—𝐌𝐚𝐥 felt slightly out of place with the group. They all clicked and knew where they stood, while he was an outsider. Anya and Kaz had taken comfort in each other, Jesper with his guns, and Inej with her religion. They feel the boat stop. Jesper twirls his guns.

"What's he doing?" Inej questions.

"Shh."

"Don't you shush my wife, Kaz Brekker." Kaz sends her a look, one that shows that they will be talking about that.

"One more demonstration." Kirigan's voice echoes through the silent skiff, the group listening intently. He goes slightly muffled, then "Now bear witness to what I can do... with her power."

"Oh, that doesn't sound good." Anya says. The sounds of everyone gasping in shock, leaves the group disturbed.

"What now?" Jesper asks.

"We wait." Anya turns to look at Kaz.

"What?"

"Kaz, you can hear him slaughtering a city." Mal shakes with rage.

"So you understand the scale of his power, then? Good."

"The bold move is to strike now."

"I agree with lover boy over there." Anya points to Mal who raises an eyebrow at her response. "Listen, I know things."

"And the smart one is to get clear of the damned Fold first." Mal nods his head, walking off.

"I never said I was smart." Inej takes off her coat.

"Can you believe him?" Jesper questions.

"I'm going with him." Inej runs off after Mal.

"Sorry, love. Can't let them have all the fun." Anya kisses Kaz, running off before he can grab her and pull her back into his arms. Anya overhears Kirigan talking and rolls her eyes, wishing he would shut up.

"Today, we redraw all the maps. With the power of the Sun Summoner at my command, I control the Fold." Anya watches as Alina struggles on the ground. She wonders if she threw a knife, would it cut through the rope? "And its monsters. I can move it to any border I like. Engulf any harbor. Consume any city. Take what you have seen back to your home countries. Tell the Fjerdans. Tell the Shu Han. There will be no more war with Ravka. All countries will answer to us. For who would oppose us now?"

Mal surges forward, Anya tries to reach out and grab him, but she can't. Mal starts shooting the guards, Alina yells his name out, warning him. She watches as Kirigan nods towards his Heartrender and watches as he twists his hand, slowly crushing Mal's heart. Mal drops to the floor by Alina. Kirigan picks up the gun, tossing it into the Fold. Anya pays attention to the way Alina lights up the area, keeping the darkness at bay. She's thankful for that. Anya moves towards the top deck, going after the Heartrender.

"Zoya, what are you doing? The general wants us to stay out." Anya runs up behind the Heartrender, putting one of her knives to her his throat.

"Get is out of here. Now!" The Heartrender starts to fight back, Inej jumps out of the shadows. The two girls fight against him, doing intricate moves, using their flexibility to their advantage. The Heartrender pushes Anya against the railing, making her lose her breath and pins Inej to the ground by her throat.

"Do you think I need special power to end your life, Wraith."

"No, but you need to get by me first." Anya punches the side of his face, engaging the fight yet again. Inej starts swinging her knife, Anya doing the same — tag teaming him, if you will. Inej gets knocked out against the railing. Anya flips her knife, going to attack him, but is stopped by him slowing her heart. A sudden gust of wind pushes him off the side, flinging him into the Fold.

"Help me stop him." Zoya says. Anya nods, getting up.

"Zoya? Zoya!" Anya shakes Inej awake. Inej sends her a small smile, standing up and walking towards the front. Anya watches as she kisses her knife before sending it straight into Kirigan's chest. Anya holds her breath, watching as black fills his veins, crawling up his neck. He pulls the knife out of his chest, Anya lets out a shocked gasp.

"It will take more than this!" He moves his hands, summoning the shadows. Anya makes brief eye contact with Kaz, her eyes shining in panic. She hates the dark, her breath becomes uneven, and Inej is at a loss. Only Kaz has the ability to calm her down. Anya senses are on fire, watching as Zoya gets knocked down by a volcra. Inej runs over, Anya following.

"Zoya. Zoya." Inej and Anya nod at each other, taking out their knives and throwing them. Each hits their target perfectly, the two moving in sync, their moves complimenting each other. A volcra lands on the railing, Anya goes to get another knife — she's out. Her mind starts freaking out, wondering if this how she's gonna die.

As the volcra gets closer, Anya is pushed out of the way — it's Kaz. He sticks his cane into the head of the volcra, swinging it around, then ripping it out, all for his girl. The volcra growls, coming closer, Kaz pushes Anya behind him. A searing burst of light comes forward bringing them out of the dark. Anya turns Kaz around, flinging her arms around him. She presses kisses all over his face, murmuring thank you between the kisses.

"Mal!" Alina's voice rings out, breaking the two love birds out of their moment. They look over the edge, watching as Mal and Kirigan fight. The light vanishes, Anya shuffles closer to Kaz. Shouts ring out. The two look over the railing — joking by Inej — watching as Jesper shoots the Heartrender. Anya holds her breath, hoping for the best.

