How was Nadia here? The last I saw of her was in the Little Palace. I looked to Genya and she had the same look of surprise on her face. Looking behind us, I saw that the traders were occupied enough with Zoya and Nikolai. I released myself of the light around me and Genya, revealing thy selves to the women in the cages. They were shocked to see me, I wondered if they recognised me. "Sol Korolova" A couple whispered grasping the Iron bars. I knew that was ancient Ravkan for Sun Queen.

But how did they know me? I've never seen most of them before. "Shh, I will get you out, just remain quiet."

"How Alina? There are way more captors, then they are of you!" Nadia exclaimed, tired from everything. "We're just waiting for the distraction."

Suddenly, on cue–an explosion rattled the entire place. The lock of the cage was cut open by my light. And as I looked around, the captors and merchants were coming towards us. "STOP!" Somebody yelled out to us.

I summoned some light and blinded everyone who was around me. When the light dialled down, I had formed a dome of light around around the cage. Nikolai and Zoya managed to subdue most of them.

The captors, traders, and merchants were all temporarily blinded. Enough time was given for the women to make their move out of the farmhouse. The guards at front tried to subdue them but Genya managed to knock them down. Her fighting skills were unseen to those who hadn't trained in the Little Palace.

When the blindness faded from the captors vision that's when I used a power I wasn't suppose to. I managed to summon some shadows and created pools of inky shadow, aiming them at the captors. The shadows chocked them and I witnessed their lifeless bodies drop to the floor.

A dark move. Something the Darkling would do, but they deserved it. I gasped in the horrific realisation. I just did the exact same thing the Darkling did on the fold. When I froze in place, I didn't realise a sword being thrusted behind me. Breathless, I turned around to see Nikolai kill a trader–he had a sharp knife in his hands. He was to kill me.

As I saw the body fall, Nikolai came up and held my hands. "Princess, are you okay?" I didn't realise that I was shaking till he told me. He moved his hands to cup my face. "We should go now. We have freed everyone."

"I-I just used–"

"Shadow Summoning. We'll talk about it later, for now we have to go and torch this place." Nikolai said as he pulled me out of the farm house.

Coming out, I saw the sun coming over on the horizon. Genya and Zoya were with the shaken up women, checking for injuries.

"Alina, this was the reason why everyone's powers were so weak." Zoya showed me a small vile of yellow liquid. I twirled the small vile in my hands. Have I seen this before? I squinted my eyes at it and gasped when my mind saw images of a dark lab, sharp tools, yellow bile and a white coat.

I shook myself out of the vision and suddenly I knew what was in my possession. "Jurda Parem." I stated, getting confused looks from my friends. "Jurda Parem?"

"It's an addictive drug for Grisha. Lethal. The Fjerdans had it in their possession. It weakened my powers when I was forced to have it."

"When you were kidnapped?" Genya asked. I nodded. "How did captors in Keramzin get it?"

"Traders in Novyi Zem could have had it from the Fjerdan then sold to the merchants here." Nikolai theorised. He did know how Novyi Zem had people who were against Grisha.

"And they would have chosen Keramzin, being the last place anyone would look for Grisha trafficking." Genya put the pieces together.

"Hmm."

I walked up to the other Grisha, who simply observed our conversation. "Is any of you an Inferni?"

One at the front raised her hand. She must have been a new Inferni. I saw she wore a blue kefta with tattered fabric, peeling out from her shoulders. She walked up to me, with her blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. "Incinerate the place!" I ordered.

All of the dead bodies were in the farmhouse, now waiting to be cremated. I saw the woman forming a ball of fire in her hands. Then she aimed it at the farmhouse. It was a weak attack but sufficed as we saw the the thin walls, reduce to ash and smoke.

***
A couple days passed and the events of the farmhouse, still replayed in my mind. The Grisha were healed and regained their powers back, with food and proper rest. We helped to train them in the gardens and then we chose to send them to the Little Palace. The Darkling must be welcoming to the Grisha. And especially because I planned to use the bond between us to summon him here and let him know. Without giving up our location. Though I'm pretty sure he knows. The use of his power, gave me away in seconds.

His power.

Unfortunately I used it and killed people with it. The unfairness being I did the right thing but the Darkling would have done the same thing. He was right. A thought that haunted me. Refusing to believe that I was like him at that moment, I walked down stairs to see Genya unpacking a small box.

"Genya, what is this?" I asked coming to sit next to her on the couch. "This is for you." I rummaged through the box and saw thin black lace, in small clothing. The only clothing that was silky and long was the black robe folded at the bottom. "This is for your night with Nikolai." Genya exclaimed, pulling out the small lace dress.

