Shadow and Bone AU: Pure Love Before the Fall

The soft murmur of parchment and the occasional scratch of a quill filled the air as you walked through the grand halls of the Little Palace. Aleksander’s office door stood slightly ajar, casting a faint sliver of golden light onto the polished floors. You pushed it open quietly, not wanting to disturb him—yet needing him more than you could explain.

Inside, Aleksander sat at his desk, his posture straight, his brow furrowed in concentration as his quill glided across a document. The flickering light from the lantern on his desk painted soft shadows across his sharp features. He looked every bit the leader, the general, the man who carried the weight of a broken nation on his shoulders. But to you, he was simply Aleksander.

He sensed you before you could speak. His dark eyes lifted from the paper, softening the moment they met yours. “Alina,” he greeted, his voice a low rumble that always seemed to pull you in. “I thought you’d be resting.”

You smiled, stepping into the room and letting the door close behind you. “I could say the same for you. Don’t you ever stop working?”

He set down his quill and leaned back in his chair, a flicker of amusement playing at his lips. “And who would keep Ravka from crumbling if I did?”

“Maybe someone who doesn’t need a full council just to decide what shade of blue the uniforms should be,” you teased, crossing the room to him.

He reached out a hand, and you took it without hesitation. His thumb brushed against your knuckles, a small gesture that still sent warmth spreading through you.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice quieter now, more intimate. His gaze flicked to your abdomen, a tender look crossing his face.