"You might make me a better man." "And you might make me a monster." ― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising PREVIEW: "I could not see it at the time," I told the Darkling. "I was too blinded by your half-truths and seduction to see clearly. You claimed me that day at the Grand Palace when you grabbed my hand in front of the King, demonstrating to the world that you had a naive Sun Summoner under your control. But I will never be yours." His colorless eyes flashed with fury and something that made them look hollow. Soulless. Inhuman. "Fine, make me your villain." I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. "But you are still my soldier," he fumed. "In my army. You are mine whether you like it or not." "I will put my self-worth before duty," I said coldly. We glared at each other through the mirror. Then, the Darkling's scowl seemed to fade leaving an unsettling glimmer of fire in his eyes. He leaned down leveling his mouth with my cheek. His lips brushed the shell of my ear when he whispered, "I will break you eventually. With time, you will see." ________________ If the Darkling succeeded in making Alina a monster, what would Alina act like under the Darkling's spell. Would she be cold and callous or would she try to fight it-would she try to be good? If you read my other Darklina book "The True Saint", this one is the opposite (although it does not connect with my other book so it can be read separately). Instead of Alina making Aleksander a better man, she becomes a monster. This takes place the night of the Winter Fete and continues until the end of Ruin & Rising. What would happen if Alina did not run that night and instead confronted the Darkling about her new knowledge of the Black Heretic? This book is a retelling of the Grisha trilogy if she had stayed-combining elements of the books and the show. ________________ Cover art by: morgana0anagrom Characters and universe created by: Leigh Bardugo #1 darklina 3/28 #1 thegrishaverse 12/29 #2 alina 1/14

[DARKLINA OMEGAVERSE AU] Alina's eyes went wide as she felt his tongue invade her mouth, fighting for space, commanding it. As he devoured her with his mouth, his fascinating Alpha scent overwhelmed her, making her thoughts stop. She had never felt this way kissing Nikolai, even though he was her mate... "How dare you..." she gasped breathlessly, leaning away from him. "You had no right to touch me, I'm your queen-" "A queen who kissed me back. I know you've been feeling the same way I feel about you. I know you sense our connection, the thread that binds us..." "I am Nikolai's mate... There can be no connection between you and me..." Kirigan's smirk deepened. "Make sure that when you tell him about what I did you don't forget to mention this." or, After the death of Alexander III, King of Ravka, the throne is succeeded by his second son, Nikolai Lantsov who marries and mates the Sun Summoner Alina Starkov to strengthen his claim. While enjoying the first few weeks of their peace-filled marriage in the Grand Palace , Nikolai and Alina receive an unexpected guest - General Kirigan, leader of the Second Army who comes to warn them of supposed danger to the kingdom. In truth, Kirigan wants two things: the throne and the Sun Summoner. He is ready to do anything in his power to get them both.