As Vladim moved to turn the locks, I heard Genya whisper. "You definitely owe me a kiss after all this, Don't think I won't hold you to it."
I laughed lightly. "We'll see."
"There is no seeing, you will, if I have to be the one to do it then so be...
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I WOKE THE NEXT DAY TO THE SOUND OF angry voices. For a moment, I had no idea where I was. The darkness was near perfect, broken only by a thin crack of light from beneath the door.
Then reality returned. I sat up and fumbled for the lamp on the bedside wall. I turned up the flame and surveyed the dark silk bed hanging, the slate floor, and the carved ebony walls. I really was going to have to make some changes. This room was just too depressing to wake up in.
It was strange to think that I was actually in the Darkling's chambers, that I'd spent the night in his bed. That I'd seen him standing in this very room.
Enough of that. I threw off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I didn't know whether the visions were a product of my imagination or some real attempt by the Darkling to manipulate me, to scare me, but there had to be a rational explanation for them.
Maybe Merzost had bonded a connection, maybe there was more to him taking my power than I thought. Whether it was true or not, I didn't want to think about it.
The argument outside my door grew louder. I thought I recognized Sergei's voice and Tolya's angry rumble. I threw on the embroidered dressing gown that had been left for me at the foot of the bed, checked to make sure the fetter on why wrist was hidden, and hurried out to the common room.
I almost ran right into the twins. Tolya and Tamar were standing shoulder to shoulder, blocking a group of angry Grisha from entering my chamber. Tolya's arms were crossed, and Tamar was shaking her head as Sergei and Fedyor loudly made their case. I was distressed to see Zoya beside them, accompanied by the dark-skinned Inferni who had challenged me the previous day. Everyone seemed to be talking at once.
"What's going on?" I asked.
As soon as Sergei saw me, he strode forward, clutching a piece of paper in his hand. Tamar moved to block him, but I waved her off.
"It's all right," I said. "What's the problem?"
But I thought I already knew. I recognized my own writing and the remnants of the gold sunburst seal that Nikolai had provided for me and Alina on the paper Sergei was now shaking in my face.
"This is unacceptable," Sergei huffed.
Me and Alina had sent out word the previous night that we'd be convening a war council. Each Grisha Order was to elect two representatives to attend. I was pleased to see they'd chosen Fedyor as well as Sergei, though some of my goodwill wore off when the older Grisha chimed in.
