glossary: Moye Serdtse- My heart
I looked at the window and saw it was morning but the sun hadn't come up yet, but I couldn't feel like sleeping at the moment. I got up as I knew that was different and I felt him nearby before I heard the knock on the door realizing he was awake too. Getting up I walked over to the door putting my hand on it knowing he was on the other side of the door but I didn't know if I wanted to open the door.
"Amira, I know you're on the other side of the door, I shouldn't have said what I did yesterday." Aleksander said as I knew that he knew what it was like to be alone. With my family here and within the distance of me I still felt all alone but hid it. It couldn't change all the years of feeling lonely and different with no choice but to feel like I had to hide. "I want to talk, I know we just did but...that was different."
I've thrown away my resistance and this connection is just getting stronger. I thought
I reached for the knob of the door as I opened it seeing him there, as we looked at each other there was just silence now. He stepped closer to me as he put a hand on my cheek and I put a hand over his as we looked at each other. "I want everything you saw in my dream." I said as he looked at me. "Everything your heart wants I will give you, I see now you truly don't have any desire to rule Ravka but if I would obtain the throne you will rule by my side and still have your freedom you desire." Aleksander said
I smiled knowing he was true to his word and I nod knowing that this was going to be it. I was all in for the wedding while Marie and Nadia were having their doubts about what I said. We ended up going to his room and resting there for the night. I ended up sleeping a bit better than when I woke up I yawned but as I opened my eyes I felt his lips capture mine in a kiss. I kissed him back as he soon pulled away looking at me while he hovered over me.
"Such a strong Dual Summoner, what if the future holds a Dual Summoner like you?" Aleksander asked as I knew what he was implying. I went to answer his question but then I felt his lips latch onto my neck as I gasped in surprise. "Aleksander.." I said as I had a good idea what he was implying. He looked at me smirking a bit "Tonight, not this morning." He assured me as we kissed once more before he got up and he helped me up.
Once I was up I left to go to my room where I got bathed, saw Genya, and let her do her natural gift as she must have noticed something was up. "Did something happen with the General last night?" Genya asked as I looked at her. "We got into a fight, but we made up this morning." I assured her knowing that now he had a plan to get that little girl. "Genya, have you ever heard of two summoners being able to enter the other's dream?" I asked
Genya looked at me as if I said something surprising but I knew that there was nothing that could be done about it. We were two sides of the same coin bound by the stag bones and this connection between us that we both still didn't understand. "No, I have not heard of it but has it happened?" Genya asked as I nod before relaxing my eyebrows while letting her do my makeup then opened them. "Yeah, we were in my dream last night together." I shared it with her as she was surprised. "Well then you and the General must be very close." Genya said
I can't tell you just how close we are. I thought
I still wanted to get Genya away from the Queen but that had a lot of work and the Queen didn't deserve Genya. She was just a whipping girl for the Queen and so far they hadn't known what was the cause of the King's contagion so that was good. When she was done I smiled "thank you Genya, I must return for breakfast." I said as she nodded. Since he was expecting me I walked in and saw the table was already there as I walked over sitting across from him as we were eating. It was quiet much of what we had to say to each other was said this morning but we heard a lot of movement so once we were done walking we were overseeing some kind of training thing being built.
"Botkin is up to something, it is clear the Grisha are to climb this thing to the top." Aleksander said as we saw some of the Grisha already out there. Among them were Marie and Nadia who looked curious but as I watched for a few minutes this thing was going to have moving levels making it hard to climb. "You don't have to do this." Aleksander said to me as I looked at him knowing my cousin was probably checking it out.
I started walking towards the door "I think I will participate, after all I can't let Zoya think she's the best." I said as I looked at him "Keep watching." Then I left without another word as I went out there seeing that people were falling off and landing on the ground with their Kefta. Botkin had outdone himself as I saw gloves were given for this thing and started to put it on as I heard laughing behind me so I looked. "You came out here after all, it would be humiliating for you to lose, right?" Zoya asked as I just smiled. "I don't have to win, just get farther than you as the General's future wife." I said calmly
Zoya glared at me as I knew she was his favorite before I was out as a Dual Summoner. She was getting to tumble with him before he meant something to me and now she was nothing to him. A distraction while he waited for his equal to surface as Botkin walked over. "Dual Summoner Amira Silina and Zoya Nazyalensky, be fair about this." Botkin said
Once we were let go on the course, I jumped and grabbed one of the ladders as I climbed up getting to the moving part of the obstacle area then started to climb up. I could feel Aleksander watching me as I started to get to the top. "You don't just give up, do you?" Zoya said on the other side as I watched someone get knocked off by one of these bars that could be pushed in or pulled out as I grabbed one and pushed it in hearing her scream but then kinda gave an annoyed sound as I laughed a bit. "Nope, not gonna give up." I said
Reaching the top was the goal and though I almost slipped grabbing one in time as I sighed. I reached for another one and pulled it out this time hearing her fall as I smiled. I was having fun with this as I kept going, reaching the top and getting the item on hand as I laughed. Zoya got to the top seeing me with it and she looked annoyed as she put her hands together and used air to knock me off. I didn't have time to react as I figured I would hit hard on the ground but then I felt arms suddenly catch me as I looked to see who caught me seeing Nico.
