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hxneywilde · 1 year

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Love thisss!!

Keep Your Judgement

Chapter One

Pairing: Aleksander Morozova x Fem!Reader

Summary: When the Darkling and the Sun Summoner are supposed dead in the Fold, Ravka turns on Grisha, and you find yourself imprisoned by First Army soldiers. It’s then that you realise your power as a durast has been severely underutilised and perhaps you are meant for more.

Warnings: Grisha persecution, canon level violence and death, this entire series will take place during the events of season two so there will be spoilers

My Masterlist • Series Masterlist

The angry glow of torches casts a flicker of orange light over the metal bars that encage you.

At the sound of a glass bottle shattering against the ground, the lingering dazedness from sleep leaves your body, activating your fight or flight response. But the First Army soldiers that captured you wouldn’t allow you a fair fight against them, binding your hands at the first opportunity, and the locks keeping you confined cannot be opened by your power while the shackles around your wrists are in place.

Beyond the group of soldiers that drink around their fire, the Fold towers high above. Thunder booms in the distance and the bone chilling screams of the volcra send a spike of fear through you.

Everyone knows the Fold has been shifting, swallowing towns, and leaving destruction behind in its wake. It is only a matter of time before it will reach you and the rest of the Grisha in the cages that surround yours.

Every now and then, when the soldiers are feeling particularly spiteful or overconfident, they will drag a Grisha out of their cage and walk them up to the Fold, pushing them into the billowing darkness to face the volcra.

Tears fill your eyes as you remember yesterday evening, when Fedoyr had been taken. He was your oldest friend, the first you had ever made at the Little Palace. When the soldiers had kicked and shoved him through their makeshift camp, you had pleaded for them to take you instead.

One of the soldiers had opened your cell, stood barely an inch away from you as tears spilled down your cheeks. Then he had told you that you would be the last one to enter the Fold, that they will make you watch each and every Grisha suffer and die before you meet the same fate.

Over the last few days, you have been testing the scope of your power, trying to manipulate anything around you. Working for the war effort had limited your opportunities to fully explore your power, too busy creating corecloth for keftas or new weaponry for the First Army – the same people that now hunt down Grisha and kill them.

Anti-Grisha sentiments had been growing for years now, with Zlatan rallying his forces in the West and Drüskelle attacking along the northern frontlines. Even in Os Alta, the otkazat’sya, nobles and commoners alike, had looked down on you.

With the appearance of the sun summoner, you and your fellow Grisha had been given true hope for the first time – that they might see your power as something good. After all, if they viewed a summoner like her as a miracle, shouldn’t your power own power also be seen as something extraordinary?

Though you certainly don’t feel extraordinary as you feel the pins in your shackles shift minutely, barely noticeable. As the hours drag on, the metal moves slowly as you unlock your shackles. Most of the soldiers are asleep now, aside from the two guards that circle around the camp and the cages, taking the same route every night.

Sweat beads over your brows, every muscle in your arms strains with exertion, but you continue. As you feel the lock twisting, a hairsbreadth away from freedom, you run over everything you are about to do. Luckily, you’re wearing your kefta and after weeks of being helpless you’re ready to make them pay.

Watching the guards carefully, you wait until the moment they are both out of your sight. The shackles slacken around your wrists allowing you to slip free. In just under a minute, you will be back in their peripherals, putting you at risk of being caught.

Clasping your hands together, you lift the lever inside the lock on your cage, it moves without a sound and you step out. Silently, you stick to the shadows cast by the firelight, avoiding the guards and praying they don’t notice your cage is empty.

A heartrender is the first you manage to free, with the intention for her to dispose of the guards quietly. She nods resolutely when you tell her the plan and she disappears into the shadows to handle them. Two durasts are in the next cage, and once they are free you tell them to work on freeing the rest of the Grisha.

It’s at that moment, one of the soldiers by the fire notices movement, the purple of your kefta doing little to camouflage yourself amongst the darkness. He calls out to his friends, nudging the one closest to him as he stands, grabbing his gun and loading it.

“Get down!” you cry out as the first shot rings out.

Ducking behind a barrel, you focus on the materials around you, searching for anything that could help you. Concentrating on the barrel of his gun, you begin to twist the material, rendering it useless. He swears loudly, but you don’t have time to celebrate your victory as the others begin shooting.

The heartrender runs with her body lowered as she reaches a pile of wooden crates opposite you. She exchanges a determined look with you, and she folds her hands together, flexing her fingers in a motion instantly recognisable to you.

The three nearest soldiers clutch their chests, dropping their guns as blood spurts from their mouths, which provides you the opportunity to rush forwards. Clapping your hands together, you focus your power on the shimmering brass buttons attached to their uniforms. Twisting your palms, you curl the fingers on your dominant hand before thrusting it towards them.

The buttons snap from the thin threads tying them down, burying the metal deep into their bodies, pressing through skin and flesh into their vital organs. A few of them collapse instantly, a few stumble as they clutch their sides.

