Page 12 of Kit
“She’s barred herself in her room,” the woman said.
“Anna,” Kit cautioned sharply. His eyes cut to the doorway, and Anna shut it with a roll of her eyes. As she turned, Nick saw that she had a tail too. Leaner than Kit’s and coloured in different shades of blue, it looked like it had seen some wear and tear, marred by scars and discolouration.
“Excuse me,” Anna said. “Lady Desre, wife of General Valor, member of the Aridia High Council, has barred herself in her room.” Sarcasm dripped from every word. “I reset her nose, but there’s still swelling, and she looks ridiculous. The only people allowed to see her are me and Evie, the poor girl.”
Kit’s tail twitched. “How long will it take for the swelling to go down?”
Anna smiled. “Without her cursed well nearby? The duration of our trip, I’m certain. Your oats are burning, are you—oh, you’re awake.” She came to Nick’s bedside. “Your colour has improved, though your eyes are still hazy. I treated you to a little extra after that show.” She winked at him. “I’m the ship doctor, and Kit’s aunt. He told me what happened. I do wish you could have waited until I was around so I could have watched. I’ve never heard of anyone managing to harm Lady Desre.” There was a genuinely wistful note in her voice.
“Anna,” Kit cautioned again.
“Oh, stop it. It’s only us in here.”
“Me. You. The man I abducted.”
Anna sat on the edge of Nick’s bed and crossed her legs. She wore cotton clothes that looked as though they’d seen much wear, and she peeled the neckline away from her skin and fanned herself. “If there’s one person Lady Desre doesn’t want to see, it’s our friend here.”
“Prisoner,” Kit corrected, but his heart clearly wasn’t in it. He poured the contents of the pot into a bowl.
Anna peered down at Nick. “Alright then, prisoner. Let’s get you upright.”
Nick wanted to scowl at her, but he’d faded somewhat during the conversation, only coming back when hands came near and he flinched. Anna paused. “We’re not going to harm you, just get you upright for some food.”
Again, it was strange. Nick curled forward, his body reacting to pain his mind wasn’t letting him feel. He put a protective hand over his ribs as Anna built up pillows at his back for him to lean against. Kit handed the bowl of oats over to Anna, and before she began spoon-feeding him, Nick relaxed his protective posture and gestured for it.
“What’s the job?” he asked.
Anna tilted her head, tucking an escaped flyaway hair behind her ear. “Job?” she repeated.
Nick watched Kit as he lifted the metal tub of water onto the stove. “You said you took me for a job.” Though Nick felt it safe to guess by now that this entire thing was under Desre’s orders. “What job?”
“You don’t need to know,” Kit said. His default mood seemed to be broody and unhappy, which, given the fact that Nick was the one who had been abducted and beaten, seemed entirely ridiculous. Nick could have turned to Anna and demanded an answer, but Kit’s hot-and-cold attitude grated on his nerves.
“Right,” Nick said flatly. “Shall I start doing odd jobs around the ship and pray I happen across the one you kidnapped me for?”
“The job isn’t on the ship,” Kit sniped back.
“You took me. To do a job. And you won’t even tell me what that job is?” Nick laid out in the same tone that seemed to be getting on Kit’s nerves. Good. Nick needed to do something to get even with him because he doubted that he’d ever physically get the upper hand on Kit. Even without his tail coming into play, Nick saw that Kit’s physical strength was much more than his own.
“It’s not my job to tell you.”
“No,” Nick said, annoyed. “Clearly you’re just the hired thug.”
Anna had been sitting quietly listening, but at that, her eyes sharpened on Nick. “Lady Desre wanted you thrown in the brig. Kit was the one who insisted you needed to receive proper medical attention, but I am more than happy to assure the lady that I can give that medical attention just fine no matter where you’re kept.”
“Stop,” Kit interjected. “Check his ribs and leave us.”
The pair looked at each other, a silent debate taking place through eye contact. Nick’s stomach rumbled, and he moved his attention to the oats in his lap. Even knowing the food was dosed with painkillers that might knock him out, Nick ate.
“I’ll check them later,” Anna finally said. “You’re awake and aware and able to lift both arms, so I daresay after a few days of bedrest, you’ll be back to normal.” Anna leaned in, making Nick move his attention from the food to her. “A kit’s tail can break femur bones. That’s this one.” She tapped her own thigh. “Do you know how much smaller ribs are? They may as well be twigs. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Kit went easy on Nick.
He still hit him.
Still abducted him.
“It had to be real enough to satisfy Lady Desre, but know my nephew took no joy in it.”
