an off-shoulder neckline, bold embroidery and a long slit in the skirts.

"Black is his colour," Genya reminded her. "It's not too late to have a Fabrikator turn it fully gold. Or that obnoxious shade of yellow you love so much. Hells, even red, to match your lips,"

"Tempting, but no," She replied. "Black is my colour. I wear it so much better than he does,"

Alina waltzed into the wedding late, just before the ceremony was supposed to start. Everyone else was already seated, and all eyes turned to stare at her, as she had intended. A seat had been left for her, right at the front, of course. A wry smile on her face, she swept through the seated audience with remarkable dignity, picked up the chair and moved it a foot forward, scraping noisily on the ground in the silent cathedral. She sat down, leaning back and folding one leg ungracefully over the other. Her bare leg became clearly visible through the slit in her skirts. She was well aware of the impression she was giving off, well aware everyone knew she was pretending to act graciously to humour everyone who expected her to be there, but leaving no one in any doubt of her true feelings; disdainful of yet amused by the whole situation.

Aleksander fixed her with a look from the altar. He disapproved, she knew. Again, that was the point. He wanted to either fight her into the ground, or fuck her senseless. She blew him a mocking kiss, which flew with a spark of light to land at his feet. His jaw clenched, turning away. What the fuck did you expect from me today?

Alarmingly close to Alina's entrance, a fanfare sounded for the entrance of the bride. Darya Glinskaya looked beautiful as she came down the aisle, that was true; pretty, sweet, demure in her luxurious black dress fit for a queen. Why had he made her wear black? The colour washed her out, drowning her, and the soon-to-be tsaritsa faded in comparison to Alina sat in front of the front row. She felt a little bad about upstaging the girl at her wedding, that Darya was getting caught up in the twisted games between them, but the fire of rage that had burned in her from the moment she heard that he was getting married was hotter than ever, and she was only too happy to stoke it.

That girl doesn't even know his name. But of course she didn't. The girl meant nothing to Aleksander, aside from a strong alliance with her father, and someone to hold over Alina, punish her for her disobedience. Well, he got what he wanted. Darya looked scared of him, though to her credit was putting up a brave face. Obviously. Anyone would be. Alina would be scared, if she didn't know he was incapable of harming her. He could snap the girl like a twig, if he chose.

Alina listened to the sermon and vows with mock-earnestness, nodding her head as though she was enjoying a diverting performance. When everyone stood to applaud the couple, she clapped louder than anyone, whistling and cheering, to the point of obnoxiousness. In other words, causing a scene. She felt bad, but not bad enough to stop.

Darya changed into a modest pale blue dress for the wedding banquet. It suited her much better than black had done, and was far more eyecatching next to Aleksander's dark clothes and foreboding presence. And she was sat in Alina's seat, at his side. Alina had still been given a seat at the high table, but instead had swapped places with Zoya - who loved any opportunity to rub elbows with important people - and gone to sit with Viktor and the other Summoners. Nina, Katya and Kasper joined her.

She had drunk a lot that evening. Too much, if she was honest. All her mocking gestures and sly looks from the ceremony had faded into anger and sadness. She was refusing to think this was her fault, no matter what he wanted her to feel. She had refused the position of queen; that did not mean he had to fill it. He wanted no heir, she knew that much. It was unnecessarily cruel. To both her and Darya. And Alina was leaving in the next day or two; Darya would have to stay and endure.

She danced to try and forget. There was no way she was leaving early; she would make this as uncomfortable for him as possible and stay until the end. Alina danced with as many partners as she could, laying it on thick, lingering touches, wide smiles, exaggerated laughs, dancing a little too close, a little too sensually, with person after person; Nikolai in particular. She caught him glowering, sipping wine at the high table, Darya sat like a ashen-faced statue at his side. Barely a word of conversation had been exchanged between them. His eyes were always on Alina.

That thought had her leave the dance floor, stumbling slightly, tottering around the back of the high table until she reached the not-so-happy couple. She squeezed between them and sat on Aleksander's lap, but ignored him, facing his new bride.

He glared. "Alina - "

"We haven't met properly," She spoke over him and held out a hand. Darya glanced at the hand, unsure, then shook it slowly, her touch impossibly delicate. "I ignored you last time. I'm Alina. You look beautiful - that colour really suits you, don't let him force you to wear black. Sorry for acting a prick at your wedding - you didn't deserve it, even if he did. Tell me, do you like to dance?"

The girl blinked, startled, unsure how to respond. "I - " She broke off. "Yes, I do. Very much so," Her voice was soft, aristocratic, and oddly heartfelt; no one seemed to have asked her what she wanted in a while, if ever.

