Kirigan's office was warm and the fire glowed and crackled in the back, the orange flames wafting back and forwards like it was dancing. The memories of the warm room on the night of the winter fete flashed back in Alina's head and she felt giddy and excited when she passed the same spot they had kissed at. She remembered how his hands were all over her, touching every inch, cupping her face softly, his lips pressing into hers. Alina felt a tingle run down her legs as Kirigan brought her back to his office which surprised her as she thought she would go back to her bedroom instead of here.

But she wasn't complaining. The ordeal with Manuel had shaken her a little and she tried to remain strong, passing it off as if it never happened but it dawned on Alina that many people would look to her like that. She was going to be a saviour and people from all over Ravka would want to meet her for her help. She was a saint in their eyes and she could help with anything.

But could she really. She was only one woman and a young one at that. Yes, she harnessed this power which one no else did but could she really help everyone. Bringing down The Fold was going to be tough and if she failed, she would be the new heretic. The pressure was growing more and more and she didn't want to fail these people. Alina felt a pang of guilt inside. She could have heard Manuel out instead of cowering away. She imagined his request wasn't that of a hard one and he was probably only trying to be friendly but with the excitement of meeting the sun summoner, it turned out to be creepier and uncomfortable.

"Here" Kirigan handed Alina a small cup of tea, steaming in a silver cup and she took it with a smile, clutching it between her hands.

"Thank you" she said softly and sipped the hot liquid. It hit her stomach and washed away the slightly sick feeling inside. She took a deep breath and looked up, watching as Kirigan stood at the front of his desk, clearing papers away that were scattered all over.

"What's going to happen to Manuel?" she asked and Kirigan looked over with furrowed brows, confusion written all over.

"The man" she said, realising he didn't know his name.

"He'll be taken back to where he came from" Kirigan said simply. He wasn't lying but first he would be questioned as to why he entered his palace and touched his sun summoner. Kirigan would make it clear to him that if he came near her again, there would be trouble.

"He was asking for my help, maybe he's in trouble or his family are hurt. I think I should help him" she said and Kirigan turned to her surprised.

"He was probably only saying that to get you to come along with him" Kirigan said. He would soon find out if he was telling the truth or lying from Ivan.

"He seemed desperate for my help and I think maybe he was sick, maybe he needs a healer" she said but Kirigan shook his head.

"People will do and say whatever they can to get to meet you and they can't always be trusted. If you had gone along with him, he could easily turn on you and hurt you" he said and Alina fell quiet. She still felt guilty but Kirigan had a point. How did she know he wasn't just lying so he could steal her away from the little palace?

"I'm not even sure how I could help him, I'm no healer and he didn't exactly say what was wrong… he probably was lying" Alina felt a little silly for believing in the Manuel, buying into his lies and feeling guilty.

Kirigan offered a gentle smile, dropping the papers on the desk and leaning on the desk, his ankles crossed over one another. He sensed she was disappointed in herself. But she couldn't think like that. One poor peasant wasn't going to make her the villain here and Kirigan was not going to let the people dictate what she should do. She was his summoner and he was in charge.

"You mean a lot to everyone Alina and they are going to want to come to you for help but you can't always help everyone and right now your priority is here. The people will have to find some other way of help" he said softly and Alina gazed at him from her seat. He was right… he always was. She couldn't waste time with towns people when she had The Fold to destroy.

"Perhaps after we bring down The Fold, I could help him… if he still needs it" she smiled and Kirigan gave a short nod. There was a possibility of that. If he and Alina were going to rule together, she could help whoever she liked.

A loud knock broke their gaze and Kirigan stared forward at the door to his office.

"Come in" he called sternly and the door opened. An Oprichniki walked inside, holding a bundle of letters in brown envelopes and handed them to Kirigan.

"Thank you" he murmured and the guard left without a word. Alina looked with excitement at the mail bundle, her heart beating quicker as she hoped a letter from Mal would be in there. Kirigan flicked through, glancing at the envelopes to see who they were from.

"Is there anything for me?" Alina asked, sitting up straighter on the chair and Kirigan glanced at her before shaking his head.

"Just a few correspondence from Ambassadors" he shrugged and Alina sighed.

