I'm back! It seems like forever! Sorry for my lack of updates, I just got bit by the laziness bug. And school doesn't help either. Also, it appears you won't see me for another month either, if I don't manage to squeeze in chapter before month's end. I'm doing NaNoWriMo! So excited, but unfortunately it means I won't see you all in a while :( Hope you enjoy this chapter, and read and review! I'm so sorry for my behavior! PS: Did y'all check out the Ruin and Rising blurb up on Goodreads? *shivers*


Alina Starkov

Coldness wraps about me like a blanket woven with frozen crystals. The wind cuts through my thick, cream mink coat like it's nothing. A copse of birch trees with bare branches surrounds me in a circle. Flurries of snowflakes land on the fur and on my cheeks, rest in my hair.

I shiver, and it is a miracle I don't freeze. I am alone, and no one can help me.

My feet are practically stuck to the ground. I scream and scream and no one hears.

Then out of the forest emerges the Darkling, black kefta whipping in the wild wind. He runs toward me, a brilliant grin curving his mouth. His face looks as if it is carved from marble and inlaid with pale jewels, accentuated with bright spots of ruddy color in his cheeks and lips. Silky black hair curls at his temples, outlining his graceful face in night and shadows. He is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

The Darkling picks me up into his strong arms and lowers his lips to mine. His lashes tickle my face and I smile into his mouth. His teeth nip at my lip. The kiss grows greedy and deeper and it takes away my breath.

His hands are warm against my neck and waist, but his lips are cold, and chill spreads through me slowly, painting my lips blue and my face white. My hands crack and bleed then stop moving like sculptures of ice.

I feel my hair turn brittle and white as the rest of me, as colorless as the snow coating the dirt. Frost covers my mouth, and I find out I cannot talk or breathe. My lungs constrict and my heart slows in my breast.

The Darkling pulls away from me and strokes my frostbitten cheek. "Oh, Alina," he whispers, quartz eyes shining in the dim light. "Now your love has turned frigid as well." He leans forward until his pupils are all I can see.

I drown in them and fall into the numb blackness of the Fold. All I make out is my gasping breath, and the soft swish of sand brushing my bare feet. Now I know how a blind man lives.

I rush forward and summon a sphere of sun to my palms. A volcra stares back at me on the other side, hissing and screeching to its kin.

My eyes widen in fear and I run the other way, but my feet sink hopelessly in the dead sand. "Help!" I shriek. "Help me!"

It's too late, the noises of volcra reach my ears, and they sound…human.

No, I think. No, this can't be happening.

My fingers grasp desperately at the sand, but the more I struggle, the higher it rises.

"HELP!"

Baghra steps into my circle of light, but her eyes seem to radiate only darkness. She taps my forehead with her stick once and I see an expression almost like pity cross her face. "Girl," she says harshly. "Look at what you've done. You sank yourself."

Her hands fill with inky tendrils, shattering my barrier from the volcra. "Baghra, please! Don't!"

She disappears and leaves me at the volcra's mercy. I don't see them, but I hear their heavy breathing and the clicking of their teeth. One charges—

I wake up just as its teeth break skin.


"Alina!" The Darkling was shaking my shoulders, and worry lined the corners of his eyes.

Light was still filtering through the window. The bookshelves were in the same place. Nothing had transformed. That was the funny thing about nightmares. They left you with a feeling something had changed, when really, you were the only one that had.

The Darkling guided me back to the present when he said, "You were screaming in your sleep, Alina. I hope you can understand my concern when I say, 'What happened?'" He shifted me to his lap, and he forced my chin up with his finger.

I closed my eyes. I can't tell him. What will he say?

He touched his forehead to mine. "You can speak to me about your nightmare, Alina. I promise you I will not be irritated."

I doubt it. I averted my eyes.

"Well," The Darkling murmured, eyes traveling down to my mouth. "If that is what you desire, Alina, then don't tell me." He ran his fingers along the curve of my collarbone.

Without being aware of it, I arched my neck toward the Darkling to give him easier access. "Why do you keep saying my name?" I asked, eager to change the subject.

