I didn’t have to call, though, before Kit entered the bedroom, wide eyed and wary. He looked from me to Merrick and back again. “Everything all right, Pen?”
A crooked smile pulled at my mouth. “It’s fine, Kit.”
“Quite fine,” Merrick echoed. “And I think you’ve enough trouble of your own without borrowing from Penwell.”
Rather than retreat, Kit lingered in the doorway. Despite the strain still pulling on his features and the coating of road dust and grime from our long journey home, I found him as handsome as ever. I wanted to go to him that moment and kiss him fiercely. To put his worries at ease. To spite Merrick. To show everyone that I was taken and treasured by this man. He may not have said it—neither had I—but I was growing more confident by the day that Kit and I were in love. So, Levitt could whisper, and the Sentinels could make a mess of things, and Merrick could loathe me as much as ever. It was allquite fine.
I stared at Kit and smiled until Merrick broke the moment of reverie.
“You heard me,” he snarled at Kit. “My half-brother doesn’t need a guard dog. You be a good boy and go sit in the living room till we’re done.”
The insult brought rage so blistering hot that it seemedto set me ablaze. I lunged toward Merrick. One hand caught hold of his robes and his bone necklace, using that grip to pull him toward me while I swung around with my other fist. It connected with his cheek in a cracking blow that rocked his head backward. Pain exploded in my knuckles, but the surge of excitement that swelled in me immediately overpowered it.
Merrick reeled and sank, falling away and leaving me holding his necklace as the cord snapped, sending bones and tiny beads scattering across the floor.
15
Kit
Shock rooted me to the spot as Penny stood over his brother wearing a smug smile. When he took a step toward where Merrick had hit the floor, I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. He looked so nearly gleeful that I worried what he might do next. What he’d done already was bound to cause a world of trouble.
Hurried steps behind us alerted me to the arrival of Levitt and the Sentinels. I flinched when the Right Hand stepped into view and threw a look of warning in my direction.
“Kit, control your recruit,” Levitt hissed as one of the Sentinels levered Merrick to his feet. Then Levitt turned his glower on Penny. “I will consider this a family squabble, Mister Oliver, but if it happens again there will be consequences.”
Merrick shook off the Sentinel’s hand and stalked toward us. “There should be consequences now! Such insubordinate behavior deserves punishment, Your Eminence.”
“Yourbehavior isn’t above reproach either, Merrick,”Levitt snapped, rounding on him. “Not only is your attitude unnecessarily combative, but this is twice now you’ve brought unsubstantiated claims against Mister Koesters. Whatever your issue with him, it’s time you let it go before you findyourselffacing unpleasant consequences.” He gestured toward the door. “Out. Now.”
Merrick scowled and shouldered past us to follow the Sentinels into the hall. Levitt shook his head, then trailed behind them.
Penny dissolved into a coughing fit as they turned the corner into the living area. I eased him down onto the edge of the bed and crouched in front of him, running my hands up and down his arms to quiet him while he caught his breath.
“Did you see, Kit?” His eyes were bright, and he was shivering lightly. “I didn't know I could hit like that. Merrick went down so fast…”
“I appreciate you defending my honor,” I began, and to my dismay, Penny's crooked smile widened. He was delighted, but I was horrified considering the ripple effect this might have. “Though I would advise against punching people in the future. Violence doesn’t suit you.”
Penny sobered slightly and caught one of my hands to give it a squeeze. “Sorry Merrick’s so awful to you. It’s probably my fault because I’m always making things worse with him. I guess this didn’t help.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure this will paint an even bigger target on our backs.”
Penny chewed his lip a moment before flexing his left hand. His knuckles were deep red from where they’d struck his brother’s face. “Merrick has an awfully hard head,” he muttered. “Feels like I punched a wall.”
I took his hand between mine and smoothed myfingers over his knuckles. “That's what happens when you hit people.”
Penny looked ready to reply, but then his eyes darted to something over my shoulder, and his features hardened. He looked angry enough that I thought Merrick might have come back, but as I started to turn to see who was there, Penny cupped my cheek in his free hand and pulled my head up to crush his lips against mine.
The kiss was brief, ending when a throat cleared behind me. I whipped around to find Levitt standing in the doorway. His gaze flicked between Penny and me.
Dread settled in my gut. I wanted to believe it was an accident or bad timing, but a glance at Penny’s steely expression was proof that his advance had been intentional. He was making a point. Staking his claim as if I hadn’t already told him that I had no romantic interest in Levitt.
I pulled my hand from Penny’s grip and pushed to my feet, putting distance between us to keep him from causing any more harm.
“I’m sorry for this, Kit,” Levitt said before I could find my voice. “This is the second unfounded invasion of your privacy, and I’ll see to it that it doesn’t happen again.” He turned toward the hall then paused and looked over his shoulder. “Come see me soon. I think we have a lot to talk about.”
I nodded wordlessly, though my swallow was surely audible to both parties in the room.
Levitt passed through the doorway, and I followed a few steps behind. In the living room, the Sentinels—heavy-laden with all of my father’s journals—waited with Merrick, who stood with a hand covering the red mark on his face that would undoubtedly turn into a bruise bymorning. I wondered what sort of story he’d come up with to explain it away.