"Night with Nikolai? What are you talking about?" I questioned puzzled. She looked around for a second, checking if anybody was close to listening into our conversation. "You two are engaged and when the wedding happens. What do you think he would do to you on your wedding night?"

I was stumped. I remembered Khal Drogo's wedding night, I shivered from the haunting memory. It should have been consensual. Shaking my head of the memory, I returned to Genya. "The wedding is well away. Why now?"

"Because tonight is the night where you two get acquainted with each other."

My cheeks turned red, he was going to bed me tonight. "But h-he, uh Genya–"

She realised the look of panic I had on my face, she grasped my hands over the lace dress on her lap. "Don't worry Alina. You know Nikolai. He would never do anything without your consent."

"Just go into his room tonight and see what happens. If you are ready for the early consummation then that's fine. If not then that's fine too, he could wait after the wedding or whenever your ready. Is that negotiable?" She said cleverly. I thought about it for a second and imagined me walking into his room, dressed in revealing black lace. He would kiss me then lay me down on top of his covers.

"Okay I'll see what happens. But what if someone walks in or overhears us?"

She laughed softly. "Don't worry the maids were given explicit orders to stay away from the chambers tonight. Pretty sure they have their fantasies."

"GENYA!" I slapped her on the arm, blushing madly.

***
I did dress in the black lace Genya got me. This wasn't knew to me, I've been in consummation with Drogo before but not with Nikolai. I definitely wasn't Virgin as I've done it with Mal. It must be a traditional marital custom. Early consummation.

Ignoring what has happened to what will happen in just a half hour. I saw myself in a mirror. The black lace swirled around my breasts and down to my thighs. It was really short and took me out of my comfort zone. The see through fabric was in between my breasts and around my waist. Thin strapped on my shoulders and easy to peel off.

I grabbed my long black robe and covered myself in it. It didn't come with a tie. So the front of my dress was exposed. When this night is through, Genya is so going to get it.

"Ready for your romance with the Sobachka Alina?" A disturbing voice exclaimed behind me. I pulled in my robes, covering me–so long as I didn't let go. I turned around to the mocking voice. And there the Darkling stood, bemused and enraged.

"What are you doing here?" I asked sharply. "I understand that you tried to contact me through the bond a day or so ago, correct?" He raised a brow.

I nodded, "Why did you choose to visit me now? Like right now?"

"I wasn't busy, but clearly you are." His eyes darted down at me.

"Ugh."

The Darkling smirked slightly, "What do you want Alina?" He asked finally getting to the point. I sat down on the edge of the bed and covered myself in a long blanket. "A couple days ago we found a trading place for female Grisha."

The Darkling sat on the chair opposite me, near my dressing table. He looked intrigued into the conversation but I knew he had other thoughts. "They were selling, trading and experimenting on the Grisha there. Either sold as sex slaves or experimental Guinea pigs. And apparently most of the Grisha were kidnapped from the Little Palace!" I started to explain, I stopped to see the Darkling's reaction. His fists were clenched together and his eyes were fixed on mine. "Alina! How is that possible I would have realised if women from the palace were kidnapped?"

"Would you though?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Nadia was there. She was shaken up and tortured. Right now she is resting and I'm wondering of sending her and the rest of the Grisha back to the palace." I paused, seeing him following what I was saying.

"If I get reassured that nothing like this would ever happen again."

He took hold of my hands, "I promise you. No Grisha under my protection would ever go through that. Especially the women. But what did you do to the people who kidnapped them?"

"They're dead!" I stated with no recognisable emotion. "You killed them?" Amusement wormed its way into his voice. "Don't sound so surprised, I've killed before."

"Alina, warrior Saint." He shook his head laughing. "I'm always impressed by you. I'll send some coaches tomorrow for your women. Enjoy your night with the Prince." He said standing up. I zoned out for a second. "You know where I am?"

"Of course I do. There Is not a corner in the world where you could run to and I will not find you."

"Your not jealous that I'm to be with Nikolai tonight?"

His face took a sharp turn. An emotion I didn't realise. "No. You could be pleasured as much as you like but it would not satisfy you."

He started to walk past the bed and i thought he was going to leave but he must have remembered something to say as he kneeled down before me with a seriously stern face. "But if he forces himself on you. I'll kill him!" He said in a dark tone, which was meant to be deadly.

"You would kill him even if he didn't force himself on me." I squinted my eyes at him. He came close to my face. "I suppose your right." He mumbled near my ear. His hands rested on the covers either side of me. He got up and bowed to me.

"Enjoy your night. Though I doubt you will."

With that he disappeared from my sight. As I began to walk into Nikolai's chamber, confused on what to expect tonight.

***

Published: 14:20pm 10/04/2022