Glossary: - soverenyi - sovereign, Sol Koroleva - Sun Queen

When the week was up and his carriage arrived back I ran out there to be first to greet him. The guards didn't want to let me go out at first but I used my tidemaker abilities to separate them and then went out anyway. Once I made it out there the carriage was stopping and he got out, Ivan came out first which I didn't even pay him any attention then Aleksander got out. Aleksander walked over as he saw me and pulled me close as I hugged him.

"Have you managed them well?" Aleksander asked as I shrugged a bit, not like they were going to listen to me. I may be the General's wife now but that didn't change the fact that I was a part of their group when I came here too. "I've been helping Alina." I said as he nodded, leading me away. "Tomorrow is an important day, I am glad that it was not more than a week." Aleksander said

Tomorrow, another year here sort of but this time I have my family. I thought

Aleksander pressed his lips to mine as I kissed him back before he then led me inside the little palace. "General." Ivan said as he stopped and looked back, "What is it, I van?" Aleksander asked as he kept hold of my hand. "The royals will be holding a party before the winter fete this year." Ivan said

Aleksander seemed to be thinking over his next words as he looked at me then at Ivan ''I am sure the fabikators have prepared something for the Grisha who want want to attend." Aleksander said before he continued taking me in the little palace with him. "So the apparat made himself known, we must be cautious with him around," Aleksander said to me. The apparat wasn't my concern as we walked to the war room and once in there, we spent some quality time together.

After so long, there was a knock as he looked at the door "What is it?" Aleksander said, "Moi soverenyi, you're needed for a meeting." One of the Grisha said on the other end. I sighed as I rested against his shoulder "Duty calls again." I said, "You knew what you were signing up for when you married a General." Aleksander said as he kissed me before fixing his general coat and put his Kefta on as he left. I sighed before fixing myself a bit then went back out, heading to the library.

I went over getting the book out that Alina and I had looked over as I was figuring out which amplifier I thought might be found first for her. She'd chosen a wolf or a moose. I knew there were many wolves out in the forest but a moose in this area was hard to find. I put a hand on my collarbone thinking about how rare the stag was. How it was head of it's heard and had kept the herd safe that made me worried about the herd, were they magical like the others.

possibly the only protector the herd had and Aleksander killed it. I thought

"Sol Koroleva, you have returned to the library. Are we concerned?" The Apparat said as I looked, figuring he had been here the whole time. I didn't have anything to say to him as I just turned to look over the book seeing the two. A moose would be more beneficial and less fierce but would she be able to kill it unlike how I had. The power would be great but she wouldn't be able to reach my level.

Grisha are only supposed to have one amplifier...but Morozova's creatures are different. I thought

I rubbed my thumb over my engagement ring and wedding ring knowing that it would not matter what I had to do going forward. The Apparat had been closer than I thought because I jumped back when he spoke again. "You seem troubled, you are suffering over something. Could it be the stag that you said was killed?" The Apparat said, "I watched it be killed before my eyes, I feel like I should have done more but yet I can feel it here." I said touching my collarbone where the absorbed necklace had been kept. "I feel sorrow for it's death but feel that it is still alive within me at peace." I said as I looked at the Apparat being mindful as he was looking at my hand and I put it down. "You have a kind heart and even when you went after this animal you chose not to kill it. Not many Grisha could say they met an animal amplifier and chose not to kill it." The Apparat said

As much as I knew Aleksander could not say he showed kindness to the Stag, I had felt its call when its antlers were sitting there waiting. The amplifier was mine but it was his as well since he killed it. "You have married since the last time I saw you Sol Koroleva, I hope your husband treats you well." The Apparat said, he seemed to be observing my actions on what I do next. "He treats me fine, but he has responsibilities of his own he must attend." I said before deciding to close the book and walk away.

The day went faster than I thought as we didn't see each other till nighttime as I walked in seeing the table set with dinner. I walked over as I smiled looking at it and soon felt his arms around me. "Do you like it?" Aleksander asked as I looked over at the table seeing dinner, and not far on the edge was a box. "Yes, but what is this?" I asked as I walked over taking a seat without touching the box. Aleksander walked over sitting across from me "Tomorrow is your birthday, there is a party coming up in a few days before the Winter Fete. It's a masquerade party, very rare they don't normally throw it but that is your gift. You can wear it whenever you want and at the party." Aleksander said

I half expected a black dress as he was loving it when I wore his color it was hard to imagine him giving me anything else. So after we ate I walked over to the bed and I saw him pick it up before walking over putting it on my lap. "This should be for tomorrow." I said as he kissed my forehead "Just open it tonight, you'll like it. I'm sure." Aleksander said as I hesitated but when I opened it he was right. I did like it. It was a purple color like the fabrikators color mixed with his black that looked perfect. On top of it was a masquerade mask and a necklace to go with the dress.

"Oh wow, it's not all black but it's the Fabrikators color too." I said as I looked at him, "I heard you like the color of their Keftas even though we fall in the Etheraleki area, you look good in any color I have seen you in. I love seeing you in this black Kefta most, it seems you feel more confident in it." Aleksander said. I knew he was right. My confidence had grown since the time I was in the blue kefta shown only as a tidemaker.

"Are we going to ignore the fact that you stalked me in the beginning?" I asked as I looked at him, for once he put his hands up in surrender. I laughed seeing him like this as everyone knew that he was the most powerful Grisha in the little palace. He never put his hands up in surrender to any man, but he would to his wife. It made me feel that there was hope even with everything going on.

Am I your salvation? I walk this path with you but know the risks of you corrupting me as we walk together on this road now. I thought

Aleksander pulled me to him, his arms wrapped around me. "It's you and me together in all this fight, Amira. We don't need anyone else." Aleksander said, "Is that how you see this? I still need my family and friends." I said as I knew that hadn't changed, he had grown and dealt with loss and suffering where I had everything. "You still have Baghra, every step of this way and all she wants is your salvation." I reminded him

Aleksander didn't say anything, I knew I was protecting Baghra from him attacking her. I hated the idea that he might attack his mother but as long as I was able to keep him from doing so that was what was best. I put the lid on the box and set it where I could as I got ready for bed and then laid down. Aleksander also prepared for bed but I wondered how much he used to sleep in four hundred years. I adjusted as I felt him pull me close, his scent so easy to feel surrounded in as I slept.

"Tomorrow Amira, is your day." I heard him whisper in my ear