Privateer ~ Nikolai Lantsov

Chapter 32

I let her talk. Because at this moment she was powerful like she's always been and she had the Grishas attention.

"I don't care if you think I'm a Saint or a fool or the Darkling's whore. If you want to remain at the Little Palace, you will follow me. And if you don't like it, you will be gone by tonight, or I will have you in chains. I am a soldier. I am the Sun Summoner. And I'm the only chance you have."

Holy saints and all its glory, she could be a Queen.

I thought about, she really could be a Queen. Nikolai would propose and she would eventually say yes. And I'd have to sit back and watch. Not like I care though. They can do whatever. Alina deserves to be Queen, she could rule Ravka.

She exited the room. Tolya, Tamar, and Fedyor went to their posts although I wasn't sure where mine was. So I kind of stood there in that big room by myself.

I just made my way back to my room. Since my room was close to the Darkling's quarters I heard Alina and Mal talking in his room.

"I can't be in here right now Mal, he makes me sick."I heard them begin to exit so I hid in a corner. Once they were gone I decided to check out his room. I haven't been there in ages.

They were the same, dark and boring. I traced the silky sheet and sat down. I don't know what I was doing. Maybe I was finally losing it. It's been a long day and this bed is so comfortable and I'm just so tired.

My eyes fluttered and I fell asleep.

"Psst!"

"Mmm."

"Get up we've got dinner," A manly voice said.

I opened my eyes to Mal and Alina in my face. Oh no. I'm in the Darkling's room. Do I have an explanation? No.

"Good Morning sleepy head." Alina smirked, "what were you doing in here?"

"I was looking for you. I decided to sit down but I guess I drifted off," I lied.

She laughed and took my hands in hers, "come on right through that door is a more comfortable room." It was a door connected to the Darkling's chambers. The guards' room. It was huge must've been a lot of guards.

Tolya and Tamar sat at one table eating and talking silently to each other.

"Come eat," Mal patted the seat next to him and Alina. I obeyed and sat next to them at the circle table.

After dinner, I made my way to my room and opened my drawer looking for what I had left here. I pulled out an old photo of Nikolai and me. We were about ten and we made this random lady draw us since we couldn't do it with the King's consent. Now that I think about it, it was weird, I never knew the lady and never saw her again. But at least we got a photo of us out of it.

I sat down on my bed looking at how happy we were. He was smiling and so was I but for a totally different reason. He was smiling because he made 'bunny ears' behind my head with two fingers. I laughed thinking back to that day.

"Amelia you know what we should do," he whispered in my ear like a secret.

"What?" I whispered back giggling.

"We should get our pictures taken."

"We can't we don't have the money silly!" I said a little loudly.

"Shh! Father might find us and send you away to work." He warned covering my mouth.

"Sorry."

"Don't say sorry. Making mistakes just shows how cool we are Mia. Anyway, I was thinking we go to someone and get them to draw us!"

"How could someone draw us? They'd have to be impossibly talented."

"Oh come on!" He dragged me by my hand and found our way to an old woman who looked like she was in her 60s.

"Miss, can you draw us? I've seen you draw the Darkling before please do us!" He jumped up and down.

The lady smiled, didn't say anything, but she grabbed her supplies.

"Ok, ok I think she's doing it, Mia! Let's pose."

I just smiled and he did too I thought maybe he was doing something cool with his other hand but after the photo was done I realized he was just making bunny ears.

"Nikolai!" I shoved him.

He laughed and snatched the photo, "thank you, lady!" He ran away from me cracking up as I chased him for the picture.

And now I still have it.

A/n: OMG HI!! sorry for not updating in like YEARS. I'm in a huge writer's block era 🙄 I know I know we hate to see it. but I hope you enjoyed this chapter. hopefully, it doesn't flop

thank you so so soooo much for reading, commenting, and voting!!! I appreciate you all so much thank you for still being here and not giving up on me. <3

How are you all doing?