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There she went again, seeking decency when there was none to be had.
The bottle man shouted a few more coarse words at Rotty—Specht was clearly enjoying himself
Matthias found himself smiling as he jogged in the opposite direction. He would meet the others back at Zentsbridge, where hopefully Kuwei would soon be revived. He would be with Nina again and maybe, maybe they could begin thinking about a future.
But he was still surprised when he heard the shot.
“It’s over.” Kuwei flopped back down, threw an arm over his eyes, and burst into tears.
“Thank you for nearly killing and then reviving the most valuable hostage in the world so you could use him for your own gain,” Kaz said.
Zoya’s beautiful blue eyes slitted. “Show your face in Ravka, Brekker. We’ll teach you some manners.” “I’ll keep that in mind. When they burn me on the Reaper’s Barge, I definitely want to be remembered as polite.”
“I have been made to protect you. Even in death, I will find a way.”
“I promise, Matthias. I’ll take you home.” “Nina,” he said, pressing her hand to his heart. “I am already home.”
Nina screamed, a howl that tore from the black space where her heart had beat only moments before. She searched for his pulse, for the light and force that had been Matthias.
He was Matthias, her brave Fjerdan.
“Nina.”
They were twin souls, soldiers destined to fight for different sides, to find each other and lose each other too quickly.
“Farvell,” she said in Fjerdan. “May Djel watch over you until I can once more.”
And yet his heart was easy. Somehow he knew that she would be safe, she would find shelter from the cold. He was on the ice once more, and somewhere he could hear the wolves howling. But this time, he knew they were welcoming him home.
but he couldn’t shake the sadness in his heart. He’d lost friends. He’d been on jobs when things had gone wrong. Why did this feel so different?
“We were all supposed to make it,” said Wylan softly.
After all their mad escapes and close calls, he’d started to believe the six of them were somehow charmed, that his guns, Kaz’s brains, Nina’s wit, Inej’s talent, Wylan’s ingenuity, and Matthias’ strength had made them somehow untouchable. They might suffer. They might take their knocks, but Wylan was right, in the end they were all supposed to stay standing.
“No mourners,” said Jesper, surprised by the ache of tears in his throat. “No funerals,” they all replied softly.
“He loved you so much, Nina. Loving you made him better.”
What will you do with your shares?” “Find a ship,” said Inej. “Put together a crew.” “Help run an empire,” said Jesper. “Try not to run it into the ground,” said Wylan. “And you, Kaz?” Nina asked. “Build something new,” he said with a shrug. “Watch it burn.”
Kaz watched him for a long moment. “That’s the right move, Jes.”
I can’t protect you. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried. But I will be there even when you falter. Every time.”
Remember this feeling, he told himself. Remember all you have to lose.
Laughing at my jokes. Forgiving me when I was foolish. Never trying to make me feel small. It doesn’t matter if it’s next month, or next year, or ten years from now, those will be the things I remember when I see you again.”
Kuwei turned to Jesper. “You should visit me in Ravka. We could learn to use our powers together.” “How about I push you in the canal and we see if you know how to swim?” Wylan said with a very passable imitation of Kaz’s glare.
he’d find his eyes straying to the window ledge.
“Monstrous boy.” “Ketterdam is made of monsters. I just happen to have the longest teeth.”
Inej had seen the scant glimmer of what he might become if he let himself. She couldn’t bear to see him dressed in armor once more, buttoned back into his immaculate suits and cold demeanor.
“Tell Jesper he’s missed. Around the Slat.”
Part of her wanted to draw this moment out, to be near him a while longer, listen to the rough burr of his voice, or just stand there in easy silence as they’d done countless times before.
He had been so much of her world for so long.
It will always be there when—if you want to come back.”
“Say you’ll return.”
“Why not?” Inej asked. “On the seas and in the city. One by one.” “Brick by brick,” he said.
You want me to be the better man, a good man. I—” “This city doesn’t need a good man. It needs you.”
He made a sound that might almost have been a laugh.
He was that close. He was that far from reach.
I think it’s worth saving.” I think you’re worth saving.
For a long while, they stood there, hands clasped, looking out at the gray expanse of the sea.
The world changed. The world went on.
“Crows remember human faces. They remember the people who feed them, who are kind to them. And the people who wrong them too.”
His dark brows knitted together. “I wasn’t sure. Should I not have—”
The world was made of miracles, unexpected earthquakes, storms that came from nowhere and might reshape a continent. The boy beside her. The future before her. Anything was possible.
“Wait,” he said. The burn of his voice was rougher than usual. “Is my tie straight?” Inej laughed, her hood falling back from her hair.
his perfect boy
Making choices, even simple choices, had become difficult. What tie to wear. What to order for dinner. He doubted himself.
Please, he begged silently, please, please, please.
Brekker, his Wraith queen,
A fearless breed, hard-eyed and feral, hungrier for vengeance than for gold.
