Once we left Baghra's I took her with me to the stables "What we doing?" Alina asked as the guards saw me. "One of General Kirigan's horses." I said to the stable people as they looked at me but saw the black kefta and his symbol on my neck. Without question, they saddled one of the horses up and handed me the reins as I led it outside. Alina just seemed surprised but I knew I had a bit more freedom here and I was willing to share a bit of it with Alina as I saw they put a two-seater saddle on the horse.

"Get on." I told her as she looked confused but she did as I asked then I saw Nadia come out with a horse as we nod to each other and I got on the horse. "Are you sure we can leave the little palace?" Alina asked as I adjusted the reins "I'm overstepping my fiancee but I assure you this is fine. You're safe as long as you're with me, I've fought a Fjerdan before." I said with a smile as I got the horse on a gallop.

Nadia kept up with me but for the moment I felt free like there was nothing that could stop me, We didn't go far from the little palace as I stopped and got down as Alina got down looking around. "this area is huge." Alina said and Nadia looked at me as I smiled "I need a new training area that's close to the little palace but where if anything were to go wrong, he could get here quickly." I said to Nadia as I looked at Alina "You can train here too."

Alina looked at me surprised, but I walked over to her as I thought about it "Answer me this, what is holding you back? Your former life? A childhood friend you had to leave behind?" I asked as she looked at me surprised. I watched her but I could see her touch her hand as I looked over it seeing the mark. "Childhood friend?" I asked again as she nod.

I let her hand go as I walked in "I have a friend like that, but we're just friends. He confessed his feelings recently but I had to turn him down because I didn't feel the same." I said as she looked at me surprised. I smiled "But who knows your friend might be your soulmate, once you unlock your power and you are on the same grounds as your soulmate things change." I told her as I looked at my wrist seeing the faded initials through the gap in my bracelet.

I started remembering our talk last night how he wanted me to be his wife but he wanted me to marry Prince Nikolai as well to gain the throne. The King was dying because I couldn't see what was really going on. Genya was hurting and took matters into her own hands, the apparat was already gone and I was acting like everything was fine.

I know the truth others are denying, Baghra is only safe because I have been cooperating with his plan. I thought

I tried to encourage her to call the light but she couldn't and I sighed as we were out there for some time. I lost track of time that I wasn't even paying attention when a horse came up on us and I only became aware when I felt arms go around me. I blushed at first thinking some stranger was hugging the dual summoner, savior of ravka. I only calmed down when I recognized his scent and let out the breath I was holding.

"You couldn't have just announced yourself?" I asked as I adjusted to look up at him and he smirked. "You looked focused as a teacher, but you do know the sun is going down. It won't matter if she manifests the sun light she can't do what you can."

I hated the idea that he was right but I sighed as I got free still annoyed by what he was telling me. "Thanks for your concern." I said as I got the horse ready for us to get back to the little palace. "Is that one of my horses?" Aleksander asked and I nod. "I didn't think you'd mind if the girl you wish to marry is borrowing one of your horses." I said as Alina got on the saddle and then I got on.

We all headed back to the little palace which wasn't far from where we were. Then after we were inside the little palace we all got down. "thanks for helping me today Amira, sorry I didn't make much progress." Alina said as I smiled. "You'll get it, but the amplifiers are not always the solution." I told her

I took the horse back to the stables where the stable boys took it from me, Aleksander wasn't far behind me and I knew what he wanted to talk about. I could feel he wanted to see if I changed my mind on Prince Nikolai. When I started to walk away he followed but stopped me in the hall where no one was and pinned me to the wall. It reminded me of the night of our first kiss where our powers had influence over us.

"Amira, have you reconsidered what I asked?" Aleksander asked looking in my eyes. "I will help you with whatever you want, but the answer to be Queen is still no." I said, he looked a bit angry but I continued. "I don't want people to look at me as a ruler, I want Grisha to be free. I want my freedom, the freedom you promised me if I came back to marry you."

For the first time he seemed to realize it was never about being a ruler for me, he wanted to rule the Grisha. I wanted to be free with the other Grisha, I didn't want to fight anymore but I would if it meant that Fjerdans were a threat. My friends, My family, Baghra, Grisha, and him were all that mattered to me.

"Your plans, for four hundred years have been to make Grisha safe." I said to him, "What about normal things?" I asked as he just looked at me. I knew the truth before he could even say it he'd never thought of it the entire time that he was here. "I want to attend festivals with everyone and not see my fellow Grisha slaughtered too, But I want things too. Maybe not today, but someday in the future...I want to enjoy my life."

