"In the night I hear them talk, coldest story ever told."
"Ivan wasn't the Generals first heartrender, no one knows what happened to Mashka. It's like she disappeared into the shadows and took his heart with her."
shadow and bone season...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It was just the two of them, lately Mashka swears she's seen less and less of him despite spending their nights together.She's his second, but she didn't want to be second in line. Aleksander noticed it too, promising her a day of just the two of them, in the country side, a place they'd grown to love. Aleksander holds her hands gently as they walk towards the meadows edge.
"My mother made us collect wildflowers every week, we'd pray to the Saints and eat our meals. This reminds me of her." Mashka brushes a hand against the long grass.
Aleksander kisses the top of her head. "Is that why you give me bleeding hearts on Sundays?"
"You started that tradition love, I just believe in reciprocation." she teases.
Aleksander smiles down at her, bringing her closer to his chest. "I adore them."
Mashka laughs, she can't really imagine him adoring the flowers she leaves on their mantle but she'll take it anyways. "Sure you do."
"They're from you, I adore them." he assures her.
Gripping onto his shoulders she brings her lips onto his own. Smiling into the kiss she sighs at the familiar peace that fills her chest. His hands wrap themselves around her waist, crushing her into him. It's a little desperate, but mostly sweet. Aleksander moves a hand to her neck, angling himself over her. Everything feels alight, she can hear his heartbeat, along with her own. It's as if she can hear the blood pumping through his veins, the steady rythem. Though this time, it's not as steady as she can usually pinpoint.
Pulling away, Mashka places her hand over his heart. "You alright, my love? Your heart."
"My Mash," he kisses her cheek. "I have to confess something."
Running a hand over the back of his neck she watches his eyes. "Alright, whatever it is we'll work it out together."
That was a quality about him she admires, how nothing seems too great for him to handle. Every issue they've come across they've handled it, together.
Unwrapping himself from her embrace, Mashka watches with wide eyes as he gets on one knee. "I have to confess Mashka, I'm afraid these last three years I've come to love you more than I thought possible," Taking her left hand he places an intricate ring on her finger. "There hasn't been a day where I haven't thought of you, and I don't want to go a day without seeing you next to me. You are everything to me Mashka Lavna, will you do me the honor of making you my wife, my partner, my love?"
The weight of the ring on her finger, the smile reaching Aleksander's eyes, the tears rolling down her face. Falling to her knees she tackles him to the ground, kissing him with a newfound passion.
