𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐧

Ⅹ 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘

TENZIN AND IRA STOOD NEXT TO EACH OTHER, WATCHING THE GROUND GROW CLOSER AS ZOYA LOWERED THE FLYING SHIP. Tenzin took a breath, watching the houses below them fly by in a haze. Elvira looked up at him and she knocked her elbow against his arm. "I'm going with Inej and the others," Ira said, pulling her hair back. The ship hit the ground making them stumble slightly.

Tenzin nodded and smiled softly. "Do come back to me Ira," Tenzin said in a soft voice.

"Oh most definitely, you owe me a date," Ira laughed softly making Tenzin smile. Tenzin turned but Ira grabbed his hand, placing a knife in his hands. "Use it if you have to, I would like to see you again."

"As you wish," Tenzin said with a laugh. His hand lingered on hers and he bent down slightly, his coffee-brown eyes meeting her ice-blue stare. "Be safe Elvira." He turned and jumped over the edge of the ship, following Jesper, Kaz, and Wylan. The wind swarmed around them as Zoya lifted her hands, the breezes making her Kefta flap. Ira rested against the side of the boat, watching the ground grow further away as Zoya lifted it off the ground.

Nina walked to Ira's side, resting her arms against the side of the boat. "Is it better the second time?" Nina asked, looking down at Ira.

"Most definitely not," Ira huffed, pushing herself up and grabbing a cigarette from inside her jacket. "Let's just get this done quickly."

❆

ZOYA LANDED THE BOAT IN THE SAND, CLOSE TO WHERE THE RAYS OF BLUE LIGHT SHOT THROUGH THE DARKNESS. Inej jumped from the boat, slicing quickly through the humanoid shadow beast that had raised Alina high in the air. The quick slice of the blade destroyed the beast in seconds, its shadow form consumed by a gold light before fading.

Alina to the sand with a thud, Mal rushing to her quickly. "So much for Sum Summoner," Ira muttered, tossing the end of the cigarette into the sand.

Nina rolled her eyes softly. "Inej is good through," Nina said with a smile watching Alina run into Inej's arms.

Ira laughed softly, "Inej is the best there is."

Zoya walked to the edge of the boat, her hands on her hips. "Yes, yes. Happy reunion," Zoya yelled, looking over the edge. "Can we get on with it?"

"Zoya, thank you," Alina called. "If you'd been a moment later, we-"

"Save it for later Starkov," Ira called, walking to stand beside.

"Ira!" Alina smiled.

Nina walked to Elvira's side and the Fjerdan girl motioned back and forth. "Nina, Alina, Alina, Nina" Ira introduced.

Alina looked back at Mal who raced to grab his gun before back at the girls standing on the boat. "We need to get further into the Fold to destroy it," Alina instructed.

"Then get in," Ira yelled. Alina turned back to Mal for a moment before the three rushed for the boat. Inej climbed up easily and Nina and Zoya pulled Alina up. Once both of Mal's hands grabbed the edge of the boat Ira hoisted him the rest of the way up.

Once his feet hit the wooden deck he smiled. "Nice to see you Fjerdan," Mal said with a soft chuckle.

Ira laughed and punched his shoulder gently, "You two Ravkan."

❆

"QUICKLY, FOLLOW ME," TENZIN ORDERED, SLIDING DOWN A SLANTED ROOF. The others followed, landing on a roof behind a dome building.

"Are you sure it's this way?" Wylan asked, keeping close to Tenzin.

"Positive, me and my sister used to run through here," Tenzin encouraged, leading their way through the barricaded stone housing. "Plus..." Tenzin nodded over the roof to a group of four Grisha cornering King Nikolai and a trio of others. An Inferni stepped forward and Wylan scrambled, pulling a bomb out from his bag. Tenzin pulled out a lighter and sparked the end aflame. Wylan lobbed it over the edge of the roof and they stood and watched it lad at the Inferni's feet. A moment later it exploded, flipping the Inferni back to the others.

Nikolai looked around for a moment, his gaze turning to the Shu girl. "Where did that come from?!" Nikolai yelled.

"My demolitions expert!" Kaz shouted and their heads snapped up to look up at the Crows standing on the roof.

