TROUBLE , kaz brekker

ix. what is the boy's name?

CHAPTER NINE

"SO...YOU KILLED HER?"

"I hope so. Otherwise, that'll be one hell of a family reunion."

Nina Zenik almost looked impressed as Echo recounted the long and slightly comical story of, what can only be described as, a series of very unfortunate events. Also known as the last year and a half of her life.

Beating her sister's head in with a marble bust? Check. Traveling across the True Sea in Sturmhond's ship? Check. Meeting said sister again and having a fight to the death in a Ravkan tavern? Check. As every dreadful event was laid bare Echo couldn't help but wonder if her life was simply one big joke. She'd stopped finding it funny about eighteen years ago.

It was easier to keep to the more modest details, the less extreme. Maybe that way she could at least pretend to have forgotten the exact shade of her sister's lifeless face. Her glassy eyes, her final, bitter words-

"Was the shotgun really necessary?"

"Irina wasn't the type to go without a fight." Echo shook her head.

Nina laughed. "Oh, I know. I'm probably the only one this side of the True Sea that who ever actually met your family." With both eyes fixated on Inej's wound, Nina held out a hand. "Gauze."

Echo tossed the white cloth over with a sigh. "I remember. We should start a support group."

As much as Echo's blood pressure rose at the sight of a Heartrender, she had to admit it did feel nice to talk to someone who knew. Whether that was the Little Palace, The Darkling, or her sister, Nina did know every player in this story. She was as close to a familiar face as Echo ever wanted to see but her presence was comforting. Like home. Even if Echo was scared shitless by the movement of her hands.

Nina paused, tongue between her teeth as she pressed a damp cloth against the bloodied skin. Inej hissed and Echo tightened her grip on the girl's hand. It was less of a comfort for the Suli girl than for the redhead. Echo hated to see the way Inej winced in pain. The acrobat with the quiet feet. Just the thought of what Rollins had made her face made Echo's blood boil.

"Do you regret it?" Another question from the Heartrender. Echo was beginning to feel like she was on some kind of elaborate trial. Maybe the judge was sealed in a tomb. Or maybe she was just paranoid.

"Killing her?"

"No, when you decided to only dress in cool tones." Nina looked up from Inej's bloodied arm long enough to grin. "Obviously when you killed her."

Echo didn't know what she was expecting from Nina Zenik. Arken had described her as a warrior, a formidable spy, but this brown haired girl cracked jokes at murder. Had they really become so used to all the violence? What did that say about the future of Ravka, left in the hands of their blood stained children?

The redhead gnawed at the skin of her thumb. "Would you regret killing a Drüskelle?"

Nina hesitated. "Depends on the Drüskelle." She shrugged. "But...probably not."

Echo hadn't been expecting that answer. The elite Fjerdan warriors were rarely so sentimental about which grisha they killed. She remembered the price of Nina's heartrending skills and the intrigue only grew, who did the Heartrender want to walk free?

"Irina tried to kill me my whole life. I don't think I could regret it if I tried."

But Nina wasn't asking the right questions. Regret was nothing compared to guilt.