[ I started a new shadow and bone book if you wanna check it out! It's the darkling and Alina. also, WHY IS THE FORMATTING STILL LIKE THIS I DONT WANT EVERYTHING CENTERED ]

☆︎

HE ORDERED YOUR DEATH! NOW I'M ORDERING THEIRS!

Entering the Fold a second time was different. This time, Ithaca was connected to Kirigan and his shadows, feeling them all around her. But it wasn't imposing — it was comforting. It felt like coming home. She couldn't help but close her eyes and bask in the darkness.

The she remembered where they were, what they were doing, and she opened them. And when she did, she saw that Kirigan already had his eyes on her. He gave her a nod, and she called upon her starlight to guide them instead of the blue light that the Durast invented.

It didn't attract the Volcra, living instead in harmony with the Fold.

And as she did so, Aleksander looked at her like she was the very reason the real stars were in the sky, a reminder than in spite of everything that was happening, he did love her still.

Aleksander came to stand behind her next to Alina, placing his winter cloak around her shoulders to keep her warm.

"Can you feel them?" he asked, speaking to Ivan who had his hands lifted.

"No heartbeats yet, sir."

"They're close," Ithaca whispered. It was almost like she could feel the Volcra flying through the shadows. She could feel everything that the Fold touched.

"How many markers have we passed?" a woman asked.

"Five, ma'am," a Heartrender whispered.

Ithaca could hear the screeching as the Volcra grew closer and closer, their growls reverberating through the air.

"They're coming," Alina said fearfully.

"Yes," Aleksander agreed, tightening his hold on Ithaca. He was ready to wield her as his sword, to cut down the Volcra if need be.

"I should just tear this down now," Alina tried to reason.

He raised a taunting eyebrow and raised his hand to Ithaca's chest, drawing both girls' attention to the piece of antler in his hand. "And what can you really do on your own? Besides, it would be a monumental waste of power."

"Don't test me, Aleksander," Ithaca murmured.

He hummed and leaned down to kiss her neck gently. Alina watched with hatred in her eyes, but at the very least, it was hatred for him not her. She hated what Kirigan had done with her heart.

As the Volcra grew near, the passengers grew nervous. Alina looked at Ithaca, wondering why she wasn't attacking them yet.

"Do something," Alina begged.

Before she could use her own power to fend off the Fold, Kirigan grabbed her shoulder. "No. Remember who's driving." Then he called on Alina's power and formed a tunnel of light, keeping the Volcra at bay so that they could safely travel past.

"Your power is mine now."

Alina cried out in pain, so Ithaca grabbed ahold of Kirigan's other wrist, using her own connection to the bond to keep him from hurting her, knowing that he could've done it without causing her pain.

"Cut it out," she muttered, getting frustrated with him.

"Why this half measure?" Alina asked. "Why just carve a tunnel? You have me. You have this. Destroy the Fold. You said we could."

"Shall you tell her or I, Little Star?" Aleksander asked, taking her hand around his wrist and kissing her knuckles, silently asking for forgiveness.

"Alina," Ithaca said, a strong look in her eye. "Why would we destroy the Fold? It's the greatest weapon that we've got."

"Ithy, no!" she said, her voice shaking. "This isn't the way to win the war."

"Yes, it is," she insisted. "You're too naive to see it. Too soft. The First and Second Army aren't enough. I'm tired of seeing my fellow solider die."

A tear fell down Ithaca's eyes, and Alina just shook her head. "You're choosing him over me?"

"I'm choosing to win the war," she insisted.

"And the man she loves," Kirigan needlessly added before hooking his finger underneath Ithaca's chin. He turned her head and pulled her into a slow kiss that she couldn't help but return.

Alina scoffed and looked away. And just in time to notice the ship coming to a stop just short of the city. All of them noticed, and the dignitaries began murmuring amongst themselves.

"Why have we stopped?" a woman asked, stepping forward.

"One more demonstration," Aleksander said, looking out at the dock waiting for them. Ithaca could make out Zlatan's outline, and fury filled her, remembering that he'd tried to have Alina killed. "You've seen what the Sun Summoner can do. Now bear witness to what I can do... with her power."

"Whatever it is you want me to do, I won't do it," Alina argued.

"You've done your part," he murmured before standing behind Ithaca. He intertwined their hands, calling out to her power with his own. "Now I shall do mine."

With their hands still joined, he threw their arms up, reaching into the shadows. Ithaca could feel it too, lending him her power as he pushed the Fold forward, it swallowing the city before them.

