My favourite Kanej moments/quotes:
"We'll be Kings and Queens, Inej. Kings and Queens."
"I would have come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together-knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that's what we do. We never stop fighting."
"She smiled then, her cheeks red, her cheeks scattered with some kind of dust. It was a smile he thought he might die to earn again."
"Greed is your god, Kaz."
He almost laughed at that. "No, Inej. Greed bows to me. It is my servant and my lever."
"He'd told her they would fight their way out. Knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that's what we do. She would fight for him, but she could not heal him. She would not waste her life trying."
The shadow of something dark moved across Kaz’s face. “If it were a trick, I’d promise you safety. I’d offer you happiness. I don’t know if that exists in the Barrel, but you’ll find none of it with me.”
"He doesn't say goodbye," Inej said. She kept her eyes on the lights of the canal. Somewhere in the garden, a night bird began to sing. "He just lets go."
"Though he’d trusted her with his life countless times, it felt much more frightening to trust her with his shame."
“I protect my investments.” Investments.
“I’m glad I’m bleeding all over your shirt."
He took a breath. “I want you to stay. I want you to … I want you.”
“I will have you without armor, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all."
She’d often wished to chip away a bit of his arrogance, but she couldn’t bear the idea of seeing Kaz stripped of his pride.
One minute he made her blush and the next he made her want to commit murder.
I don't want your prayers, he said.
The old answers came easily to mind. Money. Vengeance. Jordie's voice in my head silenced forever. But a different reply roared to life inside him, loud, insistent, and unwelcome. You, Inej. You.
"You know I can do it, Kaz, and you know I'm not going to refuse. So why ask?"
"Because I've been looking for an excuse to talk to you for two days."
"I’m a businessman,” he’d told her. “No more, no less.”
“Isn’t that what I just said?"
She'd laughed and if he could have bottled the sound and got drunk on it every night, he would have. It terrified him.
And I'm going to get my girl.
It was as if once Kaz had seen her, he’d understood how to keep seeing her.
"Wait,” he said. The burn of his voice was rougher than usual. “Is my tie straight?”
Inej laughed, her hood falling back from her hair.
“That’s the laugh,” he murmured, but she was already setting off down the quay, her feet barely touching the ground.
She felt his knuckles slide against hers. Then his hand was in her hand, his palm was pressed against her own. A tremor moved through him. Slowly, he let their fingers entwine. For a long while, they stood there, hands clasped, looking out at the gray expanse of the sea.
To his left, he heard Inej laugh behind her mask. He'd never heard her laugh like that, giddy and wild.
Now she remembered. He owed her an apology. "Say you're sorry."
She didn't hear his reply. The world had grown very dark indeed.
Speak, she begged silently. Give me a reason to stay. For all his selfishness and cruelty, Kaz was still the boy who had saved her. She wanted to believe he was worth saving, too.
"You must find a way to make peace," said Inej. "At least for a while."
"This is not your concern," Matthias growled.
Kaz stepped forward, his expression dangerous. "It is very much our concern. And watch your tone."
"Those were my mother's favorite flower."
"Good to know Van Eck didn't cure you of sentiment."
"Good to have you back, Wraith."
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