I couldn't keep the grin off my face if I'd tried, not that I particularly wanted to. Seeing my Alina walking around covered in my marks pleased a much more primal part of me. It helped quiet my more inherent urges, urges that demanded that I claim her, protect her, show everyone exactly who she belonged to. Me. Mine. Only mine. If I had it my way she'd wear those marks for all to see. But she was not too keen on that idea, too embarrassed that others would know, of what they might think. Too angry with me still. I wanted them to know, and I could care less what they thought. My grisha had accepted her and that was all that mattered.

But I was already on thin ice with Alina, and this small concession wouldn't hurt. I could always make more later. I'd sent for Genya and in no time she swept in, perfectly put together as usual.

Genya tisked and wiped away the marks with a wave of her hand and Alina sighed in relief. Her face went a delightful shade of pink when Genya asked if there were any others. I raised an eyebrow and she flushed darker, how lovely. Genya cleared her throat with a smile. "No need to be ashamed dear, but we can go back to your rooms if you'd feel more comfortable?" I found myself immensely disappointed when Alina nodded. I wanted to see where else I'd left marks on her pretty little body.

A flash of desire skirted through the bond from her and I was filled with a purely male satisfaction.

It seemed I was not the only one affected. I was not the only one whose control was slipping.

I'd felt out of control since the moment she walked into my tent that day in Kribirsk. I'd known immediately that my life would change, that I'd finally found what I'd been searching years for.

"Bring her closer." Anticipation and impatience battled within me. The skiff had returned not even fifteen minutes earlier, and the light blasted through the Fold only half and hour before that. I'd waited long enough. I'd waited for centuries.

There was something tugging at the back of my mind, something almost familiar, though I was certain I'd never felt anything like it before. It was the most peculiar feeling, and I didn't understand what it meant even as they brought the girl closer. The closer she got, the stronger the strange feeling. And I hadn't even seen her yet.

The first time I looked at her, something felt right. Even frightened, dirty, and too skinny, she was breathtaking. She was the one I was looking for.

"Closer." The defiant, tiny little thing took the smallest step forward, and it took my centuries of patience not to smirk.

"Well?"

"Well, what?… Sir."

"What are you?" Her answer was automatic, showing a hint of her military training.

"Alina Starkov, Assistant Cartographer, Royal Corps of Surveyors." Alina. I found I quite liked it.

"They're all gone. It's my fault. That's why I'm here, isn't it?" She looked quite troubled, pretty brown eyes blinking back tears suddenly. Could she truly not know why she was here? Did she not know what she was? It would make sense, she was awfully small. Almost sickly skinny. Classic signs of wasting sickness. And yet still quite beautiful.

"Answer the question. What are you?"

"A mapmaker, sir." So either a good liar or she has no idea. She didn't seem much like a liar.

My musing was interrupted by the laughter of the surrounding grisha. A pretty flush settles over her cheeks, in embarrassment or anger I wasn't sure.

"Quiet." The command stopped them immediately and there was the slightest hint of gratitude in her eyes. Still, this strange feeling could not be the only proof that she was who I was looking for. I glanced around the tent, at those who were on the skiff with her, zeroing in on Zoya.

"So who actually saw what happened? Zoya? You manned the main sail."

"We were attacked barely two markers in. Someone lit a lantern."

"And?" Get to the point. She seemed to understand my impatience and continued quickly.

"The volcra went after the riflemen and our Inferni first. And then there was a searing light." I didn't take my eyes from Alina as Zoya spoke. She looked to be remembering, pain and horror flashing across her pretty face.

"It was her." One of the skiff survivors pointed to Miss Starkov, and she looked panicked, almost in disbelief.

"Our mapmaker. Is this true? Can you summon light?" She shook her head, almost comically confused, and I couldn't help shaking my head slightly as well. She was in denial.

"Where did you grow up?"

"Keramzin." Ah. That made sense. The testers took longer to reach that far out, and orphanages were sometimes overlooked. That would have to be remedied.

"Hmm. And when were you tested?" She glanced around, almost nervously, looking for a way out, clearly hiding something.

"You don't remember?" She shook her head very slightly, but still looked almost guilty.

"Well, let us just make certain." I moved closer, sliding the talon ring onto my thumb. This would tell me once and for all if she was the one I was searching for. Although, part of me already seemed to know the answer. The closer I got, the surer I was.

"Lift up your sleeve."

"What's happening?" Her voice shook with the slightest hint of fear, and I softened my tone, but asked again. I couldn't wait any longer. I had to know for certain.

"Your sleeve. Please." As soon as I touched her, I knew. It took everything in me not to react. She was Grisha, and she needed to see it in order to believe it. That strange tugging in my head was back full force. I softened my gaze as I looked down at her, she looked so unsure, but almost curious as well.

The cut started glowing immediately as I drew the talon ring down, and every cell in my body froze in anticipation.

Then the most beautiful beam of light shot out of her arm, and she gasped, staring with wonder, amazement, and a hint of fear. I could only produce one coherent thought in that moment. She was beautiful.