"Still couldn't shoot the pretty face. I've got to stop doing that." Anya chuckles hearing Jesper's remark. Hearing the grunts of a fight, Anya turns her attention back to Kirigan and Mal. The two brawl it out, trying to kill each other. Both over the same reason — Alina.

"I recommend we get moving." Kaz says. Inej helps Zoya up.

"I agree with the Bastard." Zoya moves back towards the sail, moving it forward by using her winds. They move towards the main part of the deck.

"What happened?" Mal asks.

"It's Kirigan's Heartrender." Inej says. Anya stays tucked into Kaz, watching as Mal cradles Alina in his arms.

"Come on, Alina. Alina, come back for me, please. Alina? Please wake up." Anya starts tearing up, heading the heartbreak in Mal's voice. "Please come back. Please." A volcra swings by the deck, attempting to grab someone. "Come on, please."

"Mal..." Alina croaks out.

"I'm here." Mal sobs. "Don't you dare say, 'Meet me in the meadow.'" Alina twists her hand, letting the light flow from her hand. The skiff continues on, going towards the light. They had made it out of the Fold, alive.

🃑🃑🃑

Anya leaned on Kaz, walking in a fresh pair of clothes. She was ecstatic to be out of the damned Fold, it was going to give her nightmares for weeks. Anya hoped Kaz would be there to fight them off. The two teenagers spotted the group huddled around a fire, basking in the warmth.

"I've never met a Saint before."

"Well of course not Inej, they're all dead." Anya says. "Listen, I almost died like twelve times, I am allowed to be sarcastic.

"I've never been a Saint before." Alina says back with a chuckle.

"Wherever you are, whatever you need...my hand is yours."

"I like that hand with a dagger in it. I couldn't hold onto yours, so take mine as a replacement." Alina hands Inej her dagger. "It's not much, but it'll fend off a bully or two." Inej chuckles. Anya feels her heart warming up at the sight of them. Turning back to Kaz, she pokes his side, trying to get a rise out of him. He pokes her back, starting a poking ear, which catches Alina's attention. "They're in love aren't they?"

"They are. I don't think they will ever admit it though." Inej says.

"They look like they're made for one another."

Inej hums. "They truly are. Their souls bleed for one another. It's quite romantic actually. I'd hate to be around if someone took one of them from the other."

"Why?"

"The whole world would burn. There is nothing that they wouldn't do for each other. They would go to hell and back for each other, tearing down anyone in their way. A lot of blood would be shed." The two turn their attention back to the couple, watching as they tease each other, bright smiles painted on their faces. "It's like they have their own language. They have never needed words, just eye contact and they can have a single conversation. I'm jealous actually. They are in their own bubble with each other."

"That sounds quite nice."

"Now imagine lots of blood. That's them."

"So a murder couple." Inej lets out a mhm, and Alina chuckles. They sit in silence for a moment, just watching the two be themselves. Jesper walks over to Kaz, ruining the moment, taking the bag from Kaz's shoulder.

"Step one for any good plan, a change of clothes." Jesper says, handing the bag to Mal. "It's worked for me."

"Thank you." Mal says.

"So... will you still be trying to kidnap me?"

"'Course not."

Kaz looks at Jesper, "Have you found religion, too?"

"Listen here you grump. He's being polite, it's the right thing to do." Anya says.

"No, it's just..." Jesper lets out a sigh. "I'm exhausted. Besides... it'd be bad form to kidnap someone after they saved your life."

"You are quite valuable, you know?" Alina walks towards Kaz, pulling something out her cloak.

"So is this." Anya looks down, seeing a really expensive necklace in her hands. Kaz picks it up.

"I saw this on a portrait of one of the queen in the Little Palace."

"It's not a gift. It's to keep quiet about who I am. Where I go from here." Kaz pockets the necklace.

"A deal is a deal."

Kaz sticks his hand out, Alina shakes it. Anya squeezes his free hand, knowing how hard that must have been for him. He squeezes back, enjoying how well she knows him. Alina and Mal walk off, going to change their clothes. Kaz and Anya walk over, sitting on on the of the logs, trying to get warm. The two walk back shortly after, Alina's dress in her hands. She throws it into the fire, watching as the flames swallows it hole.

"I didn't expect it to burn at all." Mal says. "But it can be destroyed in the end." Alina looks over at the fold, walking closer to it. "Just like him." The Crows watch her intently, wanting to see her next move. "I know that look. You're staring down your new bully."

"We're worse off than we were before, Mal. Kirigan turned on his own people —"

"Okay." Mal cuts her off. "You're not ready yet."

"Neither were they."

"That's not your fault."

"Who do you think the world will blame?"

"We'll come back, I promise. You will tear it down. Just not today." Zoya gets up.

"I have to go." Everyone snaps their heads towards her, surprised at her words.

