OW?

Lysander slept horribly that night, not even Alina able to bring her comfort as they slept in each other's arms. So, it was easy for her to stir when the door of the bedroom opened suddenly. She and Alina sat up in an instant, looking at all the people who came in with wide eyes. There were maids and a beautiful red-haired woman named Genya who was wearing a white kefta.

"Saints! Have either of you ever bathed? And what happened to your face?" Genya asked, making both girls feel horrible. Lysander self-consciously touched her busted bottom lip. "This is going to take more work than I expected."

The woman snapped her fingers at one of the maids. "Fetch my kit. Get the Sun Summoner in the bath first."

Soon, Alina was being shoved toward the bathroom as Lysander was left on the bed, no one caring to be gentle as they undressed Alina and forced her into the tub. Lysander kept back, giving Alina a false sense of privacy with so many others surrounding her. They combed through her tangled hair and scrubbed at the dirt on her skin while muttering sentences back in Old Ravkan.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Alina finally ordered, grabbing the rag from one of them. "I am perfectly capable of washing myself. And yes, I smell like horse. I was on one for two hundred miles. After nearly being killed. Twice. And I understand Old Ravkan, and that was really quite rude."

Genya seemed unaffected by Alina's attitude. "In an hour, you'll both be presented to King Pyotr, and General Kirigan has asked that I make you look presentable."

Alina's eyes went wide. "I am to meet the King?"

"In an hour."

"Oh," she mumbled.

"Yes, 'Oh.'" she said. "So let's get on with it."

Alina kept her mouth shut as they cleaned her up a bit more, but she still protested. "You know, this is all a bit much. I really don't need any of this," Alina said as they helped her out of the water and dried her off. But when they wrapped a fluffy robe around her, she sighed. "Oh, Saints! Is this velvet? Lyssa, you must get one."

One of the maids leaned into Genya, not bothering to lower her voice as she said, "I'd start by making her eyes less Shu, Miss Safin."

Lysander glared at the girl, unable to believe she'd said something so inconsiderate and rude. She moved to say something, but Genya beat her to it.

"Everybody out," she ordered, clapping twice.

In an instant, all the maids left, some scoffing as they did so. Alina sighed in relief and swapped out with Lysander. She made sure to keep her back to the girl as she undressed. She had no right to look at her knowing how she felt about the girl.

"Thank you," she said to Genya.

"Happy to get rid of the miserable shrews. I don't pick my staff. The Queen assigns them," she explained while leading Alina to a vanity. "Mostly so she can spy on me."

Before getting in the tub, Lysander took a look at herself in a large mirror, horrified by her state. She was covered in blood and grime, her lip swollen and purple. Her white hair looked nearly brown with how dirty and matted it was. There was no way she could meet the King like that. Rather than focus on herself, however, she spoke up while lowering herself into the tub.

"Don't change her eyes," she pleaded. "She's lovely."

"I don't care that you're part Shu," she said flatly to Alina. "I care that you look terrible."

Lysander giggled and began washing the dirt off of her while the woman looked over Alina. "Some of this is surface, but some of it runs deeper."

Though she was a bit far away, she watched in awe as Genya ran her thumb over Alina's face, healing the cut on her chin and then a wound over her eyebrow.

"You're a Healer," Lysander marveld.

"I'm a Tailor," she corrected. "I can fix, but I can also modify."

"I've never met a Tailor before," Alina told her.

"I'm almost as rare as you two," she said while walking around Alina, inspecting her for more injuries, "though I'd hardly say saving the Queen from sagging tits makes me as important as you. Important to the Queen, of course, and she does not like to see cracks in her porcelain."

Then she pushed up the sleeve of Alina's robe, revealing the cut made by General Kirigan, which she quickly healed. She moved on to her hand, spotting the old scar that meant more than anything to her.

"No, um, that one's a reminder of home," Alina stopped her.

"Sentimental," she noted. "I'll work on that, too. But for right now, sit."

As Alina did so, the woman began rifling through a container full of all sorts of random things. As she searched for something, Lysander spoke up. "Do you have a name?"