Beside you, the heartrender picks off those that had roused from sleep, joining the fight late. As one of them fires his gun, you bring your hands together before you flick your fingers to one side, casting his bullets away from the heartrender.

As she swings a punch at one who had managed to get too close, someone seizes you from behind, pining your arms back as another loops a wire around your neck, tugging hard. Instantly, your breathing becomes laboured as you gasp and thrash violently.

As dark curls at your vision, you seek out the material that’s pressing against your throat, putting every ounce of effort you have left into breaking it. Tears run hot down your face as desperation claws at your chest, frightened by the lack of air in your lungs.

There’s a snap and suddenly you’re falling.

Heaving in air, you push yourself forwards, stumbling away from the two soldiers who had fallen back due to the momentum caused by the wire snapping. Quickly, you press your hands together, searching frantically for metal on their clothing.

One of them cries out as the metal clasps of his breeches dig into his abdomen. Red seeps over his white shirt as he writhes on the ground. When the other one stands, charging towards you, the power inside you acts instinctively. Seizing the thin chain around his neck, you tighten it around his throat.

He falls, fingers clutching frantically at the metal, but you are relentless. Stepping closer, you watch as he collapses, heaving for breath, veins bulging. With a flick of your fingers, you yank hard on the necklace. There’s a sickening crack. Then he stills.

Eyes wide with horror, the other soldier backs away, hands pressed painfully against his bleeding sides from where you had buried the metal inside him. Somehow, he stumbles to his feet and begins to run away.

Stunned by your own ability, that you had been able to kill him so easily, prevents you from furthering your attack. He almost reaches the edge of the camp before you begin to pursue him. As your power reaches for the stray coins in his trouser pocket, intending on digging them into his thigh, you sense something different. Not on the man.

The energy you sense sends a shiver over you, encouraging you to peer out into the darkness of the night.

It’s then that you see the shadows move.

Screams are the first thing you process, as the soldier you had been chasing is lifted up by a billowing column of darkness. Claws rip through his skin and a great yawning mouth sinks into his already bloody side. Once the creature is done with him, it dissolves into the night, leaving the body a crumpled heap on the ground.

The heartrender appears at your side, staring wide eyed at what had just happened as the rest of the Grisha stretch their legs and arms, cautiously basking in their newfound freedom.

As a hooded figure steps out the darkness, prompting the two of you to clasp your hands together, readying your power for a defensive measure.

“That won’t be necessary,” the advancing silhouette states calmly. A man’s voice.

As your power reaches out, you sense the corecloth draped over his body. Black corecloth, with lines of gold that shimmer lightly under the firelight. The figure lifts his hood, revealing a familiar face, sporting unfamiliar dark scars over his features.

The General. The Darkling. He survived the Fold.

For a moment, his eyes lock on yours and he lifts his chin slightly.

“I have returned.”

marvelmusing Tag List: @dreamlandcreations @blanchedelioncourt @idaofinfinity @slytherheign @ellooo0ooo @vixenofcourse @dumb-fawkin-bitch @jane-arthur @ilikefictionmen @budugu @watersquirtpewpewboomm @mysweetlittledesire

Aleksander M Tag List: @nyctophiliiiiaaa @jazmin2211 @wooya1224

BB Characters Tag List: @rachlovesactors @noortsshift @aikeia @weallhaveadestiny @two-unbeatable-beaters

#aleksander morozova #aleksander morozova x reader #keep your judgement au #the darkling x reader #grishas deserved better this season

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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I think i like this very much

Total Eclipse

Pairing: Darklina x Fem!Reader

My Masterlist

Over one hundred years ago, the Fold was destroyed by Alina Starkov, martyring herself and Ravka’s current Darkling in the process.

Santka Alina was established as a figure for the prayer books, as was the Starless Saint though many chose to ignore his sainthood, keeping his altar out of sight in a shadowed nook.

In the present day, Lord Morozova manages the Ravkan army as their General, winning the centuries long war against Fjerda and Shu Han.

Growing up in Keramzin, you and your friends had often snuck into the General’s summer house on the outskirts of your town. He rarely ever used it, save for a month or so in the height of summer.

As you had grown up, the only way you could afford to follow your passion for painting was to work for the local churches, creating murals and retouching the decorative features.

Working for the church is difficult for many reasons. It put you at odds with your non-believer childhood friends, Mikhael and Dubrov. As a follower of both Sankta Alina and the Starless One, you will never quite fit in amongst either the Ravkan Church or the Cult of the Starless Saint.

There is nowhere you truly belong.

That is until Lord Morozova arrives at his estate earlier in the year than expected, accompanied by his new wife, and they both take a particular interest in you.

#darklina x reader #darklina au

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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forest meadow

The Darkling, the imposing General Kirigan, did not found his life amusing anymore, until the little Lantsov princess got trapped in his life.

Princess!reader/Aleksander Morozova (The Darkling)

Tagged with 💋 smut/spice but it's really just kissing and the reader being a little bit smitten by the big bad villain.

