CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
Treatment with the Healers didn't take as long as Liliya had expected but she still didn't want to drag herself out of bed again. Her arms wrapped around her pillow as she nuzzled her face into the soft sheet. Aleksander was up and he had been at his office for an hour or so before he walked back in to ensure she was okay.
When he found her lying in bed still, he waited for a minute. He didn't know if she was asleep and her snores were usually a sign but they didn't come. She was awake. He walked over to the bed and lay down beside her. The sinking of the mattress made Liliya lift her head. The red locks falling across her eyes and she attempted to blow it away but it fell back into place.
"My whole body hurts," She complained, "And my collarbones are itchy," She added in a mutter. Her pout only grew as she stared up at him. Aleksander lifted his hand and pushed the hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear.
"Show me," He said. His tone left no room for denial so Liliya sat up and pushed her back against the headboard. She tugged the collar of the dressing gown down and the red irritated and slightly bloody scabs came into view. Aleksander scrutinised them and had to snatch her hand away before she scratched it.
"If I keep picking at it, the scars will stay. So I want to but it hurts," Liliya mumbled as she dropped her hand into her lap. Aleksander met her gaze and she sent him a small smile before her head tilted back to rest against the wall. He stared at her for a long moment before he took a hold of her hands.
"Don't you think it's time to heal them?" He questioned. Liliya shook her head and intertwined their fingers. She knew that he was probably right but she didn't want to get rid of them. They were something to remind her who she was, where she came from and the suffering that she had been put through but now she was okay. They were important.
"They stay. I like them," Liliya reaffirmed as she ran her fingers along the scabs before pausing her hand on them again. Aleksander sighed and watched as her nails began to gently scrape at the scabs. The skin becoming irritated as she began to pull the scab away.
"Do not pick them," Aleksander scolded as he grabbed her hand and pulled it away gently. The scab was already half peeling and the blood slowly seeped out. He sighed and grabbed a cloth from the bedside table. It had been there all night after how Liliya had come back looking. He pressed the cloth against her scab.
"I'll try not to," She mumbled as she watched him. He nodded and moved his other hand to push the hair out of her face. His fingers running through her red locks. His eyes flicking across her features, taking her in. The silence growing between them as he pulled the cloth bath. Blood was now in a small red patch on the cloth but that the scab was already beginning to reform, "I should tell you about what Isaak is planning," Liliya said as she grabbed his hand. Their fingers intertwining. Aleksander nodded and discarded the cloth. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap/
"Did you discover his plan?" Aleksander asked as he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. Liliya felt the soft press of his lips and smiled. Her whole body still felt somewhat tender but she knew he was not intending to hurt her so relaxed under his touch.
"He didn't tell me but I said what I believed he was attempting and he became enraged," Liliya explained before she cupped his chin and lifted his face up. Their eyes meeting, "I must have been right otherwise he wouldn't have tried to kill me," Liliya added. Her last words were slightly quieter but Aleksander had expected them. Isaak was relentlessly in his actions. He was stubborn and ambitious and determined. It was rather frustrating at times.
"What is his plan?" Aleksander questioned before he peppered a few kisses across her skin. He then pulled back and cupped her face with his hands. His smile widened slightly as he looked into her eyes, taking her in. He couldn't help but admire her. Liliya leant into his touch, closing her eyes as she let out a long sigh.
"Use Alina," She mumbled after a moment. Aleksander's thumb paused in it's movement and Liliya opened her eyes.
"In the same way we will?" He questioned. Liliya shrugged and grabbed a hold of his hand. She pushed it in front of her mouth and pressed a kiss to his palm before she moved her head to his chest. She wanted to listen to his heart beat.
"I'm not sure. It's the only part that doesn't quite add up. He doesn't have your power. He's too erratic to harness it in the same way as you," Liliya explained as she wrapped her arms around Aleksander's waist. He rested his chin against the top of her head and he stayed silent. She could tell her was thinking and the normal thumping beat of heart told her that he wasn't panicked or unsure. Just thinking.
"So we don't know his entire plan?" Aleksander asked. Liliya hummed in agreement and Aleksander nodded and pressed a kiss to her hair. The silence flowed between them for a few minutes and she just listened to him breathe. Her scabs were itchy and she had to keep her arms gripping tightly around him to stop herself from giving In. It was frustrating but she knew it was fine. Her mind running away with other thoughts about Isaak.
"I don't know why he came for me either. He didn't want to kill me. Not initially," Liliya added after a moment. Her voice was slightly air-y and she seemed to be somewhere else before she opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her hands moved to rest against his chest and the frown spread across her lips.
