"I'm like your little pet," I said once, when they wouldn't stop glancing at me. "Have you fed me? Have you watered me? I bet they wonder." There was darkness in his voice when he responded, and it rushed through his fingers and into mine as our hands brushed together. "Not for long, Alina." He dipped his head down to my ear, dipped his volume to match. "That I can promise." »»----- ♔ -----«« The winter after the Darkling is defeated, Alina and Mal decide to stay in a cabin before officially settling down. After a fight, Alina is left to live alone. It's not too long before shadows start to follow her. The Darkling is dead. Or is he? We must all face our demons sooner or later. [you can find this story on ao3!] story started: June 2019 story completed: ?