Alina and I meet in the hallway with Genya and my cousin looks me up and down "it suits you" I tell her, eyeing her green army uniform. A smile dances on her lips "should I bow, or?" she teases and I shove her playfully "you are insufferable" and we all laugh. We reach the entrance of the Little Palace and Alina asks "has anyone ever escaped the Little Palace?" a figure appears next to me and asks "planning on making a break for it?" I jump and clutch my chest, Kirigan smirks and I glare at him. Asshole. Alina lifts her veil and nervously says "uh, I didn't mean to..." but then cuts herself off as we walk outside, "oh saints" I mutter and The Darkling says "I think the Grand Palace is the ugliest building I have ever seen" making me laugh and he grins. On our way over to the palace he whispers to me "you look lovely by the way" causing me to blush. "How was your rest?" he asks my cousin, to which she answers "restless. Despite Genya's magic, I didn't-" but he cuts her off by saying "not magic. It's silence. Or rather, small science. We do not conjure from nothing. We manipulate that which already exists around us" he explains and I let out a breath. I guess we still have a lot to learn.

"you make it sound so easy" I say and he smiles, "a bird makes flight look easy but it was born to do so" he says and we head into the palace. I am nervous and wring my hands, Kerigan comes over to me and says "don't be nervous, they will love you"I raise an eyebrow "how do you know I'm nervous?" I ask and he smiles, "you wring your hands. You did the same back at the army camp" he tucks a piece of stray hair behind my ear and stalk off to join Alina, I am lost for words. No one has taken notice of me like that, it makes me feel something in the pit of my stomach although I can't off exactly what it is. We enter the main hall, I see the king and queen at the top of the room, eyeing us with hungry eyes, I can feel the Grisha behind us staring as well and I shift uncomfortably.

I am standing next to The Commander of the Second Army on his left while Alina stands to his right, the hall is silent when we stop and I clench my hands to keep them from shaking. "I thought they would be taller" the king muses finally leaving me a little embarrassed as everyone laughs, "I thought she was Shu" the Queen muses eyeing my cousin, she scoffs "I guess she is Shu enough" I bite my tongue and share a look with Kirigan who somehow manages to calm my nerves. "Tell her... Oh, I don't know, Good Morning" she says totally ignorant and completely racists, "I don't actually speak Shu, your highness" Alina bites back calmly and I am surprisingly proud of her, she never speaks out against the slander. I guess she is finally listening to me.

"then what are you?" she asks peering at the both of us, Kirigan looks between us and smirks. When my cousin doesn't reply he answers for her "she is Alina Starkov, the Sun Summoner" he signals to me "this is Salem Starkov, the Lightning Summoner. Moya Tsaritsa" they peer at us more intensely now like we are animals in a cage. Well maybe I'm a wild one. "They will change the future" he says sounding dangerously as though he is threatening them, "starting now" and he brings his arm up letting the room be incased by shadow. Alina goes first, she takes his hand and lights up the whole room, he is looking at her with intent in his eyes and I can't help but wonder if anyone has looked at me like that. Their hands drop and he offers one to me, I shake my head and whisper "I want to try it on my own" he raises an eyebrow but lets me try. When I can't summon any lightning I rub my hands together and pray to all the Saints with no luck, he acts quickly. Griping my waist he pulls me into him and our lips lock, I am in a state of confusion and shock, my eyes wide open and lightning flashing all around us. The crowd gasp and the Grisha behind us are murmuring something.

He pulls away and smiles at me but I just look to the floor embarrassed that I couldn't summon lightning on my own and that I needed help.The lightning I did summon however was powerful enough to shake the whole room and I let myself imagine what it will be like once I have full control over my power. I turn and see the King is on his feet, his face full of awe, the crowd starts to applaud us and I look down at my feet, still feeling the sensation of Kerigan's lips on mine. "How long will they need?" the kings asks eyeing us like his next meal, I'm going to throw up. He steps forward to answer "destroying the Fold will be no easy feat. She alone may not be able to do it" I know what he is implying by that, we will need to work together. "they will remain with me at the Little Palace to train" he continues and I have to stifle my eyes from rolling, this won't be awkward now we have kiss, he steps forward again "undisturbed" I can hear the threat in his voice although the king seems to be oblivious. Stupid old fool.

"then train them quickly. Our wars have been a noble pursuit, but this chatter from the west about becoming a sovereign nation, that needs to stop" The king replies looking around at everyone as through threatening them to challenge him, of course no one does who would argue with the king? "agree" the Darkling says and steps back between us but not before Alina and I share a look of nervousness. We move to go back towards the other Grisha, he reaches for my hand but I step away so instead he takes my cousins, a joyous look on his face. At least one of us is enjoying themselves. The Grisha envelope us, Karlen and Darla hug me close and I smile "you did amazing" Karlan whispers and when we pull away Darla is looking at me with happiness in her eyes "I can't believe he kissed you" she whispers and I nod my head "nether can I" we share a smile and I notice someone's eyes on me. I turn and notice the commander looking at me, something I can't label in his eyes, I dip my head in acknowledgment before following my friends from the Grand Palace back to the Little one.