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Pearl laughed in turn. “I guess you liked that very much, then.”
Her tone was back to playful, a casualness that normally wouldn’t have fazed him anymore. But the dismissal of what he had just said didn’t sit well with him, and he found himself stewing over it until he just couldn’t let it slide. Quietly, he tilted her head until it was level with his, absorbing her soft warmth and bright dazzle. The way her eyes twinkled made him want to just let the moment pass, but he also needed to be honest.
“No, Pearl. I like you.”
She opened her mouth, ready to tease. The twinkle faded as realization washed over her that he was serious and that he would have waited for the rejection. But an emotion he recognized flared in her features before she banked it down, but not fast enough.
“Henry—”
The knock on the door cut her off, and had him mumbling a curse. She gasped and scrambled off him when the knock became more insistent, forcing them to rearrange their clothes.
“Gunther’s here and wants to see you.”
Her back went up, even while she didn’t say a word. Martin’s voice on the other end of the door was calm, but Henry knew the man wouldn’t have interrupted them if it wasn’t an urgent matter—like Gunther forcing his way in. Seconds later, they were out of the library and Martin was giving him an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry, sir, but he insisted on coming in and wouldn’t take no for an answer—”
“And it’s a good thing I insisted, otherwise I wouldn’t be here to witness this,” Gunther piped in, strolling from a corner and stopping in front of them. The man crossed his arms, took in Henry’s magically unwrinkled clothes, and looked Pearl up and down before landing on their bare feet. Something akin to disgust appeared on his features. “I thought you were busy working on the case, not busy fucking around with the help.”
“She’s not the help,” Henry replied automatically, voice smooth and holding none of the indignation he felt. But before he could say more, she sighed and shrugged.
“Technically I am, though not the kind of help he had in mind,” she agreed. “And for your information, Gunther, the issue’s already solved.”
Whatever contempt was displayed on his face fled at her announcement. Gunther’s eyes widened, zoning in on Henry.
“What? How? I need to know—”
“You need to know nothing until the report is completed and I can present it to the Council,” Pearl cut in smoothly—not rudely, but she tolerated no bullshit either. It filled Henry with pride. “I’m sure you will be present for it since it involves your family.”
Gunther spun to face Henry, ignoring her and waiting expectantly. But Henry nodded, not saying a word as he openly showed his support. It struck Gunther dumbfounded until he was looking back and forth at them. Then the man’s restlessness settled and his gaze narrowed.
“Oh. I see what this is. You’re both on the same side now.”
“There’s no side, Gunther,” Henry said. “There’s just the fact that she’s right. All you need to know is that it’s solved, she did her job, and it’s no longer an issue for us. The details will be provided later.”
Gunther whirled back on Pearl.
“I suppose that means you don’t need payment—at least, not in the form of money or a raving review,” the man spat out.
“What?”
“You would gladly accept another form of payment just to mess with me and my family, wouldn’t you? It has come to that.” Gunther smirked. “My brother fucks you for a job well done, and you take it like the whore you are—”
The punch came with a bang, and it took Henry a second or two to realize that it was his fist moving. He watched it happen in slow motion, including the punch hitting his brother square in the face and sending the man toppling to the ground, no longer able to finish his accusations. It should be enough…but it didn’t feel enough as the rage inside Henry uncoiled like a snake, ready to strike repeatedly. It wanted to hurt what hurt Pearl, snatching every rational thought from his mind.
“Henry, no.”
A hand wrapped around his wrist and tugged firmly. He almost snarled until something whispered that it wasn’t Gunther, but Pearl holding him, and he looked up to find the plea vibrant in her eyes. She didn’t say any more, but that wordless plea was enough to knock some sense back into him until he was actively fighting the rage. When Gunther stood back up, Henry faced him calmly.
“Too far, Gunther,” he intoned. “And I’m not going to tolerate it anymore.”
Gunther gawked, then sputtered on a bleeding nose, which the man held tightly before carelessly fixing it with magic. Henry took note of that magic and braced for it to turn, but the man only sputtered some more.
“You broke my nose.”
“It seems a long time coming.” Then the casual comment was over, as Henry bore his brother with his booming voice and cold stare. “As I said, I don’t tolerate wrongdoings and damaging insults to someone who helped me with this issue every step of the way—in turn, helpingyouand your incessant need to always look good to the public.”
“It’s a free island and I can say what I want about her.”
