Chapter 25: "we'll see."

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Nina and Matthias not once stopped fighting and the crows stayed silent watching them, if only Zaria had some popcorn, she would be eating right now.

"If only there was popcorn." she whispered to Jesper on her side, "I thought the same thing," he whispered back staring back and forth.

A sudden rumble shook the ground. Nina nearly lost her footing, and Inej saw Kaz brace himself with his walking stick, they exchanged puzzled glances.

"Are there fault lines this far north?" Wylan asked Matthias who frowned. "Not that I know of, but—" A slab of earth shot up from beneath Matthias’ feet, knocking him to the ground.

Another erupted to Nina’s right, sending her sprawling. All around them, crooked monoliths of earth and ice burst upwards as if the ground was coming to life.

A harsh wind whipped at their faces, snow spinning in flurries, and Zaria immediately knew that it wasn't mother nature, "What the hell is this?" cried Jesper.

"Some kind of earthquake!" shouted Inej but Zaria shook her head pointing to a dark spot that seemed to be floating in the sky, unaffected by the howling wind, "we're under attack by another Squaller," she said.

Nina crawled on her hands and knees, seeking some kind of shelter. She thought she might well have lost her mind. There was someone in the air, hovering in the sky high above her. She was watching someone fly.

"I need y'all to help me distract him!" she exclaimed grunting in pain from somewhere in the storm, "Get down!" cried Wylan, Nina flattened her body to the snow. A boom sounded overhead, and an explosion lit the sky just to the right of the Squaller.

A shot rang out, and the Squaller was hurtling towards the earth. Another slab of ice slid into place.

Zaria started following the Squaller without a thought, wind slapped her cheeks as she ran, dodging every attack thrown towards her, with a move of her hand the Squaller was slammed against the tree gasping for air.

The Squaller got up and watched the black-haired girl from far, the ground still buckled and swayed, but she held steady, he was trying to attack her with a sharp cold wind that even Fjerdans can't handle but she immediately controlled it, and send it back to him.

Suddenly a snow tornado came from behind the crows whose eyes immediately widened.

Zaria's arms were raised and her eyebrows furrowed, doing everything she can to push the tornado away from them she sent it to the Squaller who did everything he could to control it but couldn't.

Inej signaled something to Kaz and without a word, he positioned himself against the nearest slab and cupped his hands at his knee. The ground buckled and she launched herself from the cradle of his fingers in a graceful arc.

The squaller went flying, spinning, and screaming, the tornado suddenly vanished and the Grisha fell with a loud thud and a scream. and with that, the ground went still, "Trust the Wraith and Z" said Jesper, cutting off the silence.

They stood, dazed, the air hushed after the chaos that had come before. "Wylan," called Jesper panting and pushing to his feet, "Get us out of here." Wylan nodded without a word and pulled a putty-coloured lump from his pack, gently placing it against the nearest rock.

"Everybody down." he instructed and everyond did as told.

They crouched together in a cluster as far away as the enclosure would permit. Wylan slapped his hand against the explosive and dove away, careening into Matthias and Jesper as they all covered their ears.

Nothing. What the fuck?

"Are you kidding me?” started Jesper about to turn and glare at the boy but then a boom echoed, startling him.

The slab exploded. Ice and bits of rock rained down over their heads, Wylan was covered in dust and wearing a slightly dazed, deliriously happy expression.

Jesper stayed silent and tried not to stare at the happy boy, Nina started to laugh, "Try to look like you knew it would work."

Kaz gestured to Jesper. "Perimeter. Let’s make sure there aren’t more surprises." And with that they set off in opposite directions.

Nina and the others found Inej standing over the body of the trembling Grisha first.

He wore clothes of olive drab, and his eyes were glassy. Blood spilled from the bullet wound in his upper thigh, and a knife jutted from the right side of his chest. Inej must have thrown it when she’d escaped from the enclosure. 

