While flying thru the air I ignored the looks and the tugs on the bond until he sent something that feels like "come to me." I sent back hopefully what was "I can't right now busy at the moment."

I thought it had worked till I felt anger thru the bond and suddenly he appeared right in front of me touching my shoulder. I froze and Tomar started yelling from the helmet Alina what is going on we need you. I unfroze and started casting again but I couldn't escape from the looks.

Aleksander started laughing "so this is why you wouldn't come to me my little sun I do hope you are on your way to meet me in Kerbisk. Do so bring the tracker we may need him to find the lost prince the others won't be need."

Nodding to him to keep my friends from thinking I was insane. "Is that the best you can do?" I nod again and he kneels in front of me "are you really coming to me my little sun?" Grinding my teeth I nod my head again. "Then I shall see you soon" he says as he vanishes.

Sighing knowing what I must do now that he has backed me in to a corner of my own making. "We will land outside Kribirsk close to the Sokol River. Only Mal and I will enter the city I want no fight about this everyone else is to go and meet with the armies your are supposed to be with."

I should have known that wouldn't have worked everyone here had words they wanted to say. "You need us what if it is a trick and he is just there to capture or kill you" Toyla shouted. "Because this is my plan to save all of you and to save all of Ravka with a Lantsov on the throne and he won't kill me."

"I never thought that you would be stupid enough to try save all of us Starkov but if anyone could actual hold that fucking monster to his word it would be you." Zoya panted out while she was trying to keep up the air flow to her side of the ship.

Hers was the only half positive comment the rest were along the between I had lost my mind and it would never work. Despite their claims they never stopped following orders (except Mal) and kept the ship flying to Kribirsk.

"Mal you have to listen I am going with or with out you. He has asked for you to join so we may find Nickolas sooner. I would figure you would want to help your country get it's king back since I am doing so much to end this war."

I knew it was a low blow but he wanted to talk while I was summoning. Which in itself is always tiring and we had already flown quite a bit. Night was approaching and made even darker by the ever approaching fold on our left.

"We land in just over an hour you three summoner's hold strong." Tomar yelling at the helmet "you try keeping a ship in the air heartrender all your doing is steering" snapped Zoya. "Its more than that and your just cranky cause you are tried so I'm going to ignore that" Tamar said back.

I wasn't particularly interested in the conversation between those two seeing as I was getting ready to face Aleksander and trying to summon till dark or we landed whichever came first. However I knew if they didn't stop it or I didn't stop them we would never make it in time.

"Will you two shut the fuck up you both have jobs to be doing and it's not like the other is simply sitting still. So if we can just make the rest of this trip in peace damn it." Everyone simply nodded even those I hadn't yelled at.

This landing was much smoother seeing as we didn't fly as far and weren't as tired. "Everyone make camp for the night and get some much needed rest." I instantly instructed walking away from camp trying to clear my head.

Once in the tree line I heard footsteps behind me "that is not heading towards the river Alina. However I think that you know that I'm supposed to be by your side when you hand yourself over to that monster."

Sighing "you made it clear that you don't support my plan so go back to the others and watch over them I'll deal with his anger." Suddenly I was jerked to a stop and turned hundred and eighty degrees "Alina you are not going anywhere without me no matter what" Mal yelled.

Looking him in the eyes I seen the determination there that always made him a great tracker and fierce in everything he does. "Fine but don't do anything to make the situation worse or make him upset. I am trying to build on the last lesson his mother tried to teach him and I will not have you setting it back."

At first he looked at me like I lost my mind or grew a second head before he tried to mask it and nod. We set off once more towards Kribirsk in comfortable silence but holding hands for strength like we did when we were children.

We stayed silent until the outskirts of Kribirsk and he broke the comforting silence "do you know exactly where we are to go?" Shacking my head while answering "no but if you watch over me I'll sit against a tree and use the bond to find out but Mal don't do anything stupid."

"I have already said I would behave please don't make me say it again. Use the bond or whatever and find out where we need to go so we can be done with this already." Nodding I found a tree I could comfortably sit against and plunged into the bond.

Find the Darkling sitting at a small looking table with a few grisha his eyes flashed to me the instant I popped up. "I was beginning to think that you were going to not show up at all. By the way why are you here only by bond Alina?"

Sighing "if you can shut up for five seconds and let me explain." "Very well." "Mal and I are on the edge of town and have no clue where to look for you so I came by bond to find out where we should come and meet you. As per our previous conversation have you gone back on your word you not alone."

He let out a laugh "how do you plan on hunting the lost prince if it is just the three of us and when did I say I would be coming alone for this part in our trip my little sun." "I am turning around right now Aleksander. It is not to late to lose everything or to keep it it is your choice have your answer by my next visit. Goodbye."

Two things crashed through the bond as I closed my connection rage and denial he tried to follow me back but I clamped down on the bond causing more anger. Sending back only the thoughts of "you must think on what I have said."

Mal was still standing next to me as he said "are you actually cause you have been really still barely breathing Alina." "Yes Mal I'm back. Ugh why the freak out besides I apparently I must look halfway dead." "There has been some movement near by and you weren't responding like normal Alina we need to move or go to him."

"We are moving farther out until he follows thought with what I have told him. I met his request the least he can do is meet mine." Mal nodded helping me up "I see there really isn't much coverage from here to where we left the others. However there was an old barn we could see about using."

"Let's go lead the way I didn't see the barn I guess I was to nervous about all this to have seen it." Mal helped me up and took my hand leading me back the way we came a few miles. The walk I kept searching shadows for many sign he got through my block on the bond. There were none we made it to the old barn.

