TᕼE Sᕼᑌ ᕼᗩᑎ are threatening to take back bordering towns in Ravka as their territory.
Fjerda continues to kidnap and kill Grisha.
Rebellions are forming because of the vexation with having two Grisha on the throne.
Everyone at the symposium turns to the Darkling and me for a solution to these impossible crises. Aleksander is calm and collected. I am not, to say the least. All of the attendees of the meeting talk over each other, each presenting another equally concerning problem. Every meeting is like this, but it does not mean I am used to the pressure of it all. Aleksander has had centuries to master the art of staying neutral even under stress, but every once in a while, I crack under pressure.
"We have to do something! The Shu grow closer with each passing day!" one says.
"What about the Grisha? They deserve to feel safe in their own country!"
"Do not listen to them," another says. "We have more pressing matters to attend to than—"
"Enough!" I yell. Everyone falls silent. Light streams from my hands without trying to summon. "All you have brought to us are complaints. We need proposals. We need solutions! When you have something to present to us other than useless criticisms and restating what we already know, I'll listen. Until then, get out."
I fling my hand in the air, allowing their dismissal. They take no time to flee the debriefing room. Their faces are pale, eyes wide. I don't lose my temper often (although Aleksander would beg to differ), but when I do, they know to fear me. With three amplifiers, it is difficult to contain my power, especially when I am angry or worked up. There has been more than one singed room or charred carpet to prove it.
I look over at my husband, expecting to see irritation for my outburst, but I am surprised to find mild admiration. "The ruthless Sun Queen," he smirks. I start to feel guilty, but he stands up and comes to my side, caressing my jaw. "They needed it. Everything you said was true."
"So was everything they said." I blow out a distressed breath.
"I know," he hums. "Everything will be alright."
I shake my head, disheartened. "How can you say that when the crises seem to keep piling up by the day?"
"I've lived through too many multinational predicaments to count; I've seen plagues come and go, times that people claimed would be the end of the world. And you know what? The world hasn't ended. I am still here. We will get through it just like we always do."
I sigh and relax into the planes of his chest. His arms tighten around me. "Thank you."
He cocked his brow at me. "For what?"
"Making me feel safe." There was a time when I felt anything but safe around him. Now, however, he has changed from the Black Heretic who would do anything to use my power for his own. He knows what to say to make me less anxious about the problems presented to us, which people expect us to fix as King and Queen.
"Of course," he answers. Aleksander kisses my forehead tenderly.
Our moment alone does not last long. A guard knocks on the door, entering instead of waiting for an answer. I stiffen as Aleksander steams from being abruptly interrupted.
"Sir." He bows. "We've gotten word that there has been a security breach in the palace. We are looking for the suspect as we speak, but it is unknown who got in or how."
"I suggest you find out quickly." The Darkling's throat bobs up and down in his effort to stay unexpressive. "I want every inch of the palace searched."
"Amelia," I gasp.
"I will find her," Aleksander says.
"I'm coming with you."
Aleksander starts to refuse, but I am already running down the hallway, searching for Amelia. Aleksander catches up and snags my arm.
"Go back to our room," he warns. "It is not safe. We don't know who the intruder is or what their goal may be."
"I'll go and hide just as you want," I pull away from his loose grasp, stomping down the hallway rapidly, "after I find our daughter."
No matter how hard Aleksander may try, I won't hide away when Amelia is not safe. I search room after room—dining halls, private parlors, offices—until I finally find her in the Lantsov Garden, looking in the small pond lined with lily pads, which has now frozen over with ice.
"Amelia!" I call, running to her.
Amelia stands up and asks, "What's wrong?"
"We have to go. Come here." I grab her hand and lead her through the palace. Along the way, we find Aleksander. I nod at him to silently let him know where we are going. Amelia and I go to my bedroom, locking the door behind us. Amelia looks terrified. I kneel beside her and give her a hug.
Most of the time, I am grateful that we made the choice to adopt Amelia. She has been happier than ever before. But it also makes her a target, being connected to the King and Queen of Ravka, which naturally retain many enemies.
"It's alright. Someone got through the gates that shouldn't have, but as long as we stay here until they are found, we'll be fine."
She nods and hugs me tighter.
We both jump when there is a knock on the door. Aleksander identifies himself from the other side. I let him in quickly. "Was the intruder found?"
"No. I have all my men looking for them. Until they are found, you both will stay here. I will have meals brought to us."
Usually, I would say he is overreacting, but for someone to get into the most secure place in the whole country is almost unheard of. Not to mention, I have felt uneasy the last few days, like someone is always watching.
Amelia perks up and says, "Can we have garlic butter rolls for dinner?"
Aleksander's stony face breaks momentarily at her short attention span. "Yes, we can have garlic rolls tonight. I'll order them down to the room and eat with you both before returning to work."
Amelia squeals in delight and hugs Aleksander tautly. He tenses. After a year of his daughter's constant embraces, he is still uncomfortable with the affection. It will take a while to wear off hundreds of years of walled-in emotions.
He pats her head of curls before she lets go and giggles.
***
Dinner is brought to us on silver trays. Only select guards are let through briefly to give us our meal. We eat at a small table set up in the middle of our bedroom. It's not ideal, but it will do for now.
Amelia devours her garlic rolls, hardly stopping to take a breath, but the farther into the meal I get, the less hungry I am. The nerves of it all are getting to me.
Aleksander regards me closely. "Are you alright, Alina?"
"I'm fine. Just not very hungry." I take another drink of my water to ease my anxiety and then change the subject. "Amelia, what were you doing outside? It's a little cold to be playing out there, don't you think?"
She shrugs. "The pond was frozen. I was just looking at it. That's all."
I eye her suspiciously. First, there was her new fascination with ice skating; now, I catch her staring at the pond in the Lantsov Garden. Something has been off with her recently, but I am too tired to fret about it at the moment.
I've given up picking at my plate of food and abandon it altogether. A headache, which began as a barely noticeable pain, is now throbbing relentlessly. Not to mention the sharp pang in my stomach.
"I think I'm going to go lie down," I mumble.
Slowly, I stand from my chair. My head pulses. I wobble and try to shake the sudden dizziness from my head, but it remains. I feel so weak. . . Too weak. Something is wrong. My vision is blurry. The glass in my hand slips and shatters on the ground. "Alina!" I hear the Darkling say distantly. The weight of gravity pulling me down instantly becomes too much. My knees give out, and I fall to the floor, my vision flickering out like a snuffed-out candle. I feel arms reach under me and lift me up, then, my consciousness slips away from my grasp, and I'm gone.