Kaz started making his way were they watched Zaria take care of the Squaller from before, she sat beside the Grisha with her hair covering her face, holding his hand and probably praying.

But no once he got closer he could hear her muttering apologizes, "saints, I am so sorry." She said trying so hard to hold back her tears, "I...it's o-okay..." whispered the squaller between gasps, blood suddenly spilling from his mouth and his hand dropping from hers.

She didn't even hear Kaz's steps, her ears were ringing and she focused on the man in front of her, the light left his eyes and his chest suddenly stopped.

Her hands trembled as she got up, running her hand through her hair, she took a step back and turned around, "Oh saints!" She exclaimed once seeing Kaz stand there and watch her carefully.

She death glared him before looking everywhere but his eyes, "happy?" She asked cutting off the silence, Kaz studied her for any kind of injury, "are you okay?" He finally managed to ask.

Zaria scoffed and turned her harsh look back to him, "really? Now you're asking?" She was now fully facing him, fury burning in her eyes, "I just killed a Grisha! A squaller under the effect of Parem! And you're asking if i'm okay?!"

Kaz listened not even daring to say a word, she was angry for almost 48 hours because of him, might as well take her anger out.

"And you ignoring me?! Calling me by my last fucking name, giving me the worst job, and plus is the reason why I couldn't sleep, wondering what I did that made you ignore me?!" 

She was full-on yelling, stepping in with each sentence to the point where their bodies almost touched, noses almost bumping each other and her eyes never left his.

Kaz swore he could see thunder in her pretty eyes, and he did everything he could to fight the urge of leaning and cupping her cheek so he could see if there were indeed strikes of lightning.

Her eyes were boring into his and Kaz fought his tremors, he reached, his gloved hand landing on hers and tugging her a little closer.

Zaria's breath hitched and her fury faded immediately, she could feel his thumb running over her palm to ease her temper down, and tears blurred her vision.

For the first time ever she let tears take over, she blinked them away, shaking her head and looking down to not meet his eyes.

She hated looking so miserable in that appearance, especially in front of the one and only man she wanted to look beautiful to, always and forever.

"Let it out," he whispered loud enough for her to hear, she froze at his words, he didn't seem mad at all. In fact, his eyes were soft, too soft, that she almost collapsed and thought this was just a dream.

She hated that tears immediately covered her eyes as soon as she met the softness in his eyes, she had never seen his eyes like that, never.

And she couldn't look into his eyes, knowing that she would not stop staring at them, melting and swimming in them.

His eyes reminded her of the bitter coffee her father used to take every morning, and she can still remember the way she stole a few sips, not caring about the taste.

"Look at me." She didn't, she couldn't. "Zaria, look at me." He ordered quite more harshly than he meant to, and she did this time, her eyes meeting his and the weight on her shoulder leaving.

They were so close, too close, his eyes held something she wanted to decipher, saints he made her both frustrated and mad, he made everything so hard, the heist, and now the thought about kissing him.
The air grew heavy and it suddenly felt so hot, so fucking hot, in Fjerda? It was impossible to feel hot, but they really were, sweat ran down the back of Kaz's neck, his demons were eating him alive but he couldn't move.

The tingling feeling was back, erupting in her stomach and swelling up her throat, "I.." he started snapping her out of her thoughts, and she took a step back.

Zaria gulped and did everything she can not to let the warmth rush to her cheeks, Kaz sighed, "I didn't mean to cause you any more stress, the heist is getting on my nerves and I got mad, I didn't mean to hurt you." 

he wanted to take the worst back, it was very difficult for him to even utter these words, Zaria noticing his adam's apple bobbing up and down, tore her hand away as gently as possible and took a step back.

I'm sorry. he wanted to say but the words were stuck and didn't dare leave his lips. for everything.

Tears brimming in the corners of her eyes as she watched him carefully, "oh Kaz.." she sighed wanting to just reach and cup his cheek or jaw, "..It's fine. you didn't cause me any stress, I was just..." she trailed, trying to find the right words.

