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THE ESCAPE

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"𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴! 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘒𝘢𝘻 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘬𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦."

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

━"𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐄'𝐄 𝐈𝐍?" Kaz repeated, making sure he had heard Raina right.

Raina hummed in agreement, watching as Inej walked away before creating a distance between herself and Kaz as guests started to look in their direction.

Kaz slightly frowned although covered it up as Raina looked back at him, "You don't even know what the job is?"

"Tell me then,"

"Kidnap the Sun Summoner," Kaz murmured, low enough for only Raina to hear.

Pausing, Raina blinked, still processing what Kaz had said. Alina. Alina's her friend though. Not anymore, a voice said in the back of her head.

Slightly smirking, Raina raised an eyebrow at him, "How much?"

"One million kruge"

Her mouth forming into an O, Raina slowly nodded. "I don't want any money. I just want to help get the job done." 

I want revenge.

Sending her a puzzled look, Kaz titled his head. "Why exactly do you want to help?"

"I am a kindhearted person who is ready to help her friend," she cheekily replied. Kaz's lips quirked up into a smile which Raina did not miss. Gasping, she placed a hand on her chest, "Saints! Who knew Kaz Brekker could smile."

Shaking his head, he falsely scowled, "I was not smiling,"

Humming, Raina took a few steps towards him, Kaz's posture stiffening. She tiptoed slightly, her warm breath fanning his left ear as she whispered, "Sure you were not. You were also definitely not checking me out a few minutes ago."

Not bothering to spare him another glance, Raina walked towards the door with her head high, leaving a certain someone blushing.

□ □ □

Raina bit her lip hard as she tried keeping her tears at bay. Putting the letter into its respective envelopes and addressing them, Raina hid them in the secret-compartment under her desk which only she and another peson knew off.

Quickly grabbing the small grey bag which was filled with a small amount of clothes and the rest were Cooper's needed items. There was no way she was leaving him here.

Strolling away from where the winter fête was held, she dangled her bag on her shoulder while holding a sleeping Cooper in her arms, entering the white cathedral.

Kaz was smoothing out his ruffled clothes, standing in the middle of the cathedral. Raina gently placed Cooper down on a seat, about to call Kaz when she saw a figure moving behind Kaz's shoulder. An Inferni quietly walked out a wall he had been hiding in, summoning a ball of flames on his hand, ready to throw it on a clueless Kaz.

Dropping her bag, Raina closed her eyes, visualizing any sort of connection between her and the Inferni. Opening her eyes, a dark cloud formed above the Inferni's head, causing both Kaz and the Inferni's attention to redirect towards her. The crackling sound of static and the splitting sound of the lightning filled the air as the Inferni dropped on his knees, looking at the storm above him. His eyes turned into a shade of white as he continued to look at the storm; enchanted.

The Inferni dropped on the floor, a dagger embedded on the back of his head. Looking up, both Raina and Kaz saw Inej standing on the railing of the balcony.

Jumping down, Inej made her way to the lifeless body of the Inferni, seeing the blood spewed out under his head.

Raina made her way towards Inej, placing a hand on her shoulder, watching as Inej raised her head looking at Raina, her voice filled with horror. "I...I killed him."

"You saved Kaz's life, Inej" Raina soothingly spoke. "Both of you did," Kaz called out, taking a few steps towards Raina, although being interrupted by the sound of numerous footsteps walking towards their direction.

"We have to go," he added. Raina gingerly picked up a surprisingly still asleep Cooper back into her arms, the other picking up her bag.

Rushing them out, Kaz subconsciously placed his hand on the small of Raina's back. Speed walking into the courtyard, they saw a figure leaning against a statue.

Gasping, Raina moved away from Kaz's hand, squealing as she saw the figure's face, "Jesper".

Furrowing his eyebrows as a slight chuckle escaped him, Jesper pulled Raina into a side hug as Cooper was resting in her arms.

"Raina? What are you doing here? And why are you holding a dog?" he asked as he eyed the sleeping dog weirdly.

"This is Cooper but that doesn't matter for now," Raina said before turning to look at Kaz, "Aren't we supposed to kidnap the Sun Summoner?"

"We lost her" Kaz mumbled as a frown set on his face.

"Did we?" Jesper amusedly stated as he smirked, looking at the carriage where he had seen the Sun Summoner hid in.

"Yes. We don't know where she is" Inej added to what Kaz had said.

"Don't we" Jesper sang, "Just ask".

"Jesper..." Squinting his eyes, Kaz looked at Jesper with a blank look.

"Just ask." he repeated, taking Raina's bag from her and placing it in the carriage before hopping on the front seat, Kaz and Inej following him.

A gloved hand stuck in front of Raina's face, her momentarily glancing up to see Kaz looking at her then back to his hand expectantly. 

Raising her eyebrow, Raina hummed before taking both Kaz's hands and placing Cooper's sleeping figure on them.

Startled, Kaz squinted his eyes, "No."

Raina scoffed, "No? What do you mean no," Kaz shook his head, motioning towards Cooper who snuggled closer into Kaz's arms, making Raina awed at how adorable the scene looked.

"She can't come with us,"

"He is coming with me, whether you like it or not," Raina fiercely glared, "Don't even try to argue with me, because we both know that I will win."

Letting out a defeated groan, knowing that Raina wouldn't back down and she would convince him one way or another, Kaz nodded, placing Cooper on Inej's lap who happily took him.

Fighting down the tremors as Raina placed her hand on his, Kaz pulled Raina up rather swiftly causing her to unexpectedly stumble into his body. His hand left hers, holding the side of the seat tightly, the pain of placing pressure on his right leg firing throughout.

Wrapping his left arm around Raina's waist to stabilize her, Kaz stiffened, gazing down at her head which was stuffed into his chest.

"Comfortable?" Kaz sarcastically drawled.

Raina pulled her head, looking up at Kaz's straight face as she was blushing.

Clearing her throat, she tried moving away but was stopped by Kaz's arm which was still around her. Raising her eyebrow, she peeked a look at the arm before glancing back at Kaz as an amused expression took over her face. 

"Are you sure you're not the one that's comfortable?"

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞!

RAINA FINALLY MET KAZ, INEJ, AND JESPER AHHH

this chapter just made me fall in LOVE with kaz and raina. their secret flirting and banter is everything. 

ALSO CAN WE PLEASE ACKNOWLEGE THE BOOK COVER I MADE (as you can see, i am NOT good at editing which is why it took me so long)

also did this chapter change your mind about who you're supporting: kaz or aleksander?

let me know your thoughts

xoxo NS