He curled his lips into a sensuous smile. "I like the way it sounds," he whispered, and his pleasant breath grazed my face. My heart gave a loud thump. "Did you know your name means noble, Alina? That it means bright and beautiful?" I shook my head, my thoughts slow-moving liquid.

The Darkling appeared to sense my stupor, for he pulled away. "Your name is your destiny, Alina. You become it."

I moved off him and hugged my blankets around me like a cocoon. They reached my chin, and seemed to give the illusion that I was a floating head. "But what about the poor girl whose name is Brumhilda? Is it her destiny to be an ugly old woman with 90 cats?"

The Darkling threw his head back and laughed, and I bit my lip not to snort.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and stared into my eyes. "I once knew a pair of Grisha—twins, mind you. Both were Durasts. Their names were Helga and Bertha." His mouth quirked at the memory.

I gasped and put a hand to my mouth. "Their mother must have hated them."

The Darkling slid closer. "Thankfully, they were both stunning and had no trouble with teasing, so far as I know."

I regarded the peace gardens below. The tranquil sight must have triggered something in me, because in the next moment I blurted, "My nickname used to be 'Sticks'."

He raised a brow. "You may have looked a bit ill when I first met you, but you weren't so bad as that."

"I was," I grumbled.

His hand found mine and squeezed it. "That was a different you, Alina. Don't believe what people tell you about yourself. It's hardly ever based on sound judgment."

I leaned my head into his shoulder. "I don't know what to say around you," I admitted. "I always seem so foolish."

He pressed his lips to my brow and closed the curtain around the bed. "You're not foolish, Alina. You are my equal, no less than that."


Genya Safin

I wandered about the Imperial Palace and searched for David. I was a tad absentminded though, since my mind was stuck in Alina's chambers, in which the Darkling himself was currently boarding temporarily. (At least, it appeared to be temporarily.) Who knew what unspeakable things they were doing in there?

I shook my head of those nasty thoughts. Alina wasn't just a peasant girl that the Darkling could take to bed with whenever he pleased. She was the Sun Summoner. (And she had a sharp tongue that could cut through Grisha steel.) They could have just been talking.

Right, I snorted. Like you and the King have lively conversations.

I hoped I was wrong. Alina wasn't ready, that much was evident.

I stopped at one of the mirrors placed in intervals along the walls. I knew I looked beautiful, but that wasn't what I wanted. I wanted David to notice I existed. I could be wearing a chicken suit with a lime-green cloak and an orange wig and he still wouldn't look at me.

It wouldn't hurt to try, though.

I was clad in my silk cream kefta and golden ornaments laced through my auburn hair, which was slung over my shoulder. My favorite diamonds hung from my ears, and I had darkened my lashes with black walnuts. I had tainted my lips a light pink, and my cheeks were slightly flushed.

Better than nothing, I thought wryly. That was what so special about David. I had to work to get his attention, and in those rare moments I did, I only wanted more.

I glided through the wooded halls and stopped when I reached my destination. The Workroom. 'The Workroom' on the outside was plain oak, nearly matching with the surrounding walls. The only thing that separated it from being camouflage was a carving of a peacock with its feathers spread at its center. However glamorous the Emperor's home might be, I preferred the Little Palace.

I took a deep breath and gathered up the small morsel of courage I had. My hands pushed the doors open.


The broad chamber was lit by skylights and the dust motes in the air glittered. Groups of Shu and Kerch inventors ambled past me without a glance. Most of them carried bits and pieces of iron and copper, vials of poisons and brightly-colored toxic powders. A few of our Grisha lingered in corners with others of their kind, eyes jumping and nervous. I even spotted Liko in huge, hideous goggles that made him have the appearance of a madman. He waved at me heartily.

At the opposite end of the room from me, David bent over his work entwining gold and bronze chains together underneath the brightest spot of sun. His goggles were on, and his brown hair was a birds' nest on his head. I yearned to reach across the space between us and put it back in place.

I took a step toward him and stopped, awestruck.

