WICKED GAME [shadow and bone] ON HOLD

unexpected offer and plan b

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍:

"everyone, meet Plan B"

The coach was silent. The pair occasionally heard murmurs from Jesper and Inej and a few noises from outside but overall, it was silent. They were sitting on the opposite sides of the coach, facing each other. Most of the time Katerina was looking outside yet she felt the random glances that the young man was directing her way.

"What are you going to do now?" The redhead snapped her head to face Kaz. She looked into his eyes for a moment before she dropped the gaze to her hands that laid in her lap.

"I have no idea." A bitter laugh suddenly fell past her lips upon realizing she had no idea what to do now. The redhead raised her head to look at the man once more, shaking it. "I have no idea." She was still smiling but the smile was far from joyous, it was a smile full of desperation. "In my life, I have known one thing for sure, that I will always be welcomed in the Little Palace." She yet again lowered her gaze to her hands, frowning. A bitter laugh suddenly fell past her lips upon realizing she had no idea what to do now. "He maybe is not looking for me, but there is nowhere in Ravka where I will be safe."

Kaz observed the desperation in the girl's eyes. When Katerina saved him from the Black General, Kaz briefly noted the expression on the man's face. It was enough to know he will never forget what Katerina had done to him. Right now, Kirigan is looking for Sun Summoner but what will happen when he is going to find her? Is Katerina going to be his next target?

Kaz shook his head from the thoughts of what the General could do to her. For abandoning him. For betraying him.

A thought suddenly appeared in his mind. It was quite foolish, but it was the only thing that could help her. After all, Kaz Brekker once let her be taken away. He is not going to let that happen again.

"Come with me." The redhead once more snapped her eyes to the man. "Come with me... with us. He will not look for you in Ketterdam. I am sure of it."

For a minute Katerina only stared into his eyes. She was trying to detect something that would give away the fact that he is joking or fooling around, yet there was none. Finally, she understood Kaz was genuinely offering her to come with him to the place he had known his whole life.

A faint smile suddenly appeared on the redhead's face.

"Remember I told you that I have no idea who Kaz Brekker is? That I only knew Kaz Rietveld?" A nod. "Kaz Rietveld couldn't do anything and only watch how I was taken away. Even though he wished he could stop it." The smile on Katerina's lips became gentler. "Now I know who Kaz Brekker is. Kaz Brekker will not make the same mistakes twice. He will do anything in his power to protect those who he loves and cares about."