He’d posed that same question months ago when we found ourselves at a mission far from here. I’d asked him not to leave me then. Begged when my fear got the better of me.
He stayed. More than that, he kept me with him. We were always together. I fancied the notion that we always would be and, yes, I trusted him.
I nodded, and Kit gave my fingers a squeeze.
“Then don’t worry,” he said. “I do enough of it for both of us.”
He brought my hand to his lips for a kiss, then released me to stand. He slid out from under my legs and returned to the waiting broom.
The bristles swished, and his bare feet thumped along behind, and I worried. I worried until it was time to go to bed, where I laid beneath the blankets with Kit curled against me. I stared at the ceiling while my thoughts raced, and Iworrieduntil my mind was so worn out I couldn’t help but fall asleep.
28
Kit
Afew days after the second resistance meeting, I climbed the steps in the Ossuary to Levitt’s office. He hadn’t called for me, and there were no accusations hanging over my head, but therewerethings we needed to discuss.
The fur trader’s comments were fresh in my mind as I came to a stop in front of Levitt’s door. I’d long since decided that, if my old friend couldn’t be brought around to our vision for what Ashpoint could be without the Bone Men, someone else would need to step in. If that meant usurping him, someone else would have to take his place. I was willing to suffer through being Shroud Warden, but I would never become the Right Hand.
And I didn’t think I had it in me to kill anyone, anyway.
When I finally raised my fist to knock, I didn't have to wait long before the door swung open. Levitt’s smile was more timid than I was used to seeing, but given that our last few interactions had been combative at best, I wasn’t surprised.
“Kit. It’s good to see you. Please, come in.” He stepped back and motioned toward the pair of armchairs beneath the wall of windows.
The sun was setting behind the mountain peaks, casting Ashpoint’s cozy settlement in orange-gold. I’d never thought this town beautiful, or even bearable, but something was changing in me. Blame Penny’s unfailing optimism or the group of people who had gathered in our home wishing for change, but I was beginning to see these streets a bit differently.
I settled into one of the leather padded chairs, and Levitt sank down across from me in the other. He took enough time smoothing his hair back from his face that I got the impression he was stalling, or at least trying to determine my mood.
“Thank you,” I said to break the silence.
Levitt sat back and tilted his head toward me. “I’m not sure what I’ve done to deserve thanks.”
“For seeing through your sister’s ruse,” I replied, “and for realizing how ludicrous her accusations were.”
He chuckled and shrugged. “I know you well enough to realize you’ve only ever tolerated her for my sake. Would that I could have less offensive relations.” A wan smile tipped his lips. “But you know what that’s like.”
He waved his hand dismissively as he drew a chest-swelling breath then expelled it in a rush. “That’s all beside the point. You’re not the kind of man to stray, and I’m acutely aware that you’ve found bliss elsewhere.” His smile grew, but it was as much bittersweet as it was pleased. “It’s nice to see you so taken with someone. So happy. I can’t say I can recall a time when you ever looked as content as you do these days.” He had the good sense to cringe as he added, “When Merrick isn’t making your life a torment, anyway.”
I scoffed. “At least we’re free from him for a few weeks. Let him and Vi make each other miserable in their forced proximity. I’m sure she’ll be missing Klaus here soon.”
That earned me a genuine laugh from the Right Hand, and all traces of his earlier discomfort evaporated.
I hadn’t realized how much I missed the ease of our conversations. The recent tension between us wore on me more than I cared to admit, and if I was honest, I worried about Levitt. His position was a lonely one—too much power in a place historically rife with treachery to allow for close relationships without fear of ulterior motives. I wasn’t sure he had anyone but me he could be himself with.
Guilt gnawed at my guts knowing I wasn’t without my own reasons for fostering our friendship. I found solace in the fact that it wasn’t my aim to betray him. If I played my hand well, I could protect him the way he’d tried to protect me. Maybe I couldn’t absolve him of his sins, but I could hopefully weight the scales to garner enough good favor with the people of Ashpoint, and eventually the militia, to keep his neck from the noose.
Assuming I could keep mine clear, too, which wasn’t a guarantee. But I’d known what I was risking coming back, and I would pay whatever price needed paying. Though, those convictions were prone to waver now that I had more to lose than my life.
“You’re not wrong,” Levitt said, redirecting my attention to him. “I’m still not sure how Merrick hasn’t caught the two of them together. They aren’t exactly discreet.” He leaned in conspiratorially and propped his left elbow on the arm of the chair. “But enough about them. How did you and Penny enjoy Stagcross?”
Penny might have gone around advertising our trip to Rosie and Thoma, but I knew he hadn’t told anyone else the details. I wasn’t sure how Levitt found out about it, but his smug expression was enough for me to connect the dots.
“It’s beautiful this time of year,” I responded slowly. “Did you plan it that way on purpose?”
He lifted his chin with a haughty smirk. “I made a suggestion, and Merrick and the Sentinels didn’t see any ulterior motivesfor it, so they agreed. I remember how you went on about that place after your first visit there. I thought you might like to see it again.”
It was a strange feeling, knowing Levitt facilitated exactly the sort of break Penny and I had needed from this place, even though it was clear there was still a part of him that wished he’d been the one who’d gone there with me. I hesitated to thank him, to tell him everything, because it felt like rubbing salt in an open wound.
