𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Part II

                                    

                                          
—— Four months later  (Five months into pregnancy)——
Alina's POV
        Iᑎ ᗰY ᗷEᗪᖇOOᗰ at the Little Palace, I looked at my baby bump in the vanity mirror. Well, not my room per se. I had been moved to the Darkling's room after we arrived at the palace. I fought the idea, but he insisted, claiming that it was the most secure place for me. The only reason I agreed to it was because we made a compromise that we could sleep in separate beds. He had guards posted by the doors at all hours and others to follow me wherever I went. Whether he meant to make me feel like a prisoner or not, I felt like one regardless.
        I was too deep in my thoughts to notice that the Darkling woke up and padded his way over to me in his silk robe. I jumped when I saw him standing behind me in the mirror.
        "Sorry," he said, his voice deep from just waking up. "I didn't mean to startle you." His hands snaked around my middle, resting his palms on my rounded stomach. I tensed but didn't push him away. "How are you feeling?"
        "I'm pretty dizzy today."
        "Perhaps going back to bed would help. You haven't been sleeping well lately."
        I couldn't help the annoyed curl of my lips. "It would help if I could go outside without guards breathing down my neck and get some fresh air," I directed the scornful comment at him, which earned a sigh from the Darkling.
        "It isn't safe."
        "There could just as easily be an assassin walking the halls of the Little Palace as in the garden. Just a few minutes alone is all—"
        "No, Alina," he interjected sharply. 
        "You can't keep me cooped up in your room forever!" I protested.
        He ran a hand through his jet-black locks. "I can and will if it keeps you and our child safe, Alina."
       "Saints, you're so stubborn!" I turned to face him with a stony glare, but I was hardly intimidating being half his height and five months pregnant.
        "Villainize me all you want. I'm doing what is necessary to protect the things I hold most dear, and I won't apologize for that."
        My mouth fell open at his confession. He is scared, I finally realized. Scared of losing us. He had never been so open about his feelings, however, he had become more affectionate over the last month or so. Small things like kissing my cheek good night when he retired from his work late into the evening, and he made a habit of caressing my belly whenever we were alone. I would always push him away, but it still didn't stop the pounding of my heart afterward. That is the Black Heretic standing before me, I had to remind myself. He is hundreds of years old and has taken hundreds of lives. He is holding Mal saints knows where to keep me from running away. And I soon realized that the Darkling needed him to find the Stag. We were close to it before the Darkling captured us. I could feel it, and I think the Darkling could too, which is why he knows Mal is capable of relocating it.
        "Please," I said weakly. "I can't live like this." I saw his emotionless mask falter and his face softened. The Darkling bent to kiss the base of my stomach tenderly, rubbing circles into the skin of my waist, massaging where it was particularly sore that day. 
        "Just a few more months," he hummed against my showing bump.
        "Just a few more months until the baby is born. But what about after that? Are you going to lock us up so we can't escape?" I clamped my mouth shut after I realized what I said.