His instincts said to hold his ground. Not compromise them more but then he was āalready turning, already sprinting to get to her as the Grisha attackedā.
āBut only a fool would try to take Inej in close combat.ā
āInej fell, plunging toward the sandā (- I was yelling.) āKaz ran toward her without logic or planā. š¤š¤š©
āVengeance for Jordie, all Kaz had worked for, was slipping away. HE DIDNāT CARE.ā
āHis greatest vulnerability had been right beside him. And now she was gone.ā
āFor now there was nothing but the....... And Inejās absence. Kaz wanted to hit someone. He wanted someone to hit himā
āIf Kaz was their leader then Inej had been their lodestone, pulling them together when they seemed most likely to drift apart.ā
āInej had wanted Kaz to become someone else, a better person, a gentler thief. But that boy had no place here. That boy ended up starving in an alley. He ended up dead. That boy couldnāt get her back.ā
(actually Iād argue that she wanted you to be you. The you are not the you you had to build yourself to be but I guess itās currently at this point in the journey the same difference).
āIām going to get my money and Iām going to get my girl.ā
āINEJ COULD NEVER BE HIS, NOT REALLY, BUT HE WOULD FIND A WAY TO GIVE HER THE FREEDOM HEāD PROMISE HER SO LONG AGOā
The fact that his love for her is focused on letting her be free. Free of Ketterdam. Of the Dregs. Of him. That she is her own person and he would never lay claim to that but he promised her freedom and that, that heāll make sure she gets. He loves her so much that even if it ruins him, heāll willingly let her go because love is freeing, itās not control.
Leigh Bardugo this whole chapter is a masterpiece. This book!