"Alina you sleep I'll take first watch you need to get some rest if you are to face off with the Darkling." Shaking my head "Mal have you even slept in the past few days?" "I'm okay and I'm sure Alina go to sleep we will be okay." "Fine I'll be laying in the back stall away farthest from the door." "Okay goodnight Alina."

While laying down I try the bond once more to fine Aleksander exactly where I left him but alone. "Hello Aleksander" seeing how his name affects him makes me think there is still hope. "Alina have you come to torment and torture me some more?"

Sighing "I'm not trying to do either I told you I would end this and come to you willingly. You just have to send away you soldiers and grisha. We go get Nickolai and turn him back so he can rule and then we disappear forever. Aleksander I'm trying help teach you the last lesson your mother wanted you to learn. Redemption is possible even for you."

He got up and slowly walked towards me instead of backing up I stood my ground till he was right in front of me. "Answer me this is it just about my mother's last lesson for you or are you possibly tired of the war and ready to be with your equal."

Trying to look like he wasn't affecting me "of course I'm tired of the war Aleksander I believe that I was the one who came to you with this way out. Plus I will not lie to you and say you don't affect me Aleksander but it will take time."

"Then you will be pleased to know that I have sent everyone away as you have asked." He reach up and cupping my cheek which I let myself lean into. "Come to me Alina tonight if you can." "I can't when I showed up and seen you still had grisha. Thanks for having been touching them. We moved further back into the woods I don't want to use my powers and give myself away."

"Then I will come to you and bring you to safety where you belong. Where are you my SUN?" Sighing backing up so his hand will fall "do you promise me that your grisha and your soldiers will not be joining us again at any point in our journey?" "I promise you my sun."

"Me and Mal are in an old barn just east of Kribirsk but know this if you do not come alone I will fight till I die then you will be truly alone." He sighs "Alina I have already said I have sent them away and done everything else you have asked so far. As have you it would seem if you have your tracker with you. I see you soon" he said as he slammed the door on our connection.

Being slammed into my body was a rude awakening and jarring. Getting up and finding Mal sitting by the door I sat next to him. "We are fixing to have a visitor and depending upon their arrival we will either fight or go to safety."

"So the Darkling is coming and either he comes with an army or by himself either is still deadly. However I believe in you so I'll stand by you let's get prepared for either case." I hugged him burying my face in his chest "thank you Mal, once we find Nickolai you will be safe too."

Mal gripped me tight pulling me closer when the hug was over he looked me in the eyes saying "I'm doing this to keep you safe I'll die to to it." Looking away I moved to go clean up my bed roll before I could he grabbed my arm pulling me back into his arms bringing his lips down to mine.

I gasped allowing him entrance into my mouth as soon as I realized what was happening I began to fight him. My attempts did nothing to stop Mal when he needed a breath I began my pleas. "Mal what are you doing? Stop I don't want this you are my best friend."

He leaned back looking at me "Alina you can't tell me you haven't thought about this before and as for what I am doing I believe you know what that is. I don't want to be just you best friend I wanted to chase you into a church when this war was over if you would have me."

He tried to kiss me again but I was prepared and ducked. "Alina stop fighting please you know that you want me and have for a long time." I knew with my hand trapped backed against the wall I knew words were my best choice.

"No Mal that is where you are wrong I have grown tried of waiting on you to notice me and stop fucking anything else with a skirt. As you know before the war and after the fate I had nearly lost my virginity to the Darkling and with this path it will probably be him that takes it."

Mal hit me knocking me to the ground and was right back on top of me ripping my clothes. I sent a cry for help through the bond to get no reply. "I'll be damn if that monster is the one to take you virginity you are meant for me." "No I'm not get off of me."

Suddenly there was a resounding boom coming from a blast at the door in stormed in Darkling ripping Mal off me before either of us could move. "Alina are you alright? Can you stand?" The Darkling was asking hovering over me while using his tendrils of darkness to hold Mal.

"I'm fine but how did you get here so quickly and so quietly. Well at least till you blew up the door" I giggled hysterically. He cleared his throat "Alina um look down your kefta and blouse are shredded take mine." He handed me his black kefta without looking while Mal kept try to look despite now being on the ground.

"Also I rode on a horse and brought a back up for you and him but now I'm thinking it be better you ride with me than your tracker as I planned." I Shivered taking one step closer to him on instinct "yeah no way I'm riding with Mal after that. I have no clue as no what got into him."

The Darkling chuckles leading me out the barn putting on his charger "wait horses aren't silent but we didn't here you why?" "Shadows muffle and silence all my sun. Wait here while I go get the traitor."

I grabbed his hand as he went to turn "let him go we can find Nickolai on our own. He flies to me occasionally and just sits and watches so if we can get him to come down we can change him back. Let Mal go back to the others knowing what he tried to do and what you saved me from. He was the monster today not you. However can I still ride with you to feel safer please."

He cupped my cheek "as you wish I would prefer to slice him in half but I would prefer him to be the monster instead of me and anytime you wish to ride with me you may my sun. Let me got release the traitor them."

He was gone in a flash there were words of shouts followed by Mal walking out without looking at me and leaving. The Darkling got on the horse "are you ready to go and sleep in a real bed again and to be safe?"

I stiffened at the word bed and he chuckled "don't worry about me if we aren't booked in a double bed I will always take the floor unless you desire more." The weight of ten worlds went off my shoulders that somehow I had gotten in the last hour. We rode straight to Kribirsk finest tavern and inn.