Noble Hope| General Kirigan

𝟘𝟘𝟞

{Chapter six}

"MAY THE SAINTS RECEIVE THEM." Said Sturmhond, honoring those lives that were lost during the mission for the Sea Whip. 

Tolya and Tamar stepped forward, and each twin placed two scales onto a wooden barrel. Even from where Adaline stood, far away from Alina, she could see the furious look on her face. Sturmhond cleared his throat and announced, "Adaline, you should go first."

Of course, the crew wasn't pleased with Adaline's decision to aid in the Sea Whip's death, but this was not her crew. She held no emotional connection or desire to be loyal to them.

As she stepped onto the platform, all eyes followed her elegance. She was undeniably gorgeous. Silky black hair that had grown longer over the months, tanned skin from the days at sea, and dark eyes that captivated whoever dared to look into them. Every step was meticulously perfect. Though she was the picture-perfect woman of beauty, she was still dangerously lethal. All of Adaline Starkov was too perfectly put together, and that made her a threat.

The Durast standing before her didn't seem to have any impartial feelings towards Adaline as she took the first set of scales from the barrel. There wasn't a crumb of embarrassment as Adaline undid the laces and tugged the waistband of her pants down. Keeping the waistline high enough so as to not flash anybody, she revealed her pelvic bone and hips. She ignored the flushed looks from multiple men on the deck. The Durast placed the first scale on the right side of Adaline's lean stomach and then fused it into her skin. 

Upon the arrival of the first scale into her body came a white light that ran up underneath Adaline's skin. Her breath grew heavier as she felt her power expanding. A flash in her mind showed her a vivid image of herself and then Mal's face from when they were back in the cave. The Sea Whip's last moments.

She cast a quick, confused glance at her sister's lover. She'd figure that puzzle out later.

Adaline took a deep breath before throwing a small smile at the Durast. "Second scale, please."

The Grisha nodded and picked up the small, holographic piece. She placed it on the left side of Adaline's tummy and then began the fusion once again. Another flash of light glowed underneath her skin but this time, as it reached her chest, it turned dark. Shadows, not light.

The darkness spread up her stomach and chest until it broke free of her skin in beautiful wisps. She felt alive for the first time since she'd joined Alina and Mal on their voyage. 

Even so, the two lovers couldn't lie to themselves. At that moment since she'd received the amplifiers, Adaline looked less ghostly. Of course, it pained Alina to see her sister in such pain, but at the same time, she was terrified of Adaline's wrath, especially now that she had even more power.

As the last of the shadowy wisps left the air surrounding Adaline, she stepped away from the platform, staring down at her hands. She'd never felt so close to Aleksander as she had in that moment.

Pulling her waistband back up and over her stomach, she thanked the Durast, then left the deck without another word.

****~****

"I will not allow her to ruin what we have created."

The words rang through Adaline's head like a struck bell, vibrating around the edges of her very soul. That crystal clear voice, his voice, woke her from whatever spell she'd been put under.