Ithaca could hear the screams but she didn't flinch — she never flinched when she made a kill. But her veins filled with excitement, missing the feeling. She hadn't killed a single soul since coming to the Little Palace. And now she could feel the shadows and Volcra tearing into their flesh.

"What have you done?" Alina asked in horror before calling in her power to push the tunnel out toward the city. Only to see nothing remaining as the Volcra tore it apart.

"No, you don't," Kirigan said, grabbing her wrist and forcing her to let go of the light.

The screams continued as the people were slaughtered.

"Alina, they tried to kill you!" Ithaca told her. "They killed Marie but you ran before you could find out. He ordered your death! Now I'm ordering theirs!"

Aleksander smiled at her proudly before looking at the leaders amongst the deck, all of whom looked horrified.

"Today, we redraw all the maps. With the power of the Sun Summoner and the Blade of Ravka at my command, I control the Fold. And its monsters. I can move it to any border I like. Engulf any harbor. Consume any city. Take what you have seen back to your home countries. Tell the Fjerdans. Tell the Shu Han. There will be no more war with Ravka. All countries will answer to us. For who would oppose us now?"

Suddenly a gun sounded, and Ithaca looked up with wide eyes, seeing Mal come from seemingly nowhere. The guards attacked him, but he easily got out of their way, only for Aleksander to nod to Ivan, who raised his hands. Stopping Mal's heart.

"No!" Ithaca shouted, tearing herself out of Kirigan's hold.

"Mal!" Alina cried as he dropped, blood dripping from his mouth.

"Keep him alive," Kirigan told Ivan, ignoring the glare Ithaca was sending him. "He could be useful to us."

"Alina," Mal grunted, reaching for her.

Kirigan leaned down and picked up Mal's fallen gun, throwing it overboard. Then he pulled Alina away.

"Focus. You put your attention on the light that's keeping us all safe, or your friend dies now," he warned.

Alina huffed and focused her abilities, pushing the light back up that'd been slowly creeping down on them. Then she collapsed weakly, crying for Mal.

"General Kirigan," the woman from Kerch said, "this will only turn the world against you and all Grisha. You'll be seen not as a savior, but a heretic."

Displeased with her opinion, Kirigan nodded to Ivan. The woman's guards moved to attack, but Ivan was quicker, killing them effortlessly.

"Shame," Kirigan said, looking to Ithaca. "I'll have to give that speech again now."

"If Mal dies, I'll—"

"What?" he cut her off. "Kill me?" he asked, both knowing the answer. "It would be no easier than me killing you, my love."

Ithaca clenched her jaw, knowing he was right. So, she clenched her eyes shut and looked away from Mal, just happy that he was alive for now.

Then, without the order being given, the skiff began moving forward, the light traveling with it. Kirigan turned around, looking up at Zoya with wide eyes, who was responsible. "Zoya? Zoya!"

Another gunshot sounded, and Ithaca pulled Kirigan down, both spotting Jesper, who'd come up out from under the deck. Kirigan reacted quickly, throwing his shadows his way. But Kaz was quicker, shoving him out of the way.

It was like it happened in slow motion, Ithaca unable to stop it as a knife sailed through the air, landing deep in Kirigan's chest and over his heart, who'd stupidly forgone his kefta out of sheer cockiness.

Everyone froze, and Ithaca felt her heart stop. In spite of all his cruelty, she wasn't ready to lose him yet. He was on the verge of killing Mal and enslaving Alina and yet she was so weak that she didn't want him to die.

But rather than drop as everyone was expecting, black veins traveled up his neck as he groaned, pulling the knife from his chest, the tip covered in black blood.

"It will take more than this!" he shouted at Inej, who'd thrown the knife from the back of the skiff. Then he brought his hands together and ended the tunnel that was protecting her and Zoya. "You stay in the dark!"

Ithaca watched as Kaz stupidly ran into the darkness to protect Inej, not that she could focus on him for long. No, because Kirigan neared Alina — to help her or hurt her, Ithaca didn't know.

"Don't hurt her," Ithaca warned.

"Can't you see our fighting is tearing Ithaca apart?" Aleksander asked her, offering her his hand. "It's just us three now, Alina. And we are all we need, anyway."

"You may have needed me... but I never needed you," Alina said, suddenly ramming the knife he'd dropped through his hand, the piece of the Stag's antlers flying through the air as Kirigan groaned, falling back and clutching his bleeding hand.

"Your first words to me were, 'What are you?'" Alina told him, brining her hands together. "This is what I am."

The Volcra screeched as she extended her light to them, saving Inej, Zoya, and Kaz.

"How do you claim such power?"