"Are you ok?" Nico asked with concern in his eyes as I just literally fell but wondered where he had come from to be there in time. Marie and Nadia also came over to check on me as they didn't see any scratches but I suddenly became aware of how dangerous this thing was. "Are you ok?" Marie and Nadia asked as Nico put me on my feet.
"I'm fine." I assured them as Botkin told Zoya to get down there and then scolded her for knocking me off. Alina cem over to check on me "Are you ok?" Alina asked as I nod knowing that it was a bit dangerous what Zoya did. "Zoya and I have always been in a rivalry ever since General Kirigan and I became engaged." I let Alina know
Alina was shocked to hear about me and Zoya but it was what it was. "When is the wedding?" Alina asked as I saw Zoya looking over, hearing Alina's question and then I looked at her. "Soon, possibly in three days depending on what we do." I said to Alina with a smile as Marie and Nadia looked at me surprised. "I know what I said last night guys but I still love him and he is my soulmate so maybe it's not everything we think." I said to them confusing Alina. "Sorry, we had a talk last night."
Aleksander came out soon enough as he walked over to me making sure I was unharmed which thanks to Nico I didn't have a single hurt area. "I guess you were right about your friend staying, it seems he is more useful than the first army." Aleksander said as I kept myself from saying I told you so. He looked over at Zoya but I put my hand on his arm as he looked at me again. "Just make her attend the wedding, it's punishment enough to send a message." I said
I knew that sending her off to reevaluate her values was not going to benefit us in any way. I wanted her there to see me become his wife and make it clear she'd never get to be with him ever again. Aleksander seemed to calm down but I knew he wanted to make her leave again but I could tell he was jealous of Nico still being around. Nico was turning to leave when Aleksander turned to him. "Nico." Aleksander said as Nico was still hesitant but he chose his words wisely. "General Kirigan." Nico said.
The anger coming off of Nico was present, the jealousy of Aleksander was there but he was keeping his composure. "Thank you for being there to save Amira when she was airborne." Aleksander said, "Your going to be apart of her guards from now on and not sent back to first army." Nico seemed to be surprised since a simple thank you for saving me was good but Aleksander went another step up. "She's spoken to me on your behalf to be kept here, that can only be if you have a position here. Amira will be getting a rise in rank as a leader of the Dual Summoners once we are married but she'll still need a guard who will sacrifice everything for her that she trusts. You're a tracker with an extremely good gift that isn't to be overlooked."
Nico looked at me and I was ecstatic that he was going to be staying and that he would be a part of my protection. "Of course, The Dual Summoner who holds the power of the sun is going to be targeted by most. Might I suggest some heartrenders?" Nico asked as I knew there were not many I knew. "It's all in Amira's preference. She doesn't like my heartrender very much." Aleksander said as I laughed a bit knowing it wasn't a secret that I disliked Ivan.
Baghra came out as I was glad she was always doing well and walked over to me to see we were doing well. "I see you and the General are still doing well." Baghra said, "We are." I said as she nodded, then looked at Aleksander "So when is the wedding?" Baghra asked as I looked at my friends knowing they wanted to know that too. I gave an idea of when it might be but that was just a guess. "Three days from now, the fabricators are working on things as we speak." Aleksander said
Everyone was surprised with the announcement, except those I'd talked to about it, Zoya was annoyed with it but I was loving it. Aleksander took my hand kissing the top of it "See you later tonight." Aleksander said before walking off.
I left the area as Marie and Nadia followed me. "So you know the truth about him and you're still going through with this?" Marie asked as I looked at Marie surprised. She did believe me after all. "Our connection is very strong, he was in my dream last night. After you two walked away we ended up in a fight so I had slept in my room but the dream revealed my inner desires. I want this marriage and I want kids someday." I said as they looked surprised. "We all should be moving up to get our assignments anyway so that's good." I said to them
"We want to be there to support you along this journey." Nadia said as we soon came across Genya. "Well it's good you do, because you both will be needing fitted for the dresses to attend the wedding." Genya told them as they ran off. It hadn't dawned on me till that moment how much had to be prepared and I was nervous. "You are going to be fine Amira, you handle things so well." Genya said
I thought of what Aleksander said in the dream that he sees my true desires and that he wants to give me everything that was there but I knew deep down he wanted me to do his plan. He still wanted me to get close to Prince Nikolai; it wasn't going to go away and I knew that. I also knew that I couldn't be seen in public wearing my wedding ring if I went places with Prince Nikolai and when I would become pregnant I would have to be hidden for a while.
