Glossary: Sol Koroleva - Sun Queen,lapushka - darling, honey, sweetie

I hated his plan but he knew he couldn't force me to agree to it and Prince Nikolai was the least of my concerns. "Alina's power is dormant, she's refused it or forced it to remain locked away." I said as I got up knowing what it was like to hide the sun. "I can help her through it, my power flickered a bit for a while holding it back the way I did for ten years."

Aleksander knew what it was like to hide, he hid his identity the entire time. "I hate this, I hate lying to everyone. Marie and Nadia know something is up but they never ask. I can't call you by your name in front of people, I have to choose my words carefully." I said knowing people looked at him as General Kirigan "And then what happens when you decide it's not enough to be General Kirigan and decide to change your identity. I refuse to have a tailor modify my appearance."

Aleksander walked over hugging me close as I sighed knowing that everything was going on too fast. "I don't want to be Queen, I just want to be me. I don't want to marry some prince and have him kissing me in the way you do. There are certain expectations on a wedding night and it disgusts me to even consider it." I said as I was always clear about how I felt like his arms around me never faltered. "even if it's getting us closer to the goal?" Aleksander asked

"Your goal, not mine. I want to walk down a street and be able to feel normal for a little while. I want to take my cousin out and show him it's ok to be different." I said as I was still holding on to the freedom offer he'd offered me. "Marrying the prince doesn't get me what I want, it gets me put in the Grand palace where expectations would be expected of me." I said, he knew I'd felt trapped within the little palace all this time for ten years because my parents had dropped me off here to train with Baghra as I yawned a bit. "Well, my Sol Koroleva is tired, the prince must have had you riding a lot." Aleksander said as I knew I hadn't told him. "A town I was in noticed my engagement ring, they wished the saints to bless us in our union." I said

Aleksander for the first time seemed surprised then pondered those words as I walked over to the bed too tired to change as I laid down on his bed. Aleksander walked over removing his Kefta and the general attire he had underneath as he laid down with just his pants on pulling me close making me blush. "You sleep in here, you should get used to such things. Besides tomorrow you are to assist Ms. Starkov." Aleksander said as I nodded before closing my eyes falling asleep.

Morning came earlier than I would have liked as I turned over facing Aleksander and curled up in his arms. I could feel his stare knowing he was awake as the door opened. "Ivan, set the plates on the table." Aleksander said as footsteps were easy to be heard. "It is on the table Moi soverenyi, will Moya soverenyi be joining the summoners later?" Ivan asked as Aleksander adjusted me while I could hear them in my sleep so I knew they were talking about me. "She will be, she is going to be helping Ms. Starkov learn to accept her powers." Aleksander said, "I have no need for Ms. Starkov's powers when Amira holds the Stag's necklace within her."

I opened my eyes, happy to know that I wasn't just his soulmate, he was trying to get married to him right away as Ivan nodded and left. Aleksander got up once he noticed I was awake as I sat up. "Morning lapushka, did you sleep well?" Aleksander asked as I nodded. Once we both got up I walked over to take a better look at his maps. "So which amplifier are you seeking now?" I asked, wondering what he was up to. "The Sea whipp's fetter, but that won't be anytime soon. We'd have to cross the fold again, get on the ship and head to the true sea." Aleksander said

Well, I knew he was right as we both started to eat knowing there was no way I was going to cross the fold so soon. We ate in silence as I knew he held the power over the Grisha in the 2nd army but I had the power for holding what Adrian did as a Dual Summoner. We also were under a mutual agreement that we knew neither of us could manipulate the other as we finished. "I need to go, I should get ready." I said

Going to my room I prepared for things like getting a bath and having Genya help me. Alina wouldn't make it in front of the royals if we didn't help her soon. Once Genya was done with me we headed to Alina's room seeing her surprised. "Come on, we don't have all day." I said as Genya snapped her fingers and people took her to the tub to wait.