A tall, feminine figure was standing near David's desk, crushing a river pearl to a mere pale powder, chatting with him vigorously. She looked up, and I saw that all but her eyes and hands were swathed in green silk with gold embroidery.

"Roza," David breathed. "Will you please provide me the bloodstone? I'm afraid I'm in a rough spot."

Roza's lovely hand stretched out and laid it on his palm. "Wouldn't you much rather use the amber? It's got a charming tint to it."

David huffed and ran a gloved hand through his mane, and some strands stuck straight up on his head. "I don't think an offering of fossilized tree sap is a particularly nice gift." A smile stayed on his lips.

Roza threw her head back and laughed, rich and sweet. "Oh, David, at least tree resin is a better than a bear tooth."

David flashed a white smile. "You have to tell me that story some time." He ran his hand over his homemade necklace and gestured to Roza. "Turn around if you please." She did, and I flinched when he clasped the chain around her neck, even though his fingers didn't touch her skin. The bloodstone was large and majestic against the fabric of her robe.

"You might be right," David said softly. "Amber does have a lovely shade." He squeezed her shoulder lightly and blushed. I didn't wait to meet his eyes, didn't wait to hear Roza's response. I just ran out the door, like the coward I am.


I ran all the way to nowhere. No destination except away from what I just saw. Pretty soon, I collapsed to the ground, from my lack of exercise or the sudden onslaught of emotions, I did not know. My hair was gnarled, but I could have cared less.

I gasped out his name again and again and again, unaware of it slipping out of my lips. David. David. David. David. David.

Then came the wild rage. How could she? That little—

I stopped myself. The reason she did was because you never told her, you fool.

A sigh escaped me. I couldn't blame Roza for doing a crime (at least, in my perspective) she didn't know she had committed. The girl was innocent.

If I was being honest with myself, the truth was that I was jealous, green with envy, covetous. Why can't David relax around me like that? Am I so dumb?

I froze when I heard a footstep. My ears picked up voices, and I scurried back to the darker spots of the hallway.

I analyzed my surroundings and realized I had drifted to the western-facing quarters of the palace. The only windows were inside of the guest rooms, and darkness clouded my gaze.

"Scheisse!" a man's voice rumbled. "Don't trip me, Oleg, it's dark as hell in here, and there's dust on your clothes. If only you'd wash them…"

"Not as much dust as inside your pants, old man," a boy who I presumed was Oleg snapped.

The man ignored him as if he didn't speak. "Why did that damned Emperor give us these rooms? It isn't as if he and his wife don't have enough room. They own a palace, damn it."

"Right," another voice drawled. "There's even enough space for the Emperor and his bastards."

The group's rowdy cackling was like a crow's.

"Damn," Oleg said. "Did you see all the women on this trip? I wouldn't mind taking one of them into a dark corner."

"Please," the other boy scoffed. "Seeing your conquests, I'm not surprised you did. Women like that are why darkness exists. Tell me, where did you get them? From a nunnery?"

Oleg snarled. "They are a bit disheveled, but—"

"I wouldn't call a full-grown beard disheveled."

"Enough!" the man boomed. "The reason where stuck in these chambers is because of your reputations. You make Kerch look bad. No, wait. You make humans look bad. Don't take after me, boys, I beg of you. When your mother bore me sons, I thought—"

"I know I don't share a mother with this ass," the other boy hissed. "I don't know what you were thinking on that dark and starry night when the magic happened. You must have known that nine months later, this piece of—"

"SHUT UP, BOY!" the father roared. "You both are leaders, and I expect you to act as one should. If you keep up this attitude, our country will go down in flames, and my name will live in infamy. DO YOU WANT THAT TO GO ON YOUR GRAVESTONES? A disappointment to my family line and my country? Because that is what you'll get!"

"But Father—" both boys shrieked.

A door slammed.

One of the young men whistled. "At least he's gone now…"

"I know," Oleg babbled. "I know." Then, a few minutes later, "Did you hear about the Sun Summoner?"

My heart nearly froze for a second and I put my hands to my mouth to conceal a gulp.

"What about her?" Other boy murmured, slightly interested.