"We jeopardised his position. It is very likely he wanted to kill you. Perhaps we should ensure you stay in the Little Palace unless I am beside you," Aleksander suggested. Well, it wasn't entirely a suggestion. It was more of a demand than anything else. He knew what he wanted to do and he wanted to keep her at the Little Palace. Liliya had very little she could do to persuade him but she could try
"I don't want to be confined here," Liliya responded as she shuffled off his lap. Her back hitting the mattress as she lay down. Her head on the pillows and her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Her hands resting against her stomach again.
"You won't. I will simply have to be with you," He reiterated. She narrowed her eyes, turning her head to face him.
"Kotik," She said, a warning to her tone. A smirk appeared on Aleksander's face at her use of the name.
"Milaya," He retorted. His tone was also full of warning but there was an almost teasing aspect to it.
"I don't want to be stuck here and I need to continue my training with Alina," Liliya said as she stared at him. He nodded his head and moved off the bed. He grabbed his kefta from the dresser and pulled it on. Slipping his arms into the sleeve before pulling it across his front.
"That is acceptable. But there will be no leaving these walls. I am only trying to ensure your safety, moya dusha," He responded as he began to button up his kefta. Liliya stared at him for a moment before she moved off the bed. Her barefeet smacking against the wooden floor before she walked around to him. Her hands moved to rest against the buttons of his kefta.
"Aleksander," She said. His gaze met hers and her frown only seemed to deepen. He tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?" He asked, the curiosity lacing his tone. Liliya sighed and began to button up his kefta for him.
"I know you are trying to keep me safe but I'm going to get harmed no matter what we do. Isaak wants to kill me," Liliya stated as she moved her fingers down. Each button was done quickly and he looked like his regal General self all over again. The perfect example for the Grisha of the Second Army.
"And we will kill him first," Aleksander promised. His hand moved to cup her cheek and he leant forward, pressing a long but soft kiss to her lips. She melted under his touch but pulled away after a moment. He smiled, pecked her lips again and then stepped back. He left the room and Liliya leant against the bedpost, wondering what she was supposed to do now.
***
The library was quiet but Liliya knew that Alina wouldn't go there first. So, she waited outside the back door that lead to the training area. Her back rested against the wall as she tapped her hands against the side of her thigh. Her gaze fixed on the cloudy sky. Autumn had long rolled across the Ravkan landscape. The leaves turning orange and slowly drifting to the floor.
The chill didn't bother Liliya. She had long grown used to the freezing winters and scorching hot summers. The door next to Liliya opened and she heard the voices of Marie and Nadia along with Alina's own. The redhead waited and watched as the trio walked onto the path before she cleared her throat. Alina looked back and stared at Liliya, the surprise spread across her face.
There was a mutter of voices before Marie and Nadia nodded. They left Alina behind and the black-haired girl walked over. A hesitant smile on her lips as she rested her hands at her sides. Her blue kefta wrapped around her as she looked up at Liliya.
"We won't be combat training today," The redhead explained before gesturing towards the door. Alina's eyebrows pulled together but she nodded and followed behind. Liliya led them towards the library. There was purpose to her walk and she just wanted to sit down. Her whole body still felt tender and ached dully.
"I didn't know you would be here," Alina explained as she moved to walk in time with Liliya. The redhead turned her head to admire Alina for a moment before smiling and focusing back on the walk ahead.
"I returned last night. How are you?" Liliya asked curiously as she pushed the library door open. Alina knew where to go from there, taking the lead. They walked along the aisles of shelves and dipped into the study area they had occupied most days.
"I'm fine. Just surprised," Alina explained as she pulled her chair out. She then sat down and Liliya gave her a look. Then, she sat down and pulled the reading list she had given to Alina out of her back pocket.
"Surprised?" Liliya asked curiously as she placed the parchment on the table. She then got up, reading over a few books before walking to the nearby shelves. She was still in earshot of Alina so could listen to her speak.
"I saw you walking with Alek- General Kirigan this morning. I was concerned," Alina was quick to correct herself but Liliya smirked when she realised that Aleksander had done. He had given her more of his trust. Their plan was slowly beginning to work and she was glad. Alina was falling under the spell. Liliya pulled out a few books from the shelf.
"Please, call him Aleksander. It would be much easier for both of us," Liliya called before she walked away from Alina. She collected the next few books from the shelf. It was heavy but nothing she wasn't used to. When she was studying herself, she used to carry around stacks of books around the Little Palace. Roma always used to embarass her and joke about it. She didn't care.
"O-Okay," Alina said though it was faint and Liliya barely heard it. Once she had collected the rest of the books, she strolled back over and dumped them on the desk. A few books from the top of the pile began to slid off the desk. Alina grabbed them quickly to prevent any from sliding further off the bed.
"And it was only some injuries. Nothing I am not used to. But I am still tender so I thought that we could study. I could test if you read the books I suggested," Liliya questioned as she began to sort them into piles. Her gaze flicked over the reading list as she did so. Wondering which were more likely to have been read.
