For the first time in a century, Aleksander is surprised, truly surprised. He’s shocked as Alina rises on her tiptoes to press her mouth against his, and he cannot control himself, kissing her back and asking for more, his arms keeping her flush against him until she shoves him back. She’s breathing heavily, her cheeks red, anger in her eyes, a resolution he hadn’t seen since those first days at Durmstrang when he still planned to fool her, before he discovered how much more, how utterly indescribable she was when whole, shining like pure sunlight.