(Extra): Reader is female but can be any race bc she's not the King and Queen's biological daughter but rather some sort of goddaughter or something.

I just wanted to self indulged my little silly fantasy of being a princess in love with the worst candidate ever.

This is a WIP or a mini fic not sure yet. Mixed POVs.

English is not my first language btw, sorry for any mistakes!

♡♡♡♡♡♡

The life of The Darkling wasn't one fit for anybody. Living for such a long time wasn't easy on the body nor the mind, Aleksander didn't find any pleasure in the mundane things anymore. No sunshine warmed his body, no sugar sweetend the same.

Everyday was the same, he was simply not enjoying life anymore.

Until he fixed eyes on the little Lantsov princess.

On you.

It was strange seeing you out of the Grand Palace. The tsaritsa was protective of you; something he found amusing, as if the woman wasn't aware of the dirt her husband was into; but you were protected anyway, away from the rest of the world, of the Court even.

You were wearing a flowy evening blue —deep sea blue— dress, your hair picked up away from your face with golden clips, orchid-shaped he noticed. You had appeared from the bushes of the Little Palace, looking around and out of breath.

You had scaped from the Grand Palace, and that had picked his interest.

And that interest got bigger when he caught you hiding behind a bush while seeing the Inferni practising outside.

"Enjoying the show, Princess?" he said.

You jumped and your head shoked to his direction. He smirked at you, your big eyes were full of terror.

"I-" you gulped.

Aleksander could see the debate in your eyes and he challenged it, where you going to defend yourself or run away?

Surprisingly you square your shoulders, you were defending yourself. Or so he thought.

"Please, General, don't tell my mother" your sweet voice hit him. Hard. And he found himself wanting to heard it more, to know you.

Oh, little princess.

He was in trouble, in so much trouble.

You were in so much trouble.

So much trouble.

But did it really matter? You asked yourself while you layed on your back, your baby pink dress surely ruined because of the meadow's grass.

But it didn't matter. Not when the General was kissing you this good.

His hands were on either sides of your face, holding you, cuping you as if you were going to dissapear if he didn't. His mouth was hot and eager to devour you, his body was firm against yours and you couldn't do nothing more than moan and accept the delightful feeling of him.

You felt a tingle all over your body, like you were being cured by a Healer, you were itching, craving. For him. For what he could give to you. It was scary, the feeling of needing him so deeply.

Did he feel the same? The same itch and craving that came to you even in the latest hours of the night? When everybody else was sleeping and you could only think about him? You hoped he did, or else you were going to be ruined forever.

But it didn't matter.

Not when he broke the kiss and looked at you that way, his deep dark eyes blown out and his perfect hair undone.

It didn't matter.

Not when he smiled at you. Not when he looked like he was truly alive.

#aleksander morozova/reader #aleksander morozova #the darkling/reader #the darkling #princess reader #shadow and bone #i just want to be a little princess kissing in a meadow with a bad bad man #i think that's reasonable

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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Uhh, i like where this is going 😌 I'm so happy we got to learn more about the reader (even if it's sad lol) it adds charm i guess.

My poor William has gone through enough plss 😭 he need a hug and a warm cup of tea again

All Things End, Part 5

Fic Summary: William Thurber is left to pick up the pieces of his nightmare. Reader is a sensitive - a psychic - with knowledge of otherworldly things, and has been drawn to help William.

Characters: William Thurber, Sensitive/Psychic!Reader (F)

Words: 1.4k

WARNINGS: use of religious language

Masterlist ~ Part 4

(moodboard images found on Google. Please let me know if you are the creator and would like anything removed)

You felt pretty raw after you’d told William that your family had abandoned you. It was so hard to think about how vulnerable and lonely you had been in your past. You had been so hurt when your family abandoned you, but now the pain was only a dull ache. Sometimes thinking about it made the pain a little sharper and you felt it deeply, which is what was happening now.

Seguir leyendo

#all things end #william thurber #william thurber fanfic #netflix cabinet of curiosities #pickman's model fic

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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This feels like a treat 🤭🤭

William deserves all this comfort 🥺🥺

All Things End, Part 4

Fic Summary: William Thurber is left to pick up the pieces of his nightmare. Reader is a sensitive - a psychic - with knowledge of otherworldly things, and has been drawn to help William.

Characters: William Thurber, Sensitive/Psychic!Reader (F)

Words: 1.9k

WARNINGS: use of religious language, disposing of a gun, mention of killing

Masterlist ~ Part 3

(moodboard images found on Google and Picsart x, x, but the William pic found on IG but I think it’s been taken down because I can’t find it anymore. Please let me know if you are the creator and would like anything removed)

You had William’s gun concealed in your bag, but knowing that it was there made it seem like it was burning a hole in the worn leather. Like there would be someone just waiting to ask you what you had in your bag. You needed to get rid of it quickly and discreetly.

