I tried to process what Nico said, it was true that ever since we left Ravka I'd been sick. I'd summed it up to the foods just making me sick but maybe it wasn't that at all. Shadow was always by my side so when I walked up I went to where Aleksander was. As I walked in I saw he was looking out at the water when he looked back. "Are you ok? You've been sick a lot while we've been out here." Aleksander asked

I walked over to look out at the water with him, Nico had a good point as I recalled Aleksander and Genya both mentioned I was glowing. "Is this vessel heading to find the sea whip?" I asked as I felt him looking at me "yes, that is where we're headed." Aleksander said, "You avoided my question." I hesitated but I looked at him, meeting his gaze "You said I was glowing two weeks ago when I was with you on the skiff. I've been sick here, there for the last two weeks." I said as I sighed and had my hands together behind my back looking out at the water again. "Nico thinks I might be...pregnant." I said

Aleksander made me look at him and he kept his eyes locked with mine "Are you for certain?" Aleksander asked as I nodded. "I thought at first it was just the smell but it's more than that." I said as he started to think. I thought he might consider turning around going back to Ravka as he nodded but I knew him well enough to know we probably were too far right now. "We'll have the two trackers try to find the sea whip and then go from there. If we can't find it now, then we can try to find it another time." Aleksander said

There was a knock as I looked back seeing Genya, she was back in her red kefta as she smiled seeing me. "Hello Amira, I heard you're not feeling well." Genya said as Aleksander didn't even look at her. "Genya, she might be pregnant. Please try to help her and tend to her pet if she needs help with her." Aleksander said

Genya nodded as she motioned for me to come as I looked down beside me. "Come Shadow." I said as I went over to Genya and I heard shadow stay close by. "How did you convince General Kirigan to let you have a dog?" Genya asked, "Well, I kinda saved this pup from her previous owner and Nico paid for her. She's only five months old." I said as Genya was surprised.

I noticed people were looking and a man who I didn't know approached as he showed me some respect. I had my hands behind my back still to keep my wedding ring concealed. "Amira, this is sturmhond. He's the captain of the ship." Genya said as I nodded. "Nice to meet you, apologies for the trouble. It's been a rough past few days." I admitted. "Your not used to sailing the seas, it's common for those not used to it." Sturmhond said as he walked away and I had this feeling he was familiar somehow.

"Where is Alina and Mal?" I asked Genya as we walked, "Mal is locked up and Alina has been put under an induced sleep by a heartrender." Genya said as I sighed. I was the one who had Morozova's first amplifier so why was Alina even involved? I shrugged it off as we kept walking. "Corporaleki red with blue cuffs, how unique." I said pointing out her Kefta as she smiled. "I never liked this color red." Genya said as she kept walking with me. "Maybe I should go blonde?" I laughed a bit knowing Genya never seemed to not amaze me. "I think you look good no matter what you wear or how you look." I assured her

We walked down as I wanted to see Alina when the two Grisha guards were there. "I'm here to see Alina, move aside." I said as they didn't budge at first. "You both know who I am, right?" I asked in a more commanding tone. Genya came down and stood beside me "Make way for the Darkling's wife." Genya said as the two looked surprised before letting me in and when I walked in that's when I saw her laying there unconscious.

"This is ridiculous. She can't be kept under for long, it could kill her." I said as I had no place to do anything. Genya led me away as we went back up, it was close to the week in a half mark as I sat there by the wall with shadow laying by me as Aleksander looked out at the sea. I heard the sound of shackles as I saw Alina. "Where is Mal?" Alina asked, Aleksander sighed as he looked down at me and Shadow before he looked back out at the sea. "You're predictable, you could at least be a little unpredictable like Amira." Aleksander said as he soon turned around. "He's behind you, just look."

Alina looked back as it was obvious she saw Mal, I didn't get why Aleksander was doing this but I didn't want to risk it either. He still wasn't the same since the fold and what had happened. "Had I killed him, would you have pushed yourself out to the sea?" Aleksander asked her as Alina glared at him. "Not unless I took you with me, had that been your answer." Alina said as Aleksander just shook his head. "You're not suicidal Alina, and you don't have the stomach to make a child fatherless." Aleksander said as she seemed to be processing those words before looking at me. I knew not many on this ship knew who I was to him, but I hadn't spoken much to Alina in the time since the fold.

