Alina pulled back from Kirigan's chest, sniffling one last time as her tears had stopped. She didn't know how long she had stayed there, wrapped in his arms, her head rested under his chin and his hands rubbing her back softly, comforting her as she cried. She noticed her tears had soaked his uniform but she doubt he'd care about that right now. She was almost killed; a few tear marks was the least of his worries.

She reached up and used the cuff of her kefta to wipe the last remaining tear, taking a deep calming breath.

"What time is it, Baghra is probably furious I haven't turned up for my lesson" Alina realised. Baghra did hate tardiness and she was already grumpy. Alina didn't want to make her unbearable. She could just about handle her when she wasn't ticked off.

"Unfortunately, Baghra is not feeling well, I don't think she'll be able to give today's lesson" Kirigan said a little firm and Alina furrowed her brows with concern.

"Oh no, what happened?" she feared that something may have happened to Baghra as well and she couldn't deal with another death on her conscience.

"She has a fever, it's most likely contagious so it's best you don't see her, I don't want you getting sick" he said, his voice softening at the end to show his concern for Alina. Of course, the real reason was that Baghra had disappeared and Kirigan was sure that, that piece of information was to stay between him and his guards. He didn't want Alina finding it out. For now, he'd have to play with the idea that Baghra has fallen ill and is to not be in contact with anyone until he finds her location.

"So, who's going to train me?" Alina squeaked and Kirigan's lips curled into a smile.

"I will train you" he said and Alina stared up at him.

So now we're training together

Alina's heart fluttered and her stomach did a flip of excitement. She wasn't sure if she could handle training with the most powerful Grisha and leader of the second army and now her midnight kisser. Her mind flashed back to last night, his hands and lips all over her, touching and pleasing her. Would she be able to train without wanting to jump on him and kiss him like a drunk person at a party?

"Okay" she smiled and the two turned to walk further into the clearing, reaching the forest. The leaves crunched underneath their shoes as they walked side by side and Alina kept her hands in front of her, resisting the urge to reach for him. She wondered what training would be like with the general. She had already seen what his amplifier can do to her and she felt giddy with the surge of power it gave her. Was he going to touch her again and shine her light brighter than ever? There was one question on her mind however.

"I didn't know Grisha got sick, I thought healers could heal everything" she asked. Kirigan chuckled softly. He loved her inquisitive mind.

"There is a limit to what healers can do believe it or not, they can heal pretty much everything besides the common cold" he said.

"Really, I would have thought that would be the easiest thing to heal" she said. Even after being here for a few months, she still had so much to learn about the other Grisha as well as her own power.

"There are some that can, but it takes a lot of skill" he smiled to her.

"So, when do you think Baghra will get better?" Alina wondered how Baghra had fallen ill. Mostly likely from that hut she spends all her time in. she could imagine there being some disease festering in there.

"It's unclear at the moment, Baghra is more vulnerable as she is older than the rest of the Grisha, it could take weeks before she's recuperated. Until then she's to have no visitors, I defiantly don't want you falling ill" he said and Alina couldn't help but smile.

"Well, I'll be honest, I'm not complaining, Baghra is a handful… not that I'm saying I'm glad she's sick, it's awful… but she can be hard on me sometimes and I won't miss her scolding me with her cane" Alina said which made Kirigan laugh softly.

"I understand, she can be… difficult" he gritted the last word. He didn't get much sleep last night over the situation of Baghra stealing the tracker. His own mother trying to seize his plan. She'd always be harsh and cold on him. The minute he created The Fold, she had despised him even more. It was clear where her loyalty lies. He wasn't going to waste time with trying to patch his relationship with her. He would not allow anyone to hinder his plan.

Alina and Kirigan reached another clearing, trees circling and leaves scattering the ground. It turned colder as they entered deeper and the cold wind blew against Alina's cheeks, making her flush red and she hugged her kefta tighter to keep her warm. The two of them stood out like sore thumbs, their black kefta's standing out against the early light. Kirigan stopped in the middle of the clearing and Alina stood nervously, her hands fiddling together.

She had no idea how his teaching style would compare to Baghra. Would he be sterner with her if she failed? Alina had only just got control of her light and she didn't want to look like an idiot by not being able to summon in front of this handsome and distracting general.

Kirigan turned to her, his lips pressed in a gentle smile.

"Are you ready?" he asked and Alina took a deep breath, her hands in front of her and she nodded. It was now or never.

Kirigan lifted his hand, summoning his shadows. The black darkness swarmed at their feet, rising up the tree trunks and turned the forest dark. It wasn't pitch black so Alina couldn't see at all but dark enough so that they struggled to see each other. Alina's nerves shot up and she felt her hands shake a little.

