[ he watches the shadows in her expression closely, not for the first time reminded about the sort of person she became intimately tangled with. the darkling, his words and promises a polished onyx. the man who could lead ravka to utter destruction, but the point remains that he has a gift — not dissimilar to nikolai — of making people follow him. alina wasn't the only one under his spell, and he wants to remind her of that, but it's nothing she hasn't heard before and likely is tired of it. he knows many under the palace roof still dream of the darkling, only they're nightmares now.

a gentle smile pulls at his mouth when she sets her glass down. ]

I do believe we're rather death-proof.

[ perhaps it's hubris, but it hasn't failed him yet.

his brow arches slightly at her answer — not a yes, but he wasn't expecting one. this one settles far more comfortably than a yes would have, in any case. chances are his lifeblood; he's known for taking every single one.

he reaches for this one wholeheartedly, glancing briefly at the crackling fire before he returns his gaze to alina, leaning in a little closer so that their knees are once again brushing. ]

Are you trying to forget him right now? [ his voice softens, and he takes another chance, reaching up to brush his fingers along damp strands of her hair. ] Because I'd quite like to kiss you, but I don't want to make a liar out of myself.