Blood and Water - The Darkling

Chapter 25: Reunion

*Unedited

*Accidentally deleted this part! Ugh

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"𝖂𝖍𝖞 did Baghra try to kill me?" I ask Aleksander early the next morning.

He tenses under my lazy caresses but calms himself. "I believe she knows it's impossible to separate us for long. The best way to ensure you don't aid me in my nefarious plans is to kill you before we find the stags."

"But why help Alina leave, and poison me?"

"Well, I can't sense your sister like I can sense you," the Darkling answers. "And you're more powerful."

I hum, "No, I'm not."

Aleksander laughs and studies a strand of my hair, "Yes, you are. She can only summon the sun. You control all of the starlight in the sky and the shadows in between."

"Hm, I suppose you're right," I reply. "I can see why Baghra would think that was her only option but I honestly thought she liked me."

The Darkling kisses my temple gently, "Oh, she does. Although, the old crone will never admit it."

Then we sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

"Speaking of poison," I mumble. "I have an idea of what our next steps should be."

Aleksander just hums. So I continue, "I think it's time that Genya be given her red kefta."

"Moya zvezda, what a wicked mind you have," the Darkling replies.

I huff, "Oh, don't pretend like you didn't think of the same plan."

We throw off the covers and get dressed for the day. Then Aleksander calls in Genya, Ivan, and his most trusted followers. He fills them in on our plan. Poison the King and make it seem like an illness, confine the Queen to her quarters for safety reasons, and have the Apparat rule in their place. I voice my concerns about the priest, not completely trusting him but the Darkling assures me that he will be easy to control.

Afterward, I nod towards Aleksander and follow Genya out.

"When this is over, you'll get your red kefta. Never again will you be forced to bend to the will of powerful men," I whisper to the Tailor.

She hugs me and I see the sparkle of tears in her eyes, "Thank you, Svetlana."

"No need to thank me. Now, why don't you join Ivan and me for a glass of kvas," I ask warmly.

Genya shakes her head, "Not yet. When I do, I'll be wearing red."

I give her another quick squeeze and head into the domed hall and sit down next to Ivan in our normal chairs.

"Awe, the poison didn't take," Ivan jokes.

"Slip some in my next meal then, if you're so upset about it," I laugh out.

We sip our kvas in a comfortable silence until Ivan mumbles, "I'm glad you're alright, Lana."
I smile at him, "So you do care, Van the man."

We both chuckle and then I ask, "How's life without your other half?"

He hums, "I miss him. Doesn't help that you and General Kirigan are worse than rabbits."

I choke on my kvas and look at him incredulously, "Did you really just say that Ivan the not so terrible?"

He just continues, "Lately, it's been so hard to deliver reports too early or late in the day."

"Maybe I need to ask David to make some soundproofing material," I mumble with an embarrassed groan.