Louis Davenport.

“Ladies,” he said with a polite smile, bowing his head in greeting, “if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to steal a few minutes with the beautiful lady in green.”

They all laughed, amused, gently nudging Celina forward.

Her heart jumped inside her chest.

She didn’t want to.

Everything in her told her to stay where Thor could see her.

Where Thor could protect her.

But refusing him would cause a scene.

And in that ballroom… scenes could be fatal.

Celina stood, the perfect smile on her lips, and accepted the arm Louis offered.

Thor saw it all.

From where he stood, he saw Louis approach.

He saw Celina rise.

He saw Louis’s hand, even lightly, touch her arm.

Blood boiled in his veins.

Masking it with practiced skill, Thor finished his sentence to the magnate beside him and, naturally, shifted his position so he was facing where Celina and Louis now spoke.

He didn’t take his eyes off her.

Celina felt the weight of Thor’s gaze like an invisible chain.

And at the same time, she felt