Kaz Brekker x reader

Chapter 18 | one last time

I sat calmly at peace with my head on his shoulder as we listened to the crackling of the fire before us. My jacket was tightly wrapped around my figure for warmth.
Alina and Mal finished by coming back with Alina's old dress in her hands. She tossed it into the fire and watched it slowly burn the fabric. A way of washing off at the shit she'd been through since her arrival at the Little Palace mouths ago.

"I didn't expect it to burn at all." Spoke Mal from behind her.

"But it can be destroyed in the end, just like Kirigan," I exclaimed sternly as I pulled my head up from Kaz's shoulder and peered over at the fold in spite.

Alina slowly walked towards the fold causing Kaz to adjust himself next to me to keep an eye on her. I turned my head away from the fold to look at Inej for a moment.

"I know that look." Spoke Mal as he walked towards Alina.
"You're staring down your new bully."

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

"Okay." Mal stopped her as he took her hand in his.
"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." He whispered.

"I have to go!" Zoya exclaimed as she rose up to her feet and walked to Alina.

"Wait!" Spoke Inej as she raised as well.
"You can't go back into the fold."

"To Novokribirsk," Zoya answered Inej.
"I had family in that city. I need to know how much of it is lost."

"It's dangerous to go looking for the dead." Kaz rose up to his feet.
"What you see may haunt you for the rest of your days." He exclaimed as I swallowed nervously.

"Not going will haunt me more." She spoke sternly and walked closer 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." Zoya explained as I stood up next to Kaz. He looked over his shoulder to look at me but I didn't meet his eyes, I kept them on Alina and Zoya.
"You need to find new allies."
She turned her head to look at me for a brief moment.

Alina embraced Zoya in a tight 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." Zoya exclaimed.

"So...stay alive." I giggled as I walked to stand close to Zoya in front of Alina.

"They'll have to get through me first," Mal exclaimed from behind Alina.

"You need more than bullets and bravado to survive the people hunting you now." I giggled at Mal as Alina nodded.

"Keep your identity a secret for now." Said Zoya as she turned around to face me.

"She's one of us now," Jesper exclaimed playfully from behind us causing me to smile at him and turn back around to embrace Zoya.

"I missed you." She whispered before pulling back and walking away before I could answer.
I followed her with my eyes for a moment before turning my attention to Kaz.