You say you want to give me everything my heart desires but I know you won't give up the idea that I might just go down your choice. I thought
I had to rub my arm knowing I could look at him, I could say no to him and he would wait for me to come around. He always knew how to win in his fights and I was going to be his opponent but this was going to be my fight too. Still, I had to work on what was going to happen. As we were walking I wasn't paying attention when I ran into someone. Looking up I saw Prince Nikolai "Moi tsarevich, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." I said apologizing.
"No, no. I was looking for you, I was wondering if you'd come with me to the villages again." Prince Nikolai said
I didn't want to get anywhere near him or get him more involved with what was going on but I knew Aleksander wanted to get close with the royals. He had some plans in his mind "Genya give us time to talk." I said as she nodded leaving us where no one was around. "You kissed me in public the last time, I don't know if that is such a good idea." I said. I saw him realize I was holding strong but I was fighting with my decision. I told Aleksander and my desires. "I am sorry for those actions, but this is to let you get to know me. People are going to need you to help them across the fold sometime soon." Prince Nikolai said
I knew that a lot was going on but I sighed "Fine but Nico has to come with us." I said as he was surprised. Nico was still a dear friend to me and no one was going to change that, so when we walked to the stables the people in the stables noticed me getting Aleksander's horse ready and a horse for the Prince. Nico arrived too so they got one for him too as I took the reins of the horse and got on as we headed out. I could feel Aleksander's staring at me as I looked back, seeing him looking out his window as he nodded.
don't get any ideas. I thought
Nico noticed I looked back before looking forward as I had the horse slow to be behind Prince Nikolai and Nico rode the horse beside me as I just realized he was in different attire. He was given a Kefta with no design on it except my symbol on the area where it was located. "You seem to have a lot on your mind, need to talk about it?" Nico asked as I looked forward. "He wanted me to marry him in secret but marry this prince publicly." I admitted while Prince Nikolai seemed to focus on the destination. "That isn't who you are." Nico said as I didn't know who Amira was anymore.
I am more than the Dual Summoner, I am still a person but I have my human connections. I thought
When we made it to Keramsan, I realized how far we were as we kept traveling by horse. I got down once we stopped and I looked around knowing this was where I started when I ran. "Feels good, doesn't it?" Prince Nikolai asked as he pointed over to my grandmother's house and I saw my family sitting in there talking. "When did you.." I knew they were in the little palace with me but that was after everything. "I saw they wanted to come back out, your cousin will follow you anywhere you go but this is their home." Prince Nikolai said as he offered his hand to me. "You deserve freedom too once in awhile."
I hesitated because the more I tasted freedom without Aleksander the more I would question if he was what I wanted. I knew that was not fair to me when I decided but somehow I always ended up this way. "Ravka's throne and freedom to do as you please, what do you think?" Prince Nikolai asked as I looked at him in shock.
He doesn't give up. I thought
We started walking to the house "I have a ship that can take you anywhere you want, get as far away from here as possible." Prince Nikolai said as I was shocked and the thought made my heart hurt. "I can't..I can't just leave everyone." I said as we walked till we got to the house and I opened the door walking in. This was never about going anywhere it was getting away from the little palace as we all talked. Prince Nikolai waited outside as I went to everyone as they all looked at me.
"The day has been set, in three days I'm going through with it." I said
Father got up as he looked at me walking over and he placed a hand on my shoulder "No, I shouldn't have agreed to it. You are not marrying him." Father said as I sighed. "I want this, I want to marry him. If things go wrong, I'll manage and as long as I have Marie, Nadia and Nico I can do what I need. He wants to have the sea whip soon so we'll see where that goes." I said
A lot of talking was done and I didn't care if they agreed or not, my decision was made as I talked with everyone until it was getting dark. I left and I knew they would be there or they would not be but I made my choice as we decided this. I felt good about things for now as I soon went to his war room as he pulled me to him kissing me. All my doubts and worries evaporated in this kiss as I kissed him back.
"Moye Serdtse, did you have a good day with the sobachka?" Aleksander asked
"He seems still intent to make me Queen if he can." I said as Aleksander looked at me seeing I almost considered it. "He offered you a better deal?" Aleksander asked, "Same deal as before getting to lay with you and rule Ravka but he offered me freedom." I said as he kissed me. "The idea of another man getting to touch you has started to anger me." Aleksander said against my lips
yet it was your idea. I thought