"Is this really necessary?" Alina asked as she was cleaned and I sat there watching once she was done. "It is, you are a sun summoner, we're very rare sort of but you being unique you still have to meet the King and Queen." I said as she looked at me in the mirror. "I'm to meet the King?" Alina asked as I nodded. "Amira is a little more rare than you, Dual Summoner who is Tidemaker and Sun Summoner. She's the only one of her kind, we've found another Dual Summoner but he is Tidemaker and Inferni." Genya said

Alina seemed surprised and I couldn't blame her as she looked at both of us "When did you both know that you were Grisha?" Alina asked as Genya was working on her. "I've been working on myself since I was three, testers found me at the age of eleven." Genya told her. Alina seemed shocked "Since you were three?" Alina asked, then looked at me in the mirror "And you?" Alina asked, "My parents had me start training at three, I showed the tidemaker at first and my mother was excited since she was a tidemaker. Not long after I used Sun Summoner power and fainted not long after it took years to build up where I could use the power consecutively but here I am." I said

Alina seemed surprised we were more advanced in our small science than she was as I looked at my wrist with a smile. "Your wrist, you said you were General Kirigan's soulmate. How do you figure that out?" Alina asked as I looked up "Power, once you accept your power the initials will show up but only if you are within distance of your soulmate. The mark does fade if you go too far." I said

Alina didn't seem to understand as Genya fixed her up before leading ahead as I walked with her. "You've been denying your gift which makes you look terrible. It helps you to be strong when you accept it, your soulmate could be human or could be Grisha but your power determines how long you live." I told her as we walked. "The King will want a demonstration of your power since you are from the first army. He will then probably want you to assist me in destroying the fold." I said as Alina noticed my Kefta. "You're wearing a black Kefta." Alina said

"Amira has been given a few black items over the last year, she wears the General's color in pride." Genya said as we kept walking. "This really isn't necessary, can't I just wear a Kefta?" Alina asked as we kept walking. "You were found in the first army, unlike Amira who was already a part of the 2nd army." Genya said as we kept walking "Has anyone escaped the little palace before?" Alina asked as I laughed "No." I said as we heard "Planning to make a run for it?" Aleksander asked as I smiled at him. "I didn't mean any disrespect." Alina said

We walked to the little palace as Aleksander walked with us, he walked beside me since I was encouraging Alina it would be ok. "The King is not well so this will be fast."I said as we walked in. Aleksander switched spots with me knowing his amplifier abilities would be needed for Alina's demonstration as we walked into the grand palace. Once we were there Aleksander and I showed our respect to them "so this is the girl who will help your dual summoner destroy the fold?" The King asked, "Yes, she is Alina Starkov Sun Summoner. Moi Tsar." Aleksander said

Aleksander moved his hand to bring shadows as there was less pressure for Alina with me around as I watched him stand in front of her and take her wrist as the light exploded around all of us. I was already on Aleksander's side to not destroy the fold but the King did not know of that as Aleksander let her wrist go as the King was standing like he had when he met me. "Two sun summoners, the fold could be destroyed sooner. How long does she need?" The King asked, "She will remain at the little palace to train with me and Amira undisturbed." Aleksander said as the King looked at me then at Alina then back at Aleksander "then do it quickly." The King said

I have ten years of training and Alina only just started. Baghra will have a tough training time with her. I thought

"Agreed, Moi Tsar." Aleksander with a bow and we followed his lead showing respect as he turned to both of us. "You did well, you'll be staying around Amira today to learn about the way she does things and she'll take you around the area." Aleksander said to Alina as I noticed Prince Nikolai walk in the room but looked back at Aleksander while he was talking. Other Grisha started to come over hugging Alina as I backed up and motioned for Genya to get her as Aleksander followed me out of that sight. We snuck around the corner in a dark area as we kissed each other. "I think you can mentor her, be a role model and earn your leadership role." Aleksander said and I looked at him "I am leading already, with my cousin." I reminded him

Aleksander let me go as I walked out waiting around the corner when Genya came around with Alina. "Thank you Genya, I'll take it from here." I said as I led Alina away from there as I showed her around the area that was open to us. "You seem so much more confident than I am." Alina said as I looked at her "I'll let you in on a secret but you can't tell anyone. I come from a sun summoner bloodline and my mother is Tidemaker. My grandfather is Inferni and my half brother somewhere around here is squaller." I told her as she looked surprised.