"I have the one thing you never will — not truly," she said, her eyes following on Ithaca, who was inching toward her, drawn to the power. "I didn't understand before, but I do now. You cannot claim what was not given to you. The Stag chose me. It doesn't matter if Ithaca killed it."

Kirigan groaned and stood to his full height. "You chose to betray our people. I was trying to save us."

He brought his good hand up to attack her, but Mal was faster, tackling him and throwing him overboard.

"No!" Ithaca and Alina both shouted, running to the side of the ship.

And rather than stand and watch, Ithaca jumped over the side, running after them as Mal punched Kirigan in the face.

"You betrayed us first!" Mal shouted, taking his anger out on the man.

But Aleksander had been training with Ithaca for weeks, honing his skills for a moment just like this. He dodged every attack effortlessly and gained the upper hand, tearing into Mal.

"Stop it!" Ithaca shouted, shooting starlight at them to separate them.

Mal fell over on his face while Aleksander looked at her hopelessly. While he was distracted, Mal used the opportunity to grab the gun Kirigan threw away, using it to shoot him. Ithaca screamed, but none of the shots sent him down.

Mal eventually ran out of bullets, and Kirigan stared him down darkly. "I've survived for centuries. Did you really think you could kill me?"

"I said stop!" Ithaca said, throwing out more shadows before standing between them. Both men were on their backs, no match for her power.

She stood over Aleksander, a shard of cold starlight in her hand, ready to use it to defend Mal if she truly had to.

"Don't make me do this. Don't make me choose," Ithaca begged, tears welling in her eyes. "Please, Aleksander."

"Why? Because you'll choose them?" he asked, his own eyes watering.

"They're my family," she whispered.

"I was meant to be your family!" he shouted, standing up. And he stalked toward her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. "You at my side forever. You'll throw it all away for some orphans of Keramzin?"

"She's one of those orphans too," Mal spat while pulling Ithaca away from him. "And I don't have to kill you, Darkling. Your past will do it for me."

Ithaca saw the Volcra a moment too late, unable to stop it as it swooped down, sinking it's claws into Kirigan and dragging him away into the darkness.

"No!" Ithaca cried, running after him. But Mal wouldn't let her, opting to drag her back to the ship, ignoring the sounds of his screams. She fought and clawed, but she was too grief-stricken to think enough to fight him off properly. All she could think of was Aleksander being torn apart by those monsters, and she was unable to stop them.

By the time Mal got her on the ship, Ithaca felt numb, still staring at the last place where Aleksander stood. His screams echoed in her ears, matched by the pounding in her ears. She didn't even hear Mal crouching over Alina's still body, trying to wake her.

"It's Kirigan's Heartrender," Inej was explaining.

"Come on, Alina. Alina, come back for me, please. Alina?" Mal cried.

Finally, Ithaca got off her knees and moved to her best friend, looking at the state Ivan had left her in. Blood was pooling from her nose and she seemed to not be breathing.

"Wake up, Sunshine," Ithaca muttered, more tears falling. She couldn't lose them both in one day. "Please, wake up. Please, come back."

"Please?" Mal begged. "Come on, please."

Suddenly, Alina gasped and opened her eyes, taking in her first deep breath and filling them with relief. "Mal," she coughed out.

"I'm here," Mal sobbed. "We're both here. And don't you dare say, 'Meet me in the meadow.'"

seeing a Volcra swooping toward them, Alina raised her hand, shooting warm sunlight at it and sending it away before it could take Mal from her. And as she did that, Zoya pushed the skiff out of the Fold, getting them all to safety.

And as all the others stared into the daylight in relief, Ithaca could only look at the Fold, knowing that her heart had been torn to shreds inside.

☆︎

The group was sitting around a small fire, each of them exhausted and sore from the battle that commenced. Inej was sitting between the two light summoners, looking at them in awe.

"I've never met a Saint before."

"I've never been a Saint before," Alina said sheepishly.

"Wherever you are, whatever you need... my hand is yours," Inej promised them.

"I like that hand with a dagger in it," Alina said, which made Ithaca flinch, recalling how she'd almost killed Aleksander. Though she supposed it didn't matter.

He was dead, and she was alone. The Crows had each other, and Alina had Mal. Ithaca was on her own.

"I couldn't hold onto yours, so take mine as a replacement," Alina was saying, handing the letter opener she'd taken from the Little Palace her first night there. "It's not much, but it'll fend off a bully or two."

Inej smiled down at the weapon as if Alina had gifted her a priceless treasure. "I know just what to name it."

