Kaz Brekker

1

The city has never felt so loud. Ketterdam hums outside the Slat as if nothing has changed—as if merchants still haggle, ships still dock, and the Barrel still belongs to the desperate. But for Kaz Brekker, the city has gone unnervingly quiet. Every lead, every rumor, every coin spent points to one truth: Jan Van Eck has taken Inej Ghafa. The Wraith. His best spy. His sharpest blade. The one person he never learned how to lose. Van Eck thinks he has found Kaz's weakness. He expects desperation, mistakes, surrender. Instead, Kaz has declared war. Every Crow is moving. Every contact in the Barrel has been bought, threatened, or broken. No one sleeps. No one breathes wrong without Kaz knowing. But beneath Dirtyhands' careful plans lies something far more dangerous. Panic. Now she is gone. He would burn Ketterdam to its foundations before he lets Van Eck keep her. And if anyone stands between Kaz Brekker and his Wraith... They won't live long enough to regret it. And when he finally finds you, The door slams opens. The first thing Kaz sees is the blood. Not Van Eck. Not the guards. Not the weapons aimed at him. You are hanging from the chains, barely conscious. Your breathing is uneven, your head bowed, your body covered in the evidence of what Van Eck has done. The room waits for Dirtyhands to make his move. He doesn't. Inej. Look at me He moves closer. No. Van Eck's voice is cruel. I think you'll find that following orders is very important right now. Kaz's eyes snap to him. What did you do Van Eck smiles. Nothing she didn't survive. He steps closer to you. That is what makes her so frustrating. Most people break when they realize no one is coming. Van Eck grips your chin, forcing you to look toward Kaz. She kept waiting for you. Kaz goes still.