His footsteps crunched as he walked towards her, slipping behind her and she felt his presence. His hands reached to her waist, Alina jolting a little but she forced herself to calm down as he ran his hands up her arms and to her hands. His hands took her wrists, fingers wrapping delicately around and she felt his warm breath beside her ear, her knees falling weak as he spoke. Her body tingled as he touched her but her light didn't shine yet like it had the last few times they touched.

"What do you see" he whispered and she stared forward. She could only make out a tree several feet away from her. She was uneasy to answer, nervous she'd say the wrong thing.

"A tree" she answered softly.

"What else".

"Nothing… nothing else… it's too dark" she whispered and Kirigan smiled behind her.

"Good, now focus on it, don't take your eyes away" he said and he positioned her hands in front of her, wrapped in a ball. She did as told, never taking her eyes off the tree. It was her only focus.

"Now call it" he whispered, his hands leaving her and Alina pulled her hands away, summoning a ball of light. It warmed her hands and she could make out some of the forest now but not to the tree.

"Are you still focused?" he asked and she nodded. His voice was not strict, nor stern. It was kind and gentle, considerate of her.

"Yes" she whispered.

"You know what to do" he stepped back, admiring her and Alina felt cold and alone. She wanted him back behind her but she had to focus on the tree. Alina took a deep breath and she grew the ball bigger, holding her hands up and with all her strength, she pushed the ball across the clearing, towards the tree. The light slashed through the darkness, shadows vanishing as it passed through and hit the tree she focused on, the light snapping the bark and Alina was amazed. The darkness evaded and the clearing was completely visible now. She turned around, her eyes wide with awe and she met those dark ones across from her.

Kirigan stood shocked as well but proud. His lips curled to a smile at the display she had shown. She was getting better with her power and with more training, she would be ready.

"That was… perfect" he said and Alina grinned to herself, blushing slightly. He was nothing like Baghra. No scolding, not whacks from a cane, no remarks. She felt giddy once again but she passed it off with a shrug.

"Thank you" she whispered and suddenly it got dark again.

"Again" he said.

She practiced the same technique three times before Kirigan was happy. Every time, he stood with his eyes glued to her, never leaving his sun summoner. he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel that same excitement Alina felt just by training her. He wanted to train her himself from the beginning but he was a busy man and Baghra was probably a better trainer than him.

The bark on the tree was flaking and had created a sawdust pile beneath it. Alina watched as he summoned his shadows with ease. It only took a flick of his hand for them to come whereas for her she had to focus.

"You're coming along well" he said, pleased with her progress. Alina shrugged and settled on a log, kicking the ground.

"Well, I'll never be as good as you" she said and Kirigan frowned. He disliked it when Grisha put themselves down, and he didn't want Alina to think like that.

"don't underestimate yourself, your still learning" he stepped closer to her and Alina glanced up.

"You've spent so long hiding your powers, your body can't contain all that power. It's like trying to walk after breaking your foot, you have to take small steps before you can fully walk. Holding back your powers is sickening for Grisha, it makes us weaker and when we try to use it, it puts a strain on your body" he explained and Alina sighed a little.

"I just wonder if I'll ever be ready, how can I take down The Fold if I can't even summon without concentrating on something" she said with frustration. It had taken her months to even summon the smallest bit of light and compared to the other Grisha here, she felt like a child just starting school.

"You'll know when you're ready and I would never put you in a position where I thought you weren't. I know it can be frustrating, but you've made so much progress already. Before you didn't even know you had this power and just after today, you've mastered it more" Kirigan took one step closer, his hand reaching down to cup her chin and turn her head up to look at her.

"You just need to be patient" he smiled and Alina blinked up at him. His pad of his thumb gently stroked her cheek and she nodded her head. Alina stood, her eyes never leaving his and she felt a rush of adrenaline course through her. Without a second to overthink, she stood on her tippy toes, her lips pressing onto his and kissed him. His lips were soft and warm and she breathed deeply into the kiss.

Kirigan froze for a second but fell into the kiss, his hand reaching to cup her face, the coldness of his ring freezing her skin. Alina pulled back, waiting for his reaction and Kirigan grinned.

"Once again you've surprised me, Alina" he said and she melted when he said her name. Alina grinned and they smacked their lips together, their noses rubbing against each other. Alina rested her hands on his shoulders, her fingers touching the intricate details of his kefta. She had forgotten everything there and then. It was just the two of them there.

Hey so I hope you like it, let me know in the reviews what you think and what do you think will happen next.