"Don't let me be alone," he murmured. His head dripping heavy into the weight of my lap. For the first time Alina felt like she saw him. Not the darkling, or the black heretic. Not the roles he had forced him self to play, not the narrative that had for-written him as the villain. But the young-brilliant, blessed young soul who only wanted to make friends, who had been told he would outlive life its self. She saw the scared, boy, who was as afraid of the dark as she was. Her hands made soothing circles over his back and she pulled him closer letting her head fall down to his. She felt the beating of his heart slow, the warmth fading. Leaning close, whispering tentatively into his ear. "Your not the villain in my narrative, Alexander," her breath shuddered, the tears forcing her voice to break "Your not alone, I will mourn you even when the world rejoices in your absence. I will feel the space you filled in my soul. Your not the villain, Alexander. " She never felt his chest rise again. What if Ruin & Rising ended differently? What would happen when the darkling showed up in Rule of Wolves? This is my rewrite where Alina can actually express emotions.