"Do you really even care about her safety?" Alina asked as Aleksander looked at Alina when she asked that question. "I paid a lot to get this whaller out here, but if Amira gets weak or worse I have to think about what is best for her." Aleksander said, "My dream is to free Grisha from being executed, Amira wants the more simple life she hasn't had. While I have tried to keep her wants in mind, this is about the next amplifier that we are going after." Alina didn't seem convinced as she tried to stand up but looked at him. "I don't believe you." Alina said as Aleksander looked at her "If her safety wasn't important, she wouldn't have a tracker and two Grisha as her guards." Then he motioned for them to take her away.

Another week passed, it seemed boring as can be to the point, shadow would lay with me and I would fall asleep sitting against that wall near Aleksander. I probably got the worst sleep being away from him but this wasn't easy as he must have noticed. I felt someone pull me up to my feet as we walked away from there. He always concealed my wedding ring on the whaler but still, he seemed to be thinking as we walked. Shadow kept up with me as I looked over where Mal was seeing even Nico was looking out for this Sea Whip.

"What is the plan if the Sea whip is found?" I asked as we kept walking, he seemed to snap out of his thoughts as he looked at me before he sighed. "Well, I want to give it to you since you have Morozovas stag necklace. They're supposed to be together." Aleksander explained as we kept walking "But, I can't take any risks with you carrying our future Heir." As we walked I kept thinking "What about giving the bracelet to him or her?" I asked knowing that was an option since I didn't feel it was right for me to have another amplifier. "they're supposed to be together Amira, as in same person." Aleksander said. We walked in silence for a little bit of time "But I don't want the sea whip's power, the stag truly belonged with me." I said

Aleksander didn't seem to want to listen to me as we kept walking but I knew he would if I kept insisting. I had to put what Baghra gave me to influence him just as he was trying to influence me. We stopped when people said they spotted something as I got free and went to look standing over by Nico as he pointed that's when I saw it. It was there but as quickly as it appeared it escaped.

I felt lightheaded suddenly and Nico caught me as he put a hand over my head. "Hey Dark General, she's burning up." Nico said. The feeling of being lifted was easy to tell as I tried to stay conscious and felt someone lay me down as I heard Aleksander's voice. "Genya come in here." Aleksander said as she walked in. "Tend to Amira, we might need to head back." Aleksander told her as Genya came in and she wasn't a nursemaid but she was a good friend.

At one point I must have fallen asleep, when I woke up it was sometime later I realized I was still in bed as I looked around to see Genya. "Gen..ya." I said as she came over and gave me some water and I drank it. She checked my head as I still must have been warm but I forced myself to sit up and tried to stand but fell back on the bed. "I don't feel so good." I said as Genya sighed, "If you were catching a cold in Novi zem then it's caught up with you and now we have to make sure you are ok." Genya said

I ended up going back to sleep but occasionally drinking liquids and whatever I could keep down while Genya tended to me. I ended up in a deep sleep before I felt someone pick me up and heard Aleksander's voice. "Bring those two, they'll have to stay with us since Amira has become ill. Her health isn't worth getting the sea whip yet." Aleksander said as I opened my eyes, seeing he was getting in the carriage and laid me down with my head on his lap as I looked up.

"Alek..sander." I said as I was still a bit weak as he looked at me, I saw the man who was behind the monster Alina saw. His look of concern over me and the child so I was going to keep fighting. I closed my eyes on the way as I wasn't asleep but I listened to those within the carriage. "Will she be ok General? It seems that she got sick when we were close to finding the sea whip." Feydor asked as Aleksander ran his fingers through my hair which felt good and comforting knowing it was him. "She's pregnant, Feydor." Aleksander said but the carriage started to move but he hit the top and opened the door "Shadow." Aleksander said as I heard my puppy run in and I opened my eyes as I saw Shadow laying down as he closed the door and knocked for the carriage to move.

"Why are you allowing this dog in the carriage?" Ivan asked, "Shadow is Amira's dog. She wanted her so the dog rides in the carriage." Aleksander said as I looked, seeing Ivan's expression of surprise. I wanted to enjoy it but I fell asleep on the way back to the little palace. When we arrived, I figured many people probably were against him till the heartrenders got involved but I felt the familiar silk sheets as I was laid down, and then he had one of the people come in and tend to me.

A few days passed and I felt better but as I woke up I saw Baghra sitting by me still unharmed and when I went to move my feet I heard a whine as I saw shadow on my feet. "Shadow is..on the bed." I said as I looked over at Baghra who noticed shadow. "is that her name? Other than when Aleksander takes her out to use the bathroom and he feeds her that is where she's laid." Baghra said, "Welcome back to the little palace Amira, now we must take care of you for the rest of year and my grandchild."

It's still a little hard to believe. I thought