"Genya," she said simply, surprised that they'd bothered to ask. Then she held up some piece of dark silk. "This will do nicely."

Alina and Lysander watched in awe as Genya ran her hand over Alina's hair, which became more thick and shiny — all the split ends and damage disappeared.

"It only lasts a few days," she explained.

"How old were you when you knew?" Alina asked as Genya kept digging for more things.

"Testers found me when I was eleven. That's when General Kirigan gifted me to the Queen. But I've been working on myself since I was three."

"Since you were three?" Alina asked in shock. "Saints! I can't go in front of the King. I need more time. I've only been a Grisha for a day."

Genya chucked and shook her head. "Maybe you've only been aware for a day. But you've been a Grisha your whole life. Both of you. And now you're here, to tear down the Fold."

"I can't banish anything," Lysander murmured, shaking her head. "I couldn't do anything like what Alina did in the Fold. It was amazing."

"You'll work up to it," she shrugged. Then she nodded for Lysander to come over, so she quickly got out of the tub and dried off before grabbing a soft robe — Alina was right about the comfort. "Besides, you're already tearing down locks, so you're halfway there."

Lysander flushed as Genya began fixing her busted lip. "Am I in trouble?"

"With me? No. The General?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "He was ready to tear the whole palace apart until Fedyor suggested that you might be in here."

"Well, I told him I just wanted to be with Lina," she mumbled, looking down. But then Genya hooked her finger under her chin and had her look up so that she could add blush to her cheeks. "I'll apologize."

"That's probably for the best. He's not used to people disobeying him," she explained.

"I didn't mean to. I just..." She trailed off, meeting Alina's soft gaze. "I wanted Lina."

✵︎

Lysander thought that Alina looked ridiculous, but then again, she thought she did as well. Both were in First Army uniforms but Alina had a silly gold veil over her face, hiding her away. Lysander didn't understand why she didn't have one, but then again, people didn't really know there were two Sun Summoners.

"No army uniform includes a veil," Alina said as they walked down the hallway, her fiddling with the fabric.

"You look fine," Genya told her.

"Really pretty," Lysander, and Alina was grateful for the veil because it hid her blush.

Alina looked out the window that they passed. "Say one wanted to leave the Little Palace..."

"But everything you need is here," Genya said with a frown.

"I've got some things I've forgotten back at the camp," she lied, thinking of Mal. "I could just go back."

"Don't be ridiculous. This way," she led.

And as they walked, Alina kept blowing the veil off her nose, which made Lysander giggle. But it annoyed Genya.

"Stop that! No one can see you until King Pyotr does."

"It's just as well. This outfit is ridiculous," Alina muttered.

"Sadly, this is how the King sees the First Army. He cares little for mud, blood, or sacrifice," Genya explained.

"Shouldn't we be in keftas?" Alina asked, missing the one she'd been lent. Lysander did as well, as it was comfortable and safe.

"Oh, no. The King expects to see a humble girl plucked from the ranks of his army. He'll want to take the credit for you. You'll get a kefta once he's witnessed your power."

"Right," Alina mumbled, "my power."

"And you," Genya said, looking to Lysander. "I've no clue what General Kirigan intends to do with you, but he can't keep you a secret from them. By all accounts, it'll be King Pyotr, the Queen, Crown Prince Vasily, and the King's spiritual adviser, the Apparat. He's this greasy rat—"

"Was that a library?" Alina asked, looking back over Lysander's shoulder. Lysander looked as well, always loving a good book. "Is it available to all of us?"

"Everything here is available to all of us," Genya said with a smile. She'd never wanted for anything in her life and didn't understand the orphans' need to ask for permission. "The General built this home for us so we can thrive."

"Has a Grisha ever escaped?" Alina questioned, looking to Lysander, only to see General Kirigan coming up on her other side.

"Planning on making a break for it?"

Lysander startled, looking over at him with wide eyes, not having expected him. But then she forced a smile. "No, never," she said earnestly.

"And how am I to trust you when you made a break for it last night?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She looked down apologetically. "I am sorry, General Kirigan. I just - it's hard to keep Alina and I apart."

"I'm beginning to see that," he murmured, eying their joined hands. They were always holding hands.