"Perfect," She smiled, getting to her feet. "Your new husband isn't going to ask you for a dance, so let me have the honour," Seeing the girl's hesitance, she added, "I'm not mocking you, I promise. I want to make up for being a nasty bitch earlier,"

A ghost of a smile flitted across Darya's face. "That's unnecessarily kind of you. At least you're self-aware," The girl stood, taking her offered arm.

She burst out laughing, the first honest amusement she'd felt all day, as they headed for the dance floor, all eyes on them; Aleksander looked unimpressed, but Alina could not have cared less. "At least you've got some bite to you," The girl looked a little sheepish, but more at ease. "Would you prefer to dance the man's part, moya tsaritsa? You're the queen, you get to choose - I'm happy with either,"

"I cannot say that I've ever danced the man's part, my lady - even practicing with the other girls, I was always the smallest," The girl was indeed tiny, at least a head shorter than Alina. "Best you do it."

They got into position - her small, smooth hands in Alina's larger, calloused ones - and the music started, though the stares of curious, gossiping onlookers did not leave them even as they began to dance. Darya was an excellent dancer, made for the dainty steps of court ballrooms. And, to her credit, she did not blink or seem at all concerned by those watching. A true queen.

"I had to talk to you," Alina said, low enough that no one else would hear. "Just so I wouldn't hate you. It's not your fault, I always knew that - to think so wouldn't be fair. I'd rather be your friend. Especially as he'd love it if we hated each other,"

Darya's lips twitched in amusement, which soon faded. "Why did you not want to be queen?" She asked, curious. "You seem to care for his Majesty, as he does for you, like he cares for no other. And the people adore you," A little too much. It seemed Darya was observant, or Alina was delusional in how well she hid her emotions. Probably both.

"I... I do care for him. But I didn't want to be shackled to him. Or Os Alta. And I wouldn't be a good queen, not like someone like you would. I'd end up resenting him. Which could be dangerous for everyone,"

The girl nodded, biting her lip. Her next words came out in a rush. "Will he be kind? Or, at least, not cruel? People talk about him like he's some kind of storybook villain," She had clearly been in a state of anxiety before the wedding, dwelling on this very question. "Forgive me, but... some say he had you sharing his bed since you were a child. That you're too brainwashed to know any better,"

Not for the first time, Alina felt a stab of pity for her. "People have said that for years. Needless to say, it's not true. Anyone who knows me knows that," Close enough. "He's not a sadist," Saints, was that really the best she could come up with? "I won't lie - he'll be cold and distant to you, but will leave you alone for the most part, which is probably for the best. You'll be able to do whatever you like here,"

"I've always been told a wife should support her husband. Be a patient and kind listening ear, never to judge or criticise,"

Alina rolled her eyes at the practices of the nobility, thinking of all the common women she had known in her life who would scoff at that. "That man needs to be judged and criticised, trust me. You can be patient and kind with everyone else, though. Make friends with the guards and servants, and any Grisha you see often - they're good company. Do charitable projects, and the common people will love you. Don't trust any of the aristocrats here with anything important - it's a snake pit - and take anything the Tsar says with a pinch of salt. I grew up fast, learning to see through his manipulations,"

This all felt very strange. Almost like telling someone how to take her place in her own life.

Darya took a breath, still looking nervous. "What about... what about tonight?" At Alina's incredulous (half panicked) look, she hastily added, "I know how it works! My mother told me when the engagement was announced,"

So two weeks ago? Saints. There was not a peasant child who didn't know about such things at half this girl's age. Living in such close quarters, not having to worry about decorum and manners nearly so much, and with crude and bawdy jokes thrown around without care, made it inevitable. Alina really did not want to think about Aleksander and this sheltered, well-meaning girl. But tonight, even if it was the only night, was inevitable. Darya's father would have emphasised the importance of no one being able to question her right to be called queen.

But her pity for Darya outweighed her personal... feelings. "Like I said. Cold and distant. Not through any fault of your own - you're much prettier than I am, and the blushing virgin every man secretly dreams of. He's angry at me, not at you,"

"Why is he angry at you? If you don't mind me asking. Is it because you refused to be queen?"

"Partly. But it's mostly because I'm leaving to go travelling. That aside, he does need a queen, which is something I would be terrible at - considering how the last queen was a heartless bitch, you could easily become the best in Ravka's living memory,"

Darya let out a startled giggle. "I'm glad you said that. I hated her too. She didn't want me marrying her son," Her smile faded. "Is he ever... cruel to you?"

Frequently. She bit back her instinctual response. "He's not a kind man. But you have done nothing to earn any cruelty. If you want his respect, then be useful - but you don't need his respect if you can't be bothered," That earned another small smile. "But if he is cruel to you, if he hurts you, tell me, and I'll make him pay for it. And if any part of you doesn't want to share his bed, tell me now, and I'll make sure he doesn't lay a hand on you tonight, or ever," That offer was not entirely unselfish.