She wasn't sure how long she could wait to hear from Mal. It had been months of no contact and Alina was starting to give up. Why hadn't he bothered to reply. He was her best friend and he couldn't even be bothered to write a damn letter to her. did he not care about her anymore? The last time she saw him, he was running after the carriage that took her away.

"Were you expecting something?" Kirigan asked with concern and Alina looked up at him.

"It's just, I've been sending letters to Mal since I got here and I've not had a single one back. I've written so many and I would have thought he would have replied by now" she said sadly. Maybe something had happened to him and the first army had not written to Alina to inform her. Was he dead?

"Perhaps he's not received any of the letters" Kirigan said but Alina shook his head.

"I've sent so many though and surely the first army would give them to him".

"Maybe he is not there, they could have sent him on a mission which is why he hasn't written back" Kirigan suggested but Alina still wasn't convinced.

"I would have thought he would write though and it's been months… why wouldn't he write to me" she sighed. Did Mal no longer want to be friends will Alina. Was he mad she was Grisha now? Was he terrified of her? A million thoughts swarmed in her mind and it made Alina anxious.

"I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why he hasn't. He is first army and they send their soldiers anywhere. He must be carrying out an assignment".

"Well he is the best tracker… he once found this rabbit at the orphanage under a pile of dirt. It was barely alive and he brought it in to care for it but Ana Kuya was furious and demanded he throw it out. he kept it hidden in his bed for weeks while he nursed it" Alina smiled at the memory of Mal and the rabbit.

"He can find anything, even if he was blind, he'd still be able to track" Alina said and Kirigan smiled. He already knew he was a great tracker.

"He seems very useful… I think I'd benefit from a tracker in my army".

"Mal is the best… he once tracked down a herd of bull just by listening".

"He was your friend at the orphanage wasn't he" Kirigan felt a little jealous and possessiveness inside him. The second the tracker demanded to see his Alina, he didn't like him and now he was trying foil his plan of taking the stag, he outright hated him. He didn't want him anywhere near Alina and he needed him dealt with soon.

"He was all I had and I was all he had… we immediately came friends from day one and haven't stopped… everything happened so fast I didn't have a chance to talk to him before coming here which is why I wrote the letters but now that he hasn't wrote back, I think he might be angry with me" she said and Kirigan narrowed his eyes.

"Why would he have any reason to be angry" he asked. The tracker didn't understand anything and it angered Kirigan. He would never appreciate Alina.

"Because of who I am… I didn't know I was Grisha and I think Mal be surprised to see me in a place like this" she shrugged. Anger flashed in Kirigan at what Alina was saying.

"You have nothing to be ashamed off, you are Grisha and this is your home, this is where you belong… if he can't accept that then he doesn't deserve to know you… he has no right to be angry here" Kirigan stepped forward to stand in front of Alina and she looked up at him with wide eyes.

"I just wish he would reply" she said softly and looked down at her hands once again. Kirigan sighed softly and took her chin in his hand, pulling her gaze up.

"I'll let you know if I hear anything or receive anything from him but you should not feel guilty because he hasn't responded… it's his loss" he whispered and Alina nodded.

"Thank you" she whispered and she sipped the last bit of her tea before standing.

"I should get washed for dinner…will you be joining" she asked but she already knew the answer. Kirigan never ate with the other Grisha but she thought she would ask anyway.

Kirigan chuckled softly and shook his head.

"Not today, I have some work to get done" he said glancing at his desk and he rounded it to stand behind, picking up the mail once again.

"Well thank you for the training, I thoroughly enjoyed it" she whispered and Kirigan smirked. The way she bit her bottom lip made him want to grab her and fling her on his desk, taking her then and there.

"I'm glad you did, same time tomorrow" he said and she nodded.

"Your guards will take you back" he said as Alina walked to the door and she turned to him, rolling her eyes a little.

"I'm sure I can make it to my bedroom without being attacked" she said cheekily and Kirigan raised his brows but not in anger.

"I don't want to take the risk" he murmured softly and Alina blushed. He was so protective of her. She stepped out his office and shut the doors gently, a soft click sounding and Kirigan was left alone.

His smile faded as he looked down at the mail and pulled one of the letters out, dropping the others on his desk. His eyes scanned the front of the envelope.

Alina Starkov

He ripped it open and pulled the letter out, unfolding it, his eyes scanning the top of it.

Dear Alina

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