The Seventh Crow

Part 21

Nina and I sit across from each other in a dark room. The only light coming from a lantern in the corner. Kuwei sat next to me in an awkward silence.

"How did you meet Matthias?" I ask.

The question has been nagging at my mind since I realized they have feelings for one another.

Nina let out a small laugh that was quickly followed by a small coughing fit.

"He saved my life," she said after.

"Did he know you were Grisha?"

"Oh yes. I was caught by some Drüskelle, Matthias being one of them."

"The ship that sank. You were on that ship?"

Nina nodded. "He swam us to safety as I kept his heart beating. He wasn't happy at first."

"He never is happy."

"That is true."

We both start to laugh. Kuwei awkwardly stares between Nina and I. Probably wondering what we are talking about. Our laughter does last long though. Nina started coughing and my thoughts started to stray.

He really could've died in that ship wreck. If Nina wasn't there, he would've drowned in the sea. I never would've made it out of the Ice Court.

"Guess I owe my life to you," I say.

"How's that?" Nina asks.

"Without you, I would still be in the Ice Court. Twice over actually. If Matthias died, who knows how that heist would've ended and if you didn't take the jurda parem all of us would be locked away."

"Buy me waffles and all will be forgiven."

"What is waffle?"

"You Fjerdans need to broaden your food selections."

I just nod at the statement. I would go for anything that wasn't watered down bread or scraps of vegetables that tastes like dirt half the time.

"Matthias got locked up here for a time..." Nina whispers.

My head snaps towards her. It never occurred to me what happened to Matthias after the shipwreck. I thought he was dead and when that wasn't true, I thought he was hiding out somewhere. Not wanting to get caught by anyone.

"How did that happen?" I question.

"It was my fault. I tried to save his life, but instead I betrayed him. Got him locked up in here because of it."

"Have you told him this?"

Nina doesn't answer, she just stares at the lantern. I take that as a hint for the end of our conversation.

With this new information, maybe I was a little hard on Matthias back on the boat. You can't help who you love. Matthias definitely is one example.

Big, tall brut falls in love with a flirtatious Grisha. Always the ones you don't think would be a good match often are. But, Nina and Matthias are perfect for each other. Even if they might not see it.