"I didn't mean to worry you when I left my..." Lysander trailed off when the Grand Palace came into view. It was easily three times the size of the Little Palace, so Lysander supposed the names made sense now. "Oh, Saints! It's so big. And, uh, architecturally lacking."

Kirigan actually laughed. "Just say ugly, Miss Karamazov," he said with a smirk. "I think the Grand Palace is the ugliest building I've ever seen. Now, how was your rest?"

"Restless," Alina admitted as they walked. "Despite Genya's magic, I didn't—"

"It's not magic," he cut her off. "It's science. Or rather, Small Science. We do not conjure from nothing. We manipulate that which already exists around us."

"You make it sound so easy," Lysander sighed.

"A bird makes flight look easy," he noted. "But it was born to do so."

"When it's ready," Alina said sharply.

"So, be ready," he said, his words with a threatening edge to them that made a chill run down Lysander's spine.

Alina huffed. "You're asking me to do something I didn't even know I could do three days ago. And Lyssa struggles."

"Do you believe I brought you here to make a fool of you? To make a fool of both of us?" Kirigan asked her. "Just keep your focus on me, and you'll be fine. Once he sees what you can do and we have his blessing, you will remain here to train."

"His blessing?" Alina asked with a frown. "I thought you ruled the Grisha."

"I may lead the Second Army, but the King is still the King," he said, sounding almost bitter. "Now, come."

"Well, what is Lys meant to do?" Alina asked, wanting to make sure a fool wouldn't be made of her either.

"Miss Karamazov is to be formally tested in front of the King," he explained.

Lysander frowned instantly, holding her arm. "But that'll hurt," she mumbled.

"He expects a demonstration, and I suspect testing a dual summoner will be quite the show," he explained. "You are unheard of — we don't even have legends about your kind. Your power is unprecedented."

"My power is weak, General. Really," she said. "I'm as good a summoner as I am a cartographer."

Kirigan came to a stop and faced her, nearly coming chest to chest with her as he looked down his nose at her. She shrank under his gaze. "You are Grisha, Lysander. You are power incarnate. Walk in there with your head held high. I won't hear any of this 'not good enough' nonsense."

She stared up at him for a moment, her heart beating a little faster at his close proximity. She'd always struggled with her confidence, but having someone so commanding and powerful believe in her made her feel a big happy.

"I'll try."

"You won't try. You will. Understood?" He then nodded his head, expecting her to mirror his movements.

She nodded lightly. "Yes, Sir."

"Good," he said. "Now come. It's nearly time."

Alina pulled on Lysander's hand so that she'd walk closer to her than Kirigan, all of them heading to the Grand Palace. A group of Grisha were waiting for them at the entrance of the Grand Palace, also wanting to be there for the presentation of Alina and Lysander. A small crowd was gathered in the throne room, everyone standing along the walls. People began to murmur and whisper as General Kirigan led Alina to the center of the room, Lysander hanging back by a few feet.

"I thought she'd be taller," King Pyotr said, eying Alina.

"I thought she was Shu. Well, I guess she's Shu enough," the Queen rudely commented. Then she looked to Kirigan. "Tell her... Oh, I don't know... good morning.

Alina nervously looked at Kirigan, who wasn't going to stand up for her. She had to do it herself. "I don't actually speak Shu, Your Highness."

"Then what are you?" she asked her.

The silence was deafening, Alina having no clue how to answer that. So, Kirigan stepped up and raised his voice, speaking confidently. "She is Alina Starkov, the Sun Summoner, moya tsaritsa. She will change the future. Starting now."

As darkness filled the room, most everyone crowded together, whispering in fear at the show of Kirigan's power, but Lysander found it almost inviting, surprisingly. It was cold but in a comforting way. She'd always been scared of the dark, but knowing that it came from the General made it a little less frightening.

"Now," Kirigan whispered to Alina, "call the sun."

Except Alina had no clue how. Lysander watched her closely through the darkness, spotting the way that Kirigan grabbed her wrist. Then light burst from Alina, illuminating the entire room in warm sunlight — all because of Kirigan's touch.

He was an amplifier.

