CHAPTER ONE

The night was cold but Liliya was home. It had been a week and she had never been happier to see the walls of the Little Palace. Her black kefta fit snug around her waist as she slipped off her horse. A servant taking a hold of his reins and the two disappeared inside. Her fingers dragged through her hair and she stretched, cracking her back.

Her gaze flicked over the front of the Palace, noting that most of the lights were out before she looked back to the entrance. It was ajar and she knew she was expecting so she headed inside.

The palace was quiet but peaceful. A different kind of peaceful than she was used to. Not the peace of the forest, twittering of birds so faint that it was barely perceptible. No that's not what this was. It was different but a good different. It was a nice change from the monotony of the week. Spending so much time in little villages had been dull.

Now, she was back and Aleksander would be waiting for her. Her boots clicked against the floor as she swayed her hips, ignoring anyone that gave her questioning looks. She had quickly grown used to them over the past year. Everything had changed but she felt good, better. Better than before.

Her knuckles knocked against the door of his bedroom but she opened anyway, sliding inside. It was more of a warning, notifying him than actually asking permission. It was their bedroom now not that either of them admitted it. Her heeled boots kicked the door closed as she began to unbutton her kefta.

Aleksander was lying in bed. A book in hand, his gaze didn't even move up when he heard her move inside. Sliding the kefta off her, she let it drop to the floor before she toed her boots off. Glad to be out of them as she removed her socks and began to work on the buttons of her blouse. The silence ebbing between them until Aleksander looked up.

His gaze landing on the kefta and staying there while Liliya paid no attention. She heard a soft huff, the smirk spreading across her face as she pulled the blouse over her head. She then stripped her pants off and walked over to the dresser. Her fingers skimming over to the drawer before pulling it out and grabbing one of her nightdresses.

But before she could slip it on, two arms wrapped around her waist. A black kefta held in front of her face as she felt Aleksander's beard pressed against the side of her neck. His dark eyes on her face.

"What did I tell you?" He whispered. His voice was low and made Liliya weak at the knees. It was absurd how much she had missed his voice. It was like black treacle. Her head tilted to meet his gaze, a small smile on her lips.

"Don't leave it on the floor," She responded. Kirigan hummed in agreement as he stepped back from her. His hand slipping from resting against her bare stomach as he walked over to the wardrobe.

"Then why was it on the floor?" He asked. Liliya rolled her eyes and pulled the night dress over her head, shrugging. He then placed the kefta into the washing box. It was already full of his clothes that needed to be washed.

"I was going to put it away," Liliya shrugged simply. Kirigan then moved back to the bed and grabbed his book. He said nothing more and Liliya collected the rest of her clothes. She dropped her socks, blouse and pants into the box before she kicked her boots next to Aleksander's. Then she walked over to him, crawling onto the bed.

Her hands snatched the book from his grasp and dropped it next to them on the bed before straddling his waist. He stared down at her and she smiled, shuffling so her body was pressed up against him. Her fingers splayed across his bare chest.

"Don't act grumpy, kotik. I thought you'd be happy to see me," Liliya said as she pushed her fingers through his hair. Aleksander's hands moved to wrap around her waist, pressing her against his chest. His lips then captured her and he kept her close, kissing her passionately and aggressively. His tongue entering her mouth with little to no resistance. Her fingers digging into his hair as she groaned softly against him.

"I hate that name," He mumbled as he pulled back from the kiss. Panting softly as he looked into her eyes, adoration on his face. Liliya smirked and then pressed a soft kiss to his lips before peppering a few down his neck and chest.

"You love it," She mumbled against his skin before she looked up again. His eyes were nearly black, pupils blown wide with want. Though they had something to talk about first. Her legs swinging off him as she moved to sit next to him. Crossing her legs. There was a prominent bulge in his night pants but she ignored it to focus on his face.

"Milaya, what are you doing?" He asked as he reached out to take her hips but she slipped back. His eyebrows knitting together. She smirked, a soft chuckle escaping her lips before she stood off the bed. She then walked over to the washing box and grabbed a note from the pocket of her kefta. She had left it on the floor for a reason.

"A list of my findings while I was near Fjerda," Liliya said as she gestured the paper around vaguely. Aleksander narrowed his eyes at the paper and watched as she walked over, holding it out to him. He took it but the unimpressed look was still evident on his face. He glanced over it, his face twisting up before he looked over to her.

"No sign of the Summoner?" Aleksander asked. Liliya shook her head and took a hold of the note again. She leant over to the bedside table and placed the note underneath her book. It was one she had been reading before she was called away. The whole trip had felt pointless now.

"No Summoner. No Grisha. The lead was pointless. I'm not sure what Lev was thinking. I don't even know where he is now. I arranged to meet with Roma at midday tomorrow to discuss. We can't sleep in as much as I wished to," Liliya said as she looked back over at him. Aleksander watched her for a moment before nodding. He then held his hand out and she took it. Sliding into his lap again as she ran her fingers through his hair. A soft smile appearing on her lips.

