'It is very difficult to make ones way in this city without being wicked at one time or another, when the cities way is so wicked to begin with.'
Or in which: Kaz Brekker didn't need a reason - but his little sister was the closest thing to it.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Be ready to sail by tomorrow night."
Violet had found the comfort of chewing on her right sleeve. She was biting down so hard on it her jaw ached right through her skull.
Kaz told Jesper to keep Wylan out of trouble, which would have been amusing any other time, especially when it was Kaz's plan to have Wylan also keep an eye on Jesper in the hopes it would steer him away from any betting tables before they left.
Tomorrow was far sooner than she expected to set out, only being a day since Kaz had been offered the job itself and to come up with a proper plan - and for such a high risk, it seemed like everything was moving a bit too fast.
Kaz was quick, and smart, and she did trust him, so it took a lot to push down her doubts.
They would have to stock up for the journey and enter the Ice Court with nothing; as prisoners. That was the part that troubled her the most.
Kaz thrived when he had control over a situation, but the second they entered that Fjerdan prison whether he'd like to admit it or not, what happened would mostly be led up to fate - and fate, since the day she was born, had never been tipped in the Reitveld's favour.
Probably best that they'd left that name behind with the memory of their brother.
Matthias would be left unshackled but unable to leave the gambling parlour while the others all gathered supplies with the funds Kaz dished out. The parlour would be closed to the rest of the Club and not a word was to get out.
Violet watched everyone be dealt tasks and while her skin itched with the need to move, to do something, to stop her mind from ticking like a timb bomb, she seemed to be the only one left without a job.
The frustrating bit was mostly that they had to stay at the Club instead of the slat, which all the others had complained about, but Violet shrugged off. She'd quite happily curl up in one of the booths and fall asleep, considering how tired she felt now. Living with anxiety like hers was exhausting on a good day.
And then Helvar spoke up, and suddenly she was awake again.
"I'd like a word with you, Brekker," he said. "Alone."
As all the others were practically gone, it seemed to leave Inej who hesitated at the door and Violet who had not moved a muscle, but whom he also seemed to have forgotten was there.
She saw the way her brother absently shook out his bad leg. "Go on, Wraith," he said coolly. "Take Violet with you."
Kaz's dark eyes pinned the girl to the spot when she didn't make any move to vacate the room, while Matthias squared his jaw.
"I don't feel like going anywhere," she said easily.
"This discussion is not for you," Matthias said, eyeing her up and down.