Lysander watched in awe, gasping at the power her friend possessed. Never once had she conjured sunlight so effortlessly, meaning she never got to appreciate the beauty of it. But Alina was like sunlight incarnate, just as radiant as the burning star in the sky. And Lysander couldn't look away.

When the light faded, everyone in the room clapped, and Lysander just grinned at a stunned Alina. The King stood from his chair and nodded to Kirigan. "How long will she need?"

"Destroying the Fold will be no easy feat," Kirigan warned. "She will remain with me at the Little Palace to train, undisturbed."

King Pyotr was less than thrilled about that. "Then train her quickly. Our wars have been a noble pursuit, but this chatter from the West about becoming a sovereign nation, that needs to stop. The sooner we are one country again, the better."

"Agreed, moi tsar," Kirigan said, bowing his head to him. "The Sun Summoner alone may not be able to do it. But I've located a special individual, one who was never tested. If my suspicions are correct, she will be able to aid us."

"And what are your suspicions?" the Queen asked, raising a thin eyebrow.

"That she is something completely unheard of," he said before reaching his hand out for Lysander.

Lysander hesitantly stepped forward, reaching out for him. Given that her arm was covered by the First Army uniform, he moved to unbutton it for her. Her breath hitched nervously as his fingers brushed the column of her throat when he started at the top.

Once the garment hit the floor, she held out her forearm and shut her eyes, anticipating the pain. He used the same ring that he used on Alina, moving it to her unmarred skin. She felt it as soon as it broke through her skin, and tears sprouted in her eyes.

But she forgot about the pain because pure sunlight shot from her veins. But unlike with what happened with Alina, black shadows billowed around the sunlight, seeping out into the room just as the General's had. Lysander's mouth parted in surprise, never having seen such a display of her own power.

Deep down, she knew it was because she was being touched by a living amplifier — at least, she was pretty sure he was an amplifier because there was no way Alina could've done that on her own.

Lysander looked from her arm to Kirigan in disbelief, and he looked just as awe-struck as the onlookers, him truly surprised for the first time in a long time. It took him a moment to remember where he was and who he was surrounded by, and finally, he dropped her arm, the sunlight and shadows disappearing.

"I give you Lysander Karamazov," Kirigan said, turning to look at the stunned King and Queen. "The Dual Summoner."

✵︎

Lysander couldn't believe what her life had become. After being given a blue kefta that was embroidered with black and golden thread, everywhere she went in the Little Palace, some Grisha or another was fawning over her and Alina. They couldn't get a moment alone because guards were constantly following them. Saints, they couldn't even take a walk outside — that was likely because Kirigan thought they'd try and make a run for it.

As Alina stared longingly out a window, they were joined by two girls that they'd not met after the presentation. Both were very pretty with bright smiles on their faces.

"Alina! Lysander! There you are," one girl said, sounding relieved.

"We've been looking for you both," the other explained. "We weren't properly introduced earlier. I'm Marie, this is Nadia."

"It's nice to meet you," Lysander said softly.

"Why are the guards keeping us inside?" Alina asked, wanting a second opinion.

"You're both supposed to be in training now," Nadia told them. "Are you really mapmakers?"

"Not a very good one," Lysander muttered with a wry smile.

"Were you really attacked by Fjerdans?" Marie then asked, never having fought one before.

"How many Fjerdans did you kill?" Marie added, making Lysander's eyes go wide.

"Kill?" Alina asked. "I got thrown into a tree by one."

"Sounds like our timing is perfect," Marie said as they led them toward a door that went outside — just not the outside they were wanting.

"Welcome to the first part of your new daily schedule," Nadia said before Marie joined her. "Combat training."

When they pushed open the door, Lydander looked around with wide eyes, seeing numerous Grisha of all orders practicing combat and training. She shrank in on herself, feeling very out of her element.

"Sun Summoner, Dual Summoner," and older man named Botkin called out. "All of Ravka's foes want to kill you before you can destroy the Fold. It's a great honor to have so many enemies."

"A very warm greeting," Alina said, coming to stand next to Lysander.

"He's always like this," Nadia informed them.

