Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)

by Leigh Bardugo

“Who’d deny a poor cripple his cane?” “If the cripple is you, then any man with sense.”

Besides, she was the Wraith—the only law that applied to her was gravity, and some days she defied that, too.

“I like it when men beg,” she said. “But this isn’t the time for it.”

Kaz Brekker was gone, and Dirtyhands had come to see the rough work done.

“You’ll get what’s coming to you someday, Brekker.” “I will,” said Kaz, “if there’s any justice in the world. And we all know how likely that is.”

“When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.”

“You’ve seen what this drug can do. I assure you it is just the beginning. If jurda parem is unleashed on the world, war is inevitable. Our trade lines will be destroyed, and our markets will collapse. Kerch will not survive it. Our hopes rest with you, Mister Brekker. If you fail, all the world will suffer for it.” “Oh, it’s worse than that, Van Eck. If I fail, I don’t get paid.”

“I had a question,” said Kaz. Beneath her cape, Nina lifted her hands, sensing the flow of blood in the guard’s veins, the tissue of his lungs. “About your mother and whether the rumors are true.”

“What’s the easiest way to steal a man’s wallet?” “Knife to the throat?” asked Inej. “Gun to the back?” said Jesper. “Poison in his cup?” suggested Nina. “You’re all horrible,” said Matthias.

Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you’ll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won’t matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.

May the Saints receive me. She pressed the tip beneath her breast, between her ribs, an arrow to her heart. Then a hand gripped her wrist painfully, forcing her to drop the blade. “Not just yet, Inej.” The rasp of stone on stone. Her eyes flew open. Kaz.

“You came back for me.” “I protect my investments.”

“My Wraith would counsel mercy. But thanks to you, she’s not here to plead your case.”

She wouldn’t wish love on anyone. It was the guest you welcomed and then couldn’t be rid of.

“You always hated my laugh.” “I loved your laugh, Nina. And your fierce warrior’s heart. I might have loved you, too.”

“And what did you do, Matthias? What did you do to me in your dreams?” The ship listed gently. The lanterns swayed. His eyes were blue fire. “Everything,” he said, as he turned to go. “Everything.”

“Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get Wylan’s ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost.” Brekker’s lips quirked. “I’ll just hire Matthias’ ghost to kick your ghost’s ass.” “My ghost won’t associate with your ghost,” Matthias said primly, and then wondered if the sea air was rotting his brain.

Feeling anything for Kaz Brekker was the worst kind of foolishness. She knew that. But he’d been the one to rescue her, to see her potential. He’d bet on her, and that meant something—even if he’d done it for his own selfish reasons. He’d even dubbed her the Wraith.

“I don’t know what your excuse is, Wraith. I’m the one who can never walk away from a bad hand.” She looped her arm in his. “That makes you a rotten gambler, Jesper. But an excellent friend.” “You’re too good for him, you know.”

He needed to know she believed in him.

“What do you want, then?” The old answers came easily to mind. Money. Vengeance. Jordie’s voice in my head silenced forever. But a different reply roared to life inside him, loud, insistent, and unwelcome. You, Inej. You.

“That’s it, isn’t it? You don’t want to like a Grisha. You’re scared that if you laugh at my jokes or answer my questions, you might start thinking I’m human. Would that be so terrible?” “I do like you.” “What was that?” “I do like you,” he said angrily. She’d beamed, feeling a well of pleasure erupt through her. “Now, really, is that so bad?” “Yes!” he roared.

He got to his feet and offered her his hand. “I’m Matthias.” “Nina,” she said, taking it. “Nice to make your acquaintance.”

“Any other impossible feats you’d like us to accomplish?” The barest smile flickered over Kaz’s lips. “I’ll make you a list.”

“Well, we’ve managed to get ourselves locked into the most secure prison in the world. We’re either geniuses or the dumbest sons of bitches to ever breathe air.” “We’ll know soon enough.”

“Stop being dense. You’re cuter when you’re smart.” Wylan’s cheeks went pink.

“What do you say, Wraith? Can you make the climb?” “I can.” Jesper took the shoes from Wylan. “If I didn’t think these might be crawling with disease, I would kiss them and then you.”

And why had she? To pay off her debt? Or because despite all good sense and better intentions, she’d let herself feel something for the bastard of the Barrel?

“What happens when you take their money and you become a rich man?” Kaz’s mouth had quirked slightly at that. “Then you can steal my secrets, too.”

She was not a lynx or a spider or even the Wraith. She was Inej Ghafa, and her future was waiting above.

Pekka Rollins had taken everything from Kaz. If Kaz intended to do the same to Rollins, he would need to become his equal and then his better, and he couldn’t do it alone. He needed a gang, and not just any gang, but one that needed him.

A gambler, a convict, a wayward son, a lost Grisha, a Suli girl who had become a killer, a boy from the Barrel who had become something worse.

What bound them together? Greed? Desperation? Was it just the knowledge that if one or all of them disappeared tonight, no one would come looking?

It was Jesper who spoke first. “No mourners,” he said with a grin. “No funerals,” they replied in unison. Even Matthias muttered the words softly.

“The wellspring,” mused Kaz, “where all sins are washed clean.” “Or where they drown you and make you confess,” Wylan said. Jesper snorted. “Wylan, your thoughts have taken a very dark turn. I fear the Dregs may be a bad influence.”

“One day you’ll run out of tricks, demjin.” “You’d better hope it’s not today.”

“I’m afraid for you,” he’d said. “The world can be cruel to your kind.” But Jesper had always wondered if maybe his father had been a little afraid of him, too.

“Is it safe to leave them, you know—” “Alive? I’m not big on killing unconscious men.” “We could wake them up.”

Six people, but a thousand ways this insane plan could go wrong.

“If only you could talk to girls in equations.” There was a long silence, and then, eyes trained on the notch they’d created in the link, Wylan said, “Just girls?” Jesper restrained a grin. “No. Not just girls.”

“The life you live, the hate you feel—it’s poison. I can drink it no longer.”

She’d laughed, and if he could have bottled the sound and gotten drunk on it every night, he would have. It terrified him.

“We made it,” he said in wonder. “Djel performs miracles.” “You don’t deserve miracles,” said Matthias with a scowl. “You desecrated the sacred ash.”

“Saints, Kaz, you actually look happy.” “Don’t be ridiculous,” he snapped. But there was no mistaking it. Kaz Brekker was grinning like an idiot.

“They fear you as I once feared you,” he said. “As you once feared me. We are all someone’s monster, Nina.”

I can hear the change in Kaz’s breathing when he looks at you.” “You … you can?” “It catches every time, like he’s never seen you before.”

“Stay,” he said, his voice rough stone. “Stay in Ketterdam. Stay with me.”

“How will you have me?” she repeated. “Fully clothed, gloves on, your head turned away so our lips can never touch?”

“I will have you without armor, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all.”

“Zealot,” she said weakly. “Witch.” “Barbarian.” “Nina,” he whispered, “little red bird. Don’t go.”