[ the edges of her smile turn serrated with bitterness. his is a limited scope of what's sinister, it seems, like he's used to seeing the glint of teeth in the dark before they rend through him. alina has had no such fortune among vipers that coil in the grass and sharp-toothed wolves that hide within soft skin and pleasant promises. ]

They do if they're clever about it. Maybe I wanted you to see me as your savior.

[ none of his criminals have had the patience to enact a long con the way kirigan had, apparently. she expels a sigh, heavy and resigned between her ribs, as she draws back by mere centimeters. it's stupid, really, that they're debating it just to debate — but his obstinance will supply her with fresh grays in her hair, for how utterly vexing he's choosing to be.

she twists onto her back, a flopping shift of weight. her tongue is looser, she finds, when she doesn't have to examine how her words are received. out of nervous habit, her hands clasp loosely across her stomach, toying with one another. ]

What if I told you that you weren't entirely wrong about me, the first time we met? That some of what you guessed was true.