"You must learn to defend yourself fast. Do you know how to fight?" he asked them.

Lysander quickly shook her head and took a step back.

"I've had some training," she replied, and Lysander frowned, not thinking Mal showing her how to throw a proper punch was really considered training.

"Show me. Pick an opponent," Botkin ordered.

And of course, Alina's stubborn self had to go and choose Zoya who stepped up with a confident smirk on her face. Zoya had made a rather rude comment about them stinking of the orphanage when they arrived, and Alina wanted payback.

"Zoya Nazyalensky. I've been training her since she was ten."

"Care to back down?" Zoya asked cockily.

"Not familiar with the concept," Alina said, which made Lysander smile at her courage.

"Saints," Nadia suddenly whispered, her eyes above the training grounds where a railed-off balcony overlooked them. "The General's here."

Lysander followed her gaze and saw General Kirigan's dark figure looming over them, his eyes fixed on Alina and Zoya, likely wanting to see how his Sun Summoner would fare against his best Squaller.

"He never comes to training," Marie said excitedly to Lysander. "He must be here for you and Alina."

"Great," Lysander mumbled, knowing she'd humiliate herself.

"Fighters ready?" he asked, and Alina put her fists up. "And... fight!"

It was over in seconds. Alina made the first move, but as she lunged at Zoya, the Squaller kicked her legs out from under her, making her fall on her back. Alina looked at the onlooking Grisha and then at Lysander, who nodded encouragingly. So, she jumped back up.

"We go again."

"Fight."

Again, Alina made the first move and managed to get in a few hits before Zoya flipped her over. And Lysander could hear her taunting her. "I think I'd much prefer Lysander on her back than you."

Lysander frowned, not knowing why Zoya would want to pick a fight with her. Meanwhile, Alina took it a completely other way that had her seeing red.

"Easy, Zoya," Botkin warned, and the Grisha let up, walking away from Alina.

But Alina was wrathful after the comment about Lysander, so she climbed to her feet and stomped toward Zoya, who turned toward her just as Alina's fist went flying. She punched Zoya so hard that she nearly fell over.

"Go, Lina!" Lysander couldn't help but yell, jumping up and down a bit. But her smile fell as Zoya suddenly thrust a gust of wind at Alina that was so strong it sent her crashing into a pile of hay.

"Alina!" she shouted, running up to her with Nadia and Marie a few steps behind her.

Lysander paid no mind to Botkin, who was yelling at Zoya. She just focused on Alina, who seemed a bit dazed. But after a moment, she snapped out of it.

"Alina, please be okay," Lysander said, gently cupping her cheek. Alina leaned into her touch, closing her eyes once more.

"I'm fine," she promised her before letting Lysander help her stand. "Nothing but my pride is wounded."

"Good," she said, hugging her. "I was so worried."

"I'm just glad it wasn't you going against her," she admitted.

"Dual Summoner!" Botkin then shouted. As they turned around, they saw Zoya storming out of the training arena. "Can you fight?"

"Oh, no, thank you," she said with a nervous smile.

At her refusal, Botkin rolled his eyes and pointed across the field at Ivan, who was shirtless and hitting a training dummy with punches so hard the wood splintered. Fedyor was simply watching him while stretching.

"You'll work with Ivan."

"Oh," she said again, a frown forming. "No, thank you."

Alina snickered and gave Lysander a gentle shove in the Heartrender's direction who looked just as thrilled as Lysander did about this whole situation. She made her way over with her head down, wishing she could've stayed with Alina, Nadia, and Marie.

Once she was close enough, Ivan studied her before suddenly throwing a punch. She squealed and ducked down, barely missing his fist. She stood back up and looked at him with wide eyes.

"Ivan," Fedyor sighed.

"Just make a fist," he said, rolling his eyes.

With a frown on her face to show how displeased she was, Lysander did so. But as soon as she did, Ivan was critiquing her.

"You'll break your thumb," he said, and so she moved her thumb back. "And your knuckles."

Fedyor chuckled and helped her find the right position. "Now," the more cheerful Heartrender said. "Hit me."

"But I don't want to hurt you."

At that, Ivan actually laughed. "You will not, trust us."

