Alina was woken the next day by Genya marching into her room to get her ready, as she did every morning. Before she could do more than blearily open her eyes, her friend had stopped dead.

"What in the name of all the saints is that?"

"Would you believe I fell down the stairs?" She groaned, snatching the blankets up to cover her unfortunate marks.

"On both sides of your neck?"

"Shut up Genya," She snorted, despite herself. "Can the inquisition wait? I didn't get much sleep,"

After they had returned to the Little Palace - Alina had got dressed in the end, as it was winter, and thus was visible on the way back - it had been a true test of self control to make it to the Darkling's chambers. The moment the door had shut he had slammed her against it, only for him to immediately turn them around so it was his back to the door. She had thought the experience on the table had been mind-blowing, and it had, but was nothing compared to what came after.

She was pulled from enjoyable memories by Genya snatching her blankets away. "Get up!" Upon seeing the state of the rest of her, the girl gasped. Overdramatically, in Alina's opinion.

It wasn't a pretty sight, she had to admit. Perhaps they had gone a bit far. She was not one to lay back and let him do all the work, and it had been as much of a competition as anything else. Aside from her neck, there were similar marks all over her breasts, and the inside of her thighs, along with fingerprint-shaped bruises on her wrists, neck and outer thigh. Her lips were undoubtedly swollen, and her whole body ached in the best (or worst) possible way. Of course, Genya could only see what wasn't covered by her (very short, lacy, low cut) nightdress, but that was enough.

"Alina Starkova!" Her friend was too shrill for this early in the morning, caught between horror and glee.

Alina, resigning herself to the fact that she was not going to get any more sleep, sat up and glowered at her friend. "Not a word,"

She wondered how high-pitched Genya's voice would go if she had come in to find Alina's room empty, raised the alarm with the guards, only to see her crawling out of the Darkling's chambers. She bit back a grin. The image was amusing, but not worth the mortification.

"I'm not having that," The older girl placed her hands on her hips. "Who was it? I might just kill them - I'm the one who has to cover all this up!" It might be easier for me if you did kill them.

"Good luck," She snorted; she would pay to see Genya go head to head with the Darkling. "The kefta should cover most of it. It's only my neck and wrists that are a problem,"

"You can say that again," Genya scoffed. "And don't dodge my question. Who did you share a bed with last night? Because it definitely wasn't Yuri Vasiliev," She glanced around the room. "Where is your formal kefta? Don't tell me you left it with him! You must've done, you couldn't have brought anyone back here. Oh Alina, that outfit was gorgeous!"

Alina's stomach dropped. On the floor of the Darkling's bedchamber didn't seem like the best answer. Although again, it was tempting to say that just for the look on Genya's face.

"I'll get it back later," She said noncommittally.

"What was that look?" Her friend's eyes narrowed as she sat down beside her to start working on vanishing the marks on her neck.

"What look?"

"You're being secretive. Why? Normally you'd have told me everything about your mysterious lover, from their name, to how skilled they were, to how big -"

"Normally being four other men," She rolled her eyes. She was tempted to reply with, I can't tell you their name but they were really bad, and it was really, really small, but thought better of it. She wasn't quite that childish.

"It wasn't someone ugly, was it? Is that why you're embarrassed?"

"No," Alina laughed at that despite herself. "What do you take me for? And I'm not embarrassed, I just don't want anyone to know. There's a difference,"

"Were they Grisha?"

"... Yes," It would be hard to say how she got her kefta back otherwise.

"Oh, you've got to tell me now," Genya said. "Seeing as you won't, it's definitely someone we know. Someone I wouldn't expect," She frowned. "It wasn't Belsky, was it?"

"No," Alina pulled a disgusted face. "Absolutely not,"

"Kasper?"

"I would, but no, he would never," That was a joke, of course.

"I'd ask if it was Zoya - she'd definitely leave you with bruises - only these were definitely made by a man's hands," Genya prodded a particularly large, livid bruise on her thigh.

"Ow! Get off!" Alina batted her hand away. "It's none of your business!" The only consolation, she supposed, was that the Darkling had no doubt woken up with similar bruises.

"Wait," Her friend looked thoughtful. "If your kefta is still in his chambers, that means you came back here wearing nothing. I know you can make yourself invisible but why not just get dressed? It's freezing! What - "

They both froze as there was a knock on the door. Alina immediately turned herself invisible.

