Chapter 24

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
Blonde. Hazel eyes. Nikolai Lantsov was standing right in front of me. No effing way.
He made eye contact with me.
I was so shocked, "Nik," I tried to say but it kind of squeaked out. I ran to him and hugged him.
"Mia, I've missed you," he smiled into the hug. I let go looking at him for a second and everything that's happened flooded my mind.
I punched him right in the face making him fall in the water.
"You arse!" I screamed, "you told me your name was Sturmhond! We were on that ship for saints knows how long and you didn't bother to tell me!?"
"Amelia-"
"Don't 'Amelia' me! And you missed me? Missed me!? Don't start with that! You wouldn't have left me if you missed me! Left me with your brother! You made me tell you about my life! I SLEPT IN YOUR BED!" I screamed, "Y-you! You- ARGH!" I threw my goggles at his face, he dodged them quickly.
"I'm sorry!"
"You're an idiot. An idiot! Six years! SIX! Not a word! No letter! Nothing. You left me there. And you know what happened? Wait, I told you already. When you had red hair!" I turned away from him looking at everyone. My face had gone red because of how angry I was. I totally forgot there were other people here.
Tolya and Tamar didn't look surprised. Neither did the rest of the crew.
Alina was so confused. I don't think Alina or Mal knew who he was I walked away from him but he grabbed my wrist, "Mia."
"Don't touch me." I glared at him yanking my wrist out of his grip and huffed walking towards Alina. 
"You have a tailor! Why would you do all this?" Alina said hugging me. She didn't know how I knew him or who he was she just comforted me.
"It was essential that the Darkling didn't recognize me. He hasn't seen me since I was fourteen but it was something I didn't want to chance."
"Fourteen!" I scoffed, "think about that! That's how long you've been away!"
"Who are you?" Mal asked.
"That's a complicated question."
"Actually it's pretty straightforward," Alina let go of me walking towards him, "but it does require telling the truth. Something your incapable of."
"Tell me about it," I rolled my eyes.
"Who is he?" Alina asked. I looked at Stur-Nikolai and he eyed me in the way of saying 'don't say anything'
"I can tell the truth, I'm just not very good at it," Nikolai said shaking the water out of his boots and then rubbing his jaw that was probably a beginning to bruise. Did I feel bad, you ask? No. Not at all. That punk deserved it. And I'd do it again. 
"Sturmhond you have exactly ten seconds to explain yourself or Tolyas going to have to make you a whole new face." Mal snarled
Tamar kept up, "someone's coming."
We all shut up looking into the bushes. The bushes moved and made noises.
Hoofs. Horses. Branches snapped and men moved through the bushes.
"I knew it!" Sturmhond groaned, "we've been spotted. Too long in the fold.  A wrecked ship and a crew that looks like a bunch of drowned possums. This is not what I had in mind."
That trees and bushes were no longer there. Now standing in front of them were about thirty? Forty soldiers. 
Oh no.
The first army.
Alina's breathing hitched Nikolai noticed, "Easy there. I got this."
Of course, he does. He always has to do everything. But who knows if he's telling the truth. From what I know he's a straight-up liar.
"Since you handled everything so well Sturmhond?" Alina scoffed.
"Best if you don't call me that for a while..."
"Why?"
"Because that's not my name," Sturmhond answered.
Yeah obviously. I don't think she heard me when I called him Nik earlier. I swear this man had a thing for theatrics.
The soldiers walked forward then came to a halt. "In the name of the king of Ravka put down your weapons." Oh, the same king who hurt my sister? Why would I? For him? Good thing we didn't have any.
Nikolai walked forward arms raised in surrender, "Our weapons are at the bottom of the lake. We are unarmed."
"State your name and business here!" A soldier ordered.
An older man whirled around to the front studying Nikolai and the crew. Wait... that's Colonel Raevsky.
"Explain yourself boy!" Raevsky ordered, "name and business now!"
Nikolai cleared his throat, "I am Nikolai Lantsov, Major of the Twenty-Second Regiment, Soldier of the King's Army, Grand Duke of Udova, and second son to His Most Royal Majesty, King Alexander the Third, Ruler of the Double Eagle Throne, may his life and reign be long." I rolled my eyes at Nikolai who turned to smirk at me. How and why did he have the audacity to do that. I stuck my tongue out at him like a child making him grin then look away.
Alina's jaw dropped so did Mal's.
Understandable. We have been traveling with a prince.
Raevsky wasn't amused, "You disrespectful whelp," he climbed down his horse, "Nikolai Lantsov served under me on the northern border and—"
He stopped talking and really looked at Nikolai. Raevsky seemed to recognize him. His jaw dropped like Alina's. He quickly got on one knee and bent his head.
"Forgive me moi tsarevich, welcome home."
Yeah yeah, whatever Nikolai is back. 
Then Nikolai looked up at all the confused soldiers they slowly understood and recognized and they too kneeled.
"You've got to be kidding me," Mal muttered.
"Unfortunately not." I smiled when I noticed I wiped that smile clean off and went back to a scowl.
"Rise." Stur- ARGH Nikolai spoke.
"It's been too long since I was home," he said. yeah, no kidding. Only what? 5? 6 years? "But I did not return empty-handed."
Oh, sheeeeet. I swear if he's talking about Alina I'm going to run towards him like a friggin bull and kick him in the private so hard who won't ever be able to walk again.
"Brothers, I've brought the Sun Summoner to Ravka."
Anndddd there it is. But guess what guys? I didn't have to go kick him because Alina walked up to him and punched him square in the face.
Hm. Two punches today! I'm glad.

A/n: short chapter because i wanted to update one more time before the school week because who knows how much homework i'll get
Thank you for reading, commenting, and voting!!!
what book should i read? not that i need more in my tbr but like give me recommendations!!