Seguir leyendo

#he is my baby #all things end #william thurber fanfic #william thurber fic #netflix cabinet of curiosities #pickman's model

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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IM GOING TO LOSE MY MIND

OMG

I’m blaming all of you for this

#now i wont stop thinking about this #about HIM #silver fox!billy russo #billy russo #billy russo the punisher #billy russo edit

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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Omg omg, i'm late again hahha (i was really busy with college again, but hey! I made it!)

This is so good, William is such a sweetheart i love him 😩

And SWEET GIRL, SWEET GIRL 🥺🥺🥺 I think im gonna lose it, please i love it

All Things End, Part 3

Fic Summary: William Thurber is left to pick up the pieces of his nightmare. Reader is a sensitive - a psychic - with knowledge of otherworldly things, and has been drawn to help William.

Characters: William Thurber, Sensitive/Psychic!Reader (F)

Words: 1.6k

WARNINGS: brief mentions of blood and death, fainting, brief use of religious language

Masterlist ~ Part 2

(moodboard images found on Google, but the William pic found on IG but I think it’s been taken down because I can’t find it anymore. Please let me know if you are the creator and would like anything removed)

Seguir leyendo

#all things end #william thurber fic #cabinet of curiosities #cabinet of curiosities: pickman's model

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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OMGGG, this is so great 😩😩 im so sorry i couldn't read this sooner i was so busy this past couple of weeks (starting college i horrible lmao) but i got the chance now

COMPLETELY LOVE IT, my baby William deserves all the best, all the comfort he can get

All Things End, Part 2

I’m so pleased with the lovely comments on the last chapter! So, thank you!

I started part 1 in the perspective of William for obvious reasons, but by the end of part 1 I was writing in the reader’s perspective. That’s how this one starts, as well. I am not going to abandon William’s POV, so expect both from here on out. But they won’t be represented equally. Meaning it will mostly be in the reader’s POV. Also, I don’t know what era this is supposed to be in, so that makes things a little difficult as well. Anyway. Here we go!

Characters: William Thurber, Sensitive/Psychic!Reader (F)

Words: 2k

WARNINGS: canon-typical violence, mentions of blood, use of religious language and practice, mention of suicide briefly

Part 1

After William had shot the gun and hit nothing, his hand started to shake. He pressed that hand against his forehead and let out a sob.

You turned back to him and saw his knees buckle. Your feet were moving before you told them to. He fell to his knees and you did the same in front of him. You slowly reached out and grabbed the gun from his hand, and put it down on the ground behind you.

Seguir leyendo

#all things end #william thurber fic #william thurber fanfic #cabinet of curiosities #love me ONE desperate man

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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Had to be said, ladies

I love Matt, but Foggy is where is at

#daredevil #matt murdock #foggy nelson #matts manwhore energy is good for some things #but foggy is where i stay ladies #i'll die for him i'll do anything for him #need more boyfriend!foggy content

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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No more going to university, i want to be Dinah Madani's and Billy Russo's sugar baby

#no more medicine #yes to the bimbofication of me #this is my campaign for the elections #billy russo #dinah madani #can we talk about the lack of fics of dinah??#its crazy

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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Dear lord, i need this sooo bad 😩😩😩

Some Sugar Daddy!Billy Russo Thoughts

A/N: Complete and utter fluff because I’m yearning for pretty things

I’m thinking about your closest friend Billy Russo, the rich and successful CEO of Anvil, who accidentally becomes your sugar daddy because his love language is gift giving and you’ve always been too shy to ask anyone for the expensive things you long for. But Billy knows you better than anyone.

Whenever you have a bad day, he’ll wrap his arms around you, pulling you into his lap to let you cry or vent against his chest.

He’s so glad that he’s the one that you go to when you feel like this. He hates the thought of you going home to your empty apartment in such a state.

When you’ve exhausted all your sadness and frustration, and all you need is something to cheer you up, he’ll press a kiss to your forehead, and tell you to pick out any website where you currently have a wish list. He then tells you he’s going to buy you everything on the list.

The first time it happens, you gape at him.

“But… that’s a lot.”

“S’the whole point baby.” He sighs when he sees your hesitant expression. “How about you show me everything you like, and tell me why you want them? Anything we don’t like anymore can get knocked off the list.”

You nod, appeased by this method.

Billy would buy you absolutely anything, even if you wanted ten pairs of the same shoe in only slightly different colours. If that’s what made you happy, then Billy was happy too.

But getting you to talk to him about all the pretty things you liked, and would look so good in once he’s bought them for you, always helps to distract you from your awful day.

He listens to you chatter about the different styles and shapes you like, and coo over the pretty colours and patterns as you look at the images of things you had forgotten about. He helps you discard a few items that look too similar to what you already own, or what’s already on your wish list.

Whenever you seem too agitated by a decision, Billy steps in and makes it for you. Usually just a casual remark like: ‘get the purple one baby, it matches the purse you’re getting’ or ‘get the boots, you’ll wear them more often’ that soon settles your mind.

