Page 116 of Throne Off Course

Harper huffed a laugh. “Did he just propose? In the middle of your party?”

“Of course he did,” Sebastian replied with a smirk. “Always has to one-up me, even at my own celebration.”

“You saw the ring?”

“Queen Caroline’s. Bold choice. Historic.” Sebastian’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, come now, Sinclair. Even you have to admit, it’s romantic.”

She shot him a dry look. “It’s also messy.”

His smirk deepened. “The best things are.”

Harper rolled her eyes but didn’t move away as Sebastian leaned against the bar, far too comfortable in her space.

“You know,” he mused, “I can’t help but notice that despite your deeply rooted hatred of me, you do seem to enjoy my company.”

Harper sipped her wine. “I enjoy watching you suffer.”

“Liar,” he said, grinning. “You like me.”

She scoffed. “I tolerate you.”

Sebastian leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “You tolerate me enough to sit through an entire party by my side?”

Harper narrowed her eyes. “You’re in my spot.”

He took her glass from her hand and sipping it before setting it back down. “Then move me.”

Harper stared at him, pulse kicking up slightly before she exhaled, shaking her head. “You really love pushing your luck, don’t you?”

Sebastian grinned. “With you? Every damn day.”

And Harper—against all logic, against all reason—laughed.

Sebastian chuckled, but something flickered behind his usual devil-may-care expression. A rare hesitation.

Harper caught it immediately. She narrowed her eyes. “What?”

Sebastian suddenly looked serious. “I owe you an apology.”

Harper blinked. Of all the things she expected from Sebastian Hawthorne, that was not one of them.

She let the words settle before scoffing. “For what, exactly? The years of smug superiority? The constant interference? Or—” her eyes sharpened, voice dropping, “—for killing my story?”

Sebastian didn’t flinch. He just held her gaze, unreadable. “That one.”

Harper tilted her head. “Wow. Took you long enough.”

Sebastian sighed, rubbing his jaw. “Look, Sinclair, I know you think I did it just to be a bastard—”

“Oh, I know why you did it,” she interrupted, her voice sharp. “Lord Hawthorne wanted that story buried, and you made sure it happened. Do not insult me by pretending otherwise.”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “I won’t.”

Harper shook her head, fingers curling around her glass. “You’re good at playing this game, and I just got caught in your way.”

“The story was going to be killed either way. I thought it was less messy to get you out of the way.”

A long silence stretched between them.