We came to the library as memories were flooding in and the priest was gone, somewhere I wasn't sure about. I walked over as we looked through the books and I pulled one out. "the amplifiers?" Alina asked as she looked at them and pointed to the stag "I've seen this one, but not recently." Alina said as I sighed a bit. "That's because the stag is dead." I said as Alina looked at me surprised, "My tracker friend found it and I was supposed to kill it to stop something but I couldn't do it." I said

Alina looked at the images in the book "If you couldn't do it then who has the stag's amplifier?" Alina asked as I smiled "I do, I've already absorbed it into my body when it was placed around me. But something rare happened that I'll tell you about later when you're ready to hear." I told her as we went to her room and she was given time to change into her blue kefta.

We walked around for a bit when Marie and Nadia found us and hugged me before they smiled at Alina. "You're Alina, I'm Marie and this is Nadia. We're going to help you around with Amira." Marie said as they led the way and we all walked outside. I figured Botkin was ready for the new girl.

"Sun Summoner Alina, all of Ravkas' foes want you dead before you can help destroy the fold." Botkin said, "Very warm greeting." Alina said as I whispered to her "They want to kill me too but I actually have fought a Fjerdan." I said, surprising her. As we looked at Botkin who wasn't looking at me "You must learn to defend yourself fast, then one day you can be up with Amira who led her Grisha family in battle against a group of Fjerdans." Botkin said, "Do you know how to fight?"

Alina looked like she was having a flashback as she nodded, "I've had some training." Alina said and before Botkin said what I knew he would, I smiled. "Pick an opponent, Alina, to see if you can win." I said as she chose Zoya. We all watched as the two started to fight. I knew Zoya was good but still we watched.

I wonder if she'll get kicked off the grounds again. I thought

Watching both of them going back and forth with Zoya mostly winning I knew Alina could do it as she got the last hit. Sadly Zoya as usual used her wind so I walked over before Botkin had gotten to her. "That was uncalled for Zoya." I said as she had her fists up "I'll take you on Amira, you who has the general's attention." Zoya said

Motioning over to Marie and Nadia to check on Alina I prepared myself as we started to walk in a circle as I had my hands up. I was ready as she took a left swing at me and I dodged as I hit her right in her shoulder and she was shocked but when she went to give me a hit with her right hand I dodged and slid my foot behind hers as she did with Alina sliding it forward to knock her down.

"we take it easy on those who are new, don't forget that." I said as I walked away. I kept my senses about me as I heard her move fast and I used light to split her wind surrounding myself as everyone gasped at how much brighter my light was as I looked back at Zoya. "I have an amplifier, same as most of you but unlike you I don't rely on it and it doesn't come off." I said as she looked shocked.

Walking over to Alina I helped her a bit as we headed away from Botkin and the group headed to Baghra's hut. I knocked on the door as I led Alina in and noticed it was dark. "Baghra." I said as Alina looked worried but we kept walking in when She walked over to us. "Amira, glad you can always make time to visit." Baghra said to me and looked at Alina "And you, A sun summoner who wastes her time training with Botkin. Where is the rest of you?" Baghra asked

I found that a strange question "What do you mean where is the rest of her?" I asked as Baghra looked at me. "I can tell her power is almost non-existent." Baghra said as she led Alina over and told me I could stay. "Where are your parents?" Baghra asked, "Dead I suppose." Alina said

I felt bad for her knowing I had both of my parents, even my grandparents as she nodded. I sat there waiting while Baghra went over Alina's first lesson and I noticed she was merely questioning her. "Amira was struggling once where you are but she's had ten years to master her power but you seem to need to be told what to do or what to believe. So Come back when you believe it too.

Baghra is harsh, then again she didn't let me get past her with anything either. Yet we have a better relationship than the other summoners. I thought

"Amira, let me see your light now that you have the stag bones." Baghra said as I wasn't sure about it but I put my hands together then showed my light as I expanded it around the room. "Wow, this is a sun summoner's power." Alina said and Baghra nodded. "Amira has been prepared for her role all her life, she decides her own fate. she's also aware that her life choices are her own even with my words of guidance." Baghra said as Alina just looked surprised and then looked at me. "Guidance from my future mother-in-law. I assure you that the life we all live is determined by our power." I said as Alina tried but was failing, something held her back.

What holds you back? I thought