When it comes to the checkout part of your treat he usually tries to stop you from seeing the overall price.

“Billy.” You whine quietly, trying to protest against him spending so much money.

Ten thousand, two hundred, and fifty five dollars. On shoes. And one bag. And a card holder - because Billy had said ‘you need somewhere to keep my card safe when you go out shopping, now don’t you?’

In response to your reluctance, he merely kisses you firmly on the temple as he rolls his hips in an attempt to reach into his trouser pocket for his wallet.

“A pretty girl like you shouldn’t worry her sweet little head over a big number like that.”

Billy makes sure they’re delivered to his place, because your apartment building doesn’t have an elevator, and he would hate for you to carry anything heavy up the stairs.

Your apartment is too small to house all the things Billy buys you, so he gives you one of the empty rooms at his place. Your own little sanctuary, filled with the things you’ve always wanted.

You always wait until Billy gets home before you open any packages that come for you. He insists that you don’t need to wait, but he does love watching you unwrap things.

He’ll sit down in his armchair, while you’re on the floor surrounded by designer boxes with shiny logos embossed onto the luxurious material. It always makes you feel that special glow in your chest, like it’s your birthday, and you deserve every bit of attention because it’s your day - even if it’s actually just a random Tuesday.

Billy loves seeing how excited you get. Half the time you’ve forgotten what you’ve ordered, and the look of elation when you open the boxes and see whatever you had been longing for inside them is priceless to Billy. He loves seeing you bright and happy as you gush over how pretty everything is.

One of Billy’s favourite sights is seeing you buried among a pile of boxes and tissue paper, your slippers discarded because you wanted to wear your new heels, which still fit despite the fluffy socks you’re wearing. A new scarf wrapped around your neck haphazardly, as you shuffle on your knees towards Billy to have him feel how soft your new jumper is.

When you’re finished, you’ll prop yourself up on your knees and nestle your body between his spread legs, curling your arms around his waist.

Billy taps the crown of your head with a delicate finger. Tilting your head back, you peer up at him from where your face has been hiding against his stomach.

“You feeling better now, princess?” He asks with a knowing look. You smile a little shyly, but nod. Lifting yourself up further, you press a kiss to his cheek.

“Thank you, Billy.”

#someone give me a billy russo #i had such a shitty day I NEED IT #love this btw #billy russo #billy russo x reader #sugar daddy!billy russo

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hxneywilde · 1 year

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In Another Life

Part Four

Pairing: Aleksander Morozova x Alternate Universe!Reader

Summary: Accompanied by your new recruits, you and Aleksander return to the Little Palace, and soon settle into a comfortable routine. But nothing ever stays the same for long.

Warnings: nightmares (which feature threat and near drowning).

My Masterlist • Series Masterlist

Horseback riding is painful. When you finally slide off the horse in the late afternoon, with Aleksander’s assistance of course, your legs are stiff and aching. You wince as you walk beside him, and move to make camp for the night next to a rundown barn.

With Mal accompanying your travelling party, there is plenty of squirrel meat to go around for the evening meal. You find yourself eager to be back at the Little Palace, with tasty warm meals and Aleksander’s soft bed.

Once night falls, you’re shivering. As you’re sitting huddled beside Fedoyr, a soft but heavy cloth falls over your shoulders, and you look up to see Aleksander placing his cloak over you. Your lips part to protest, but the look in his eyes has you shutting your mouth before the words can escape.

There’s a quiet sparking noise, and warmth begins to burst from the pile of logs and dry grass that Ivan had assembled. Pulling Aleksander’s cloak tighter around your body, you shuffle closer to the fire as Ivan coaxes it to life.

“Ivan you’re a saint.” You remark without thinking, rubbing your hands together to conserve some warmth.

He stares at you for a moment, his face as unchanging as usual, but Fedoyr smiles widely.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Aleksander talking to Alina. She looks a little wary, but you hope that this can be the start of something great between them.

“You and the General are close.” Ivan states, though it sounds more like an accusation, and you jump a little. This is the first time he’s ever spoken to you. Despite yourself, you can’t help but look over at Aleksander as you answer.

“He’s done a lot for me. I only hope I can do enough to repay his kindness.”

Ivan doesn’t respond, but you know he must be thinking hard about your words.

As the evening goes on, soldiers slowly begin to lie down on their packs, settling down to sleep around the fire. Once you’ve got yourself settled, you stare up at the stars as they begin to reveal themselves in the darkness of the night. There’s a breathtaking number of them.

Aleksander sets his bedding up next to yours, close enough that your shoulders almost touch as he lies down beside you. Neither of you speak as you look up at the darkened sky.

“Are your stars different?” He asks in a low voice, nearly a whisper. You nod faintly, brow furrowing as you stare at the sky. It’s hard to tell really, you have always struggled to identify the constellations in your world.

“I think so. Will you name some of your constellations?”