"Wait!" Inej exclaims. "You can't go back into the Fold."

"To Novokribirsk. I had family in that city. I need to know how much of it is lost." Kaz stands up.

"It's dangerous to go looking for the dead. What you see nah haunt you for the rest of your days." Kaz says.

"Not knowing will haunt me more." Zoya turns to Alina. "You can't stay in Ravka. The Apparat will try to keep his power. Blame this on all of us. The people will turn on Grisha again. You need to find new allies." Alina brings Zoya into a hug.

"Then I'll come back... and reclaim our country."

"I still don't like you... but I'm grateful for you. So remember this. Saints become martyrs before they get to be heroes. So... stay alive."

"They'll have to get through me first." Mal says.

"You need more than bullets and bravado to survive the people hunting you now." Zoya nods her head at Alina, walking off back to Novokribirsk, or what's left of it.

"It's a two-day walk to Os Kervo from here, given our condition."

"Two days as the crow walks."

"Yippee! More time in my feet." Anya exclaims sarcastically, allowing Kaz to pull her to her feet.

"We can smuggle ourselves into a ship to Ketterdam from there." They starts off on their trek, Anya wanting to die five minutes in. Her whole body was sore from fighting and now she had to walk. Her mind was wracking ways to get a free ride, not hearing the conversation between Inej and Kaz. Anya didn't really care either, knowing it was just about her leaving. Kaz walks to catch up with Anya, just wanting her comfort.

"My feet hurt."

"I know."

"You suck."

"Why?"

"You are making me walk for two days. I just want to sleep. In my own bed."

"You don't own a bed. You sleep in my room." Kaz says.

"I know. You don't sleep, so it's my bed."

"Our bed."

"Fine. Our bed. Our shirts." Kaz scoffs, shaking his head. He throws his arm around his girls shoulders, pulling her closer to him. "What's the plan when we get back."

"Raise living hell."

"I like the sound of that. Me and my badass boyfriend taking over Ketterdam."

"So, I'm your boyfriend now?"

"Have been for a good year."

"Why was I not aware of this?"

"I didn't think you had to be. We claimed each other, everyone knows it. Shame to not be my boyfriend. Why do you not want to be?" Anya looks up at Kaz with her eye brow raises, choosing to ignore the blush on his cheeks.

"I do trust me. I just didn't know we had labels now."

"We always have, an unspoken one. It also helps my initial is carved into your skin. I'm getting a K when we go back home."

"Are you now?"

"Yep." Kaz chuckles, pulling her arm to stop her from walking. He swoops his head down, kissing her hard. He loves her so much, his body aches, his soul aches when she's not around. He wants her presence, no needs it. It consumes him whole, making him a better person. They don't need to say those three words to know how they feel. Just by the way the act is enough. They breath for the other and they know it too. Loads of Anya's complaints later and they arrived at Os Kervo.

"Os Kervo! Docked at Os Kervo! On to Ketterdam next."

"We set out on a clear mission, a prize of a million kruge. And a new member on our crew." Jesper says, walking onto the boat and taking a seat. "So... what did we learn? People with trains are evil. You can't kidnap a human sunbeam. Oh, and Anya complains a lot."

"Hey! I was tired and you wouldn't give me a piggy back ride."

"That's right. I didn't want the extra weight." Anya leans foreword, flicking Jesper's temple. And maybe, just maybe, greed if a poor motivator. True wealth is the friends you make along the way."

"I just might be impressed."

"You got very sappy, Jes." Kaz grumbles at the nicknames.

"I'm talking of Milo, of course."

"Bless his soul. We should have brought him."

"I agree. But I won't have my smelly friend when walking into Ketterdam."

"Where Dresden is waiting for our return."

"I forgot about him." Anya says.

"And Pekka Rollins." Kaz says.

"They'll both want our heads once we show up without the Sun Summoner."

"Well, I'm sure the boss has a plan." Jesper laughs. "He wouldn't send us into a death trap." Jesper looks towards Kaz, desperation clear in his voice, "Tell me you have a plan. I don't care if it's a lie."

"Of course he does. It's Kazzle Dazzle."

"I have a plan. And, just how this all started.... we're going to need a Heartrender." Anya looks up at Kaz confused, wondering what brilliant plan is in his head.

"Milana?" Jesper asks.

"No. For this to work, it has to be someone neither of them know. Someone desperate for work, with loyalties only to us."

"It'll be a long passage without that wine shipment." A man says.

"Have a heart. Novokribirsk is in ruins. Their Sun Saint is dead."

A lady nearby turns to the group, "Excuse me. Is what he said true?"

"I don't know if she's dead. But she is a Saint." Inej turns her head to Kaz, who gives her a small smile.

"What have you found religion too?" Anya questions, mocking Kaz's earlier dig at Jesper.

"Stop talking love."

"Nah." Anya had a smile on her face, permanently. She was going home.