"A cold marriage bed is better than what many women end up with," The girl took a breath, seeming a little more calm. "If you are right, and it's only tonight, then that is... fine," She paused. "What do you even talk about, when you're alone? I find silences so... oppressive,"

How could she even begin to explain how Aleksander was when they were alone? How they'd make each other laugh, how they would infuriate each other; bickering, debates, full-blown shouting matches, how he'd calm her when she couldn't calm herself, how she'd check his worst impulses, the only one to not feel an ounce of fear towards him, the only one to laugh in his face. They were to face an eternity together, and understood each other more than anyone else could.

"Do you get on with your mother?"

Darya brow furrowed in confusion. "Very much so. Why?"

Shit. "Never mind. Just searching for something in common. Have you ever enacted revenge on anyone, bloody or otherwise?"

She blinked. "Not that I know of,"

"Um. What kind of things do you like?"

"Embroidery. Painting. Dancing and music. Springtime flowers. Romantic novels," From the girl's tone, she knew full well this was not ideal.

Alina grimaced. "Yes, I see your problem," She thought for a moment. "Is there anyone at court who really pissed you off today?"

"You, at the ceremony," The girl's lip twitched.

"Perfect!" She grinned. "Tell him how irritating I am - he will be delighted to have that conversation, I assure you. Although prepare for it to be a long one,"

That wrung a small laugh out of her, as the song finished and they left the dance floor. "You're nothing like I thought you'd be,"

"I don't know if that's good or bad,"

"Neither, really. I just like you more than I thought I would. And I'm glad I don't have to be scared of both of you," Luckily she continued before Alina had to reply to that. "Call me Dasha, please. That's what my sisters call me, and my friends,"

"That's sweet of you." Too sweet. The girl was desperate for a friend here, so much so that she would try and befriend the woman her husband was publicly involved with. Saints, he was going to eat her alive.

Speaking of. Alina knew who was approaching when she saw Dasha's eyes widen slightly in fear. She forced herself to turn, to link arms with the new queen and fix an irreverent grin on her face.

"Moi Tsar," She bobbed a mocking curtsey. Dasha moved to join her, and she had to stage-whisper good-naturedly in the girl's ear, "No, you don't do it too - you're the queen! And I'm only doing it to be rude,"

The girl let out a soft, disbelieving laugh, though did not look Aleksander in the eye, her grip on Alina's arm tightening as she shrank into her side.

"Dasha and I have become very good friends," She said brightly, patting the new queen's arm. "She's quite lovely, really. And a beautiful dancer,"

Aleksander spared Dasha a brief glance. "As befits a queen,"

"Oh, what a romantic," Alina scoffed. "Really, you have such a way with words - the ladies must fall swooning at your feet,"

All his attention was on her now. As it had been for most of the day. "Keep your voice down, Alina," He said, with narrowed eyes. "The last thing you want to be is the jilted lover causing a scene at the wedding,"

Dasha looked like she wanted to melt into the floor.

She laughed dangerously. "How did you keep a straight face through those words? You asked me to marry you a hundred times. You implied, threatened, bribed, manipulated, openly asked, and none of it worked. I think I am behaving extraordinarily well, considering what you would do if you attended my wedding to another man,"

"You said it yourself," He glared. "You refused, unequivocally. You are leaving Os Alta for saints know where, in less-than-desirable company. It is in my power to prevent that, yet I am letting you go. You have no right to be angry,"

Fuck you, fuck all of this. All the rage she had in her, that had been building up for two weeks, came out in that moment. Alina let go of Dasha and grabbed his collar, attempting to drag him to her level, not caring who was watching. He bent only slightly, his larger hand closing around hers before she could.

She settled for standing on her tiptoes and hissed her next words in his ear. "I have every right to be angry. Without me, you would still be the General of the Second Army, fighting the Lantsov's pointless wars, disrespected by your masters like a loyal dog. My birth alone made you king, but my personal efforts will actually keep you there. My life up until now was spent working towards your ambitions. The least you could do is grant me the courtesy of letting me enjoy myself while I am young enough to know what enjoyment means - for saints forbid I end up like you! - without punishing me by getting married,"

"From your perspective, my marriage is a greater betrayal than your own," He replied. "From mine, it is anything but. The marriage is one of convenience and duty. My... regard of you is the same as it has always been. The only betrayal is inconsequential,"

Saints. Alina realised there was no point arguing. He truly believed that, every word, and would not change his mind. She stepped back, forcing that cheery smile back on her face. "You'd better be fucking nice to her," She nodded at Dasha. "Because if I hear that you hurt her, if you make her cry - " Alina broke off, having to wipe her eyes. When had her own tears begun to fall? She was drunk enough, angry enough, that she did not care.