She huffed and then threw a punch, hitting him in the shoulder. She groaned, feeling pain radiate through her hand, and Fedyor didn't even flinch, letting her know that he hardly felt it. She looked at her red knuckles with a pout on her face.

Feeling a bit bad for her, Fedyor smiled sheepishly and put a hand over the spot she'd hit. "Ow?"

✵︎

Lysander's muscles were sore as Ivan silently led her to a small hut near the Little Palace. The sun was already setting and it was near dinner time, not that she cared. She went without meals all the time. But she would've liked to have joined Alina for dinner. But Ivan informed her that she had to attend her lesson with Baghra, whoever that was.

Ivan said nothing to her as he opened the door and closed it for her once she was inside. Lysander didn't say anything as she wandered in, soon coming across an aging woman sitting in a wooden chain in front of a fire place. So, she came to a stop and looked at her expectantly.

"Right on time," Baghra said, standing up. "Let's have a look at you." As the woman walked around her, she pinched her arms. "I can see why you're training with Ivan. No muscle definition. But it's a waste of time. Are you going to punch your way through the Shadow Fold? Where's the rest of you? Are you mute, girl?"

Rather than reply, Lysander looked down at the ground, a frown on her face. She never did do well when confronted aggressively.

"If you can't speak to me, how do your expect to learn from the General?"

At that, Lysander raised an eyebrow. "I'm... to learn from the General?"

"She speaks!" she exclaimed, and if Lysander were Alina or Mal, she'd have rolled her eyes.

"On the rare occasion," she said softly.

"That's something, I suppose. Where are your parents?"

"Dead — Fjerdans when I was two."

"Where did you grow up?"

"Keramzin."

"You slipped through the cracks and stayed where you didn't belong."

"I didn't slip through. I chose to stay away," she admitted, picking at her fingers. But then Baghra hit her hands with a riding crop.

"Why's that?"

"I belonged with my friends — with Alina. Not in the Little Palace," she murmured.

"You don't belong here?" she countered.

Lysander kept quiet, much to Baghra's annoyance. "Can you summon the Sun and Shadows without the general clutching your wrist?"

"So he is a human amplifier," she said under her breath.

"Yes. Now, can you summon the power on your own?"

"S - Sometimes—"

"Stop stuttering. Can you summon it on your own?"

Lysander sighed and shut her eyes. She brought her hands together and tried to focus on the coolness of the night, thinking of how effortless Kirigan made it seem. And to her credit, Baghra stayed silent for a whole minute as she struggled to make a ball of shadows. But it faded away quickly, and Lysander sighed in defeat.

"Summoning the sun has always been just as difficult," she explained. "Neither comes easier than the other."

"We'll work on that — summoning the sun," Baghra said. "But you'll be working with the General as well. He's shown a special interest in you because of your similar abilities."

"But I don't want to work with General Kirigan."

"Does anyone ever?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm to send you to his quarters when I'm done with you."

"When are you done with me?"

✵︎

When she was in tears. That was when she was done with her.

Lysander's hands were raw and red from how many times they'd been hit. And her feelings were just as hurt. Baghra was mean, there was no better way to put it. All Lysander wanted to do was crawl into bed with Alina and forget about all of it. But she couldn't because General Kirigan wanted to see her.

She tried to wipe the tears from her face but knew her eyes were still red-rimmed, a sign she'd been crying. And of course, as perceptive as ever, General Kirigan noticed as soon as he let her into the war room attached to his bed room.

"I see Baghra is as pleasant as ever," he said, rolling his eyes. Then he sought out a handkerchief, handing it to her so she could properly wipe her face.

"Thank you," she murmured, sniffing a bit. "And I'm sure she's not that bad. I'm just a baby. And like she says, I'm weak. Just be prepared to make little progress with my summoning."

"Worry not. We won't be summoning tonight," he said, noticing how her shoulders relaxed. She looked positively exhausted after her first meeting with his mother. "But I do wish to speak with you."

"About what?" she questioned.

"You," he said simply while pulling out a chair for her at a small table. Once she sat down, he took the seat across from her. "How long have you been summoning?"