Genya rolled her eyes. "Come in,"

The door opened, revealing a nervous-looking oprichnik carrying a folded bundle of clothes. Alina's clothes. Her entire outfit from the previous night, in fact. Shoes, kefta, stockings, shift, underdress, hair pins and all.

"I was given these to bring to Miss Starkova?"

Genya's eyebrows were raised almost to her hairline as she crossed the chamber to take them from him. "Thank you," She smiled sweetly at the young man. "Who was it that told you to bring them here? Just so I know to thank them - they saved me a morning searching the palace," She laughed, blatantly flirting. It was rather pathetic, Alina thought sourly.

"I - " The guard's eyes widened, and he glanced backwards over his shoulder. "I'm not sure I can say, Miss Safina,"

Oh for the love of... Alina saw Genya's smile freeze. Could he be any more obvious?

"Not a problem, I understand perfectly," The girl said, ushering him out of the door. "Thank you anyway, you've been very helpful,"

The door closed with a click of finality. Genya turned around slowly, facing where Alina should be. She didn't make herself visible again. There was still a chance she could sneak around her friend and be out of that door before Genya could stop her -

"Don't you dare even think about running," Alina's scowling form faded back into existence. "Well if that didn't confirm it, the look on your face just did," The girl sounded shellshocked. "Oh Alina, you didn't,"

"If I told you it was that oprichnik would you believe me?" She mumbled.

"Not one bit," Genya marched over to her, hands on hips. "He didn't look like he could hurt a fly. Nor fold a pair of stockings,"

"Oprichniki are the most highly trained soldiers in Ravka, I'm sure he could," She protested weakly.

"There's no squirming your way out of this one," Her friend said. "I - I don't know what to say. I mean, I saw the way he looked at you, we all did, though I'd hoped he'd wait until you turned eighteen at least. I'm more surprised at you. How did it even happen? I suppose you left the ball together?"

"I couldn't stand being called Sankta Alina any more," She said, resigned to her fate. Genya would make a good interrogator. "I stormed out of the ballroom and he followed, to some empty study. He was playing his usual mind games, so I kissed him to shut him up, and prove a point. But then he kissed me back, and it suddenly got a lot more real. One thing led to another," She gestured down at herself. "Before you tell me it was stupid, I'm well aware," And you can go report that back, too. Alina believed what he had said last night, but equally that could be only part of the truth. "I'm only doing it because he's handsome and good in bed. Win, win," She lied, finishing on a rather sour note.

By the end of that, Genya was biting back a smirk. "So you mean to tell me that you got angry and dragged the Darkling off for a heated, secret tryst in the Grand Palace," She started. "Returned here, had your way with him for your own enjoyment, then left and came back to your own bed to sleep?"

Alina snorted. "Well when you say it like that..."

"You really know how to damage a man's pride, Alina,"

"As if he cares," She said. "He'd have likely told me to leave anyway. That's the kind of sick thing he'd get enjoyment out of. I just beat him to it,"

Genya still seemed amused, shaking her head. "So?" She asked slyly. "What was it like?"

"Does this not tell enough of a story for you?" Alina raised an eyebrow, gesturing down at herself.

"I can't say I'm surprised at that," Her friend scoffed slightly. "He looks like it would be... intense,"

"Wondered that often, have you?" She snickered.

"Everyone who's met him has wondered, Alina. And you are in no place to judge after what you did,"

"You make it sound like I killed someone,"

"I think if you had, you'd be more saintly,"

Alina smirked then, wickedly. "I've never felt more saintly in my life as I did with the Black General's head between my legs,"

Genya's mouth dropped open, eyes widening in amused surprise, but before she could say a word there was another knock at the door. It opened before either of them could say 'come in'. Both girls froze. She knew who it was before he even stepped into the room. Don't vampires need to be invited over a threshold?

The Darkling stopped dead as he took in her appearance, and Genya's hand that had been brushing her neck, only halfway through removing the marks. His face was expressionless, but she saw the sick satisfaction in his eyes. Prick. To pay him back for that, she looked up at him with the same eyes she had used when her mouth was around his cock the previous night, and smirked when his jaw clenched.

"I'm not dressed," Alina broke the silence. "It's rude to barge into a lady's rooms,"

A dark eyebrow rose. "Lady?" Oh, you bastard. That should not have left her squirming, trying not to flush. "Get ready immediately. The King wishes to see you in private this morning,"

"Of course," Alina nodded seriously, and noted the flash of surprise on his face at her easy acceptance. "Genya, I'm afraid you'll have to leave my purple neck for later. The King wishes to see me, and I simply cannot leave him waiting!"