"We have all eternity to enjoy life Amira, someday Marie and Nadia they won't be here anymore." Aleksander said as I knew he was right. Their lives would end way before our own and I wanted to break down and cry that I'd have to start all over making new friends someday. "But amplifiers do help extend their lives a little longer maybe a hundred years or two hundred." Aleksander reminded me

I was already upset with the idea of them dying one day as he noticed my tears wiping them away. "I have lost so many friends and allies I have had to bury. You, You are the only one who will never be lost." Aleksander said. I looked away "I don't want to keep lying to everyone! I want to tell them the truth not come up with these half truths to cover for you!" I said with my eyes closed.

Aleksander let me go and I realized I said that out loud as I covered my mouth, I knew that was my truth. I wanted to tell Marie and Nadia everything and not have to lie to them anymore but how could I when he was not the black Heretic to them. "You trust them that much?" Aleksander asked and I nod. "Tell them the truth and see if they will stay by your side then when you tell them you're marrying the black Heretic."

Marie and Nadia would take my side...Baghra arranged this.. I thought

"tell them tonight, I'll be waiting for you in my war room to tell me how it went." Aleksander said then walked off leaving me in my own thoughts.

I was shaking out of fear for the first time as I wiped my eyes knowing that they were at risk. He wasn't going to stop manipulating everyone and he could claim I was crazy but I needed this. I went to find them as I saw them outside my room. Marie was first to notice I'd been crying as she went over hugging me.

"Amira, what's wrong?" Marie asked as I shook my head gesturing towards my room as we went in there. I sat there as they got me some tissues and I wiped my eyes. "I need to tell you something, really tell you something and please believe me when I say this was never the intention to lie." I said

"Whatever you need to say we'll listen." Nadia said putting a hand on my wrist.

I removed my bracelet showing them my soulmate mark as they looked at it seeing AM. "Those are not General Kirigan's initials." Marie said as I sighed. "Kirigan is not his name, his name is Aleksander. He is Baghra's son, Baghra is Sankt Ilya's daughter and Sankt Ilya is his grandfather." I started as they looked surprised and I crossed my arms. "He's been alive for four hundred years, Baghra did arrange my engagement with him and he is wanting to get married as soon as possible but I am tired of lying." I said

"Wait, the fold was created four hundred years ago." Nadia said as I nod. I had to endure their questions to which i gave the answers he gave me of what I knew. "The fold wasn't the intention, I don't have all the details but someone he cared about was killed leading to the power he used. Same power Sankt Ilya used to make the amplifiers." I said, Marie was shocked "Wait but that would make him the heretic?" Marie asked as I nod.

Marie and Nadia realized how serious this was more than I had let them in and they hugged me. Surprising me as I let them knowing this was hard to admit that this was going on. "You've been dealing with this all alone." Nadia said, "He wants to protect Grisha, make it where we don't have to fight."

They seemed surprised but then they took me out of my room then walked to his war room where Marie knocked on the door. He answered the door and looked at all of us so calm as he knew I was here. "Ah, you two brought Amira. Thank you, she should get some rest soon." Aleksander said keeping his calm. "She says you're the black heretic who created the fold. Is that true?" Marie asked as I looked at her wondering if this was some prank when she said she'd believed me. "I think Amira is a bit confused." Aleksander said as he went to reach for me from them but Nadia kept me back "You want to keep Grisha safe and not have to fight?" Nadia asked.

"Of course, All grisha should be able to do as they wish. Once we have peace with Amira's help we can have where the 2nd army can still be here but we can choose when to use it." Aleksander said

He's winning them over with his lies and alluring tactiks. I thought

Marie hugged me as she whispered "I think you might be on to something." before she left and Nadia seemed to take his words for value as she looked at me with a smile. "See you in the morning." Nadia said

Do they believe me or are they believing him? I thought

I walked in once they were gone as I waited "Happy? Your friends know the truth but Marie thinks you're confused now." Aleksander said as I gripped my hand in a first. "No, she believes me. Believes I'm on to something." I said as Aleksander turned me to face him. "No matter if they know or not. You agreed to go through with the arrangement."

I took a deep breath as I knew that was true but I also knew I couldn't sleep in here tonight. "I'm going to my room. Good night Aleksander." I said as I walked away from leaving him without a word and walked into my room. I laid down on my bed as I fell asleep figuring it was over for the night and I could sleep.