However, the soft "Oh..." that left Alina's lips told Liliya that maybe collecting the books was a bad idea. Liliya placed down the book that was currently in her hand and turned on the chair to look more clearly at Alina.
"Alina?" She asked curiously, cocking an eyebrow, Alina ran her fingers through her hair and reached out for one of the books. She flicked through it before she closed it. There was no way she could hide from this fact. Not easily anyway.
"Arina was rather distracting and I spent time with Aleksander... and Genya. I didn't have much time to read," Alina mumbled before she shrugged. Her cheeks were flushed a soft pink and it made Liliya smirk before she turned her face stern once again. She grabbed the list and slid it towards Alina.
"You always have time to read. I instructed Arina to give you time to do so," Liliya added after a moment. Alina shrugged and pushed the list and book away, pushing the confident look onto her face. Alina would not be meek. She hated being shy.
"She didn't listen," Alina argued. Her tone was defensive and it made Liliya chuckle softly. The serious and stern expression dropping.
"Well, I will have words with her later. Did you read anything?" Lilya asked, emphasising the last word. In reality, she didn't entirely care whether Alina had read or not. Reading from textbooks was dull and repetitive and none of the scholars who wrote the many books in the Little Palace library were very interesting. Their prose were absurd and they made everything much more complicated. Most of the four hundred page books could simply be condensed into fifty or so pages if they really wanted to.
"A few things," Alina said as she picked up a few of the books from the pile. Her eyes scanned over the titles before she nodded and placed them on a pile.
"Good. Then we start with them," Liliya said as she unbuttoned the kefta. It was becoming too warm so she simply discarded it on the back of her chair. Little did she know that removing the kefta revealed the two deep red cuts on her collarbones.
"What happened?" Alina asked quickly when she noticed them. Liliya looked down before she waved her hand.
"Alina. That is not relevant," Liliya scolded as she pulled her chair forward to lean over. She wanted to see what Alina had done while they were apart but it seemed Alina would be a hindrance to it. Liliya couldn't say she hadn't expected it.
"You said I was under threat. I deserve to know if my life is in danger," Alina argued quickly as she met Liliya's sharp gaze. The redhead sighed and reached out to place her hand over Alina's.
"Just because it is threatening you, does not mean I am obligated to share with you what happened. There are many things that you do not know about and will not know about until Aleksander or I deem it necessary for you to know. Do you understand?" Liliya asked as she gently squeezed Alina's hand. Liliya definitely said more than she was supposed to but Alina would keep asking questions if she stayed silent and avoided the questions forever, "Well?" Liliya urged after a moment of silence.
"Yes." Alina nodded. Liliya smiled and squeezed her hand again before she moved over to the list. Alina stared at the book pile before clearing her throat.
"Good. Now, I will tell you that the threat has changed slightly. There is less pressure on you for now. Just don't leave the Little Palace. I know Aleksander won't let you but do not try and sneak out. There are more threats than you realise and they are much more powerful than you know," Liliya explained. She purposefully kept herself vague. It was the best way to ensure that Alina stayed loyal while also not going against them. It was enough to placate her hopefully.
"Like what?" Alina asked. The curiosity filled her tone and Liliya turned to look at her, narrowing her eyes.
"Alina," She warned. The black-haired girl's smile began to grow as she opened the cover of a book. She couldn't help but start to smile. It felt impossible to prevent it.
"I deserve to know!" Alina argued, the playfulness to her tone. Liliya scoffed and then grabbed the book she had opened. Liliya flicked it closed which brought Alina's attention right back to the redhead where it needed to be.
"You will know when the time is right. Now show me which books you read. Even if it was only partially," Liliya responded. Her tone was air-y but still stern. A pout appearing on Alina's face before she nodded. The two quickly began their conversation with the younger girl pointing out everything she had learnt. Liliya tested her and was surprised to find how much she had retained. It was pleasant surprise, a good one.
The session lasted longer than either of them had expected. Giggling and talking in the library. Liliya slipped back into her role so easily despite what had happened with Isaak. She knew what she had to do and knew that Aleksander would protect them both for as long as was necessary.
***
author's note! i know it's been like five days, I WAS COMMITTED TO THE DAILY GRIND until my brain stole my entire motivation for life in general but it's okay, we're here and next chapter is the MIDPOINT WITH SOME VERY EXCITING THINGS HAPPEN ;) but yeah, we've got some chaos, we got some FUN, it's going to be amazing and i'm getting a little more motivated, updates may be a little dodgy for the next like week or so but from friday (2nd) i am DONE with college for the year so will have tons of free time so more motivation, updates and FREE TIME BOIS but yeah, i hope you enjoyed, love y'all