"Is something wrong?" Alina asked nervously, clutching the collar of her kefta. She didn't catch a word of the short conversation between Kirigan and whoever was stood outside the door but it seemed important. His demeanour changed as he strolled back to her, spurs clinking and he approached her.

"It's nothing, I'll leave my guards outside until I return" he gave a soft smile and gazed down at her. The news he had just received called for security and he wasn't about to leave Alina unprotected while he dealt with the situation.

"I'll be waiting" she whispered and he stroked her cheek gently before turning on his heel to leave. Alina bit her lip and stood by the table, leaning against it and listening as his footsteps grew further away but there was a sharp turn and he stormed back to her, grabbing her face in his hands and kissing her deeply.

Alina grabbed his wrists, relaxing into the sweet kiss and when he pulled away, she smiled, looking up into his dark eyes. It was clear he didn't want to leave but the matter was important.

"I'll be as quick as I can" he said and she nodded.

With that, he turned on his heel again and this time left completely, shutting the door and leaving her. Alina couldn't help but grin to herself like a giddy school girl. Her heart was fluttering and if a Heartrender had been here, they would have instantly known she was smitten and with her demonstration, she felt a buzz inside herself.

Alina waited patiently, strolling around the room, her hand gliding along the smooth surfaces of the table, her eyes wandering over the many books stacked in the shelves. She wasn't sure how much time had passed since Kirigan had left. She was still feeling a buzz inside her from the kiss. She hadn't expected the night to end up like it was now but she the excitement never left her.

She said she wasn't nervous this morning to him but when she was standing up on that stage, the nerves came flooding back. But his encouraging words and short nod gave her the confidence to shine her light and show the whole world who she was. She was going to change the world. She still didn't quite believe it. She still wasn't ready and she wasn't sure when she would be but with Baghra training her and Kirigan there to mentor, she'd soon reach her potential. She was going to give peace to Ravka and Grisha.

Alina leant against the table, her hands playing with her light. Only a few months ago she could barely summon her own power and now she had full control. She still had so much to learn but it was a start.

Alina jumped when she heard the door open and she turned to see Kirigan walk back inside. He slammed the door shut with his palm and bounded over to her.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, sensing something had bothered him. He came close to her, staring down at her and let out a deep breath.

"Everything's fine, I'm sorry I had to leave you for so long" Alina smiled up at him, shaking her head.

"It's fine, I was entertaining myself" she shrugged and Kirigan smiled.

"Hopefully there will be no more interruptions" he whispered and Alina grinned. His hands shot up to her face once again and he kissed her, pushing her against the table as he did before. Alina ran her hand in his hair, moaning as his lips trailed over her chin and to her neck.

"Ohh" she moaned, her hand clutching the table as pleasure swarmed her body. Kirigan cupped the back of her neck, bringing her back to his lips.

"Oh Alina" he groaned softly and his hand trailed underneath her kefta, touching her body. Alina grabbed the edges of his kefta, pushing them over his shoulders and the coat dangled over his arms, the edge now dragging on the floor. Kirigan ripped it off him, letting it fall completely to the floor and he hooked his hands underneath her arms, pulling her up on the table. He stood between her legs, hands wrapping around her waist as he kissed her deeply.

Alina removed her hands to pull her own kefta off, pushing it off her shoulders, exposing her chest to him and he ran his hand over it, his fingers delicately gliding on her skin. He pushed his lips back onto hers, sucking and breathing in deeply. Alina felt a tingle between her legs and she wrapped her arms around him.

A loud knock on the door interrupted them again but they carried on. Again, the knock came and Kirigan huffed in frustration, his forehead leaning on Alina's. He didn't want to leave her again but he knew the knocking wouldn't stop until he sawed to it.

Not again, Alina thought. He had only just come back and now he'd be leaving again.

"Don't go" Alina begged quietly and Kirigan smirked.

"They won't leave until I do" he said and he pulled away, Alina giving him pleading eyes. She wanted him to stay. She herself grew frustrated at the knocking and wanted to open the door herself and tell them to go away.

"I'll see what they want but I won't go" he insisted and she smiled. Kirigan released his hold on her and stormed angrily to the door, yanking it open but not enough for Alina to see or hear what it was.

After a few seconds, Kirigan shut the door and came back over, a hard look on his face. Alina knew he had to go.

"I'm sorry, I have to go again, something needs my attention" he said and Alina jumped from the table.

"It's okay, go" she shrugged. The sooner he sought to the problem, the sooner he could come back and she prayed there would be no more distractions.

"I'm sorry, if you want you can return to your chambers" he offered but Alina shook her head.

"No, I'll wait here, just don't be too long" she said with a smile and Kirigan nodded.