Her friend's eyes widened, and her lips pressed together in a very careful line to keep from laughing.

The Darkling did not look nearly so impressed. "Don't be childish, Alina. It doesn't suit you,"

She smiled innocently, wide-eyed. "But I am a child? For six days yet,"

He glared at her.

She blinked back blankly, then gave in and laughed. "Fine, fine," She got to her feet, which she instantly realised was a big mistake. Ow! Alina forced herself to walk normally over to her dressing table where Genya had left her clothes, refusing to wince. "I'll be ready in fifteen minutes. Now go away. I'm not doing anything with you hovering at the door," She smirked. "Oh, and you've got something on your neck,"

His eyes narrowed. "How is it that you have lived at the Little Palace for almost nine years and not yet learned proper respect?"

"Oh forgive me," Alina said. "Go away, moi soverenyi," She gave a mocking curtsey, forgetting she was wearing a short nightdress with nothing underneath, but had committed already and had to play it off. Sorry Genya.

He stared at her for a moment or two after that, before wordlessly leaving the room, the door shutting loudly behind him. Not quite a slam, but getting there.

Alina turned to Genya, whose hands were clamped over her mouth in both horror and amusement.

"He looked like he wanted to kiss you and kill you that whole time," Her smile faded somewhat. "It was... It was what you wanted, Alina, wasn't it? You do have to be careful with powerful men. I'd know,"

"This is nothing like that," Alina said decisively. "Not at all. I chose to do it, although maybe for the wrong reasons,"

"I had to be sure," Her friend laid a hand on her arm. "Now, do you want me to get you that tea again?"

"Oh," Her eyes widened. "Yes. Definitely, thank you," The idea of falling pregnant at all was distasteful, but with the Darkling's child it was truly horrifying. "I'm not sure I'll ever be able to have a child," She mused. "Because if it's a Sun Summoner too, I'll be a spare. He'd definitely replace me for someone easier to deal with if he had to,"

"That's awful," Genya scolded. "Don't say things like that,"

Awful but she could still see that happening.

She spent the rest of the day with her friends, having only seen them briefly since she returned from the front.

"Are you alright, Alina?" Nina asked her. "You look like you're limping - is there some impressive war-wound you didn't tell us about?"

"You weren't limping yesterday," Zoya narrowed her eyes, paying attention now.

"I'm not limping, I just tripped," Alina tried to force herself to walk normally, but her wince gave it away. Her three friends all looked sceptical. "Alright, fine. I got angry at the ball and stormed out. Then I slipped on the lawn and fell on my arse. I must've pulled a muscle or two. Happy?"

Zoya, Viktor and Nina exchanged looks.

"What are you hiding?" Viktor grinned. "You wouldn't let yourself fall badly. You've had too much combat training for that,"

"Did you go off with someone for a romantic tryst?" Nina asked, leering. "I thought you'd finally got rid of Yuri Vasiliev? I hope he's not the one left you hobbling around?"

"No," He said. "She'd have told us already, if Yuri was pathetic enough to take her back after she was so cruel to him,"

"Well the person she had the tryst with is clearly someone she wants kept quiet?" Zoya said, smirking. "It wasn't the Sobachka, was it?"

"Nikolai?" Alina laughed. "No. Not only is he still off saints know where, he'd never let me hear the end of it," She considered that one. "Though I'd probably have enjoyed it,"

"Was it someone you're friends with?" Nina asked slyly.

"If you slept with Kasper, I swear to all the saints..." Viktor began, making them all laugh.

"It wasn't anyone I'm friends with,"

"Grisha or otkazat'sya?"

"I'm not telling you,"

"Grisha, then," Zoya said. "If it was some random otkazat'sya you wouldn't be being so secretive," She smirked. "Unless it was Viktor's father,"

Viktor only laughed at that; strange boy.

"So it must be someone we know the name of, at least," Nina grinned.

"I'm not telling you," Alina repeated flatly, as they entered the library.

Katya and Kasper were already sat at their favourite table by the window seat. Katya was going over some complicated Alkemi equations - organic chemistry, she called it, it looked horrendous - whilst Kasper was studying a gruesomely detailed book of rare diseases.