"I was just worried," she repeated the last sentence, his muscles were tense, his leg throbbing in pain but at her words, he immediately relaxed.

"and mad, but mostly worried." she resumed her words with a painful chuckle, "you have all the right to be mad." Zaria nodded and ruffled her hair with a smirk.

"I know, I tend to be the one who gets yelled at for breaking the rules, not the one to yell, so yeah, I needed that." with that she started making her way towards the crows who stood from far.

"you? breaking the rules?" Kaz teased following her, "please, 12 professors left because of the pranks I used to pull, I was homeschooled." she replied while rolling her eyes.

"What kind of pranks?"

Zaria laughed, "well, I was 7 years old, Jes and I decided to prank the new teacher because he was incredibly annoying he insulted my father, he ordered me to make him coffee, and I bought dirt from our garden full of insects and salt and put it in his coffee."

Kaz stared at her but she could see the shock in his eyes, "you are cruel, holy shit." Zaria shot him a look, "trust me, I've done a lot worse, besides, he shouldn't have insulted my father."

With that they fell silent, Zaria's face fell into a guilty one as she seemed to be thinking about something, "Thank you." he suddenly said, making her look at him in confusion.

"I know you didn't want to kill that grisha." he said fixing his jacket and limping beside her, Zaria looked away and in front of her, "I didn't kill him, the drug did, but he knew my name, every fucking grisha does." 

Biting her lip she scoffed, the corner of her mouth raising into a bitter grin, "Isla? a fucking cursed last name, everyone knows it. You look like your father! I hope you are just like him! they used to say as if I am just like him, I am a fucking killer, a fucking lost grisha who killed her mother a few days ago, left home, and is helping a gang break in the most guarded prison."

Kaz suddenly stopped and watched her walk away, "You killed your mother?" she didn't stop nor wanted to look into his eyes, "I did." she replied, her voice echoing.

Out of all people, her mother was the one who gave her the scar that will never disappear, he knew what she felt at the moment, the whole week, her hands were covered in blood to save her life, to save them.

She can still remember the night when her stepmother appeared holding baby Tamaya who was weeping, Jesper's kind and sweet mother welcomed them in, and Zaria stayed with them for about 2 months.

Helping around with the chores, learning to cook, Aditi and Colm being the best parents and tucking them in, Jesper and her ending up staying awake and giggling quietly to themselves.

and a month after her stepmother finally decided to take Zaria home, Jesper's mother died, everyone was shocked and that night when she found it, she went running to Jesper's home.

Stayed with him and comforted him for the whole night, and with that she became the older sister for him and Tamaya, training her sister to be one of the most powerful Infernis, doing everything she can for their future.

and for years she had that responsibility, striving to fill her father's shoes, managing the family's affairs, etc yet here she is helping Kaz Brekker and his gang.

Zaria couldn't believe that such a drug would kill a Grisha, yet the sight of the Squaller gasping for air and wanting to have a little more, terrified her.

It was as if she was staring at herself, this is what she would be like if she took that drug. 

"Anything?" asked Matthias, the sharpshooter who nodded, still panting heavily, "A party of people heading south." he replied, taking a deep breath.

"He was calling out for the Shu," Nina said, still sitting beside Nestor's body, "We knew the Shu would send a team to retrieve Bo Yul-Bayur," replied Kaz beside Zaria who was listening without a word.

Jesper looked down at Nestor’s motionless body shivering slightly, there was snow in his eyes and his mouth, "But we didn’t know they’d send Grisha. How can we be sure they aren’t mercenaries?"

Zaria reached for something in her pocket and held it out, a coin emblazoned with a horse on one side and two crossed keys on the other, "this was in the Squaller's pocket, a Shu wen ye. The Coin of Passage. This is a government mission." she spoke tossing the coin to Jesper.

