Alina stared at the wooden floor beneath her, her eyes fixated on a small mark between the floorboards. She kept her eyes down, knelt on her knees once again. She spent more time on her knees than on her feet in the Little Palace and it was beginning to take a toll on her. Those black boots she disgusted so much were only inches from her and she was nervous and shaky.

"Well" his voice was calm which meant he was fuming. Kirigan rarely raised his voice, his anger usually came out in a cold and quiet matter and it scared Alina. She hadn't been in this situation for a while. In Kirigan's words, she had been behaving and there was no need for reprimand or punishment. However the Mal situation had only stirred things.

Alina knew he was furious… but on what exactly she didn't know. Was it because Mal had tried to escape? Was it because Alina had defied him? Did he know about their kiss in his chambers, their brief romance moment?

"Well what?" She mumbled and was greeted with a deep sigh. Alina caught the sight of his hands tightening and then relaxing.

"You know what I'm talking about" he wasn't in the mood for games. He wanted answers.

Mal had been taken back down to the cells and Kirigan had made strict orders for him to stay put. He wasn't going to allow this to happen again. He could easily just have him put down but the tracker was just as important to him as he was to Alina. But seeing Alina try to defend him and use her powers against his Grisha turned on the possessive nature inside him. How dare the tracker come near his sun summoner. And how dare she go against him.

Alina didn't answer, a scowl plastered on her face and she took a chance of looking up at Kirigan. His dark eyes were wide and mouth set hard. His chin pointed slightly in front as he waited for her to answer him.

"I could have Ivan come in here with your friend and have him crush his heart" he threatened and Alina softened, her eyes turning worried and she gulped silently. When she didn't answer, Kirigan went to leave, as if to carry out the threat but was stopped by her voice.

"No!" She gasped and he stopped and turned back.

"No?... Then tell me, what happened?" He gritted through his teeth, the words seething through. Alina had fought countless of battles with The Darkling but every time he used Mal as a scapegoat to get her to surrender. Alina could never let Mal get hurt because of her stubbornness and eventually she knew that the only way to keep them both safe was to obey. Everything inside her was telling her to not give in but Kirigan was too powerful.

Alina sighed softly, her head falling down to the floor.

"We just talked, that's it".

We did more than just talk

"Talked about what?' He demanded. He wanted to know every single detail and once he did, he would ask the tracker himself. If their stories didn't match then one would be lying.

"He wanted to see me, it was the first time he saw me since The Fold earlier and he just wanted to make sure I was okay" she murmured and looked up.

"Earlier when?" His eyes narrowed in confusion.

"In the cells…with the Fjerden" she whispered and realisation hit Kirigan.

Of course, he was there when they were interrogating the Fjerden. Kirigan had quite forgotten about him being in there as he was mainly focused on serving justice for his Grisha.

"I see" he whispered. Kirigan was surprised, he'd be the one to make the mistake this time. Bringing Alina down with him, he never even thought about the tracker being there and seeing her obviously sparked his fuel for escape. Kirigan stepped forward, his boots clicking on the hardwood floor, his spurs jingling behind and Alina sucked in a breath, her eyes flickering up to him as he stood only inches from her, his head held high.

"Anything else I should know?" He demanded, his voice quiet and deadly.

"No" she whispered and shook her head. If he knew about the kiss, then all hell would break loose and Mal would defiantly be in danger.

"Let's just hope that your friend has something to say for himself" darkness fell around and shadows broke from the walls, bleeding through, creating an eerie atmosphere and a low thunder sounded, shaking Alina.

"Please don't hurt him, I told you everything" she begged and Kirigan smirked to himself.

"I have no intention of hurting him… in fact I actually have a mission for him" Alina furrowed her brows in confusion and Kirigan proceeded to pace around her, his circling made her feel like she was prey to predator.

'Tomorrow, you and I will enter The Fold, Grisha are still being hunted and we have to protect them and bring them to safety".

Alina felt sickness inside and her chest tightened at the thought of The Fold. The last time she was there, Kirigan had forced her power and a city was destroyed. People were killed by the hands of the Volcra and Alina was forced into submission for The Darkling. Since then she had become a slave.

"What does that have to do with Mal?" she asked softly and Kirigan stopped, a smile creeping on his face.

"Well he is the best tracker I've ever had and I need help finding something, he will do just that" Kirigan leans against the desk behind him, hands grasping the edges.

"Mal will never help you" she sneered. Not in a million years would Mal ever side with Kirigan,

"He will as long as you are there… remember his fate rests in your hands and vice versa. If he ever wants to see you again then it be best he does as he's told" Kirigan pushed himself off the desk and padded back to Alina.

"And that goes for you as well, you even consider stepping out a line and he will face the consequences, do I make myself clear?". Alina forced her eyes to the floor, unable to look at him anymore. His threat was not to be taken lightly.

Saint's, what could he be planning?

"Alina!" He demanded, staring deeply as he waited for her answer. She looked back up, sighing as she gave in.

"Yes… I understand" she mumbled and Kirigan relaxed.

"Good girl" he smiled. This is exactly what he wanted. His sun summoner doing exactly as she was told.