"Was the ball awful, Alina?" Katya asked sympathetically as they all sat down with them. "I saw you and the Darkling come back from the Grand Palace early. You looked like you were in quite a hurry - did something bad happen?"

Three pairs of sharp eyes snapped in her direction. Alina forced herself to not react.

"It was even worse than usual," She grumbled. "If one more person had called me 'Sankta', I'd have scorched the whole ballroom. We left after one woman flung herself to her knees before me and begged for a lock of my hair. I think the Darkling realised I was seconds away from murder and made a tactical retreat,"

Kasper and Katya laughed, but none of the other three did.

"Alina," Nina started. "Does that mean what I think it means?"

"What do you think it means?" She asked with her usual disdain.

"You and the Darkling - " The Heartrender broke off.

"... What?" She raised an eyebrow. "Oh," Alina laughed, as though in realisation. "No. Absolutely not," It was one thing Genya knowing; Genya, who kept secrets for a job. But if this lot knew, then the whole palace would within the day. Not intentionally, but she was friends with a high number of loudmouths. And even if they didn't let it slip to a soul, Alina wasn't quite sure she wanted her friends to know. Which likely said a lot about how good of a decision it was.

"What?" Kasper asked, grinning.

"Alina is being secretive about who she slept with last night," Viktor said.

"I told you, you won't hear his name from me," Alina said. "But I can promise you, it was not our beloved General,"

They seemed to accept that easily enough. All her friends were used to her being (often too) honest with them, after all. Nina peered over Kasper's shoulder in interest at the various grisly diseases. Zoya and even Viktor worked on an essay for Grisha theory that Alina likely should have been doing herself, but instead was turning a page of her textbook into a paper snowflake using a series of tiny Cuts.

Later on she realised that she really did have to write that essay, so stayed with Katya whilst the others went to dinner. It definitely was not because she didn't want to be seen sitting next to the Darkling, knowing Zoya and Nina would be watching their every interaction like a pair of hawks.

Alina regretted that decision soon enough, though, when Katya glanced behind her to check no one was nearby then leaned forward. "I saw you two walking together," She said quietly. "You weren't being that subtle. It really was him, wasn't it?"

"Fucks sake," She scowled. "Yes, it was. Please don't tell anyone. I get enough people calling me his little pet as it is,"

"Of course not," Katya could keep a secret, at least. "I just wanted to check that you're alright,"

"Why does everyone need to ask that?" Alina said, though she knew exactly why. "Genya said the same thing," At Katya's stare, she relented. "Yes, I'm fine. I kissed him, not the other way round,"

"I did think you were fine," Her friend smiled. "I know you can handle yourself. If someone tried to force you, Alina, I'm sure the resulting confrontation would have woken half the palace. But I needed to be sure,"

Alina supposed that was fair enough. "Well, no need to stroke my ego but thanks for caring,"

"Oh come on, it's true," Katya chuckled. "You're practically the second most powerful Grisha alive - "

"Third," She corrected. "I've seen Baghra in action. She's not as strong as the Darkling but she's scarier,"

"Alright fine, third most powerful Grisha alive. I think you could beat him if it came to it, you know. His powers might be stronger, but you'd fight harder. He wouldn't want to damage you too badly,"

That made her laugh darkly. "Damage is the right word. No, he wouldn't want to damage me, but he'd hurt me if it suited him,"

"Do you love him?"

The question unsettled her. "No. I don't trust him enough for that. But... often when he's not here, I wish he was. Though often when he is here I wish he wasn't, so I suppose it evens out,"

Katya thought on that for a moment. "Everyone thinks it's inevitable, you and him, even if they don't say it to your face. He's taken plenty of lovers before, but hasn't shown nearly as much care to them as he does for you. No one makes him laugh as much, nor frustrates him like you do. No doubt part of that is because you're the Sun Summoner, but..."

"Oh, he wouldn't look twice at me if I wasn't the Sun Summoner," Alina knew it to be true; he had all but said so himself. "Well. Maybe I'd just be one more of his long list of lovers, seeing as I seem to amuse him. But with my powers, even if I was some mindless, empty-headed doll, he'd have shown interest," Although perhaps not as much as he did with her.

"And that doesn't bother you?"

"It did, then I thought on it. If he wasn't who he was - a Shadow Summoner, a General..." A heretic. "I wouldn't look twice at him either, beyond the fact that he's got a pretty face,"

Alina respected the fact he did not let her walk all over him like many men would. And she didn't let him walk all over her. No matter who the Sun Summoner was, he'd have tried to seduce them. But he gave her a certain level of respect because she saw right through him, and told him so. Both of them had very strong personalities, and it was easy to imagine the other consuming someone with a more meek character entirely. Perhaps it was just a case of two awful people being the only ones able to handle the other.

