The Fox and The Crow [Kaz Brekker]

chapter 42

Daemon sat with her legs crossed tight on a chair in the Crow Club. A smile played on her lips as she fiddled with a few cards. Sitting on the chair in front of her was Jesper, his brows furrowed in concentration.

Daemon's smile widened when she saw Jesper frown. He had a terrible poker face.

As if reading her thoughts, Inej snorted, "You have the worst poker face, Jes. Dae's gonna win."

"Oh no she isn't. I bet 50 kruge on this," Jesper seemed determined.

Kaz stood behind Daemon, looking at the cards in her hand.

He knelt down slightly so his lips were close to her ear and whispered, "Play that card there."

Daemon bit her lip to hide laughter as she put the card down on the table.

Jesper scowled, throwing down his own cards, "Oh, that is unfair! That's cheating! I call foul!"

Kaz stood up straight and shrugged, "I think she won fair and square."

Jesper's jaw dropped, "You are mean."

Daemon snatched the 50 kruge off the table along with her own wager and slipped it into the small coin pouch she had in her lap before handing it to Kaz.

"And you aren't even going to keep it?! This is madness, I say! Madness!" Jesper exclaimed.

Kaz simply smirked, tucking the pouch away before taking a hold of Daemon's hand and pressing a light kiss to the back of it.

Nina slipped out from one of the private backrooms, her voice quiet and stern, "Could you be any louder? You'll wake the whole of Kerch at this rate."

Daemon slouched back in her chair, taking her hand back from Kaz with a sheepish smile, "Sorry, Nina."

"Oh, don't you apologize, Dae. You didn't do a thing. I was talking about those two," Nina pointed to Jesper and Kaz.

Kaz looked away innocently, "I wasn't the one yelling."

"You're a menace, and you know it."

Daemon giggled, cringing slightly when the large bruise on her cheek ached. She rubbed it lightly, only making it hurt more.

Nina strode over, nearly pushing Kaz aside as she took Daemon's chin in her hand, "He got you pretty good there. I'm sorry about that. I'll take care of it."

"Should've done that hours ago like I asked you to," Kaz mumbled.

Nina just ignored him, swiping her fingers over Daemon's cheek. The bruised skin faded away as if it had never been there at all.

Nina smiled sweetly at Daemon, "There you go. Just like new."

Daemon shrunk back shyly, "Thank you, Nina."

"Anytime."

Wylan then popped his head out from the private room next, "Um, I think he's waking up."

Daemon was the first to hop from her seat and scamper over to the back room, shuffling her feet at the door as she waited for Kaz to catch up to her and enter first. She followed just behind him. Her eyes darted over to Matthias' shifting figure.

Matthias sat at the far back wall, bound in a chair. The room had no windows and only one door. No escape for him unless he took down everyone in the room.

Daemon hopped up onto the cloth-covered round table in the room, criss-crossing her legs. Kaz placed himself close enough to her, but remained standing. Inej sat in the chair just beside Daemon while Jesper and Wylan cozied up in the corner of the room. Jesper's arm was slung over his lover's shoulders.