"I won't" he gave her a short kiss before leaving again. Alina sighed and giggled to herself. It was like they were too schoolkids nearly getting caught by his parents.

…

Mal looked around the room with a curl of his nose. He wasn't surprised the Grisha here had luxury rooms. They always had to be the better kind. But right now, he couldn't care less about them. The only thing he cared about was Alina.

He'd been in this room for nearly an hour now and he wasn't sure whether he could leave or not. General Kirigan wasn't specific on the details, only that he could see Alina if he proved him right about her favourite flower. Mal didn't doubt she'd prove him wrong; he knew everything about her and vice versa.

But something inside him didn't trust the general. It was clear he didn't want Mal to see Alina and he was more interested in the location of the stag. Mal had only believed it to be a fairy tale, a myth, a legend. But when he saw the great beast standing tall and white, everything he believe was swept away.

He didn't understand completely what the stag would be used for and what its power meant but it meant he could see Alina. Having had her ripped away from him, he hadn't seen her and he had so much to ask her about. So many conflicting emotions inside him, so many questions he had to ask and so many answers he wanted, he wasn't sure where he could start.

Mal paced the room, his frustration growing more and more and he decided he couldn't wait any longer. He was going to find her himself. He stormed to the door and gripped the handle, opening it softly and quietly. He peeked outside and saw two Oprichniki standing guard, probably to ensure he didn't leave and find Alina himself. He shut the door and huffed in frustration.

Of course, he would keep guard on me

This only made Mal despise the general more. Alina was not his to decide who she could and couldn't see. Mal stood for a few moments, thinking of a plan to get past the guards. He looked around the room, catching sight of a lamp and he grabbed it. He ran to the door, standing behind it and threw the lamp hard on the ground, smashing it to pieces and creating a loud racket. The two Oprichniki burst in, confusion written on their faces and Mal made quick moves to knock them out.

He punched one in the back of the head and before the other one could comprehend with it, he punched him as well, both falling to the ground and lying their unconscious. Mal couldn't help but smirk at his work. He was always a good fighter.

Hastily, Mal shut the door and proceeded to take the Oprichniki hat and uniform. It was weird, undressing another man but it was the only way he could see Alina without being noticed. Once he was dressed, he grabbed the rifle they were carrying and quickly left the room, marching down as if he was really a palace guard.

The palace was so big and he hadn't a clue where she could be. Now he was in a disguise, he could ask another Oprichniki where she might be. Mal marched outside the palace, his boots crunching on the gravel and he saw a lone Oprichniki up ahead. He stormed over to them, stopping him from his patrol.

"Where is Miss Starkov?" he asked and the Oprichniki gave a furrowed look towards him.

"I believe she is with the general… what's the problem" he asked and he then narrowed his eyes as he looked down. Mal followed his gaze and his eyes widened as he saw what he was looking at. Mal had only taken the top half of the unform and not the bottom so he was still dressed in his long boots and brown trousers which of course didn't go with the uniform. The Oprichniki looked back at him and moved to grab his rifle but his head was smacked behind him and he fell.

Mal looked in shock at an old woman stood behind the Oprichniki, a wooden cane in hand and a hard look on her face. She was dressed all in black and had a hood over her head.

"Quickly, come with me" she ordered and Mal furrowed his brows.

"What" he exclaimed and the woman huffed.

"I said come with me" she grabbed his wrists and tugged him along. It reminded Mal of back at the orphanage, being tugged along by Ana Kuya.

"Hang on, who are you" he stumbled along as the old woman dragged him across the little palace courtyard.

"There's no time, hurry up" she grumbled and Mal looked behind him, watching as the little palace grew smaller as they walked away.

Alina

"Stop, I have to find Alina" he tried to pull his wrist back but was met with a sharp hit on his head by her cane. Mal groaned and rubbed his head, pain shooting inside.

"I said there's no time now come with me, we need to get out of here" she ordered and proceeded to drag him along.

"Can you tell me what's going on" he stumbled a little and they soon made it to the grass, bounding over. A small hut came into view and the old woman stopped at the door.

"Wait here" she ordered and stormed inside, slamming the door behind her. Mal was gobsmacked and he looked around, trying to work out where he was and who this woman was. he had every right to turn back and look for Alina but the old woman flung the door open and scurried out.

"Quickly now" this time she didn't take his wrists but she was carrying a black bag. Mal huffed and followed after her.

"Look I don't know who you are or what is going on but I need to find Alina" he urged and suddenly the woman stopped, turning around and glaring at him.

"If you want to find Alina, come with me" she turned again and marched forward. Mal blinked for a few seconds before sighing and following on.

Hey so I hope you like the first chapter, what do you think will happen next, let me know by leaving a review