Inej
Inej wasn't sure if she was the same confident, bold girl who had managed to stay naked in front of Kaz long enough to catch a slight chill, but now that she was dressed, she felt her body warm.
She was afraid she would have felt disgusted and ashamed when Kaz looked at her, but she was relieved to find none of those ugly feelings. Maybe because Kaz looked inside her soul, at the very essence of her core. He desired her; that much was evident but he had respect and regard for her too, a quality that none of the other men had ever shown.
Furthermore, Inej wanted Kaz to gaze at her. She was growing accustomed to the heated glances Kaz threw her way, and she relished the warm flush only Kaz could cause to her body. He made her feel strong and powerful and beautiful, and when he gazed at her with such raw tenderness and emotion, Inej could believe for a moment that she would willingly let him do whatever he desired to her. The thought both thrilled and terrified her.
When she heard Kaz's footsteps approach by the front door, she had to restrain herself from rushing to Kaz and flinging her body in his arms. When had she become this wanton creature who craved Kaz in every waking moment?
She leaned against the piano, feigning nonchalance but she needn't have bothered, as Kaz entered the Slat and made a beeline for her.
Her heart began pounding a mile a minute and she was surprised to find her knees felt weak from the intensity of Kaz's gaze. Her veins thrummed with anticipation and excitement, her skin flushed with colour when Kaz stood in front of her. Her fingers curled into fists in a tremendous effort to not touch Kaz but it was as if he had sensed the need in her. Or maybe it was a reflection of his own longing. Either way, it didn't matter.
Inej gasped when Kaz gently took her hands in his own, and pressed a light kiss above her knuckles. She could feel it all the way to her toes. Her grip tightened in Kaz's hands as she tilted her face up towards him, her lips begging to be kissed too but Kaz shook his head.
Inej's full lips turned to a pout as she exclaimed, 'why would you deny me a kiss?'.
Kaz smiled at Inej's enthusiasm but his expression became sombre. Inej immediately noticed the change in his demeanour and she sighed. 'What did you do?'. Kaz gazed at her in mock outrage. 'Why do you think I did something-', he began to protest but at Inej's levelled stare, he relented.
'Tante Heleen is dead. She was found with her wrists slit and bleeding in her chambers. Stadwatch have ruled her death as suicide, perhaps in penance for all her crimes.' he shrugged carelessly, as if he were reporting the weather and not relaying the news of her worst enemy.
Inej blinked, her face blank as she repeated quietly, 'Tante Heleen is dead?' Kaz nodded sharply, eyes watching her warily as she freed her hands from Kaz's grip and placed it over her heart. Kaz's voice was soft when he said, 'Before you say anything, I want you to remember all the horrible things that you endured because of her-'.
'She's dead. She's actually dead?' Inej's voice came out in a gasp as she dropped to her knees and bowed her head. She clasped her hands in front of her and Kaz realised she was praying.
Inej wasn't sure how long she knelt on the floor, calling out to her Saints fervently and whispering her gratitude to them. It was as if nothing existed in the moment except her, her ever watchful Saints and the sweet news of Tante Heleen's death, now settling around her like a gentle breeze.
She was dimly aware of Kaz calling her name, but she snapped out of her reverie when she felt him drop to his knees beside her and touch her gently on her shoulder. 'Inej-,' he began cautiously as she raised her face to meet his concerned gaze, but she cut off his speech. She flung her arms around Kaz's neck, falling onto his lap and catching him by surprise, but he hooked an arm across her waist and pulled her close to him.
Her tears soaked his expensive suit as she tried and failed to contain her sobs but it was like a dam had opened up. She wasn't sure why she was crying; only that she felt a mix of relief, anger, and consolation that the evil witch no longer lived.
Inej felt Kaz's heart beat steadily against her chest as she took a deep breath, inhaling his familiar smell of leather and musk. It was an odd combination, but one she has grown to love. She felt Kaz stiffen when she buried her face in the space between his neck and shoulders but he didn't pull away.
Inej didn't know how long they remained in this position, entwined in each other's embrace until she felt a gentle touch on her hair. Her eyes opened in surprise when she realised Kaz was lightly stroking her hair. Whether it was to soothe her, or for his own benefit, she couldn't guess, but it still felt good. She would have happily stayed cocooned in Kaz's arms but he broke the silence. His fingers stilled in her hair, his voice quiet when he asked, 'are you okay?'.
Inej hastily wiped her tear-stained face and reluctantly unwound her arms from Kaz's neck. She avoided his gaze and whispered, 'I'm not even entirely sure why I'm crying.' She confessed, her brow furrowing as she contemplated. She tried to free herself from Kaz's lap but he took her chin, and turned her face towards him.
She relented, her beautiful eyes swimming with a myriad of emotions as she lifted her eyes to meet him. She noticed something angry and dark lurking in the depths of his eyes as he registered her tears aand she fleetingly wondered if he had been involved in that witch's death.
It was as if he had heard her unspoken thought because he rasped, 'Tante Heleen's death wasn't a suicide. Mikhail killed her.' To her credit, Inej did not express much emotion. She merely blinked at him, eyelashes clinging with tears as she repeated tonelessly, 'Mikhail killed her'.
After a beat, she turned her gaze to the side. 'Did you order him to?' She tried to sound neutral but her voice cracked slightly, praying that she was wrong. Kaz's voice was rough when he answered, 'he and I had a deal. He killed her to avenge his mother.' Inej couldn't conceal her shock quickly enough and Kaz smiled wryly. 'I have surprised the Wraith, collector of all secrets.'
Inej silently processed the new information and before she could talk herself out of it, she whispered, 'I remember Mikhail from the Menagerie. He used to...' She stole a glance at Kaz and found him tense, his jaw clenched and murder in his eyes. Her eyes widened and she hastily continued. 'He used to visit Anya, a Kaelish girl a few years older than me. I assumed it was because of, um, the obvious, but I see now I might have been mistaken.'
She shrugged indifferently, but Kaz caught her discomfort. Inej saw his features flicker with understanding and his voice was soft when he questioned, 'Is this the reason you despise him so much?'.
Inej couldn't bear to keep the truth from Kaz any longer. She couldn't believe he, of all people, could be so blind to what was standing right in front of his eyes, but she had no choice but to open his eyes and force him to see. 'I despise him, like I despise any man who enters the Menagerie,' she began, but at his affronted look, she rolled her eyes impatiently and said, 'not you, obviously.'
She shook her head, trying to articulate as she said carefully. 'The problem is I don't trust him. And how can I? Given who he is?' At Kaz's sceptical look, she pleaded, 'he is not who he claims to be.' Her eyes begged him to believe, to see only what she had noticed about Mikhail but Kaz merely raised his eyebrow, daring her to reveal the big secret. She steeled herself, aware that there was no coming back and said, 'Mikhail is -' 'Aly's Van Ecks lover,' Kaz interjected, as Inej finished, 'Pekka Rollins's son.'
...
Thanks for your patience fam, and enjoy the chapter 😊
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Kanej
Fanfiction'What do you want?' He asked huskily as he moved towards her slowly, giving her time to escape and walk away if she wanted. But she didn't want to walk away. The tension in the air was so palpable Inej felt suffocated. Kaz gazed down at her and plac...