“There’s the rosebed, the firebird, a lot of the saints have their own constellations as well.”

You laugh softly.

“Yes they’re definitely different to mine.”

You’re quiet for a moment, before you ask in a small voice,

“Is Sankt Ilya up there?” He nods, and you shift your head, pressing the side of your face against his shoulder so that you can see exactly where he’s pointing.

“Do you see that cluster of three stars?” You hum in agreement. “That is the head of Sankt Ilya. Beside him is the stag.” You follow the motion of his fingers as he trails his way along the path of each constellation. “Then the sea whip curls around them both.”

There’s a pause, and your eyes flutter closed as the warmth of Aleksander’s body settles into your own. Despite the rough earth beneath your back, you find yourself comfortable enough to begin slipping away into slumber.

“I assume it’s real as well.” Aleksander says.

“What’s that?” You mumble sleepily.

“The sea whip.” There’s a small sound of confirmation from you, before you add in a tired voice,

“Yes, it is.”

You hope he won’t ask you any questions about it. At the moment, all you’ve been focusing on is ensuring that Alina stays at the Little Palace. You haven’t even considered what you’re going to do about the amplifier situation.

Luckily Aleksander seems to notice how tired you are, and doesn’t ask you anymore questions. The crackle of the fire, and the steady rise and fall of Aleksander’s chest helps to lull you to sleep.

»»---------------------►

Rain soaks through your clothes, and you stumble as the deck tilts beneath your feet. A burst of pain blooms over your side as you hit the edge of the ship. Down below, icy water churns ferociously.

A book lands at your feet, it’s pages crumbling as the rain soaks through paper. The title might be in Old Ravkan, but you know what book it is. The final book in the trilogy. The one that holds Aleksander’s future. The future you’re desperate to change.

“This is all the mercy traitors deserve.”

Aleksander’s features are twisted into a near snarl, and fear seizes you. Those words had been directed at Mal when you had read them. But right now he’s looking at you.

As his hands close around your throat, your heart shatters in your chest and your lungs strain for air.

“Sasha. Please.” You gasp, tears flooding down your face as you scramble against his hold. He’s too strong, resolute in his anger, and you can only bat weakly at his chest.

Then you’re tumbling backwards, gasping for mere seconds as you fall, before you hit the raging waves and salt water fills your lungs.

You fight against the ocean, but the waves are too violent. Every time to reach the surface, you’re choking on whatever air you can grasp, before you’re pulled under again.

Too consumed by your terror, and lack of breath, you don’t realise that you aren’t alone. Not until it’s too late.

The sea whip’s gaping mouth, open to devour you, is the last thing you see before you wake with a jolt.

It takes a moment for your heart to slow back down to normality, and your breathing to settle until you’re no longer gasping. You stare at a drop of dew as it slides down a blade of grass.

Aleksander’s face, twisted in anger, haunts you.

Aleksander. Turning over, you’re greeted with the sight of an empty space. His blanket has been discarded, and his boots are gone. Heart pounding, you sit up and look around wildly. Where is he?

The sound of a horse snuffling has you looking over towards the barn, and you spot a familiar figure standing by the head of Aleksander’s horse and breathe out a sigh of relief.

As quietly as you can, you step through the throngs of soldiers lying asleep, moving towards Aleksander. The early morning air is cold, and part of you wants to slide back under your blankets. Instead, you round the side of the barn.

“Good morning.” You say softly, and Aleksander smiles when he sees you. Your heart twists.

“Good morning.”

He observes the distance you keep from his horse, and he pats the creature’s neck affectionately as he introduces him to you.

“This is Nocturne.” He then tells the horse your name, which has your smile widening and some of your nerves disperse.

“Hello Nocturne.” You say quietly, playing along with Aleksander’s little introduction.

His fingers curl around your wrist, guiding your palm to lie flat against Nocturne’s muzzle. The hairs are very short but smooth as you pet down the length of the horse’s face. Nocturne tilts his head, and you nearly flinch.

“You’re alright.” Aleksander says soothingly, and you’re not sure if he’s speaking to you or to Nocturne but his tone seems to settle both of you. “There we are.”

The remaining tension from your nightmare fades with his gentle touch and words.

Aleksander opens up the satchel attached to Nocturne’s saddle, and pulls out an apple. With a raised brow, he gestures between your hand and the fruit. You shake your head.

“I’m not putting my hands anywhere near his mouth.” Aleksander breathes out a small laugh, but he accepts your decision, holding the apple out himself for the horse to munch on.

You continue to brush your hand down the space between Nocturne’s eyes, before you glance back at Aleksander. His hands are back in his satchel. Then he pulls out a handkerchief, which he unwraps to reveal two slices of bread. Your jaw drops.

“You made me eat gristly squirrel meat last night when you had perfectly good bread in your satchel?”

His smile widens into a boyish grin as you cross your arms, feigning a mixture of annoyance and astonishment.

“I don’t believe it. The stories are all true. The Darkling truly has no mercy.” Aleksander laughs, and warmth glows in your chest at the sound of it.