"I have a meeting in the morning and we must arrange our visit to the Fold. General Zlatan is becoming restless," Aleksander explained. A soft huff escaped Liliya's lips as she let her head drop against his shoulder. She wanted anything but to travel again. A few days at the Little Palace with Aleksander was all she wanted and needed, "But I won't let that impede our activities," He whispered slyly in her ear. His hands moving to inch her night dress up her thigh.

A soft squeal escaped her lips when she felt him trace his fingers along the sensitive skin of her thigh. Her smile widened a little and he smirked, turning them over so she was pressed down against the mattress. His hands moving to her wrist, pinning them above her head.

"I wished you had returned home earlier. We could have had so much more fun," He whispered as he pressed a few kisses to her neck. Her head falling back as she sighed in content. Just the feeling of him there made her feel good. She had missed him so much. Her legs moving to wrap around his waist, pulling him down against her.

"I'm here now, General," She responded. A sultry tone to her voice and he let out a soft groan when he felt her roll her hips. His lips attaching to hers again, enjoying each other's touch.

***

There was an ache between her legs and on her hips even as she walked into the war room at midday. Her training with Arina certainly hadn't helped but she needed something to work the exhaustion from her muscles and after so long on horseback, fighting was just what she needed. Though she ached more.

A bloody lip, a black eye forming, bruises crawling up her arms, red marks from Aleksander and hand prints against her hips. She was suddenly glad for how high collared her kefta was. A soft smile spread across her lips when she saw Roma. He had a few letters in his hand but he dumped them when he saw Liliya, grinning.

The two of them hugged and he noticed how stiff she was moving. Then she took her kefta off and Roma knew why she was so sore. His gaze flicked over the bloody lip before he grabbed a few markers, passing them to her.

"Where did you check?" Roma asked. Liliya took them and then leant over the table. Most of the villages she had gone to were quiet, very few people and they were near the border of Fjerda so it was never pleasant to visit. They were all terrified. It reminded of how she had been when she was younger but she was different now.

"Just the villages that Lev suggested. Though I think my training with him has dented his brain because there was nothing helpful," Liliya said as she stepped back. The talking had caused her lip to bleed again. A soft huff escaping her lips as she pressed her fingers against her lip. The blood leaking onto her fingertips.

"Who did you train with?" Roma asked as he looked over where the markers had been placed. His head tilting from side-to-side as he considered what it meant. He then walked over to the letters, grabbing the one from the top of the pile. They were all letters from various Second Army units across Ravka. They were supposed to be helpful, Roma found them dull.

"Arina. I think Ivan and Fedyor are having an effect on her," Liliya said. A bitter taste in her mouth at the mention of Ivan but she had tried to put his actions to one side. He may have poisoned her and allowed her to be attacked multiple times. He may have left her to die at the hands of the Shu but that was in the past. All in the past. Her fingers unclenched and she smiled at Roma who noticed her brief demeanour change.

"You should have visited the Healer or Genya," Roma said as he flicked open the letter. His gaze scanning the words but not entirely taking them in. It was never anything interesting or important. Just general information that should have gone to anyone but him. Aleksander had tasked them with finding the Sun Summoner not listening to the Second Army complain about their missions. Roma had long stopped caring.

"Genya is with the Queen. I'll see her later and I couldn't be late. You'd have my head or I'd have to give head to make up for it," Liliya mumbled the last bit as she tapped her fingers against the table. Her head tilting as she looked across the board. There were so many markers. So many places that she had checked and there was still nothing. The search felt hopeless.

"What you and our General get up to in your leisure time is none of my business. He would have heard nothing from me," Roma said as he threw another letter onto the table. It skidded and nearly knocked a marker until Liliya gestured for her shadows to stop it. Commanding to her will with ease. Another perk of Aleksander, he had taught her control.

"The Healer would have healed everything. He hates that," Liliya said as she glanced over at the black kefta. She wore his colours, one of the only people to ever do that, yet he still felt the need to mark her in every other way he could. It was endearing.

"Li," Roma warned and she lifted her hands up in mock defence.A soft smile spreading across her face before she met his gaze. He looked exhausted with her and it just made her smile a little wider. Her hands burying in the pockets of her pants as she strolled back over to the table.

"Anything useful?" Liliya asked gesturing to the letters. Roma shook his head and she huffed, snatching up one of the discarded letters. Drabbling about the border of Shu Han. One did take her interest when she saw Lord Yanovich's name. Her smile widened. The memory of the Lord. He had always been so kind but she hadn't seen him in over a year. She had managed to catch glimpses of him at court when she had been visiting by Aleksander's side but other than that, there was nothing. She wanted to know how he was, if Daish was okay. If Lisenka had grown any braver. But there was also a part of her that didn't care anymore.

