The Phoenix and the Crow

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"No, no, this has nothing to do with your deal with Brekker. He completed his tasks, so his business is done. This is now Ravka's deal with Kerch, not you. But since you made this deal on behalf of your government, I thought I'd cut the middle man out, the middle man being you," Nikolai spoke with his hands, "and go straight to the source. Much more efficient, wouldn't you agree?"

Van Eck shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, yes. Much more efficient."

"With that being said, I was shocked to hear that they had little to no recollection of your offer to work on their behalf." Nikolai turned to Zoya and Genya, "Wasn't it odd."

"Unprofessional on their part." The redhead tutted.

"They had no paperwork or anything. It does seem that an oral agreement is only as good as the paper on which it was written. But thanks to one of my most trusted royal officials, I was quickly alerted about this meeting. I'm glad I was able to make it."

"That, again, being said. You're no longer needed since I've talked to the Kerch government and sorted things out for you." Nikolai dusted off the invisible flecks of lint off his coat and smiled brightly and mockingly at Van Eck. "So, You're welcome. Our business is done."

Van Eck goes to protest, but Y/N steps forward, leaning slightly on her left side. "I don't want to assume you misheard, but the King said he was done. Thank you for your time and service, Van Eck." She nodded formally and turned on her heel, indicating the others to depart as well.

Kaz took a moment to process what happened—no protest from Van Eck. There is no need for their weapons to be drawn. They have their money, and Kuwei is now in Ravka's care.

Maybe he should be upset that Y/N went behind his back and set this all up... But it all played out in his favor. For once, he has nothing to complain about.

Kaz let his eyes trail over Y/N's profile as she walked with Zoya and Genya, the three Grisha following Nikolai and Kuwei. Kaz could see the slight twinge of pain over her facial features despite her best effort to hide it. He noticed her slight limp and how she flexed her fingers repeatedly, though he could tell the action was mindless. He saw a tiny, orange spark fly from her index finger and knew she was testing her control. Part of Kaz wanted to reprimand her for exhausting herself, evidently proving himself to be right in some way. He ultimately thought against it; the small smile etched across her lips seemed to be of higher priority to him than being right over something minor.

When his moral priorities shifted, Kaz couldn't pinpoint. All he knew was that his world was tilted on its axis when Y/N came to Ketterdam. 'It's her fault,' he internally muttered to himself with no real frustration or malice laced with the words. She did change his world in every way possible, yet he found no part of him that wanted to complain.

What did he have to complain about?

He had his money and his saint.

~

Y/N had made her way onto the Ravkan ship, telling Kaz to give her a few moments. She followed Nikolai into his office quarters, making herself comfortable in the chair across his desk and pouring a glass of water, which she quickly drank and refiled.

"Yes, make yourself comfortable." Nikolai chuckled.

"Thank you, I will," Y/N smirked in response.

"So..." Nikolai started as he sat across from her, placing his ankle over his knee in recline.

They knew there was only one conversation to determine if she would return with him or to the bastard and his crows.

"You know where I stand," Y/N murmured, her eyes downcast.