I was thankful that the searing light blasting through the roof of the tent kept most from looking too closely. It would not be wise for them to see me like this. I was in awe. It was true. I'd found my Sun Summoner. Finally.

My mind raced a mile a minute. As soon as I touched her, I was struck by the strangest feeling. She called to me. Like nothing had called to me before. I figured I would feel some sort of connection to the person destined to be my balance, but not this quickly. Everything in me seemed to almost relax with the touch of her skin. It's like I'd been missing something my entire life, and only now realizing it. I felt almost lighter somehow. Like she was the literal sun, finally chasing away the shadows that had clung to me my entire life. And I wanted to bask in it for as long as possible. I didn't want to let go of her.

It was ridiculous. I knew I wasn't being entirely rational. I'd just met her. But there was one thing I knew now without a doubt, one thing that I couldn't deny.

Alina Starkov was Mine.

I hadn't expected to feel this.. strongly. It would be unwise to continue to be in her presence until I'd gained a bit more control over myself. At least that's what I told myself. Really I needed time to collect myself, to shove away all the emotions that she'd wrenched forward without even trying.

It was more difficult than I expected to send her off with Ivan to the Little Palace without me. It felt… wrong to be separated from her. But, I had duties to finish here, at least a day's worth. Apprehension sat heavily in my gut, it seemed too long of a time now that she was out of my reach.

"Moi Soverennyi, There's been reports of Drüskelle getting dangerously close, faster than we hoped." They'd likely seen both of Alina's light shows. They knew what it meant. A near mythical Sun Summoner. Their greatest conquest surely.

"Get my horse ready. I'll bring the Sun Summoner to Os Alta myself. Be ready in ten minutes." It'd been unwise to send her alone. Even with Feydor and Ivan, a large enough group could overwhelm them. There a was a pit in my stomach, something akin to fear resting in my gut. Something I hadn't felt in decades, if not longer.

No. I'd see her there myself. Keep her safe until she was behind the Little Palace walls. Where she belonged.

And if that meant I could figure out what this strange connection was, well, that was simply a bonus.

I could hear the sounds of battle before I saw them. I could hear her screaming. It pulled at something in my chest. When I saw her body trapped below the man, a fury like none I'd ever known rose up in me. How dare they.

I was not even fully off the horse before I was summoning. The Cut gathered and sharpened, before arching forward and taking his head from his shoulders. I scanned the trees for any others as I came toward her, every step easing the anxiety that overcame me on the ride. "Are you hurt?"

"No, no not really." She was clearly dazed, perhaps in shock. She'd likely seen little of actual battle as a cartographer. Likely hadn't had anyone try to kill her before. She did seem to be unharmed for the most part, aside from a few bruises. Thankfully. I wasn't sure what I would have done if the Fjerdan had hurt her, or worse.

"The others will have fled now they know I'm here." As they should.

She is mine. And I'll kill anyone that tries to hurt her, anyone that so much as touches her.

"You ride with me."

I couldn't control how much I wanted her. I'd never wanted anything more than I wanted Alina. I couldn't help myself. I'd waited so long for her. I had loved Luda, thought I'd never know love like that again. This is more than I could ever hope for. She was perfect, far better than I deserved. It had only been a few months, and I was done for. It happened so fast. Much faster than I expected.

I loved Alina.

There was no use in denying it. I wanted so much from her. Wanted things I hadn't let myself want in centuries. Wanted everything she'd give me, and so much more.

I wanted her to be happy. To protect her. To know her better than I knew myself. To have her beside me for the rest of time.

I wanted to fuck her until the only thing she could remember was my name. To own every lovely inch of her. To be the only one to touch her. To keep her trapped in my bed for the rest of our eternal lives.

I wanted to marry her. To see her round with my child. To spend my life making her happy. To make sure she would never be alone as I once was.

Want Want Want

Wanting makes you weak, my mother had always said. I wondered if she was right after all, I certainly was weak for Alina.

But of one thing I was absolutely certain. I would do anything to keep her beside me. She was the only thing that mattered. The only thing more important to me than my plans in centuries. If she wanted to flee somewhere far away and leave it all behind, I knew I'd follow her. I would leave everything I had built, everything I worked for, for her. And it terrified me. She has such a hold on me already. I'm not sure if there was a limit to the things I'd do for that woman…

My thoughts lingered on Alina as my wife, mine for all to see… The thought sent me spiraling, lewd images of all the things I could do to her, once she was finally and truly mine, filling my brain.

My musings were interrupted by Ivan entering, his husband not far behind. "Moi Soverennyi, the tracker is missing. Baghra has fled as well. We were not able to catch her."

Alina would not be pleased. I had assured her that her tracker was here, unharmed and waiting to speak with her. And my mother was still out there somewhere. Plotting who knows what.

I suppressed a sigh and tried to force my thoughts back in the right direction, back towards my duties as general. I motioned toward the chairs, silently telling the pair to sit. We had much to discuss, starting with Marie's service.

"Miss Agafonova's pyre will need to be erected as soon as possible. I want it ready before nightfall."