"Oh, this is Lev," Roma said as he grabbed a chair from the side and sat down. He began to read through the letter and Liliya watched his face. Watching as his eyebrows pulled together and the annoyance appeared. A soft huff escaped Roma's lips and then his mouth fell open a little. Liliya cocked an eyebrow, waiting and becoming impatient, "Read it," Roma said as he held it out to her. The redhead snatched it from his fingers and then began to read over the letter. Her eyes scanning the lines, trying to work out what had got Roma so grave,

Then the name. Isaak. "That's not good," Liliya muttered. Roma scoffed and pushed himself to stand up. He crossed to the map and leant forward, pressing his finger against the marker for Ketterdam. His finger tapping softly against it.

"You need to be careful, Li. If Lev can return easily, Isaak can too," Roma said. Liliya nodded and then folded the letter up, throwing it onto the desk. Pushing the reminders of her father to the back of her mind. She then leant over and stared over at the areas of Ravka they had yet to go through. Most of West Ravka was unmarked. There had been few reports from that side of the country. It was slightly worrying but Liliya knew that she couldn't cross.

As she had learnt from Kirigan, either of them crossing was dangerous. They were a beacon for the volcra and that would put everyone at danger. Liliya didn't want that. So, she stayed firmly in the East and just waited for an opportunity for someone else to go.

"Why is Lev in Ketterdam? I thought he was following a lead on the Summoner?" Liliya asked as she rested her chin against the palm of her head. Roma nodded and then turned on his heel, crossing over to the table. He rifled through some paper before he pulled out on of the older letters. He then held it out and Liliya recognised the handwriting. Nina Zenik.

"Apparently while briefly in Ketterdam, she heard of a Summoner. There wasn't much to go on but Lev will do anything to be away these days. Plus, he likes the brothels and criminals. Gives him a chance to punch someone," Roma shrugged. Dismissing the behaviour. Lev had increasingly become an issue while in Os Alta so Liliya didn't even bother to order him back. He never listened and the few times he did, he never stayed for long. Always an excuse.

"He has plenty of people to punch here. Just remind him not to get into trouble or get killed," Liliya said. Roma nodded and then he grabbed the pile of letters again. Liliya's eyes kept flicking to the letter from Lev. Her gaze focusing on those few words. The few words that scared her more than anything had before. She thought he was gone.

He had let her and Daish escaped and she had heard and seen nothing. There had been months where she sought him out to finish what he had started. Do what needed to be done but there was nothing and now here he was. In Ketterdam of all places, it felt dangerous. It was certainly stupid that he was there. He was a Shadow Summoner and people did not take kindly to their kind. His shadows were also unconventional and uncontrolled. He could commit a massacre and in a place surrounded by criminals, that seemed likely.

Liliya didn't even realise she had been lost in thought of her father until Lev snapped in her face. She blinked and smiled up at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you alright? You look..." Roma trailed off, gesturing towards her face. Liliya smiled and nodded, turning Lev's letter over.

"Fine. Just wondering how long it is until we hear news of a massacre in Ketterdam. Isaak is unpredictable and if someone tries to harm him, they will be the ones dead. And not just one person, half of Ketterdam will have been killed by the shadows. He massacred a whole village in an afternoon as I passively watched. Lev needs to be careful," Liliya explained. Roma frowned at her words but nodded. He grabbed a fresh piece of parchment and began to write as Liliya stared at the map again.

Every part of her was screaming at her to go after Isaak, find him and kill him. Then it would only be her and Aleksander. Just the two of them. They would be the only ones and they could do what they planned with no chance of opposition but it seemed impossible. It was reckless and stupid to even attempt so she couldn't, not yet.

"Lev said that he saw Isaak leaving Ketterdam. Did you read what he said?" Roma asked as he paused in his writing. Liliya looked up and waited for a moment but Roma said nothing. She scoffed and snatched up the letter beginning to read through it. Actually taking the time to read what he had said about Isaak.

Leaving Ketterdam. Heading to Ravka. Then some ramblings and speculation about General Zlatan and support. That seemed unlikely. Zlatan hated Grisha more than anyone she had met. Getting help from a Shadow Summoner of all people would be far from what could happen. Zlatan was an idiot. An old idiotic fool.

"Tell Lev to be careful and warn any Second Army units of his existence. Don't tell them he's a Shadow Summoner. Just that's he's dangerous. I need to speak with Aleksander," Liliya said as she snatched up the black kefta. Ketterdam, Ravka, Shu Han or Fjerda, Isaak was dangerous to everyone. Aleksander needed to know that he might be coming.

***

author's note! oh hello, another chapter, so quickly?? yeah idk how this happened, i did like all my schoolwork and then just poured my soul into writing cause i miss my babies more than anything and it's been less than like 12 hours?? ANYWAY, i'm very excited for this act/arc/book/whatever, there's a LOT of fun things that are gonna come out and happen, some twists and turns, y'all are NOT READY and i'm very excited. okay and two things, kotik means like kitten as in the term of endearment, liliya is calling him 'kitty cat/kitten' basically, it seems kinda weird but in context with a line she said last act it's like a cute call-back to me lmao and then other thing is there's been a timejump, it's been like a year and then some since act one so yeah, just thought i'd let y'all know, thank you for checking this out and sticking by me! love y'all sm <3