CHAPTER 20

Bakery Dreams

     When Brynn got down to Fifth Harbor, Kaz was already there, waiting for her. He stood there, staring out into the ocean, only half of a scheming face on. It was more of a thinking face than anything, though.

The night before, she'd gone up to bed to find a note by her dresser in the guest bedroom in Wylan's mansion. She hadn't been surprised that he'd gotten past all the people in the house. There were only two words on the paper: Sunrise. Fifth Harbor. Whatever it was he wanted to talk to her about, she was willing to hear it out.

It was hard to imagine all the things that had happened in the last three weeks alone. Van Eck was in jail, and there was barely a slim chance of him getting out. Pekka Rollins was somewhere in the countryside with his son, surrounded by as many guards as he could possibly afford. Sasha had officially been named Inej's right hand.

She joined him silently, stuffing her hands into her pockets. She glimpsed a tidy little warship in the harbor named "The Wraith" and smiled. It widened when she saw a Suli couple running to a familiar bronze girl, engulfing her in hugs and kisses, tears on their cheeks. It felt nice to be the reason that someone got to reunite with their family.

"Why did you do it?"

Brynn knew he was talking about Inej and her family. She shrugged. "Inej should have her family by her side. She's one of the few in this world that still has hers left. I just wanted to help."

A girl with flaming red hair approached the three cautiously, then she was brought into the hug as well. "The seas were meant for her," Kaz said.

"I know," murmured Brynn. "And I know she's ready to go out on her own, and she's got Inej, but..." She trailed off, watching Sasha being welcomed in by Inej's parents.

"You still think it's your job to protect her," finished Kaz.

Brynn nodded. "I know I'm just being untrustworthy—"

He shook his head, turning to her. "You're not. It's normal."

"I think that would be the first time anyone's ever called me normal."

"Because you're not," Kaz said. "You are far from normal. And the way I see it, that's okay."

Something felt off. Maybe it was the fact that Brynn was finally saying goodbye to her sister, or maybe just because Kaz was complimenting her.

It got weirder when he offered her his hand. Ungloved, his pale, slender trickster hand looked like a wonder of its own. Brynn glanced up at Kaz for a moment before sliding her hand into his grasp.

Brynn was definitely not expecting Kaz's smirk. "I want to show you something."

Then he led her away from the harbor, into the busy streets of Ketterdam. It felt good to be back again, even if Brynn had only been here less than a day ago. All the time she spent away from the city's hustle and bustle made her realize how much she'd truly missed it.

You must be out of your mind, she told herself. Missing a crazy place like it.

I might just be, Brynn replied. Because I'm talking to you.

The voice stayed silent.

Her hand still folded into Kaz's, Brynn was finally at peace. She knew who she was. She knew what she wanted to do, how she could help other people. She had nothing—no one to be afraid of. And she was done running.

~~~

Brynn looked healthier than she'd ever looked before. Her skin was glowing in the midday light, her hair was long and luscious, her silver eyes sparkled as she glanced at everything around her. Jurda parem had definitely done a number on her, but she'd come back, better than before.

And not just physically. She'd changed for good. She was kind still, but she was confident. In herself, in her abilities, in him. For the first time, Brynn was wearing tight-fitted clothes, boots that might've had heels, and her hair had been braided into a loose braid. Kaz could've thought she was even wearing makeup, just the tiniest bit, barely noticeable.

They stopped at the Crow Club, the silver crow staring down at them as if deciding their fate. Brynn's brows furrowed in confusion.

"The Crow Club? What are we doing here?"

Kaz shook his head. "Not the Crow Club." He nodded to the abandoned building next to it. "That one."

She looked at him. "What?"

"Old man Keerej is a rich man now," he continued. "Well, depending on how he spends his money. But this is the perfect place for a—"

"A bakery," Brynn breathed, walking up to the building, her hand releasing from his own. His hand felt cold without hers in it. "You bought it?"

He shrugged. "You said you wanted to own a bakery. You also said dahlias are your favorite. How about... the Black Dahlia?"

Her nose wrinkled. "Sounds too much like a brothel." She peered through the darkened windows.

Kaz never could have predicted the next words from her mouth. She turned to him, her braid falling onto her shoulder. The sun sparkled in her eyes and she grinned.

"I know just what to call it," Brynn said. "The Crow Cafe."