Our Fractured Souls | Kaz Brekker

[10]

10

Jesper

Jesper stared at Wylan. "Of course you're a councilman's kid." He burst out laughing. "That explains everything."

He knew he should be angry at Kaz for withholding yet another vital piece of information, but right now, he was just enjoying watching the little revelation of Wylan Van Eck's identity go careening around the room like an ornery colt kicking up dust.

Wylan's red face was mortified.

Nina looked stunned and irritated.

The Fjerdan just seemed confused.

Kaz looked completely and utterly pleased with himself.

Viktorya sighed deeply and approached the burning-red Wylan and wrapped the poor boy in her arms, patting his back.

Somewhere in Jesper's mind, he was satisfied with Kaz's reaction. The smirk was completely wiped from his face.

But at the same time, he ignored the slight sting of jealousy at the slight flash in Kaz's gaze as he watched the red-haired assassin.

Would he possibly look at me like that if I were to hug the novice? He tried to shake away the thought.

And, finally, of course Inej and Zahra didn't look remotely surprised. They gathered Kaz's secrets and kept them as well. Jesper tried his best to brush off the pang of jealousy he felt at that as well.

Wylan's mouth opened and closed, his throat working. "You knew?" he asked Kaz miserably.

Kaz leaned back in his chair, one knee bent, bad leg stretched out before him. "Why do you think I've been keeping you around?"

"I'm good at demo?"

"You're passable at demo, like Inej said, Raske is better. But, you're excellent at hostage."

It was cruel, but that was Kaz. And the Barrel was a far rougher teacher than Kaz could ever be. At least this explained why Kaz had been coddling Wylan and sending jobs his way.

Jesper shook his head. "It doesn't matter, we should still take Raske and leave the baby merch on lockdown in Ketterdam."

"I don't trust Raske."

"And you trust Wylan Van Eck?" Jesper said incredulously.

"Wylan doesn't know enough people to cause us real trouble."

"Don't I have any say in this?" complained the merchling. "I'm sitting right here."

Kaz raised a brow. "Ever had your pocket picked, Wylan?"

"I...not that I know of."

"Been mugged in an alley?"

Viktorya's eyes narrowed at him. "Kaz." She hissed. A warning.

"No." Wylan's face remained stoic.

"Hung over the side of a bridge with your head in the canal?"

"Kaz." Viktorya's voice was a bit louder this time, sharper, far more edge to it.

Wylan only blinked. "No, but-"

"Ever been beaten until you can't walk?"

The Reaper's voice barked. "That's enough, Kaz."

Wylan slumped beside her. "No." His voice meek, like he'd caught on to what Kaz was insinuating.

"Why do you think that is?" The dark-haired boy was grinning like a wolf at the young merch.