Nina and Matthias have settled with “friendship” (and a little more) and are staying at a hotel. They are also trying to figure out what to do because obviously Matthias’ country hate Grisha, and Nina’s country would probably tear witch hunters apart on sight, no matter how good-looking they are.

When they are down the lobby, Nina finds that they are surrounded by Grisha, one of them is Fedyor — whom the Darkling has entrusted to bring Nina back safely.

While Matthias is busy figuring out what a waffle is, Fedyor puts him in a half-sleep state and comes out to talk to Nina. It doesn’t take him long to figure out Nina cares more about Matthias than she should. A Druskelle? Are you kidding? Fedyor isn’t happy.

Nina spots some men from Kerch so she gets them involved by declaring loudly that Matthias is a slaver. You see, if you’re a slaver, you get a trial at Kerch. But if you’re a Druskelle and you fall into Grisha’s hands, it’s over.

Fedyor has to yield so as not to make a new enemy for Ravka. The Kerch drag Matthias away.

On the skiff, people find out the hard way that the Darkling is not trying to destroy the Fold at all, but expand it to prove a point. What’s new?

Alina is horrified when the Fold is enlarged and pushed toward the other side of Ravka, killing many people.

Mal, who has been hiding below deck, shoots out and ready to rescue her. The Crows are there too. Kaz doesn’t want anything to do with this fight, which is completely in-line with his character and with logic. The Crows are about survival, not being heroes. But when Mal charges up, declaring proudly that he is not smart, Jesper and Inej follow his example.

You know… there have been many plot holes and inconsistencies in this show, but I’ve been going along with everything just fine. However, I will never be convinced that any of the Crows would ignore Kaz’ order and run in the same direction as Malyen “I-never-said-I-was-smart” Oretsev.

Chaos breaks out on the skiff, Zoya angrily changes side because her family have been killed during the expansion of the Fold. Ivan has power over Mal by controlling his heartbeats.

A volcra tries to take Inej, Kaz fends it off with his cane. That’s right, guns and fire and magic the volcra can take, but Kaz’ cane? They flee in fear.

Alina stabs the Darkling’s hand, voiding his control over her power. Mal drags the Darkling with him and jumps off the skiff.

Fist-fight time. Punching and kicking all around. Because… what else is the show going to do with Mal’s abs anyway?

Anyway, in the middle of the fight, because Mal and the Darkling are both too busy blurting out one-liners they think are cool, a volca swoops by and grabs the Darkling away.

Alina lives, everyone lives. The Crows go home, and Alina goes with Mal to… wherever they plan to go.

Matthias wakes up in a prison cell. Nina visits. He lashes out at her, the trust between them gone. Nina promises she will get him out, but by the look of it, Matthias would rather rot in prison than has anything to do with her again. Yikes.

The Darkling comes out of the Fold, wounded and scarred but not dead. Of course not, if the one guy who is willing to do something about anything is gone, so is this whole story.