"I haven't seen her yet, but I heard that Fjerdan Queen gabbing on about how the girl fainted at dinner."

"Continue."

So Oleg did. "Apparently, the Prince of Ravka proposed to her before the food was even served. And immediately after, she just fell unconscious, and she looked dead. Apparently, the Sun Summoner's incident ruined the gathering, and the Queen was so livid that she had to take all that time getting dressed for no reason. Now, the Queen seems to not want to lay eyes on that girl ever again for the rest of her life. Can you believe that?"

I know. I guess all that a Queen really is, is a corrupted shell of what she used to be.

But Oleg was not finished, by far. "Can you believe that that Grisha bitch would ruin the Queen's evening?"

Excuse me?

Oleg persisted. "She's a little slut, that one. I've heard that she's only known the prince for—what, two weeks before the trip? They must have really gotten to know each other on the journey here, if you know what I mean."

There had been very few times in my life that I actually wanted to tear someone apart with only my raw nails and teeth. The second time was when Zoya had cracked Alina's ribs. This was the third. Words and gossip hurt harder than even cuts or bruises.

I'll make him a eunuch, I thought smugly. See how his family line will carry on now.

"Oleg, the Queen is an idiot that has about as much sense in her brain as you have taken baths in your life. You're ridiculous."

And you're the one that's talking about ridiculous?

"Fine," Oleg snorted indignantly. "Let's just go to our rooms."

I heard the doors bang shut and made my way back to my chambers, my own problems forgotten.


Zoya Nazyalensky

I fastened the last button on my Squaller's kefta and turned to Marie and Nadia. "Yes, it really did happen. Alina fainted when Vasily proposed to her at evening meal. Now, leave me be."

"But it's still hard to believe," Nadia said quietly, then bit her lip. She does that so much, I wonder why she hasn't drawn blood yet.

"Alina got proposed to!" Marie squealed. She jumped up and down energetically, and her curls bounced (along with other parts). "She's going to have little royal babies! She hasn't said yes, of course, but she will!"

I made a disgusted sound while pinching my cheeks. Luckily, it was left unheard because Nadia uttered, "I'm going outside." The girl was blushing, oddly.

Marie's face was red, too. "I'll…go outside with you. I need to perform my daily run." The pair bustled out into the hallway.

I understood why Marie was embarrassed. If you counted sticking her tongue down Sergei's throat as running, then yes, she was definitely getting her daily (and nightly) exercise. I rolled my eyes at the stupidity of it all. I pondered over whom Nadia's secret lover was…

I eyed the simply decorated room then myself in the full-length mirror, and proceeded to examine my hair. I brushed through it with my fingers, thinking I might as well adorn it. So I got to work.

When I speculated, I realized I was the only person in our group that didn't harbor any feelings of affection toward someone. Marie and Sergei. Nadia and her little 'friend'. Even Starkov and…the Darkling.

I didn't have any evidence as to this assumption, but I thought it was correct. I remembered the time I was in the Darkling's council room for 'questioning'.

Ivan stands stoic at the door, and the Darkling is turning to me, eyes burning. His black hair positively glows around his head, even has a coal-like sheen. He only looks a few years older than myself, but the pure certainty in his eyes gives him a certain aura of supremacy. Everything else besides him and me fades away into nothingness.

"I don't need to tell you how foolish your behavior was," he says.

My lips don't part open a crack.

"Zoya, Botkin paired you with Alina so you could help to teachher, help her get stronger in her abilities as a soldier. Your role was to be her mentor." He leans back in his chair and his gaze is unreadable, like looking through a layer of ice. I clench my hands into fists.

After a moment, he continues, "Nothing more. But not only did you break the rules of the stables, you managed to injure the most influential person in Ravka right now below me and the King." The Darkling's eyes flame now, his anger rising to the surface. Even like this, he is still handsome, still in control. "You let your jealousy possess you, your rage consume you. The wrong angle, Zoya, and you could have killed Ravka's only hope. Think about that. One wrong hit and you would have eliminated the Sun Summoner. Think about what that could have done to your future." Disgust practically drips off his words like venom.

