All right, here is my next chapter! Thanks for all the reviews! I knew that some of you were going to suspect that the blonde guy was a villain in this story. He doesn't come in again for another few chapters. His little plan is very important to this fanfic and for Alina and Aleksander. But I can't say anything else!

This next chapter is about how some of the Grisha at the Little Palace start to cause some trouble for Alina and Aleksander. Not too many fluffy scenes in this one, but the next chapter will have plenty, haha XD.

Enjoy the story!

Alina

I should've known it was only a matter if time before my relationship with Aleksander started to cause real trouble. And it all began when Zoya arrived at the Little Palace.

Zoya had become one of my closest allies during the war and she was a brilliant fighter. After the destruction of the Shadow Fold, she had travelled Ravka, helping to piece together the towns that had been destroyed during the worst battles. But now, she was back, having heard about me staying at the Little Palace. Genya came to me two days before the Inferni's festival with the news that Zoya was waiting in the entry chamber for me. A bit of dread sank into me when I heard this. What was she going to think? Did she know about me and Aleksander? Saints, how did I explain that to her? All of these thoughts were racing around in my head as I made my way through the palace toward the entry chamber.

Before I entered the room, I hung back in a shadowed doorway and leaned forward to peek inside. There weren't many Grisha in there this early in the day, but I spotted Zoya immediately. She was standing by one of the four wooden tables in the middle of the room, her flowing, ebony sheet of hair falling elegantly down her back. She wore her usual midnight-blue Summoner's kefta, looking flawless. I glanced down at my own clothes: black boots, plain pants, and a white peasant-style blouse. This wasn't what she expected of the savior of Ravka. Well, I guess it's what she's gonna get.

I plastered a smile to my face and walked out to greet her. "Zoya!" I called, and she turned around at the sound of my voice. The dark look that entered her ice-blue eyes wasn't what I would've wanted from her in this situation. "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"I've been busy lately," she replied, without explanation. She had her hands on her hips, raking her gaze over me in an obvious show of disapproval. "And apparently, so have you."

Uh-oh. "Oh," I managed. "So...what did you hear?"

"Nothing really," she answered, a hard edge to her voice. "Only that you've gone crazy enough to shelter the Darkling at the Little Palace instead of having him killed." She fixed me with a cold glare.

I didn't say anything.

"So, it's true then," she concluded.

"Zoya, it's not what you think. He's changed."

"Oh, sure, he's changed," she repeated, dripping sarcasm.

"Zoya..."

"So, what did he offer you, huh?" she demanded. Her weight was sunk onto one hip, her every movement radiating anger. "Wealth? Some kind of protection? Or were a few times in his bed all you needed, sankta?" She spat the title at me contemptuously.

I flushed bright red. Obviously, I hadn't actually gone that far with Aleksander; but her accusation brought back the memory of his body on top of mine and his whisper in my ear, asking if he was enough to make me stutter. I had to remind myself that she didn't know about any of that. She was just assuming things. "None of those things," I insisted. "Zoya, please try to understand. This was hard for me too, at first. But he regrets what he's done and it's in the past now. Can't you try to forgive him?"

"Forgive him?" she echoed incredulously. "You want me to forgive that murderer, after he slaughtered people I cared about? I don't think so, Alina. He's taken advantage of too many people and you're so blind that you can't see that he's taking advantage of you!"

I flinched away from her words. "You don't understand—"

"I understand perfectly!" she snapped, cutting me off. "You've betrayed your country! He's found some way into your head and now you're turning away from all of us! Do you realize that at all? Do you know that you've given up on us? For him?" Without waiting for an answer, she spun away, storming across the entry chamber and out of the Little Palace. I watched her go, feeling numb. I wished I had the courage to run after her and explain that things were different now, and that she didn't have to leave because she didn't agree with my choice. But I knew she wouldn't understand, so I hung back as the doors swung shut after her.

"Well, this day is off to a great start," I muttered under my breath.

It was about to get a lot worse.

Aleksander

I knew the Little Palace better than any other place in Ravka. I had been there when the Second Army was founded and had helped design every inch of the ornately carved walls and gilded windows. I knew where every hallway led to, what was waiting behind every door, and had been inside all of the hidden, dim passageways. It was in one of those hallways that I was almost killed that day.