"How did they find us?" Inej asked with a frown, "Maybe Jesper ’s gunshots drew them." replied Kaz feeling Zaria shoot him a deadpan look, Jesper on the other hand bristled and pointed at Nina and Matthias.

"Or maybe they heard these two shouting at each other. They could have been following us for miles." she nodded at her best friend's words and Kaz fought the urge to roll his eyes.

"I don’t understand," said Nina, still trying to understand the situation, "If they have jurda parem, why go after Bo Yul-Bayur?" she asked looking up from Nestor.

Zaria was the first to speak, stealing Kaz's words, "It’s possible they have a stash of it, but can’t reproduce his process," she said, "That’s what the Merchant Council seemed to think. Or maybe they just want to make sure Yul-Bayur doesn’t give the formula to anyone else." 

That was exactly what Kaz wanted to say and for a second he thought that she actually might be reading his thoughts.

"Do you think they’ll use drugged Grisha to try to break into the Ice Court?" asked the wraith looking at Kaz, "If they have more of them," said Kaz. “That’s what I would do." 

Zaria rolled her eyes at the boy; she knew that he was going to say that, "why am I not surprised?" she muttered, glancing up at him to see him already frowning at her with unreadable eyes.

Forcing herself to look away she cleared her throat awkwardly, "If they’d had a Heartrender, we’d all be dead." spoke Matthias while shaking his head, "It was still a close thing." replied Inej, and Zaria nodded in agreement at her words.

Jesper shouldered his rifle. "Wylan earned his keep." the poor boy turned around almost immediately at the sound of his name, clearly startled, "I did?" Zaria smiled at the two boys.

"Well, you made a down payment."

Kaz cut off the tension with a cold tone, '"let's move." he ordered and Nina almost immediately got up, "We need to bury them,'' Nina said, "The ground’s too hard, and we don’t have the time. The Shu team is still moving toward Djerholm. We don’t know how many other Grisha they may have, and Pekka’s team could already be inside."

"We can’t just leave them for the wolves," she said and Zaria shivered at the thought of wolves eating them and ripping them apart, Nina's throat was tight as it sounded like she was about to cry.

"Do you want to build them a pyre?" asked Kaz looking over at the green-eyed beauty who death glared at him, "Go to hell, Brekker." she snapped in anger and Zaria chortled.

"He certainly will, honey," she replied, covering her mouth to stop herself from laughing so hard, Kaz shot her a dirty look and the girl immediately shrugged innocently, "what? it's the truth." she muttered under her breath.

"Do your job, Zenik," he shot back. "I didn’t bring you to Fjerda to perform funeral rites." he turned toward Zaria warningly so she doesn't utter a word.

the girl huffed and closed her mouth, Nina lifted her hands and threatened him, "How about I crack your skull open like a robin’s egg?" Zaria nodded at her as if gesturing for her to do so.

"do it." she mouthed from beside Kaz who only replied with a simple, "You don’t want a look at what’s inside my head, Nina dear." Zaria froze at the nickname and glanced up at him, watching him carefully.

What was inside his head exactly? other than revenge, plans, and money? a special person? a nice mansion?

The answer is; the inside of his head is full of thoughts mixing together, and Kaz hated when someone was standing in his way and distracting him from the plans.

And that someone is no other than Zaria Isla, the runaway grisha, the Storm, his storm.

For the past 2 days, she was in his mind and didn't seem to leave any time soon, in the middle of thinking about the heist she suddenly appeared and made him forget about everything.

and that he despised.

Zaria, was part of his mind and he rather stab himself with one of Inej's daggers than for anyone to find out that she is part of his mind and never left.

Nina took a step forward, but Matthias moved in front of her and the next words that left his lips made everyone stare in shock, Zaria frowning.

"Stop," he said. "I’ll do it. I’ll help you dig the grave." Nina stared at him also puzzled, he took a pick from his gear and handed it to her, then took another from Jesper’s pack. 