Katya, non-judgemental as ever, found that amusing. "So long as you're on the same page,"

*

After heading to the kitchens to beg for some food, seeing as she missed dinner, Alina made her way back to the Darkling's wing. He was in his study, sat behind the desk writing what looked like a report, but looked up when she came in.

"You weren't at dinner,"

"I was in the library,"

"I know,"

She rolled her eyes, but the look in his eyes enticed her regardless. She moved around to the other side of his desk, leaning against it and looking down at what he was working on. "Your reports to the King are very patronising. Like you're writing to an eight-year-old,"

He smirked faintly. "He has previously complained that I use too many long words and write too much. Hence the numbered list, in order of importance,"

Alina laughed. "He definitely only reads the first two. Three if you're lucky. You could get away with calling him a weak-chinned bastard in the fifth point and a lazy, incompetent prick in the sixth,"

The Darkling let out a sharp laugh, reaching out and pulling her to sit in his lap. "Any more suggestions? I am currently on point number ten,"

She replied with something that would likely have made the paper shrivel up if he wrote it down. His laugh at that shouldn't have made her as happy as it did, nor the way his arm tightened around her, pulling her closer.

"Your mouth is filthy, Alina. Where did you hear that?"

He said it casually, but the words made her stomach curl. "Soldiers have a colourful vocabulary,"

"If you were to insult the Apparat in such a way, it may shake even his unwavering faith in you,"

"As if that man truly believes I'm a saint. He just wants power,"

"Doesn't everyone?"

"I don't,"

"Do you not? Why do you resist every instruction I give you, if not for power?"

"That's power over myself. It's different,"

"Power over others tends to give you more power over yourself,"

Alina thought on that. "Perhaps," Then she grinned, twisting around to look at him. "Is that what you tell yourself?"

He kissed her to shut her up, of that there was no doubt. She was happy enough to go along with it though, just this once. Just as her neck began to ache from the awkward angle, Alina gasped as she felt his fingers underneath her kefta, and let her head fall back on his shoulder.

The only warning she got before the door opened was a series of hurried footsteps. The Darkling had managed to remove his hand from under her clothes, but she was still sat in his lap looking distinctly ruffled.

Not nearly as ruffled as the young oprichnik who had opened the door without knocking, however. The young man realised his mistake almost instantly, blushing bright red. "A-a-apologies, moi soverenyi," He said, flustered. "A message from the Grand Palace - the King requires your immediate response,"

"So immediate it did not require a knock?" The Darkling raised an eyebrow, voice cold.

"I - My humblest apologies, I - "

"Leave the message on the desk and get out. I'll deal with you later,"

"Yes, moi soverenyi,"

Out of annoyance for what the guard had interrupted, Alina did not move from the Darkling's lap, but did shoot the man an apologetic smile. Once the door had closed after him, the Darkling reached out and took the letter. Reading at the same time, Alina felt his anger grow.

"Already?" Her own face was pale.

"It's too soon," He all but growled. "He promised to hold off at least another year,"

"That letter sounds quite final," Alina dared to say. "I don't think you'll argue your way out of it this time,"

"No," The Darkling said tightly. "I won't. The King is panicking about West Ravka and Zlatan. He wants to send a message. So we will go to the Fold next week, but you won't be bringing it down,"

*

Alina made it back to her dark room and stripped off her clothes, slipping into a nightdress. She had scarcely pulled it over her head when a figure emerged out of the shadows.

In an instant she had a shield raised around herself, lashing out with a scorching tendril of light. But the intruder deflected it with a wave of darkness, and Alina cursed. "What in hell's name are you doing here?"

Baghra's face - impossibly ancient yet somehow youthful - came into sharp focus as Alina sent a ball of light to the ceiling, to light the room. "I used the passage. I know you know of it too,"

"I didn't know you did," She grumbled, folding her arms. "Couldn't you have just knocked on the door?"

The woman ignored her. "I thought you had more sense than to fall for his manipulations, girl,"

"If anything he fell for mine," She shrugged. "It's none of your business, besides. How do you even know?"

"I have eyes in the walls," The woman said.