I was halfway down an empty hallway, trying to find Genya because I knew she was one of the leaders of the Second Army and someone had to do something about the Grisha who still wanted me dead. It wouldn't be long before some of them started to get fed up with me staying here. I wasn't stupid; I knew I was lucky that I hadn't been locked away or executed the moment I was taken from the remains of the Shadow Fold. Then again, I had wanted to die the day I lost my power. Before I decided to stay here, I thought. Before I realized I loved Alina. It still stunned me every time I thought of it. To realize that I would be willing to die for her, if I had to. She had been nothing but a tool before and now she was everything to me.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice the two Heartrenders until they were right in front of me.

One of them, a tall redhead with glinting green eyes, smirked mockingly and executed a small bow. "Moi soverenyi," he greeted, his words laced with sarcasm. His dark-haired friend grinned maliciously. Both of them were blocking the way, shoulders stiff with a certain readiness that meant they were itching for a fight.

"Get out of my way," I growled. I was in no mood for this.

"Sorry, but we don't take orders from you anymore," the redhead replied smoothly. His gaze blackened. "We aren't going anywhere."

The dark-haired one sniffed disapprovingly. "What're you doing here, anyway? I thought they would've killed you the day you stepped foot in here again."

"None of your business," I answered shortly, wishing for one awful moment that I could summon and carve these two idiots in half.

"Oh, I think it is our business," the redhead snapped. "We want you gone, merzost." Abomination. I'd heard that plenty of times. His mouth twisted into a snarl. "Of course, you won't be leaving until the Sun Summoner's done with you."

"I almost forgot about that," the dark-haired one added. He glowered at me. "You should be executed for that alone. Not many Grisha can say that they've turned a saint into a whore."

I met his icy amber gaze head-on. "Take it back."

He released a bark of harsh laughter. "We all know it's true. First that tracker, then the prince himself. If you think you're the only one she's sleeping with now, then you're a fool."

"Take it back," I repeated, my hands in fists at my sides.

His expression went cold and he raised one hand. "Make me."

Moving fast, I strode forward before he could close his hand into a fist and stop my heart; I slammed his head against the wall with my hand on his neck and pinned him there. His eyes widened and he coughed, scrabbling at my fingers digging into his jaw. When his gaze flicked to something over my shoulder, I gritted my teeth. Then I spun, wrenching him off the wall and sending him barreling right into his friend, who had been lifting his hands to attack next. Both of them cried out in startled rage and went down hard. I stood over them, noting that the redhead now had a bloody nose and the other one was gasping for air.

"I wouldn't try that again, if I were you," I told them icily.

I should've known they wouldn't listen.

Alina

I turned away from where Zoya had disappeared and was about to make my way back to my room when a very worried brunette girl in Summoner's blue hurried up to me. She was clearly younger, her face taut with anxiety and her blue eyes huge. "Sankta!" she called, breathless. "Something's happened!"

My blood turned to ice in my veins at her words. "What is it?" I demanded.

"There's been a fight!" she cried, and the other Grisha in the room raised their voices questioningly. "It was the Darkling and two Heartrenders! Follow me!"

She whirled away and I jogged after her, my heart thudding against my ribs. A clatter of footsteps followed as the rest of the Grisha ran after us, curious and afraid at the same time. I hardly acknowledged their presence behind me. All I could think about was Aleksander. There was no way he could take on two Heartrenders without his power and not be injured in some way. Please, I prayed silently. Please let him be okay. The brunette Summoner led me and the other Grisha to a dim hallway at the side of the entry chamber. I caught a glimpse of a figure in front of me, but then the other Grisha jostled for a place and I was shoved back. Judging by the gasps and murmurs around me, I guessed that whatever they saw couldn't be good. I pushed past several Grisha and made my way back to the front of the crowd. Then I took in the scene before me and halted.

Aleksander stood calmly as the crowd gawked at him. He looked perfectly fine, no blood or bruises on his skin. At his feet, two Heartrenders were crumpled on the floor, groaning in pain. One of them was holding this nose with bloody fingers and the other tentatively touched his neck, breathing hard. It was obvious that they had been in a fight, but Aleksander was untouched. My eyebrows rose. He took out two Heartrenders alone? With no power? His gaze shifted over the gathering Grisha until it locked onto me. He blinked, his posture softening a bit as some of the tension left his shoulders.

