Noble Hope| General Kirigan

𝟘𝟘𝟛

{Chapter three}

"YOU RIDE WITH ME," Kirigan demanded as he stepped onto a black horse. Alina had already been torn away from Adaline and taken to a black coach. Being forced away from her sister certainly increased her panic. It broke Adaline's heart to watch Mal chase the carriage, and try to reach his best friend. Though she couldn't help but feel a bit offended that he didn't bother to chase her too. Either way, Adaline refused to touch the horse waiting for her. 

"No."

Kirigan cocked a mocking eyebrow. "No?"

Adaline shook her head, the last of her ponytail falling loose and leaving her hair to rest messily on her shoulders. "No, not until you tell me where we're going, where my sister is, and explain to me how I'm like...this."

Kirigan laughed darkly. "We're going to Os Alta. The Little Palace, and I assure you, you both will be safe there. I had Fedyor and Ivan take young Miss Starkov with them. And you saw it for yourself," his lips tugged upward at the thought. "You're like me." 

Adaline scoffed as she grudgingly mounted her brown horse. She hated to admit it, but he had answered her question, so she supposed she had choice but to follow him. "First off, I'm nothing like you. Secondly, I'd prefer it if you had let me go with Alina," Adaline gripped the reigns. "And thirdly, let's hope you're right about us being 'safe'."

Despite the glare she shot at him to follow her threat, Adaline dug her heel into the side of the horse and let the animal trot down the dirt road. The Darkling quickly trailed behind, his black cloak billowing behind him. 

They rode in silence until they reached the forest. General Kirigan chose to break the quiet surrounding them. "You asked how you were like this." 

His voice startled briefly startled her, but she nodded to acknowledge him. The feeling of his gaze on the side of her face sent slightly shivers down her spine. "I suspect there must have been a second Darkling back in the time of the Black Heretic. The records have mentioned a possible second Shadow Summoner back then... if you were worried about a possible relation between the two of us, I would advise you to put that out of your mind. There is a little to zero chance that we are."

Adaline breathed a sigh of relief, keeping her eyes on the path ahead of them as they continued on. She didn't know how her sister was handling all of this, and she didn't like that she couldn't see Alina. Adaline wasn't usually one to let loved ones out of her sight for long periods of time. Call it the mother hen in her, if you will. But without her family to mother, she felt empty. At least in the Little Palace, she would have Alina, but she couldn't help the pang of hurt that stabbed her heart at the thought that Mal wouldn't be with them. 

"What does this mean for our futures? Alina and I?" 

The Darkling followed her gaze and skimmed over the greenery that made up the way to Os Alta. "Miss Starkov will help us destroy the Fold." 

Adaline blinked. "Us? What do you mean us?"

"Exactly as I said, Miss Starkov. You are a Shadow Summoner, like myself. My ancestor created the Fold, yes. But with another of our kind, you are guaranteed to be targeted and blamed as much as I am. Our redemption lies with the destruction of the Shadow Fold. I trust you will accompany Miss Starkov and me in its demise." His facial features stayed neutral and without emotion.