Page 88 of The Royal Art of Revenge

Maybe he’ll even see how fast my heart is racing. Because it is. Like it’s been struck by a thousand lightning bolts, constantly jolting it to life.

“Hattie.” He rests his hand gently on my cheek, careful not to touch my hair and ruin it, and turns me back until our eyes meet. “You have no idea how breathtaking you are right now. I’m going to be the envy of every man in that ballroom tonight.”

“You’re exaggerating.” I pull my hand from his and step to the side, putting a bit of distance between us. I don’t know if the twirling in my stomach is from his closeness or my nerves, but I’m not even sure it matters.

“Am I?” His gaze follows me. “I don’t even think I want to take you out there and show you to the world, God forbid anyone get any ideas about stealing you from me. My response wouldn’t be very becoming of my position.”

With a sigh, I look back over my shoulder at him. “Stealing me? I’m not a possession to be taken.”

“And you’d pull a knife on anyone who tried it, right?”

I purse my lips. “Where exactly do you think I have a knife hidden on me right now? Wait—are you under the impression I’m some kind of vigilante who keeps a penknife hidden in my boot or something?”

He grins in the kind of way that makes his eyes twinkle. “Just wondering if I need to be prepared for your chaos this evening.”

“Well, you do.” I check my make-up in the mirror, smooth down a couple of wayward hairs, and turn back to face him. “Except I think most of it will come from the meltdown the Sinclairs will have when I walk out instead of you approaching Jasmine. Which will rather serve to make me look good, I suppose.”

“You know,” he says, approaching me and offering me his hand. “I have no idea which version of you I’m going to see out there tonight, but I must admit that I’m very much looking forward to finding out. Let’s go.”

I lay my hand in his, and he tucks it into his elbow. “You make it sound like I have multiple personalities.”

He tilts his head to the side, looking almost pensive.

“Finn!”

He laughs, resting his hand on top of mine. “Relax. I see it for what it is—an act. It’s almost like an armour you wear to protect yourself. Although the knife thing did make me wonder about the real you for a bit.”

“The real me? Does that mean you think I’m acting right now?”

“A little bit.” He peers over a me with a smile toying on his lips. “But then again, I believe little parts of the real you are in every act you put on. That’s how I know you’ll be fine tonight. You’re resilient, and you have what it takes to deal with the arse-licking and bullshitting that comes with this position. Do you think I’m going out here and showing these people who I truly am?”

That’s an annoyingly good point.

“You have a lot of faith in me for someone who just admitted he has no idea who I really am.”

“Does anyone know who they really are?” That smile tickles at the corners of his eyes again. “In your case, I wager you’ve just never felt safe enough to truly find out.”

I swallow. What is he, a fucking therapist? “You—”

“But that changes tonight.” He slips my hand from his elbow and raises his arm, then lays my hand softly on his forearm. “Whatever happens out here, whatever they say to you... You’re safe. Nobody will ever hurt you again, Hattie. I promise.”

“You can’t promise that,” I say quietly. “Nobody can.”

“You’re right.” There’s an edge to his voice—a dark, chilling sharpness that makes my skin prickle. “Then I promise that if they do hurt you, they won’t have a chance to make that same mistake twice.”

I lift my gaze to his face right as he looks down at me. As if a switch is flipped, his eyes are bright, and his lips are curving into a warm smile that dampens down any chill I felt at his words just now.

Huh.

I’m not the only one with a dark side.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he murmurs. “Are you ready?”

“You’ll stay with me, right?” I glance at the door, wishing I could clench my fist and dig my nails into my palm. “You won’t... Leave me alone?”

“I’ll be with you.” He faces the doors. “You won’t be alone anymore.”

I nod, swallowing back the lump in my throat. “You promise?”