"Go. Flee. Go west.
Wait for the King to die.
Then return with a new name.
A nobleman's name.
Bide your time until there's a problem only Grisha can solve.
Then the King must embrace us"
Aleksander had been in exile for too long, following his moth...
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Alyssa hoped it was just a nightmare. The palace, the dark sky outside, everything felt like choking her. Her legs turned too weak but before she could collapse, strong arms wrapped around her. "Hey, you need to sit down" Kiril murmured softly "It's alright. I'm here". She allowed him to take her away from the corridor. He headed towards her room and she didn't protest. His fingers unwrapped her heavy coat. She realized that was what she needed to feel less caged. He didn't undress her further and she was grateful for that. The fire was burning on the hearth, but she felt frozen deep inside. Kiril pressed on her shoulders to make her sit next to him on her bed. "Anything to drink?" he asked. She shook her head. Her mouth was dry, but unable to swallow anything. "Lay down. I'll watch over you" he said gently. She didn't want to, but he insisted "Trust me". Like an ill person, she slowly laid on her bed and stiffened when he grabbed her legs to pulled them up. But the dizziness softened.
"She's probably unwell or had to leave the palace for a while" he murmured after a long silence. "It never happened before". "Does she have a family downtown?". She shook her head, closing her eyes "Her family rejected her when she revealed her powers".
If she was dead... No, she couldn't think of that. Not when just the idea could shatter all her hopes. She pulled herself up, letting him hold her in his arms. "I fear it's my fault" she admitted after a while. "Why?". She wished to drown in his embrace, to let him take away all the sorrow before it could kill her. "I've been a fool. I knew I was asking too much, but I didn't imagine it could frighten her. That she could run off". "What did you ask her?" he asked delicately. "I just suggested that she might go to the war front. To follow you". She felt him stiffen, breaking the embrace. "Me?". "Yes" she confirmed "I can't live with the fear that something might happen to you while you're away, so in case you'll be in battle, she's the only one who can protect you when I can't do it myself". He was rigid, unreachable "I can take care of myself". "You're skilled, but that's not enough against this cruel world. You can get hurt in this same palace and now we don't have her powers to help..." her voice died in her throat. Kiril grabbed her face, his touch comforting her again, but before he could reply, a knock distracted them. He dropped his arms while Roslyn stepped in, looking speechless. "Any news?" Alyssa asked carefully. She shook her head, her cheeks unnaturally pale. Kiril moved towards the door "If you can stay with her, I'll try to find something downtown". Alyssa wished to protest, but he was gone before she could push out any word. Roslyn walked to her for a hug "It'll be alright. Let's keep hoping until we don't learn what actually happened to her". Alyssa nodded, but her body was trembling. Roslyn narrowed her eyes to inspect her "Did he try to take advantage of this?". "No. He's been perfect" she replied dismissively. "He's so unusual" her friend blurted. Alyssa squeezed her hands and pulled her to sit next to her, chewing her bottom lip before gathering the strength to say hearfelt. "I'm so sorry, Roslyn". She winced alarmed "For what?". "Your wedding" Alyssa whispered, almost hoping that keeping her voice low could keep the dark cloud away from them a little longer "I wish there's another way".
