Shadow and Bone - The child of shadow and light

Chapter 6

A/N: So I've still not decided if I want MC to be named Anastasia but until I've decided, that will be her name. I will just go back and change it if that's the case.

* THE DARKLING POV *

I followed Safin into a small room across the hall that looked like a nursery, where she put the baby down in a crib before leaving, slowly closing the door. Since Alina wasn't in control of the tether, I was free to roam around as I wished though some things remained blurry.

I walked over to the crib where Alinas - my daughter lay covered in a white blanket. Yes, she was definitely mine. I would be a fool to think otherwise, and not only because of her eyes but also other features similar to mine. She has inherited my sharp-faced features. But the nose, it was Alina's and it only made Anastasia look more adorable than she already was. I hesitated as I reached out my hand to touch her rosy cheek. It felt so surreal. A father. I am a father.  

She made a small noise before grabbing my pinky finger in her tiny hand and holding onto it. A warm smile crept its way onto my lips as I kept watching her. I had to find them. I had a feeling that they were still in Ravka, but where?

"I know we have to leave sooner or later, I - I just don't want to leave her immediately before she even got the chance to get used to motherhood" 

"Genya, you're not her mother and besides, healer Olga is merely a few blocks away in case anything would happen" I heard Safin and another familiar voice argue in a room next door. Against my will, I broke loose from my daughter's iron grip and walked towards the voices.

Only to be met by not only Safin but also Oretsev and Kostyk. I should've known. Just as I was about to take a step forward I was suddenly thrown back into my chambers at the palace. I let out a frustrated sigh and called for Boris Mikhailov a heartrender who had taken Ivan's place as my close aid.

"Moi tsar?" But thought the better off it "No, it's nothing. You're dismissed." If Alina is the least suspicious of me knowing that they're still alive, she will only turn on her heel and run off to saints know where. And that would only make it harder to find them. No, the best I could do for now was wait and try to gather information myself. I ran my hand through my hair. Anastasia Alexandra Baghra Morozova. The full name of my child. A strange, yet warm feeling filled my chest whenever I thought of the tiny thing holding onto my pinky finger. I never thought that I one day would become a father. I had merely wanted to tease - even anger her, that night but

then one thing had led to the other. And I had lost all of my control when she had kissed me with her soft, seductive lips and it had ended with me, buried deep inside her, claiming her virginity. And together we had created Anastasia. I let out a scoff. She couldn't have come up with something a bit more creative to name their child? Alexandra would've suited her much better.

I bet Safin had something to do with it. Her and that otkazat'sya. 

But then my thoughts turned to the old woman that had assisted Alina in her labour. She had been a Grisha heartrender, judging by the cape she had worn. Which looked like it had been made from an old kefta. But by her age,.. she must have been a retired one. "Mikhailov!" The doors opened yet again. "Yes, moi tsar?"

"I want you to send out our trackers. Tell them to find a retired heartrender named Olga. And tell them to be very discreet about it." I ordered as I walked over to a large map covering all of Ravka. Safin had mentioned travelling, meaning that they were probably planning on leaving Ravka.

"But moi tsar, where are they supposed to look? There are hundreds of Grisha named Olga all over Ravka." I glared at him and he gulped, taking a step back. "Then tell them to check the records of retired Grishas. A heartrender named Olga, who most likely resides in a village or a smaller city close to the borders." he did not question me this time. Clever boy. "Da, moi tsar".

And so the search began. Let's see how long you can hide, little sun summoner.

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A/N: so I'm in a bit of a dilemma. Right now I'm just going to jump in time, from Anja's first steps to Anja running to her starting school, (like she ages 2-3 years every chapter.) But if you readers have other suggestions I'm totally open to them! Genya, Mal and David have already left for Novyi Zem. Decided to publish an extra chapter since keeps supporting me❤😄

*8 months later* Alinas POV

"Anastasia come back here at once!" I yell as I run to retrieve my daughter who was on her way out the door giggling. As it was summer, I had made the mistake of leaving the front door open, and my curious, naughty, crawling daughter had taken full advantage of that. Luckily I got to her before she could crawl a step out the door. "Naughty baby, listen to mama!" I growled at her, trying to calm my frightened heart. Through my daughters' angry protests (her crying and screaming), I bought her back inside making sure to close and lock the door behind me this time. I put her town at her play-spot on the carpet in the living room, leaving her to play with her toys as I got back to work.

Since I was one of the best mapmakers at the factory, I had been able to make a deal with my boss which let me work from home. Though my boss demands me to at least once a week, come by the factory to drop off my work and pick up my next assignments. I knew my boss took this as an opportunity to dump extra work on me, which made me really busy but being able to stay at home with Anja made it all worth it.

*THE DARKLINGS POV*

I stood in the corner watching as an angry-looking Alina carried an even more not so happy looking Anastasia back into the house. I couldn't help but smirk. Anastasia was growing quickly and it made me sad that I couldn't watch over her at all times. As a ruler, I had little spare time but when I did, no matter if it was early in the morning or late at night, I made sure to check in on her. On them both. After making sure that Alina had locked herself up in her room, I walked over to Anja and sat down next to her. It amused me that she had already from the start, been able to see me.

I could touch and see her as she could me. Which sometimes didn't work to my advantage as she sometimes would start crying whenever I appeared or disappeared. She crawled onto my lap and I kissed her on the head as I held her. When had I started to feel so attached? To feel like I would do anything and everything just to make sure that she was safe? "pawa" I froze before breaking into a huge victorious grin. "What did you say?" "pawa" "Moye sokrovishche" I whispered before kissing her cheeks making her let out a giggle. But my happiness was short-lived as I heard steps and a door open. I quickly laid her down on her back before letting the shadows bring me back to my chambers in the cold, lonely palace.

I opened my eyes and stood up from the bed, and walked toward the study. I had just sat down in my chair when a loud knock was heard. "Enter" I said in a cool, cold voice. All happiness I had just felt with my daughter was buried and locked away deep inside my heart. "Moy tsar, I'm here to report about the Grisha". Mikhailov closed the doors behind him and walked towards my desk. I looked up from the paper I had been looking over and gave him my full attention. "Speak" "Da moy tsar. After a long search, the trackers finally found a woman matching your description." "Where?" "In Ivets moy tsar" Ivets. "Send some of our spies to Ivets, and tell them to await orders from me" "At once moy tsar" I waved my hand in dismissal and he quickly left.

Ivets... Now I know where you are.

*Alinas POV*

"What are you up to now laughing like that?" I smiled as I looked at my daughter before picking her up, and kissing her stomach. "You little naughty devil" She just answered me with a huge smile and one of her cute giggles. "Do you want to help mama draw some pictures?" I asked as I walked back toward my desk inside my room.

Moye sokrovishche = My treasure