"Are you alright, Alina?" Dasha asked, touching her arm in concern; remarkable, after what she had just witnessed.

He said nothing, of course.

It was all too much. Fuck staying until the end, she couldn't bear any more of this. "Sorry," She said. "I am not feeling myself. Please excuse me," With silent tears streaming down her face, Alina attempted to slip out of the room, forcing herself to walk in a straight line, but felt many pairs of eyes on her all the same.

Soon after she left the Grand Palace, headed across the lawn towards her own bed, her friends found her. All of them. Zoya, Genya, Nikolai, Katya, Kasper, Nina and Viktor.

"Oh, come here," Genya held out her arms, and Alina let herself fall into her friend's embrace, unable to hold back the sobs. She felt Nina's comforting hand on her back.

"You did well today," Zoya said, as they set off away from the noises of the ongoing celebration. "You certainly outshone both of them,"

"Yes," Nikolai said with a cheery smile. "I enjoyed your performance during the ceremony. As obnoxious and attention-grabbing as we all hoped,"

"Dancing with her was an inspired move," Zoya added. "Seeing the two of you waltzing like it was your wedding not his puts you on the high ground,"

She let out a soggy chuckle. "Stop praising me- I'm being a baby. A petty, pathetic baby. You must think I'm so naive. I promise I'm not. I knew this was coming, I just didn't expect it to feel so... so shit,"

"You're allowed to feel shit," Kasper said with a rueful smile.

Nina added, "Especially as you actually attended the wedding. That takes nerve,"

"And just think," Katya said, trying to be cheerful. "We're leaving, tomorrow. You don't have to be back here for months if you don't want to be,"

"Yeah, Alina, we'll have so much fun," Viktor said. "Doing whatever the fuck we want. Like Fjerda, but less murder,"

"That sounds wonderful," She sniffed, trying to stop herself crying.

"And you'll get to clear your head," Genya said; she had been the most privy to Alina and Aleksander's... arrangement. "Time away will be good for you,"

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Alina asked her friend as they neared the Little Palace. "I'll miss you if not,"

"Quite sure," Genya said primly. "Living rough on the road and getting in trouble in strange places does not appeal to me. I wish you all the best, though, of course - "

"Hold on," Zoya interrupted, eyes narrowed. "Is that - ?"

"Mal!" Alina ran ahead to catch her friend as he attempted to get into the Little Palacethrough a side entrance.

Her friend looked tired and travel-worn, but looked up at her delighted shout, grinning widely and holding open his arms. "Alina!"

She barrelled into him, wrapping her first friend in a tight hug. "I dreamed of you," She said, pulling back.

He screwed up his face "What?" Then he paused, actually getting a look at her as the others caught up, his smile fading. "Shit, have you been crying? What happened? Has the world ended?"

"Nothing," She said, wiping her eyes and beaming. "Absolutely nothing. I hate to ask when you've just come back, but we're leaving tomorrow to travel. Do you want to come, as my official oprichniki protection?"

"Leaving where?"

"Who knows," She laughed. "Did you find the Stag, like I dreamed you did?"

"You dreamed - ?" He broke off, shaking his head. "Of course you did. Yes, I found it, in the Permafrost,"

"Perfect," She smiled. "Then, if that is fine with everyone, that's where we'll go first. I can't fucking wait to get out of this place,"

So here we hit a crossroads. Is this a good place to end, or do I continue the story? I have yet to make up my own mind, and even if this is the end then I have several snippets planned for an epilogue (which may develop into full chapters who knows), such as the Firebird plot, Aleksander and Darya, Alina's travels, not to mention the whole jurda parem debacle (SoC, CK, KoS, RoW). But first I want to focus on the edit of the entire story which will be what is posted next. I feel this is a good place to conclude for now (which is why I'm changing the status to 'complete'), though like I said, I may decide to continue later on.

I would like to say thank you so much to everyone who has read and commented on this story since the beginning. Your feedback means so much to me and it truly is a joy to read. Hence why once again I'm going to ask you what you think, potentially for the last time haha. This version of Alina has really been one of my favourite characters to write - this story in fact is definitely the best quality I have written, even if it's not the most popular - as well as her dynamic with the Darkling.

I know Alina and Aleksander have not finished this chapter in a very good place, but the whole point of this story was to make Alina a true equal to him, and she cannot do that without any significant lived experience away from him. He has had nearly 500 years to live his life how he wants; now, aged 19, she can do the same. I also wanted to make it clear that Alina does not hate Darya (I despise the pitting girls against each other over a man trope) even if Alina wasn't the nicest in this chapter.