Chapter Text
He’s really very nice to her, all things considered.
Mal is dead, of course. Nikolai and the Apparat too. Tolya and Tamar. Zoya. The entire Lantsov line and half of the nobles. Rebels who refused to surrender.
But Genya and David still live. Nadia, Adrik, Fedyor and Harshaw as well. And most of the Grisha who had so unwisely decided to throw their lot in with Alina when she was silly enough to run from Aleksander. They’re pardoned and welcomed back, although they have to be watched closely to ensure they don’t fall back into bad habits.
Often, Alina feels guilty for all of those executed because of the rebellion she’d started. Aleksander always comforts her, though.
“It was a hard lesson for you to learn, solnyshka,” he says, “but you have to understand that actions have consequences. And the memory will stick with you, won’t it, so you’ll never try and run from me again, or pretend that you’re less that what you are.”
It makes Alina shudder, to think of leaving Aleksander’s side. He’s her other half, her perfect balance. She still can’t fathom how she’d ever run from him before, allowing Baghra’s poisonous words to confuse her and turn her against the one person who will always accept and adore her, who will never look away no matter what happens.
It had taken her some time to understand all this, of course.
She was so stubborn to begin with, although Aleksander was endlessly patient. He’d had to keep her isolated from everyone but him, for her own good.
Even when she was so badly behaved, though, he was always nicer than she had any reason to expect. There are whispers about the Black Tsar, about his darkness and bloody methods, but he has never hurt Alina despite her being a deserter and fermenting rebellion. He was so understanding as he helped her see how wrong her earlier actions were.
Eventually, she’d come to see that his vision for Ravka was the only one that would save their country.
And now she treasures his teachings and his lessons, his smiles and caresses and the many pleasures he’s shown her. She hates to be apart from him, always happiest in their bed or training together or sitting in his lap as they hear petitions in the throne room.
She is happier now than she’s ever been.
Eternity stretches out in front of her and Alina wants to spend it with Aleksander by her side.