"Expert?" Wylan muttered looking up at Kaz. Jesper smiled and Wylan nodded to himself. "I mean, yes. Expert."

Tenzin slid off the edge of the roof, his feet hitting the dirt. He rushed to the gate as the other slid down. He tugged at the gate before looking through the bars at the melted latch. "Jesper," Tenzin called, looking back. Jesper rushed forwards, grabbing the melted plate and creating a split down the middle. They rushed forward once the gates were pushed open, Wylan and Jesper moving beside the two Squallers. Tenzin and Kaz moved to the King.

"What nightmare have we gotten ourselves into?" Kaz muttered.

"You should have brought Ira," Tenzin mumbled.

Kaz sighed softly, "I told her you were coming with us." Tenzin turned to Kaz but Jesper spoke up before Tenzin could say more.

"Why is Sturmhond here?" Jesper questioned and Tenzin furrowed his eyebrows.

"Um, you mean Nikolai?" Tenzin asked and Nikolai sighed.

Jesper looked around confused before smiling. "Nikolai Lantsov," Jesper said through a breath. "All this time, close personal friend."

"And-And you are?" The Shu girl beside him asked.

"You must be Tamar," Wylan said with a smile and Tamar looked back at him. "We came with your brother."

Tenzin shuffled back, his hand hitting a flimsy long piece of wood. Tenzin glanced up at the Tidemake, Squaller, and Durast, the Tidemaker pulling water to her hands. Jesper glanced back at Wylan before spinning the barrel of his gun.

Jesper jumped out, firing two shots making the Tidemaker lose focus.

Hello, gorgeous. The Squallers ran out to support him but another two shots and a spin made the other stumbled back. Jesper flicked his gun, aiming it at the Tidemaker. "Hello gorgeous," Jesper mused.

She clicked her fingers and Ice ran up the barrel of his guns, making him drop them with a pained hiss. "If only you'd been born Grisha," The Tidemaker mocked, "you'd know what it means-"

"To be blessed?" Jesper tore the buttons off his coat, flinging them at the Grisha. He hit the Tidemake, one piercing through the space in the Kefta above her chest. She fell to the but the Durast simply threw the other buttons off course, digging them into the wall.

The Squaller pulled his hands apart, lightning bounding between his palms as the clouds darken and thunder rumbled. Kaz lanced at Tenzin tying Ira's dagger and wood together before throwing his cane out. It dug into the dirt, the lightning attaching to the metal crow like a magnet.

"I have Datura Meloxia," Wylan yelled, pulling a vial from his jacket.

"Wylan, now," Kaz ordered.

"Air support," Wylan yelled as he stood. Wylan tossed the red powder out and the Squaller's wind carried it into the other Squaller's face. Tamar stood, flinging her axe out, burying it in the Squaller's face. Tamar threw her other axe out but the Durast swiped it away. He raised his hand, the axe following but Tenzin stood, throwing the makeshift spear through his neck. The Durast gurgled for a moment, blood spilling from his lips before falling to the floor.

It was silent for a moment before one of the Squallers turned to Tenzin. "How'd you do that?" The female Squaller questioned.

He glanced up at her. "Bone dagger," Tenzin whispered. He looked back down at the Durast and his stomach swirled. He keeled over, gagging slightly.

Jesper walked to him, patting his back softly. "You'll need a stronger stomach if you want to stick with Ira," Jesper joked but his tone was shaky. Kaz walked forward, pulling his cane from the ground, and the spear from the Durast's throat. He tossed it at Tenzin who caught it, his stomach twisting as the blood dripped onto his palm.

"Here, let me," The other squaller said stepping forward. He took the spear, pulling the dagger from the top, discarding the rope that had been tightly wrapped around it. Tenzin nodded in thanks. "I'm Adrick, this is my sister Nadia."

"I'd say it's a pleasant meeting," Tenzin muttered, wiping the blood on his pants. "But it's not."

Toyla jumped over a barricade, running for Tamar who he quickly picked up, spinning around while laughing.

"The blade. Did you find it? Nikolai asked once Toyla ad set his sister down.

"Inej has it," Kaz answered. "They've gone to find Alina and Mal."