"Since I was three."

"And yet you cannot even call on it to protect you from a Fjerdan trying to kill you?"

"It took me seven minutes just to break out of my room," she revealed, her cheeks flushing. "I've just... always struggled. I don't know why. I can't even summon long enough to know what it truly feels like."

"Here," he said, offering his hand to her.

But Lysander shook her head. "I know you're an amplifier. I don't want to have to rely on you or some poor creature just to summon. It's not fair to use you that way."

"I don't see it as using me," he said softly. "But thank you for the consideration."

He'd always been sensitive about sharing his amplification abilities, especially after nearly being drowned for it when he was thirteen by a so-called friend. He didn't expect for Lysander to consider how he felt about someone using him as an amplifier.

"Maybe it doesn't come naturally to you," Kirigan said. "But you are remarkable, Lysander. More so than you realize. To summon shadows and sunlight? You're a living Saint."

"That's nothing special given that you're one too," she reminded him. Even though people didn't like to think of him as such since they feared him. "The Starless Saint. I've always liked that name."

"I think I'm the most hated of Saints — or feared, at least."

"I don't fear you," she said honestly. "I mean, I fear the dark, but that's not you. Just a childhood fear I never overcame."

"That won't do," he said, shaking his head. "You can't fear what you control."

Before she knew it, his shadows were creeping up the wall. Her eyes went wide with terror, and she gripped the table in front of her to ground herself as her sight was taken away. It was cold and suffocating and terrifying.

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder and startled.

"It's okay," Kirigan said gently.

"I don't like this, General," she let him know as he helped her stand without tripping over the chair.

"I know," he chuckled, his breath hitting the back of her neck. "Just close your eyes and focus on the shadows. Reach out to them. Feel them. Let your body know them."

Lysander blinked a few times before doing as she was told. It was easy to feel them, as they were practically sticking to her skin, drawn to her. She took a few deep breaths, telling her mind that she wasn't in any danger. And as she did, all she could smell was Kirigan, a scent coming off him that made her head spin in the best way possible. It was different from Alina, who always smelled like wildflowers and fresh dirt even after days of traveling.

Then she focused on his hand, that was slowly moving down her shoulder and arm, toward her hand. Even though she'd denied him, he still held her hand, letting her use his amplifier abilities.

She felt it instantly — warmth radiating through her, enhancing her senses, making her feel strong. Suddenly, she could feel the shadows wrapping around her fingertips as she called them forth, getting rid of them altogether. It left her alone in the room with the General, the light slowly returning as she opened her eyes.

"How did that feel?" he asked in a soft tone.

"The shadows are usually so cold, but that was... it was nice. Comforting," she admitted. Then she blushed, realizing that he was still holding her hand. The only person that ever held her hand was Alina, but his was much larger and not as soft. "Thank you."

"We'll continue to work on your fear before we move on," he told her before finally dropping her hand, seemingly just as hyperaware of the fact he'd been touching her longer than necessary. "I fear between me, Ivan, and Baghra, you've got your work cut out for you."

"I wouldn't mind dropping Ivan," she said with a hopeful smile. But it fell when Kirigan shook his head, visibly amused.

"If you can't rely on your summoning abilities, then I need to know you can protect yourself physically. You'll remain training with Ivan."

✵︎

"How was your day?" Alina asked as Lysander fell into bed next to her, having changed into a nightgown.

"I'm so tired," she mumbled, hiding her face in her pillow. "I could barely write my letter to Mal — it's shorter than I wanted it to be. I miss him so much already."

"Me too," she murmured. "I hope he's not mad at us."

"Mal could never stay mad at us," she said, so sure of it. "At least, I hope not. But I invited him here, so we can talk to him face to face."

"I invited him as well. I figured we're important enough to request leave for him now," she explained, getting under the covers. Then she recoiled her legs, feeling Lysander's feet. "Saints, your feet are freezing."

"They're always freezing," she said, giggling.

"C'mere," Alina said, pulling her closer. The girls cuddled close, their legs intertwining. Lysander was all too happy to lean against Alina's chest and close her eyes. "At least the first day is over. It can't get worse."

"I hope you're right."