chapter 8

Kaz felt Inej's presence behind him, a change in the air if only slightly that told him of her arrival in a room that anyone else might of missed. Inej managed to make him feel the silence between them that made him uncomfortable despite from anyone else he would of valued the lack of speech.

Instances such as these made him give in and say something in the past but not now, now he had nothing to say. He felt ashamed of his anger that made him think irrationally he could not go around killing members of his own gang, Maya could very well have it out for him and having the ability to set up his death without difficulty made him feel vulnerable and exposed to the point he wished he would not of let Jesper talk him into keeping Maya onboard.

His back to Inej he felt the air shift and waver as she made her way to him, nimbly making her way past the mattresses finally putting herself in front of him her hand on top of his soft as air he looked into her eyes and saw concern. "You haven't been sleeping." It was a statement. He hadn't been this close to Inej since she learned of the torture he had planned for Maya. He avoided her these five days at sea, unable to handle the look of disappointment.

"Haven't you heard; No rest for the wicked." He was a ruthless man liked to think of himself a shark enjoyed watching as people scuttled around him afraid of bearing his teeth. However it was different for Inej he wanted her to see something more than a wicked beast, He bought her a ship gave her a crew arranged for her parents to be brought for her. He hated how much he needed to feel her hand on top of his.

"Why had you not told me that Maya's abilities scare you?" Inej asked. "Admitting something like that would make me look weak." Kaz said. "Why now? You brought her on this trip because of her abilities." Inej insisted. "She may know more about me than I anticipated." Kaz brought his left hand to his mouth wishing he can take back the words. He was afraid she would ask him about his past, but it did not come instead she looked into his eyes and brushed his cheek with her free hand. He let his left hand fall to his side, looking away from Inej.

"We don't even know if the words she uttered in her sleep meant anything; everyone now knows that the darkling's true name is Aleksander and that he committed a lot of crimes trying to keep Ravka safe." Inej pointed out. "All the other details she came up with do you think they were a figment of her imagination as well?" Kaz asked sincerely wishing that she could convince him.

"I'm not sure I believe that he is stuck in some tree." Inej admitted. "You believe Sainkta Alina had the power of the sun in her hands." Kaz pointed out. "Its how the creatures that infested the shadow fold were destroyed." Inej insisted as she placed herself in front of Kaz finding herself wanting to be close to him, she felt his hot breath on her skin.

"I've never known you to question the sainkt's." Kaz replied. Inej shrugged as she lifted her hand to touch Kaz's cheek. "I've never known you to fear what one can do." She replied concerned. "Never had to." Kaz said enjoying the feeling of her hand on his cheek, placing his hand over hers. "Even when she held Jesper's revolver in her hand I did not fear her, now I can do is think what she can orchestrate from her visions my death without ever having to deal the final blow herself." He suddenly felt Inej's lips on his own a feeling of yearning waking inside of him that he never thought he would feel thoughts of Inej sharing his bed not just to sleep but perhaps more only intensifying as he felt her tongue in his mouth he kissed her more intensely the sensation of tasting tongue which ended way to soon as she pulled back, but the look in her eyes assuring him that she felt the same way he did.

"What is it?" He asked noticing that she looked happier now than when she came in a testament that their kiss was a mutual love between them that only strengthened the bond that he almost killed with his plan of torturing Maya believing her to be an enemy. "I want you to question Maya find out the extant of her abilities." Inej was glad it was cold, so it was expected that their cheeks looked rosy do to the cold.

"I want you to be my side." Kaz declared which Inej slowly shook her head. "No I'm a friend and likely to take her side if things turn rough you're the only one among us who can look at what she says objectively. When she saved us from being killed you're the only one of me Jesper and Wylan that noticed anything odd about her coming to our aid last minute." Inej pointed out. Kaz saw the logic in it but as he looked around the mattress strewn room, he didn't like it.

He and Inej were so close to each other that he could feel her warm breath on his skin and he nodded. "Alright but I want a guarantee that we won't be interrupted." Kaz said. "You won't." Inej said placing her hand on the one resting on his cane.