"We have to do the same," Nikolai said and Kaz nodded in agreement. "If Kirigan brought the fight here, he's gunning for her."

"I've cleared us a way into the fold," Toyla spoke up. "Come on."

❆

IRA WALKED CLOSEST TO ALINA THROUGH THE SAND, HER SHIELD OF LIGHT BLOCKING THEM FROM ANY VOLCRA. Once they saw the stone gargoyles, Ira stepped ahead, one hand flexed, water swirling around her palm. "This is it," Alina said, her voice loud over the low growls of the Volcra. She pushed her hands out setting the dome in place around them. "The heart of the Fold. Where Kirigan first damned this country into darkness. This is where we stand a chance of bringing it down."

Ira walked up the steps, looking over the open area where a grand house once was. Now it was rubble and drowned in the sand. Alina walked to her side and Ira dropped her hand, turning to Alina. "We're clear," Ira said nodding. "From what I can see." She walked back down the stairs, moving to stand between Inej and Nina.

Mal walked up to Alina, reaching for a dagger tucked under his coat. Alina grabbed his hand, pushing the dagger back into its sheath. "No," Alina said quickly. "No. We can do this." Mal took her wrist and Alina pressed her hand to his chest. The blue light around them swirled as Mal and Alina's skin lit up red, her light moving between them. Red light swarmed around them, pushing the dome out.

Zoya gasped softly, her smile growing as she took Nina's hand. The light spread out as Mal and Alina shared a kiss, the lights glowing brightly. Inej smiled, looking up at the dancing lights that shone across her caramel skin. Inej laughed, looking at Ira who rolled her eyes softly but smiled as the lights brushed past her hair. Her white hair lit up in a red glow and Elvira laughed under her breath. Nina wrapped one arm around Ira's waist and Inej took Ira's hand.

"It's beautiful," Nina said through a breathless smile as Elvira copied her movements, wrapping her arm around Nina.

"It's alright," Ira teased with a smile.

"How touching," A voice called. Alina jumped out of Mal's grasp and the red lights cleared in a rush. The Darkling stepped into the light and Ira stepped out in front of Inej and Nina. Alina pulled her hands apart, glaring at the Darkling that stood tall in front of her. "I almost feel bad for what I have to do now," He mused, taking a step forward. "He is family after all."

The Darkling pulled his hands apart and a low rumbling came from behind the girls. Elvira looked up at the Shadow Beast trying to push through the dome of light. "Get down!" Ira shouted. The grabbed the end of the relentless blade unsheathing it as she sliced over Inej's head, cutting down the beast in a single slash.

Elvira barely had time to turn when Kirigan and Alina's cuts met cracking and sending shards flying. Nina quickly grabbed Elvira and they tumbled to the ground, the blade slipping from Ira's hand. The dome of light disappeared in a flash as she dropped next to the bleeding Mal, splayed out on the stone steps. Nina and Ira stood but a beast grabbed Nina, pulling her into the darkness. "Nina no!" Elvira sprinted after her, casing Nina into the darkness. Inej called for Elvira but chased after Nina until the beast threw her behind into the darkness.

The creature growled and Elvira raised her shaking hands. It gurgled its tone guttural before disappearing. Elvira tried to rush forward after Nina but a Volcra dived down knocking her to the side.

She skidded across the sand and the Volcra growled as it faced her, its teeth dripping with spit and blood. Elvira panted, pulling her daggers out. It screeched, tumbling towards her. Elvira sidestepped the winged beast and drove the dagger through the cavern where its eyes had sunk. It screeched, knocking its head around, and wailing in pain. Elvira waited until it dropped its head and then she kicked the dagger, driving it through the Volcra's skull.

Elvira steadied her footing and looked down at the bleeding beast, its head caved in. "Not again," Elvira growled, the Fjerdan dripping from her tongue like venom. She spat out a lump of blood building in her mouth and took a breath. Elvira looked up at the three Volcra flying over her head. Elvira knelt, pressing her hand to the sand as she sucked a breath through her teeth. "Djel, lend me your strength."

❆

❝ cold as 𝒊𝒄𝒆, sharp as a knife ❞