𝖈𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓| Nikolai Lantsov

Dominik |

That morning, we set out on out journey and we walked for hours until we reached a large building with thick, high walls, located in a field close to the fold.

Trumpets were played alongside drums as Nikolai and I entered the base camp hand in hand.

"Arrival of King Nikolai and Queen to be Adelaide!" The court announcer yelled.

I searched the crowd of soldiers for Dominik. For that round face with plump rosy cheeks and big brown eyes. I searched for the little boy I had left behind.

My eyes fell on a tall figure. And there he was, Dominik.

I ran towards him, letting go of Nikolai's hand. "Dominik!" I called out desperately.

"Ada!" Was the only thing he managed to say before I threw myself into his arms. Oh how I missed him. He was much taller now, and he was not the same as before. He had grown into his large ears and had grown out his beard. My brother, all grown up.

"Dominik Vertov, it has been too long." Nikolai chuckled as he walked over to us, a big grin splattered on his face.

"Nikolai." He chuckled before letting go of me and wrapping his arms around Nikolai. "My heart can beat once again." He murmured while looking at the two of us.

"I was worried I'd never get that 100 coin you owe me." Nikolai laughed.

"And I though I'd never get my sister back." Dominik said, ruffling my hair. "We will avenge the deaths of your brother and the King."

"The King who paid your parents to have you take my lashings as a child?" Nikolai whispered. My heart sank as a flood of memories came rushing back.

"I mean the King who shoved me into a room with a quiet wisp of a thing and my sister, who turned out
to be the greatest friends of my life." Dominik added smirking slightly.

"We have a lead on Kirigan's base." I changed the subject, we had to focus on the task. "Two of the Grisha who escaped there are with us now." And I turned to point to David and Genya.

"I told them you brought Grisha. I've assured them that-"

"We'll do the same." Nikolai took my hand in his once more. The camp was busy, horses and pigs off the side. "We unite as equals to face Kirigan and his shadow army in the days to come." Nikolai called out and suddenly the camp became still. "I am not demanding this as your king. I'm asking as a soldier, who is honored to call you comrades-in-arms."

No one moved. No words were spoken, and they all had blank expressions. They didn't trust us, not even their king.

I watched David let go of Genya's hand, he walked forward to one of the soldiers and began to speak to him.

"David Kostyk. Durast."

"Igor Tarkovski. Sniper."

"Tracer bullets to use as a marking tool for your line of fire." David handed him the bullets, and the two shook hands.

Then Genya moved from her spot, making her way over to an injured woman.

"Genya Safin." She introduced herself, but the woman just stared at her. "Allow me, please." Genya extended her hands and placed them over the woman's broken arm. Slowly, the bones began to bond back together, making a crackling noice. The woman looked at her arm in disbelief.

"The pain is gone." She said in awe.

I smiled at the two boys next to me. It was wired to be back together and have the both of them at my side.

_____ Nikolai:

I leaned back against a tree, watching Adelaide talk to some of the soldiers. Dominik was telling me a story about his time in the army, but all my mind could focus on was her.

The way she smiled, laughed, the way her hips moved, the way she held herself and those eyes. Those damn eyes fucked me over. But I swear, when she smiled, I forgot how to breath .... and oh she was so pretty.

She noticed me looking at her and I felt myself get rather flustered, so I turned to Dominik and began listening to his story.

But Adelaide walked straight up to me. "Hey pretty boy!" She smiled at me with that adorable look. I swear she was so different from when I first met her. "Stop staring it's weird."

I chuckled "I'm just admiring you".

She nudged me. "Stop it."

"What can I say I have impeccable taste."

"So you two have finally figured it out?" Dominik said pointing between the two of us. He had been pushing me to tell Adelaide about my feelings ever since we were 15. But I always chickened out.

"I guess you could say that." I replied, pulling Adelaide to me and wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

"Idiots to lovers. That's what you two are." Dominik shook his head, and we all laughed and talked until the morning. It was good to be back.