Kaz, who went to find supplies for them, handed a bag off to Jesper, which he held out to Mal. "Step one for any good plan, a change of clothes. It's worked for me. Here."

"Thank you," Mal said as the girls stood.

Alina eyed Kaz warily. "So... will you still be trying to kidnap me?"

"'Course not," Jesper assured her.

Kaz looked at him flatly. "Have you found religion, too?"

"No, it's just..." Jesper sighed tiredly. "I'm exhausted. Besides... it'd be bad form to kidnap someone after they saved your life."

Kaz eyed Alina for a long moment, weighing his options. "You are quite valuable, you know?"

Moving carefully, Alina stepped past Mal and held out the jewel encrusted hairpiece that she'd been wearing for the journey across the Fold.

"So is this."

"I saw this on a portrait of one of the queens in the Little Palace," Kaz noted, signifying it's worth.

"It's not a gift," Ithaca said harshly. "It's to keep quiet about who she is. Where she goes from here."

Kaz glanced at Inej before pocketing the hairpiece. "The deal is the deal."

Alina shook his gloved hand before walking off with Mal hand in hand. Ithaca was hesitant to follow, unsure if they'd want her to. But noticing her absence, Alina stopped and looked back at her, holding out her other hand.

"Let's get changed."

"Didn't think you'd want me with you," she murmured.

"Don't be ridiculous, Ithy," Mal told her. "We need our bodyguard."

☆︎

Ithaca still had Aleksander's cloak around her shoulders when they returned to the others, unable to part with it. It was quite literally the only thing she had of him and she wasn't keen to be rid of it. Not when the collar still smelled of him.

Both Ithaca and Alina had bundled up the stupid dresses Kirigan had forced them into for the disastrous demonstration. They tossed them into the fire, watching the fabric get taken over by the flames.

"I didn't expect it to burn at all. But it can be destroyed in the end. Just like him," Mal said somberly.

"Didn't think you were smart enough for metaphors," Ithaca managed to joke, the smile on her lips not reaching her eyes as Mal shoved her to the side.

Alina didn't laugh, too busy staring at the Fold. Each of them watched her take a few threatening steps toward it before stopping.

"I know that look," Mal said. "You're staring down your new bully."

"We're worse off than we were before, Mal.
Kirigan turned on his own people—"

"Okay," he cut her off, holding her hand. "You're not ready yet."

"Neither were they," she murmured.

"That's not your fault," Mal said.

"But it's mine," Ithaca said, glancing at Zoya. No doubt, her family was lost in the attack.

"Who do you think the world will blame?" Alina asked rhetorically.

"We'll come back, I promise. You will tear it down. Just not today," Mal promised her.

"I have to go," Zoya suddenly said.

"Wait!" Inej protested. "You can't go back into the Fold."

"To Novokribirsk. I had family in that city. I need to know how much of it is lost," she said while glaring at Ithaca who didn't back down at her disdain.

"It's dangerous to go looking for the dead. What you see may haunt you for the rest of your days," Kaz warned her.

"Not going will haunt me more," she said before looking to Alina. "You can't stay in Ravka. The Apparat will try to keep his power. Blame this on all of us. The people will turn on Grisha again. You need to find new allies."

Zoya then surprised them all by hugging Alina, who smiled. "Then I'll come back... and reclaim our country."

"I still don't like you," Zoya admitted with a soft smile, "but I'm grateful for you. So remember this. Saints become martyrs before they get to be heroes. So... stay alive."

"They'll have to get through me first," Mal said confidently.

"You need more than bullets and bravado to survive the people hunting you now," she told him.

Mal smiled sheepishly. "Alright, then we have Ithy."

Zoya eyed her for a moment, the corners of her lips turning up. "A terrifying foe indeed."

Then the Squaller took off back toward the city, leaving them behind. And Kaz wasn't going to waste any time mourning her departure.

"It's a two-day walk to Os Kervo from here, given our condition."

Jesper sighed and stood reluctantly. "Two days as the crow walks."

"We can smuggle ourselves onto a ship to Ketterdam from there," he said, putting out the fire.

"I have a question," Jesper said as the six of them began walking. He pointed right at Ithaca. "I'm still a bit confused. Were you fighting with or against the Darkling?"

Ithaca stared at him blankly. "Both," she said, scaring him a bit. How could she not when she still had warpaint covering her eyes?

"Then why are we bringing her along?" he asked, now looking to Alina.

"She may have loved him," Alina said, reaching for Ithaca's hand. "But we'll always choose each other."

Ithaca squeezed her hand, ignoring the tug in her heart that still longed for Aleksander. "Always."