Alina pulled a face. "That's twisted. How lonely did the two of you get, all these years?"

Baghra did not find that funny. "Enough of your nonsense, girl. What did he tell you? That he loves you like no other? Did he try the whole lonely boy act? That you'll be his equal and rule at his side?"

"I'd have laughed in his face if he had," She snorted.

"You laugh too much," The woman narrowed her eyes. "I offered you a chance to run once, girl. I'm offering you that chance again, though I know what your answer will be. For one who prides herself on her freedom, you do put yourself in positions where that comes into question,"

"You're right, I'm not leaving," Alina said. "I have no reason to. And it's not because your wicked son has manipulated me into loving him. I don't love him, because I see who he truly is and what he's capable of,"

"Stop lying to yourself," Baghra scoffed. "He's got his claws deep into you and you're too proud to see it. The boy will bring destruction and death to this country in his quest for a sanctuary for all Grisha. With him as its head, of course,"

"He already has," She said. "Or don't you remember the giant wall of shadow and death splitting the country in two? I'm going there next week, though I'm sure you know that already,"

The woman tutted. "There are worse things than the Fold, girl, and with you in his grasp he has the power to make them a reality. The further he delves into merzost, the higher the cost. It drains vitality from a person. When he created the Fold it took something from him that will never come back, and it will take more still if he tries again,"

"Ah," Alina smiled without humour. "At last, the heart of the issue. I did wonder why you cared about hundreds of nameless otkazat'sya. Or me. That's rather too noble of you. I believe you more easily now,"

"The boy's dream was a good one, in the beginning," Baghra said. "To create a place for Grisha to be accepted and safe. But he lost too much of himself whilst achieving it. Ravka is not worth saving. I just wish to save my son from becoming a monster. I love him, but sometimes it seems that is not enough. Which is why we need to leave,"

It was unnerving to hear the normally cold and unsentimental woman speak so freely. Alina could see where she was coming from, but strongly disagreed.

"Do you really think that both of us running off into the night will make him any less of a monster?" She said. "He would do monstrous things to get me back. And then he would know not to trust me. Any influence either of us have with him would vanish - he would simply force me to go along with whatever he has planned. He can do that, you know - all he has to do is kill an amplifier and attach it to me. My answer is the same as it was when I was twelve. I am not leaving,"

The woman's black eyes flashed. "I could make you,"

"Try," Her tone wasn't one of bravado, simply matter-of-fact. "You might be stronger, but I could hold you off long enough for him to come running,"

To emphasise her point, and to amuse herself, she conjured an illusion of the Darkling between them. It was very realistic, and sudden enough to make even Baghra flinch for a moment, shadows appearing at her fingertips.

"Wretched girl," The woman glowered at her. Alina glared right back, not backing down, until finally Baghra shook her head. "I always said it was a good thing you have a spine. Now it could go one of two ways. You'll either stop him becoming the monster I dread, or both of you will become infinitely worse,"

Alina was tired of this. "I won't forget what you've said and I'll bear your words in mind. But I won't be going with you, so please leave my chambers. And don't sneak in here again, it's unsettling,"

Without another word, just a dark look, Baghra vanished into the shadows, though the tapestry moved and the door closed behind her. The tapestry slid back into place and it was like she had not been there at all.

The Darkling came to her that night, shortly after Baghra left. He stayed, too, though Alina was glad to find that he kept to his own side of the bed. She often felt smothered by him during the day; being literally smothered by him at night would be a step too far.

"Morning Alina - oh!" Genya let out a small shriek of surprise when she walked into her chambers, as she had done every morning for the past eight years.

Alina shrieked too, rolling off of the Darkling, but her friend had already slammed the door shut and left. She lay there with her hands over her face, even as he laughed at her.

When Genya returned some time later, after he left, both of them were slightly red-faced.

"I'm sorry!" Her friend protested. "I know I didn't knock, I just wasn't expecting... that,"

Alina couldn't help but laugh. "No, I'm sorry. I should've known you'd be coming in at that time,"

Genya just smiled slyly. "The most surprising thing is that you were on top,"

*

I loved writing this chapter, especially the scene at the beginning with Genya and Alina. There isn't much relevant to the plot aside from Alina being ordered to destroy the Fold, but it's important to take a break from the action every now and again, especially after the events of the previous chapter. Either way, what did you all think? I love hearing feedback, every comment means a lot even if it's short! Spare half a minute to write a few words if you can and I would be very grateful.