“Would you like some?” He asks, with teasing in his voice. You attempt to give him a firm look, but you’re too softened by the smile on his face.

“Please.”

The two of you share the bread between you, as you attempt to shake the stiffness out of your legs in preparation for another day of riding.

“How long until we’re back at the Little Palace?” You ask him.

“If we depart within the next hour, we should return around mid-afternoon.”

Sure enough, less than an hour later Aleksander is helping you up onto Nocturne, with your bags packed and strapped to the saddle.

Conversation between the two of you is scarce as you travel. Unlike when you were travelling in the coach, you don’t have the privacy to ask Aleksander questions about his long life. If you ask too many questions about Ravka, the people around you will most definitely notice that you aren’t from the remote countryside like you claimed.

The horses keep a steady pace as they trek over the narrow hunting trails that weave through fields and woodland on the way to Os Alta. You get your first glimpse of the city in the distance a little after noon.

As you’re making your way through the city, you take the opportunity to look around. When you had left the coach had whisked through the streets so quickly you hadn’t much time to sightsee.

Once you round a final corner, the Grand Palace comes into sight. Alina stares up at the building which towards behind the gates. Aleksander urges Nocturne to trot beside Alina’s horse.

“What do you think?” Aleksander asks Alina. For a moment she looks surprised that he’s talking to her.

“It’s very… grand.”

“That’s one word for it.” You remark quietly, and you can almost hear Aleksander’s smirk in response.

“I think it’s one of the ugliest buildings I’ve ever seen.”

From that moment onwards, Aleksander leads your group in a small procession as you take the road around the Grand Palace, heading towards the Little Palace. A sense of relief fills you once you finally set your eyes on the building. You hadn’t realised how much you had missed it in the week you had been gone.

But now you’re back at the one place that you might be able to call home - one day.

»»---------------------►

Aleksander’s schedule is easy enough to keep up with. He rises early, which suits you since you can’t remember the last time you slept soundly for an entire night.

He has weekly briefings with the First Army officers, in which you sit at his side and make notes, scribbling down observations about the men surrounding you and the proposals they make.

The two of you eat lunch together, and usually discuss whatever you had been working on during the morning. Most of your work is making official copies of lists and drafts, as well as reading through missives to see if Aleksander had missed anything important.

After a briefing, and meeting with some other trackers that you had recruited for the search, Mal had been sent to the First Army outpost at Chernast. With any luck he’ll be able to find the stag soon enough.

You soon find a way to slot Alina into Aleksander’s day. You don’t tell him your plan, simply inviting Alina to look over some maps in the war room. There were a few mistakes on a number of the maps, and you hoped that Alina would pick up on them. She does, and you ask her to fix them.

The doors open as she’s finishing her work on the first map, and Aleksander strides in with a questioning look in his eyes. He raises a brow at you.

“Miss Starkov is correcting a few issues with our maps.” He nods.

“May I see?”

Her fingers brush against his as she passes him the map. She retracts her hand quickly, and you see Aleksander pause. He lifts his eyes to meet yours momentarily, before he ignores the accidental contact and looks over Alina’s adjustments.

After that day, Alina spends more time in the war room with you both, sketching new maps as well as improving the existing ones. When news from Mal arrives, you help her plot the tracking of the stag. At some point you know he will have to trek into Fjerda, and it’s likely you’ll lose contact with him for a while. You just have to hope that he’ll survive.

Alina had been offered the same suite that had been given to you when you first arrived at the Little Palace. Aleksander had asked if you minded Alina being given the room, and you had assured him you didn’t. After all, you could have died in that room, and whilst the blood stains are gone, you aren’t sure that you’d ever be comfortable in that room again.

Besides, it means you are given another suite, one directly across the hall from the war room, meaning Aleksander’s bedroom was only a short walk away.

Life at the Little Palace is good, at times it’s far better than your old life, and there are moments where you don’t want anything to change. That you can just continue spending your days eating lunch with Aleksander while you talk about which officers you find the most boring, and visiting the library with Alina.

Aleksander organises horse riding lessons for you. You’re a little apprehensive about it, but you know it will be an important skill to master now that you’re living in Ravka. Taking Aleksander’s coach everywhere would be too time-consuming and if you couldn’t ride a horse he might decide he’s better off leaving you behind at the Little Palace.

So, one sunny mid afternoon you make your way towards the stables where you’re set to meet with your instructor.

Wandering through the stable, you can’t see anyone about. You walk over the hay covered cobbles, looking this way and that for a presence besides those of the horses that peer curiously at you from their pens.

It’s only one you open up a side door, stepping out into a small courtyard near the back of the palace, that you spot someone familiar.

Aleksander smiles over at you as he pets the muzzle of a brown horse with white patches above its hooves.

“Surely you have better things to do than try to teach me how to ride.” You say in greeting as you approach Aleksander and the horse.