"Head due south from here," he said to the others, "I know the terrain, and I’ll make sure we catch up to you by nightfall. We’ll move faster on our own." 

Zaria frowned at that and Kaz looked at him steadily, "Just remember that pardon, Helvar." with that they started moving, Zaria reached over and grabbed Nina's wrist, tugging her towards her.

"Are you sure? I can stay if you want." she glanced at Matthias with eyes narrowed into slits, Nina cupped her cheek with a smile, "I am sure, thank you though." Zaria not once broke her gaze away from the Fjerdan.

"All right, stay safe." she ordered before walking away from them, feeling anxious about leaving the heartrender alone with Matthias Helvar.

"Are we sure it’s a good idea to leave them alone?" Wylan asked as they moved down the slope, "No," replied Inej.

"But we’re still doing it?"

 "We trust them now or we trust them later," Kaz said keeping his eyes on the road in front of him, Zaria kept glancing behind in worry.

"Are we going to talk about Matthias’ little revelation about Nina’s loyalties?" asked Jesper, moving to wrap his arm around his best friend's shoulder who leaned towards him.

 Nina could just make out Kaz’s reply: "Pretty sure most of us don’t have ‘stalwart’ or ‘true’ checked off on our résumés." For all that she wanted to pummel Kaz, she couldn’t help being a bit grateful, too.

Nina could feel Zaria's glances still and she couldn't help but smile quietly to herself.

Kaz glanced from his shoulder to look over at Zaria who was talking about the latest book she read to Inej. 

She looked like a princess, like the princesses his mother used to tell him about when he was more youthful when Jordie was still alive and by his side.

 He can still remember when he asked his mother one day, "do we all have a princess in our life?" his mother who was cooking for them, smiled brightly at her son's word.

His father appeared with Jordie by his side and grinned at his boy, "you will know when you meet yours." Kaz frowned at that, his lips pouting slightly.

"How do we know?"

He asked helping his mother place the plates on the table, his father chuckled and pressed a kiss on his wife's forehead.

"Well, you will know when the entire world suddenly goes silent when you are with them, the only thing that matters to you, is them. When the only thing you want is to stare at them the whole day and night, hold them, buy them jewellery and flowers, when your insides go warm."

They all sat at the table, Jordie ruffling his brother's hair making him pout and push his hand away, "do you think I will meet my princess?" He asked again eyes gleaming with hope.

His mother laughed and reached over to cup his cheek, "you are certainly someone's prince charming, darling. And you will meet your princess like the story I told you about."

Kaz grinned and nodded at her leaning against the palm of her hand..

And Zaria was the princess they told him about, he felt every single thing his father told him, well maybe even more, she was absolutely beautiful, and with snow on her hair, she reminded him of a princess who married a soldier despite the king's disapproval.

The princess was a poet, she used to always sit against the trees holding a book or writing, the soldier was a young boy from the village.

Blonde hair like the rays of the sun, blue eyes like the ocean, and he soon became the King's favorite soldier ever since he fought a giant lizard.

The princess had brown hair always in pretty hairstyles with ribbons and pins with crystals at the end attacked, she wore the prettiest dresses, mostly a light blue ones cause she told him they reminded her of his eyes.

His eyes. No one elses, but his.

The white embroidery at the shoulders of flowers, snowflakes, branches, every single mother nature object.

"The soldier wore only metallic uniforms and a sword always on his hips, while she wore the prettiest dresses in the whole city, see the difference?"

His mother asked while running her hand through Kaz's hair, Jordie on her lap listening to her quietly, the siblings nodded in unison.

"But no matter how much the father scolded, yelled and refused for him to take his daughter's hand. He did it." She said with a smile.

"But how?" Asked Jordie after staying silent for the whole time, "well, he fought the war, and the king ordered him that if he bought the most expensive crystal along with a dragon tooth then he shall be king and marry his daughter. And he did. Spending days freezing to death in the cold harsh winter and trying to find what the king ordered."

