Glossary: Sol Koroleva - Sun Queen, Moya Soverenyi - My Sovereign

Aleksander leaned close and claimed my lips in a kiss as I kissed him back. Our kiss started as just that, a kiss before I felt the makeshift bed dip and I knew he was hovering over me. I wasn't going to let him win as I switched us and pulled away as I saw the surprise look. "So, girls let you be the dominant one. With your experience in manipulating people, leading the Grisha I think you've finally met your match." I said with a smile, he didn't like it as he wanted control of our situation. It was easy to see in his eyes.

Baghra trained me well to be able to compete in Dominance with you. You can try to manipulate me but I will manipulate you back. I thought

We were staring at each other knowing that no matter where we went, we were connected. It didn't matter if one day I removed the piece of the stag from him I would still be connected to him emotionally, and we were soulmates. I was about to lean down and kiss him again when we heard someone approaching the tent and he moved me offsetting me beside him as he stood up.

Buzzkill. I thought

Ivan came in and I was kinda glad he had adjusted us as I knew that wouldn't have been something I would have wanted anyone to see. He walked over talking to Aleksander and I just sat there while they talked, not really paying much attention to it. Repairs had to be made to the Skiff where I accidentally used the cut and I still didn't know how I did that but if I could use the cut, maybe I could use Merzost.

"Am-'' Ivan started but Aleksander stopped him "From now on when talking to my bride to be you will call her Sol Koroleva or Moya soverennyi." Aleksander said to Ivan. "She is able to use the Cut she deserves to be called by those titles as my equal not a 2nd army soldier." His words surprised me more than I thought they would when it came to the diplomacy of what he was saying. Ivan, I still had a disdain for this heartrender so I'd appreciated it if he didn't even speak with me.

"Moya Soverennyi, Some of the west Ravkans would like to see their Sol Koroleva." Ivan said, I had nothing really nice to say to him so I just waved my hand in a dismissive way which he seemed to get as he left the tent. I looked at Aleksander curiously knowing he was Moi Soverenni to the first army and most of the 2nd army. "So now I'm a general?" I asked him, He just stood there looking down at me "You are going to be the wife of one." Aleksander said

I knew as long as I played nice, Baghra was unharmed but if I decided to go against him well I didn't know what might happen. He offered his hand out to me and I put my hand in his as we walked out to the people. West ravkans started to come to see their future Sol Koroleva. People looked at me as the Sun Saint, The Sun Queen both things I was neither. I noticed a child was burned by something and I moved away from Aleksander as I started to walk over seeing people back away. I gave them a smile "it's alright." I said as I kneeled down seeing even the child was scared as I put my hand out. "You can come here."

The child was hesitant as the little girl walked over and I examined the burn. I could see the poor girl was in pain but I knew water could heal and take pain away, sure I wasn't a healer but that didn't change anything. I put my hands together focusing on the water and when I pulled them apart a bit of water was in my hand as she was amazed. "You're a tidemaker too?" The little girl asked as I used the water ever so carefully on her arm. "Yeah, I am. My mama is a tidemaker but she taught me the best ways to use the water for healing purposes even though tidemakers are not healers." I said

Everyone was watching but I saw this little girl go from amazed to smiling when I realized her pain was gone. The burn was still present but she would heal as I smiled and stood up. The little girl jumped for joy "I wanna be a tidemaker! I want to learn from Sol Koroleva!" The little girl said.

Fjerdans are in this area and if she were a Grisha she'd be in danger. I thought

I shook my head and smiled at her "Being Grisha is not everything you think it would be. Orphans don't mind as much but when you are Grisha you become different from those you know. Sometimes being different is good but most of the time there are times you want to be normal." I said

All the people were seemingly happy to see me and I felt like I was gaining power but maybe this was wrong? Aleksander planned to rule the kingdom if he was going to and put me there as his Queen. A few normal girls approached who were around my age as they asked questions. "What is it like to be a Dual Summoner? Do you have any friends that are waiting for you in Os Alta?" The girls seemed to be looking curiously. "You feel different, it's a choice of being who you are and you can hide half of who you are. I do have friends waiting for me back in Os Alta." I said as I raised my hands to try to keep them a little at bay with their questions when one of them noticed my engagement ring. "You're getting married soon? To whom?" They asked

I felt so uncomfortable and luckily Aleksander walked over getting their attention as he smirked a bit. "To me, you see Grisha don't marry till they find their soulmate. Aleksander said as he pulled his sleeve up revealing the AS on his wrist. "Our Sol Koroleva is my soulmate so she will be getting a promotion to lead by my side." Aleksander said

People seemed to take this news a little better since it was a public announcement as I heard a bunch of them talking about how they'd love to attend the wedding. I knew he did this on purpose that he wasn't going to let me just keep pushing the wedding off but as long as the Fabrikators didn't have the dress fully made I could push it off for as long as I wanted.

A few days passed since then and we headed back through the fold, Zoya was the least of my concerns right now. I was just glad to get back to Os Alta before too long so I could tell Baghra everything that happened.

She might be disappointed in me. I thought