At sunrise, Kirigan and his Grisha were set to leave for The Fold. They were heading to Fjerda to bring any captured Grisha back. Somehow the Fjerden's still managed to kidnap them and hold them captive for slavery or execution. After the attack yesterday, it only proved to Kirigan that they needed to be made an example of what happens when they tangle with Ravka. He could not sit by and let anymore Grisha be harmed.

It was chilly, a harsh breeze that froze the faces of the second army. Alina's long hair blew in the wind, whipping her cheek as it brushed against her frozen skin and she shivered underneath the black coat draped over her. Her kefta underneath hugged her tightly and kept the warmth inside. She kept her hands inside her coat, rubbing them to heat them up. She'd be no use if her hands were frozen. Of course Kirigan would be taking control of it anyway so what did it really matter.

The other Grisha were also wrapped in warm coats of their colours. Blue, red, purple and of course Kirigan dressed in his fur black coat. Her stag's collar kept getting caught on the coat wrapped over her shoulder and she shuffled to move it in a comfortable position. It was a constant reminder of her situation. Some days she had forgotten about it but little things like the coat being caught on it reminded her it was there and always would be.

Alina stood at the front of the skiff, her feet once again chained to the floor. The shackle clinked as she shuffled on deck. Kirigan was not going to take any chances, especially since the tracker was on board. He couldn't have a repeat of last time.

Alina's attention was brought forward when she heard the groans and grunts of a struggling person and she turned, her mouth dropping open in shock as she watched two guards dragging Mal up the plank and onto the skiff. He fought hard against them, his cuffed hands trying to throw a punch but the guards were swift to avoid it. They stumbled on deck, the wood squeaking underneath their heavy footsteps. Alina continued to watch as her best friend was dragged to the further corner away from her and chained to a pole beside. She wanted to run over but the chains would stop her instantly and she didn't want to 'step out of line' as Kirigan had described.

As the guards walked away, Mal looked up and caught Alina's gaze, his eyes softening as he met hers. She offered a smile to him, reassuring she was okay and he nodded to her, giving his signal he was fine as well. The sound of boots clunking brought them apart and Alina looked over to see Kirigan marching up the plank onto the skiff, head held high and eyes narrowed slightly. The Grisha bowed to him as he came aboard and he strides over to Alina, his tall statue towering over her as he reached her.

Nervous butterflies fluttered inside Alina, the pressure of using her power building inside. She hadn't used such great power since the last time.

"We'll be leaving soon, as soon as we enter The Fold, you will bring your light above us so we can make it across safely, I'm sure I don't have to tell you what will happen if you disobey me" Alina stared up at him and from the corner of her eye she looked at Mal. He was staring directly at them, his face hardened and fists clenched.

"No" she whispered.

"No what?" He whispered back. He was still the king here and he'd be address as one.

"No… Moi tsar" she murmured, her eyes looking up through her lashes and Kirigan smiled. He turned his head to look in the direction of Mal, giving him a glare and he could see the fury on his face as he merely stood by Alina.

Kirigan stepped forward, his hands reaching up and suddenly cupped Alina's face, pulling her to his body and he leant down to press a soft kiss. He didn't need to look to know Mal was seething at his post, fighting back the chains that held him in place. Kirigan deepened the kiss, his nose scrunching against Alina's and she froze as she was taken back. She made no move as she felt the powerful bond between the two of them, her light flowing into him and his fingers gripped her face as he pressed his lips deeper.

Alina gasped as he pulled back, saliva pulling from their lips and she looked up in shock. A smirk creeped onto Kirigan's lips as he leant forward and whispered in her ear.

"My sun summoner, don't let me down" he kissed her temple and released her, walking to the other side of the skiff. Alina caught her breath, turning to glance at Mal who was clearly enraged by the display The Darkling had put on. Alina dashed forward but was tugged back, forgetting about the chain and she frowned.

I'm sorry

She hoped Mal could read the words she was trying to express on her face. Even though she knew Mal would know she didn't enjoy one second of that, a little part inside her worried her in thinking that he was persuaded by Kirigan's kiss and he'd think she really did want it.

Please Mal, don't do anything stupid

She prayed he would behave just like she would otherwise things would not go well for either of them. Alina had been pondering on what Kirigan wanted Mal for. What did he need finding that he needed a tracker. Was it something in The Fold?

"Sir, we are ready" she heard the voice of Ivan and the same clunk of the boots sounded once more. Kirigan stood beside Alina at the front of the skiff and turned to his army.

"Today we enter The Fold, we will be entering Fjerde to bring back any Grisha and barring that, Fjerda will be no longer" he announced and the second army looked amongst each other, smiling greedily.

"Zoya, we are ready" Kirigan called and Zoya who stood at the top of the skiff, nodded. Turning, she waved her hands, summoning air and pushed her hands forward to start the skiff. It led off with a jolt and swam across the sand, The Fold getting closer, the crack of thunder and lightning alarming them. Alina took a deep breath in, staring at the terrifying Fold. She shivered as she felt Kirigan's presence behind her and his hot breath on the back of her neck.

"Remember what I said… don't let me down"

Hey so I hope you like it, please leave a review and let me know what you think