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“That would be delightful.” He walked her toward the double doors at the back of the room, but stopped at the buffet and broke a piece off the ice sculpture in the center of the table.
He wrapped it in his handkerchief and held it tightly in one hand as he tried to walk casually toward the dark path he knew he’d find in the garden. He needed to be sure Claire’s hand wasn’t broken. And he needed to hold her, to assure himself she was all right.
If there had been any doubt in Finn’s mind that he loved this lady, he’d dispensed with it the moment she’d been in danger. He would have killed for her. He might still kill for her. He would kill Mayden without blinking if the earl dared to lay a hand on her again.
Finally, the cool night air embraced them and Finn relaxed a little. He pulled her down the path until he found a bench and motioned for her to sit. He took her hand in his, wincing when she did at the pain of his touch. He placed the ice-filled handkerchief in her palm. “Can you close your fist?” he asked, flexing his own to show her what he wanted to confirm.
She opened and closed it slowly. Her hand wasn’t broken, but it was already bruising, and for that, Finn wanted to rip Mayden’s head off his shoulders and shove it up his arse. “What the devil were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t,”
Claire admitted. “He asked me to dance, and the rules of this world state that if I decline him, I have to decline everyone for the rest of the night.” She stuck out her bottom lip a little. Was she pouting? “I wanted to get to dance with you again, at least once.”
“So, you weren’t trying to get information out of Mayden?” His heart slowed a bit.
“Well, that was an unexpected benefit.” She grimaced as he poked at her hand and maneuvered her fingers. She pushed the ice back at him. “It’s cold,” she complained.
“Use it,” he ordered.
She arched a brow at him and smiled. “I think I like you when you’re being all masterful.”
She hadn’t seen masterful. He’d spank her bare bottom if she dared to ever go near Mayden again.
Her good hand stroked down the side of his cheek. “You can stop worrying. I’m fine.”
“What did Mayden say to you?” Finn looked at her there in the dark. Good God, she was pretty. She took his breath away.
“He told me he wants Katherine back. And made some threats.” She winced as she laid her hurt hand in her lap. He ached for her and would have taken her pain inside himself if he were able.
“What kind of threats?” His heart started to flutter wildly again. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Ever.
“Something about tossing me from the turrets at the Hall to see if I can fly.” She giggled. “Little does he know that I really can.”
“I’ll kill him,” Finn grunted as he jumped to his feet and started toward the door.
“Don’t leave me,” Claire cried.
“What is it? Your hand?”
“No, I just need you.”
If anyone had told him that love would hurt so much, he’d never have believed it. But Finn felt as if his soul had been laid bare to her. He sat down beside her on the bench again.
***
Claire had never seen him so handsome as with thoughts of her reflected in his eyes. In a different time and a different place, she could love him. She could love him with all her heart.
“Is your hand any better?”
She tested her grip. “A little, I think.” If she were in the land of the fae, she would take advantage of the healing waters there. But she would have to deal with the pain, since the waters couldn’t travel from one world to another.
“I should kill him for that alone,” Finn growled.
“I can think of so many more reasons to kill him.” Claire tried not to laugh, but suddenly, she found the situation hilarious.
“Are you all right?” Finn asked. “You’re not delirious, are you?”
If she was, it was because of him, not because of the Earl of Mayden. “I’m perfectly fine, aside from a little bit of pain in my hand. Stop fretting.”
