The Little Palace, where the Grisha train, feels like home to Alina. Although several older, more established Grisha have gone with the Darkling, she recognizes several characters from the first novel in the series: Heartrender Sergei, his Etherealki girlfriend Marie, their Etherealki friend Nadia, Fabrikator David that Genya had a crush on, and talented Squaller Zoya. When Alina explains that she will not be Nikolai’s queen, but will lead the army, Sergei objects that she’s not qualified to command. However, Zoya, who’s never gotten along with Alina before, surprisingly declares allegiance to the Sun Summoner. When Sergei aggressively insists that the Corporalki faction should have the most power, Alina almost uses the Cut on him, though she diverts her light to take out part of the ceiling instead. She tells the Grisha soldiers she’s the only chance they have and storms off.

Her quarters are the Darkling’s old chambers, which smell like him. Suddenly, he appears and touches her, saying she cannot run from him. She instinctively throws light, but when Tolya, Tamar, and Mal come, Alina claims it’s nothing.