The Fox and The Crow [Kaz Brekker]

chapter 36

AN: Just a little warning guys. This chapter made me cry writing it, so I know some of you might cry or be upset too. So just prepare yourselves for that, ok? And i'll put a little check in at the end of the chapter if anyone wants to talk about their feelings!

Italics - Sign Language

Daemon sat curled up in a dark corner of the ship the entire ride back. She had tried to just enjoy the new scenery, but it was too difficult to turn her thoughts away from everything Kirigan had said to her. And, perhaps, she was taking his death a bit hard as well. Which made her even more frustrated. She hated him so much.

Daemon buried her head in her arms, trying to push her knees closer to her chest. She wanted to make herself as small as possible. Obviously it didn't work as she heard someone sit next to her, their potent smell of sunflowers and lime hitting her instantly.

Alina should've had a lot of reasons to hate Daemon now, and yet here she was, the first person to have the courage to sit by her side.

"Who you are isn't your fault. You know that, right?" Alina spoke softly.

Daemon bit the inside of her cheek as she hid her face from sight.

"And I appreciate everything you said. You have a beautiful voice, Daemon. You don't need to protect everyone. I think it's made you very afraid to protect yourself. Everyone loves you. I love you. I learned a lot from a very powerful Shadow Summoner. Her name was Baghra. If you need help, I'm always here for you. Whenever you're ready. You don't have to be afraid anymore."

Daemon let out a quiet sob, her shoulders shaking. Everything seemed to hit her all at once yet again. Her mother had told her all those years again that she would be free one day. Was this what she had meant? She didn't know. No matter where she went or what happened, she never felt free. She only felt truly free with one person. The person she called home. And that's where she wanted to be right now.

Alina wrapped her arms around Daemon's small broken form, laying her head down to rest on top of hers. Life wasn't fair to either of them. They would live with this pain for centuries. And perhaps they needed each other. Dark and light. Sun and shadow. The balance that Kirigan talked about would have to live in these two girls. And they would do well to make sure it never ended like it had before. Their legacy would have to change what the world knew. But, right here and now, they couldn't truly give that. They had to heal.

Daemon, out of everyone, deserved the time to heal.

~

Daemon rubbed her tired eyes again as they walked to the courtyard. Bodies were laid out on the ground in a row. Inej was the first to notice the crows and nudged Daemon's arm, nodding over to Kaz.

Daemon forgot all of the exhaustion and pain in her bones and sprinted over to him. She skidded to a stop right in front of him, almost having to physically hold herself back from hugging him.

A smile formed on her face, "I'm home."

Kaz watched her closely for a few moments, trying to memorize every part of her after what felt like an eternity. Everything they had gone through that day was more than enough to give him perspective.

"Welcome back."

Jesper interrupted their moment with a tight hug around Daemon. He picked her up off her feet and spun her around. He didn't notice the glare that Kaz gave him as he did so.

"Hey there, Dae. You look horrible," he joked.

Daemon rolled her eyes at him, "You're one to talk. You look ten years older than the last time I saw you. Is that a wrinkle?"