I walked for a while till I came to the lake, it was nice and quiet as the sun was bright above but I just needed to clear my head of everything. I was just looking at the lake and how well it seemed to be together, but then I saw snow starting to fall. I put a hand out to catch it seeing the first snowflakes. I hadn't even realized we were going into winter yet until now but I smiled at the cool air.

"The Winter Fete will be happening." I said

I started realizing that the winter fete was going to be different for me this year, last year I just performed with the tidemakers. I heard someone approaching and looked back to see Genya. I felt a bit of relief. I wasn't sure I was going to be ready to see Aleksander yet as she walked over and put her hand out. I put my hand in hers and she helped me up as she looked at me concerned.

"Are you alright? You haven't returned to your room." Genya said

"I have a lot on my mind." I admitted

"If you want to talk I am willing to listen." Genya said as she started to lead me away and like everyone else she noticed the necklace. "I see your week away was good. The little palace hasn't been the same since you left."

"It's complicated." I said and I heard her mention my week away was good as I looked at the necklace "Sort of. He gave me the necklace last night."

I wish I could talk to someone besides Baghra about this arrangement. How could she do this to me? Then again Father was adamant about avoiding him as long as possible. I thought

"Well I think it's safe to say Zoya is replaced." Genya said

I laughed a bit as we were walking and we walked into the little palace yet I wasn't sure. Genya was leading as we took the stairs up to the room. I was ready to just change out of these clothes and get a bath. When we made it to the top of the stairs we started talking over things. I told her about Nico and what happened, to which she gave comforting words. We were almost to my room when I stopped noticing black. Looking I could see Zoya talking with Aleksander and I merely watched knowing what I knew now. Zoya was getting a little too close for my comfort with him and she even leaned in to kiss him while I looked away and just went ahead to my room.

"Amira." Genya said following me

In my moment of taking the situation as it was before seeing if he would reject her I removed the necklace throwing it on the bed and walked to the bathroom. I closed the door to the bathroom as I discarded my clothes and prepared the bath before getting in. The door opened and Genya walked in sitting in the chair while I washed up seeing I was upset.

"You're upset." Genya said

"It's as I thought, when we're here we are nothing but his soldiers...he manipulates us into doing what he says draws us in." I said

"You didn't really watch you ran the moment Zoya was trying to kiss him. He stopped her saying that he has a commitment to keep." Genya said

I washed my hair as I looked at her knowing she had never lied to me before. Still part of me kinda wanted to think otherwise, he had so many lovers probably in the little palace. I didn't know if I was being smart at the moment knowing everything I knew. Everything Baghra had said to me was still there in my mind.

"Genya, if someone told you that they made a deal with one of your parents to be with their son, would you tell that person?" I asked

"Depends on who it is. Why are you supposed to be with someone's son?" Genya asked

"Sort of, General Kirigan's mom found me earlier." I lied to cover for Baghra but this was the only way I could do this. "She said she made a deal with my father that if he had a daughter, that daughter would marry General Kirigan."

Genya seemed shocked at my words and she seemed to wonder if he knew at all. Still, I questioned how much of our conversation got back to him as I was finishing up. I was glad to get this over with and feel clean after a week away from here. Genya went and got my robe as she handed it to me with her back to me as I got out drying off and then put the robe around myself. Genya hadn't really said anything so I wondered what was on her mind at this moment.

"If what you say is true, I think you would be a lucky girl. A dual summoner and a darkling getting married in the little palace." Genya said as she turned to me once I was in the robe and she was smiling. "I would love to be the tailor to help you when that day comes."

"It might not." I said, "I am not a prize and as long as he does not know I won't persist with it."

Genya walked me over as she prepared me for dinner while she had me sit. She got in her kit looking at me, my mood was a bit sour with seeing Zoya. Zoya had not seen my necklace and I knew I had the advantage with it. He'd chosen me to wear it so why did Zoya still bother me so much when she was around him.

"Close your eyes, relax your eyebrows and try to not think about what you saw." Genya said as I did as she asked.

The cool feeling I always got when she did my makeup was there as I waited patiently. I only opened my eyes when she was done as I looked in the mirror seeing she put black mascara on my eyelashes and some light black eyeshadow on my eyelids. The whole thing of black made my blue eyes stand out.

"You look so pretty, I hope things work out for you and General Kirigan. I think after so much war he needs some light in his life." Genya said

"I don't know if I want to fully pursue this." I said being hesitant

"The heartrenders said your heart beats fast when you think about General Kirigan." Genya said

"I.." I wanted to deny it but I knew that last night he made me feel like I could do anything. I could be anything and he'd given me the necklace to prove it. I felt special last night as we laid side by side and I used the light to help us with warmth before he'd turned and held me close to preserve the warmth.

He's still wearing that part on him that represents me. I thought

When there was a knock on the door I wasn't in the mood to really do much. Genya walked over, opening it as some of her ladies brought in a box. I didn't understand why a sudden box when she placed it down and opened it pulled out a dress.

"Is that a dress?" I asked knowing I hadn't been allowed to wear one in a long time.

Genya looked at the note inside and she smiled as she walked over for me to get a better look. I took a good look at it. It was black silk with the design through it and it could have passed for a formal Kefta in my eyes. It was still going with the 2nd army attire but something I could have worn under the Kefta.

"General Kirigan wants you to wear this for dinner." Genya said

"It's a little different from the Kefta." I said

"Well you can wear it under your Kefta or we could have another dress made so you don't have to wear pants under your Kefta." Genya said as she helped me get into it.

I was patient with her as we waited and when I looked in the mirror I blushed slightly. I could feel the claim he was trying to make with me present. Even without the necklace on I knew he was trying to show all the other male summoners I was his. Genya soon came over and she placed the necklace back around my neck as we both looked in the mirror.

"You look great. I think he will appreciate how you look and you get to have dinner with him tonight." Genya said

Is this how it is now? Dinner with him and away from other summoners? I thought

Genya seemed happy and she led me out after getting shoes on. I pulled back right away as she turned to head to his doors. Genya looked at me and once again I hesitated.

"I don't know if I can do this." I said

Genya walked around behind me as if insisting as I was now in front of his door. My heart raced a bit knowing I could go in here.

"Go on, best not to keep the general waiting." Genya said

Why am I hesitating? Is it because I never wore a dress in front of someone else before. I thought

Genya must have noticed my hesitation cause I heard her walk back to my room and she put my Kefta on me. I didn't close it but I felt more confident with it on my shoulders.

Alright here I go. I thought

I knocked on the doors as they opened where he stood there without his Kefta. He offered his hand to me and I put my hand in his as he led me inside. Closing the door behind us and he seemed to notice that I had the Kefta too.

"You wore your Kefta." Aleksander said

"I feel a bit more comfortable with it out there." I said

"May I then?" Aleksander asked

I nodded as he got behind me and removed the Kefta revealing the a bit self conscious about the attention and everything else going on. He walked back around to take in my appearance of how I look.

"You look lovely." Aleksander said