Then an outraged voice shouted from the back of the mob. "Monster!"

Yells filled the air all around me and I flinched.

"Murderer!"

"Abomination!"

"Demon!"

Aleksander didn't react to any of their names. He took it all expressionlessly, letting them shout their insults. I ached for him. He regretted everything he'd done and these people wouldn't let him move on. It made matters worse now that he was no longer Grisha. He was lower than them and they treated him like it. I hated it. I wanted my own light back, so that I could show them what happened if they hurt the ones I loved.

Suddenly, one of the fallen Heartrenders grunted and rolled over onto his stomach. Crimson flecked his face, a sure warning of a broken nose, but he shoved himself to his knees with one hand. He reached out with the other toward Aleksander. I watched in horror as his fingers curled into a fist.

Aleksander made a small, choked sound and staggered. One hand came up to his chest and the other pressed against the wall to steady himself. He clenched his jaw, shooting a smoldering look at the Heartrender. The mob of Grisha fell silent immediately, some watching with terrified expressions, others eagerly waiting for the Darkling to fall. It felt like all the air was stolen out of my lungs.

"Stop!" I yelled, facing the Heartrender. He hardly glanced at me. I scrambled for some of the authority I'd once held. "I won't have violence like this in the Little Palace!"

"You aren't my leader," he snapped, surprising me with his ferocity. "You protected this creature!"

"I'm the Sun Summoner!" I argued. "You have to stop!"

"You betrayed us all!" he shot back. "You think we would ignore your crimes because you're a saint? You deserve to die, just as he does!" He lurched to his feet, wobbly from his earlier fight, and his other arm shot out toward me. Shrieks rose from the crowd.

"No!" Aleksander snarled, and advanced on the Heartrender, even as his heart threatened to stop in his chest. Panic flickered briefly over the Heartrender's face and he switched his aim away from me before I even felt any pain. All of his attention was focused on Aleksander now. Aleksander gasped and fell back against the wall again. His chest heaved with every breath.

"Don't!" I cried, desperate now. "Don't hurt him!" I took a step forward, but the brunette Summoner held me back with a hand on my arm. She said something about not getting injured myself, but I barely heard her. The only thing I could see was Aleksander dying in front of me.

The Heartrender ignored me. Both of his hands closed into fists now. In a sickening motion, he twisted his fists in the air, a horrid look of determination on his face. Aleksander let out an awful, pained cry and slumped down the wall to the floor. Blood trickled in a scarlet line from his nose. Tears welled in my eyes and I covered my mouth to bite down a sob. His eyes flicked to me for one shivering second. My courage crumbled away. I can't watch him die.

"Stop!"

The new voice was commanding, firm, and familiar. The mass of people parted as someone stalked through them. I glanced over my shoulder through my tears, and glimpsed Genya striding toward the front of the mob. Her flaming hair flashed and her one eye was glittering coldly. The Heartrender gulped at the sight of one of the Second Army's leaders. At first, I thought he wouldn't listen. Then he obediently dropped his arms to his sides.

Aleksander sank back onto the wall in relief, his hands slipping from his chest. I tugged out of the Summoner's grasp and stumbled over to him. Thankfully, no one moved to stop me. I knelt down beside him and touched his shoulder tentatively. The dark blood was gruesome on his perfect face, his eyelids drooping in exhaustion. He slid his hand weakly over the floor and closed his fingers over mine. "Alina," he murmured, and I bit my lip to keep from crying.

"I'm here," I said, twining our fingers together. "I'm here. You're going to be okay."

Genya started shouting at the Heartrender behind me, but it faded into the background when I looked at Aleksander. I had to reassure myself that he was all right, he was alive. He drew a rattling breath. "Thought he was going to hurt you," he mumbled, wincing at some hidden, lingering pain.

"I'm fine," I told him, touched that he would worry about me in his state. "Don't worry about me." My tears spilled over then and I choked back a sob. I raised our joined hands, kissed his knuckles. "I thought I lost you," I whispered, so that only he could hear.

"You won't lose me," he said softly. One side of his mouth turned up. "I plan on keeping you forever, moi lyubov. And you can keep me."