That was true love, a man doing everything to marry the love of his life.

Inej suddenky asking a question snapped him out of thoughts, "Did your father ever cross the fold?" Zaria froze at Inej's sudden question.

Kaz turned his head and shot the Suli girl a warning glare, Inej met his eyes and immediately regretted her words.

'Don't ask about her father' he thought still eyeing his wraith who eyed him back as if she was reading his thoughts, "I'm sorry." She mouthed back.

But still, Zaria replied, "I think he did, thought whenever I used to ask him about it he used to say "I did, it was a horrifying experience and let's just hope a sun summoner will tear it down!" He believed that they will find a sun summoner one day."

She tried to mimic his tone and chuckled softly at the memory, Inej grinned and sighed in relief, feeling lucky that she had narrowly avoided a grave.

"He sounds like a kind man." Said Wylan giving the girl the softest smile.

Zaria loved Wylan, she really did, and him saying those words made her absolutely adore him.

"He was." Replied Jesper with a bright grin, "the kindest man." Zaria smiled back at him, her eyes twinkling like coins or stars.

She met Kaz's eyes and he nodded at her, she nodded back as a sign of respect before winking, the respect fading and turning into a flirty move.

Kaz rolled his eyes but deep down he could feel himself warm up, just like his father said when he was still alive.

But he was glad that she was warming up to the Crows about her past and letting them ask questions about her father.

Wylan had asked a lot of questions about her father and even if he could see the sorrow in her eyes, she still answered them for her favorite crow.

She tried to teach Inej words in Zemeni, told Wylan about hunting, stealing from the richest man in Novyi Zem, how fun her life used to be.

"So your favorite flower are orchids?" He asked once she suddenly appeared by his side, "what- how did you know?" She asked frowning weirdly at him.

Kaz fought the urge to grin, "you said it, darling. Along with your favorite color, book, prince you fell in love with, etcetera." He replied glancing down at her with a smirk.

She reddened, "you were listening the entire time.." her voice was low as she scratched the back of her neck, "mhm," he hummed, nodding.

"Navy blue, a zemeni romantic book- disgusting- i rather stab my eyes than know it's name, and your favorite prince is Anthony." He didn't want to say the title cause he knew she will make fun of him if he does.

Zaria was blushing, warmth rushing through her veins as she smiled up at him, "you remind me of that prince." She spoke watching the way he scrunched his nose in disgust.

"I know you did not just compare me to a prince." Zaria shrugged in response, leaning in, but enough not to touch him.

"What? You are handsome, and can be charming  sometimes. Except Anthony was kind hearted not a mob boss." She could see the pure disgust in his eyes.

"Well then, fuck Anthony, I despise him." An amused grin took over her features as she stared at him, studying him and the way his ears were crimson red (no, not from the cold)

"Hey! If you were a prince or rich, I would've fell for you." She snapped rolling her eyes, "leave Anthony alone."

"I will be rich, and it's not a dream, it's something that will happen," Kaz said, "and you better fall in love when I become one."

Her heart hammered against her chest, screaming and howling for help, heat rushed through her body for saints knows how many times today, truth be told, she fell in love with him even if he wasn't rich, yet.

"I rather stab my eyes with one of Inej's saints." She finally managed to snap back after staying silent for a hot minute.

"Uh-huh, We'll see." He teased watching the way she wrapped the black jacket tighter around her, hiding her face deeper onto the collar to hide her burning face.

"We'll see."

I have been hoping for more than that, Brekker. Her voice echoed around his head soft and like a melody, as if a saint was singing for him.

So have I, Isla. he thought.

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A/N: we love protective Zaria, also I love this chapter a lot.
Kaz and Z are back!! The tension 😫
Wylan and Zaria's friendship<3 and Inej also!!
Tell me what you think?