Tears prick my eyes, but I hold them and stare back at him. I would have been executed, definitely, or worse. Burned at the stake, carved open, left on the streets to rot.

The Darkling's jaw ticks. "It is underestimated when I say I am disappointed in you, Zoya. You're just a Squaller, so it is best that you follow the orders you are given, and not lay even one finger on Alina. But I suppose that won't be a problem anymore." He stands up, but I sit paralyzed in my chair. Will he rid me of my status? Will he place a charge on my head?

I admit to myself though, that his regret hurt the most. I've wanted him for years, and now all my chances were lost? Because of a commoner who got blessed with the power to call light and who's now his favorite? She is nothing special; she isn't worthy enough to even be called average, yet she still gets the Darkling's attention. I had given blood and sweat to get where I am right now. What has she done? I don't dare say any of my thoughts aloud.

"I am disappointed in you. I let you have that amplifier that you wear on your wrist because I trusted you. I could easily have you disappear without a trace, but I won't because you're a good soldier. Don't forget what I've said, though. Alina is the only chance I have. You can be easily changed for another." The words cut me as if with a dull knife, drawing out the wounds. The tears flow freely now.

He nods toward the doors that lead to the main hall, where everyone will see me and know what's occurred. "After the fete, you are to pack your bags and leave Os Alta. I don't want to see you inside these walls for a long time. I'll give you the name of where you are going at a later time."

That's it. No farewell, not even a sign that he knows I'm in the room.

I understand the message, and leave with salt water pouring down my cheeks. One thing is stuck in mind, though. When the Darkling was talking about Alina, he'd said she was the only chance he had. Not we. Not Ravka. Him. It could have just been words, merely an emphasis on her exceptionality. But I clearly saw the emotions that passed through his face: Anger, trust, detachment, pride. And desire.

The Darkling had certainly appeared to be angry when Alina collapsed, and they were nowhere to be found currently. Then again, neither was anyone else. Except me. I didn't have a clue why I was here, what I should do, or where I could be.

I braided a string of tiny silver beads through my dark hair (they had so many trinkets here). I let it all fall loose and straight.

I lifted my nose into the air. I would not be denied.


I roamed the lower floor of the Emperor's Palace. What I wanted was a mystery to me, so I hovered in one place that I assumed was the entrance room to the entire estate. The chandeliers weren't lit, and random puddles of murky light lit the hall sporadically.

The only people to pass by were the occasional hooded woman servants of the Emperor. I looked past them; they didn't matter to me.

I was about to give up this pointless excursion when unfamiliar voices came into my range of hearing. I melted into a pillar's shadow.

I closed my eyes and strained my ears. Two men. Both young. Both with thick foreign accents I'd never heard.

"I don't think I can do this anymore," Man number one said.

"You can, you fool, and you have to. Is your sore arm making you soft?"

"I'm telling you now, I can't."

A sigh. "I know how difficult it is, but—"

"But what?" Man One rumbled. "You're not the one that has to sleep beside her, listening to her cry herself to sleep. I know she tries hard to forget, but when the day ends, they start. She can't overlook it. This is simply too much for her. She screams every night. Do you know what that does to me?"

Man Two whispered, "Shut up, you ass. You'll get us caught, and what do you think that will do to her?" I heard him step closer. "I watched her grow," he hissed. "I was there when she was born. Quit, and you'll break her heart and never be able to put it back together. This is the only way. You don't know her like I do. Your silence could change everything, more than you know. Once everyone is out of the way and gone, then you can talk. It'll be soon enough, anyway."

One let out a shuddering breath. "All right," he whimpered. "All right."


I tiptoed back to the sanctity of my small bed and shivered uncontrollably. What just happened? Had I just been a witness to an assassination plot? A plan to overthrow the Emperor? The Queen? The King?

Be logical, I told myself. These are the peace accords, however messy. Perhaps—

Perhaps whoever had just been in the hallway was planning to kill everyone here. If they killed the Queen, the Emperor, the Darkling, and the ambassadors they wouldn't just reign over Shu Han. They would be the rulers of the entire eastern hemisphere.