“I do. I’m going to succeed at teaching you to ride.” A smile tugs at the corner of your mouth, even as you’re shaking your head at him.

You’re not as hesitant as you were when you first met Aleksander’s horse, and you move to stand in front of this new horse, reaching out to tentatively pat at his sturdy neck.

“Who’s this then?”

“This is Whippet.”

“Are you sure he’s the best choice for a beginner?” You remark with a nervous laugh, raising a brow as Aleksander chuckles quietly.

“Yes. His name is a jest of sorts, due to his easy temperament and dislike of being hurried along.”

“A horse after my own heart.”

“I thought as much.”

Butterflies erupt in your stomach at the idea of him putting so much thought into selecting a horse that you would be comfortable with.

Aleksander walks you through the different elements of the saddle and other pieces of riding equipment. He tells you what each part is for, and you listen intently.

Then he helps you up onto Whippet. He keeps one arm curled around your waist, the other settled on your thigh to reassure you that you won’t fall. The inhale you take is a little shaky, but sitting up on a horse isn’t completely unfamiliar to you anymore - not after spending hours riding to Os Alta with Aleksander.

At first Aleksander leads Whippet around the courtyard, with you sitting in the saddle feeling very much like a third party who was just along for the ride. Once Aleksander tells you how to manage the reins, he gives you a little more freedom to guide Whippet yourself.

It isn’t long before you’re able to encourage the horse into walking a brisk circle through the courtyard. With Aleksander’s direction, you’re even able to urge him into a trot, which feels far too fast for your liking.

Even from the other side of the courtyard, you can hear Aleksander’s soft laughter as he observes your widened eyes. Whippet himself seems as relieved as you are when you allow him to settle back into a relaxed amble over the cobbles.

Aleksander pats at Whippet’s neck affectionately as you bring the horse to a stop beside Aleksander.

“Well Professor Morozova, was my lesson a success?” You remark teasingly.

His eyes sparkle, no doubt at the sound of you using his name so casually. You wonder about the last time he had such a person, who could say his name in such a lighthearted manner.

“My finest student.”

Aleksander glances up at you for a brief moment, mirroring your smile momentarily, before he looks back at his hand as he smooths it over Whippet’s thin coat.

“Alina knows about her power.”

“You told her?” He nods slowly.

“We were discussing the stag, which then evolved to amplifiers in general. I mentioned my own amplification.” He pauses for a moment. “I could see her thinking it over. One thing lead to another, and then I was taking her hand, bringing her power to the surface.”

“And?” He looks up, meeting your eyes with something akin to wonder on his face.

“Pure sunlight. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Swallowing hard, you push down the twist in your heart and move to dismount Whippet. Aleksander steps forward to help you, his hands settling on your waist as your feet land on the ground. The warmth of his palms soaks through your clothes, and that peculiar feeling in your chest eases.

He drops his hands from you after a moment, and you step away, moving towards Whippet’s front.

“When I first read the books I thought you were going to be the one to train Alina.” You admit as you smooth your knuckles down the horse’s muzzle. Aleksander tilts his head aside, frowning a little.

“Me?” You nod.

“Grisha always train in pairs. You’re an Etherealki, with a unique power, just like her.” You shrug lightly. “I thought it made sense.”

Aleksander is quiet for a moment, eyes watching a collection of golden leaves that skip through the courtyard on a breeze.

“I suppose it does.”

“It would keep her away from Baghra.” You reason. He nods.

“I’ll consider it.”

Aleksander strokes his hand along Whippet’s neck, and the horse seems delighted with the attention from both of you. A frown creases at your brows, and you tilt your head aside as you think.

“When did she find out?”

“Yesterday.”

Your frown deepens as you glance at Aleksander, only to find him already watching you. Before you can even ask him why he hadn’t brought her to the king, and introduced the world to the sun summoner, Aleksander explains.

“I remembered what you told me. How overwhelmed Alina was when she found out. I wanted to give her some time, before everything changes.”

His words are so similar to your own sentiments, and you realise this might be the last quiet afternoon you’ll have with Aleksander. You find yourself not wanting to leave this moment, knowing that once you return to the Little Palace reality will kick in.

Alina will begin training. She’ll grow closer to Aleksander. With your influence, hopefully she’ll be happy here. She’ll stay. He will tell her the truth eventually. Then you won’t be special. You won’t be the only one who calls him by his true name.

If Aleksander notices you wallowing in your thoughts, he doesn’t mention it. You help him walk Whippet back to his pen in the stables. Aleksander ensures that the bolt is in place, and closes the stable door behind you both.

A cheery cluster of flowers catches your eye as you’re waiting for him, and when Aleksander rejoins you, you can’t help yourself from identifying them.

“Blue irises.”

Aleksander frowns lightly, looking away from you to glance at the flowers.

“Hm?”

“They’re Alina’s favourite flower.”

There’s a spark of something in his eyes, something you can’t identify, and he nods slowly.

“I shall keep that in mind.”

»»---------------------►

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