CHAPTER 40

Beatrice’s POV

My heart was pounding.

For a brief moment, I had been positive — absolutely positive — that the man in the corner, the one with the torrid gaze, was Kai.

The same Kai who had carved me with scars, the same Kai who once swore that I would never escape him.

My body had reacted before my brain caught up, my breath rapid, my fingers shaking slightly as fear twisted in my belly like a tightening rope.

But when I blinked, when I actually looked, I saw —

It wasn’t him.

The man standing there had the same build, the same broad shoulders, and the same piercing gaze that had plagued my nightmares, but the closer I looked, the more the illusion fell apart.

His stance was different. Gold details graced his mask, which Kai would never wear. And the most revealing thing of all?

There was no cruel smirk, no sly glint in his eye that foretold suffering.

Just a stranger.

I took a deep breath, willing my heart to slow.

Get a grip, Beatrice.

I took a shaky breath out, turned away and shoved the panic back down into the place they were supposed to be.

The party was at full swing and I needed to rein it in.

The Banquet Hall

The long table) was decorated with crystal chandeliers hanging above, glimmering gold light refreshing the fine china and fragile glass. The clink of champagne glasses was accompanied by laughter, and anticipation vibrated in the air. Background chatter about the new mining project spread among the business elites and the wealthy influential — each voice a power broker and a bank account.

I took a seat in one of the empty chairs, letting out a soft sigh as I readjusted my mask. And although there were people everywhere, a peculiar loneliness coiled in my chest.

As it had been foretold, Xander was the center of attention.

I watched him across the room, standing in a group of investors, his tall figure easily making himself at home. Even in a mask, he commanded attention. He wore a perfectly fitted black tuxedo and a crisp white shirt adorned with silver cufflinks that spoke of the quiet luxury that was his quirk.

But it wasn’t his clothes that made him stand out.

It was him.

The way he carried himself. The presence in his strength. That reckless self-assurance that made people stop talking when he did.

It was something no disguise could conceal.

He glanced over his shoulder, as if to feel my gaze.

And for an instant, our eyes locked.

A strange warmth blossomed in my chest, spilling into my limbs like wildfire.

What is wrong with me?

I averted my eyes and pressed my lips together. I wasn’t going to allow myself to be sucked into whatever strange gravitational pull there was between us.

But before I could think about it any longer, a quick, acute pressure in my lower abdomen caused me to tense up.

I sighed. Of all times…

I needed to use the restroom.

The hallway outside the ballroom was low-light, with decorative sconces casting golden light onto polished marble floors. The thumping music was a distant echo, muffled by the heavy wooden doors that led back to the party.

I hurried down the hall, heels echoing the sound of clicking stones on the floor until I found the ladies’ room and door and pushed inside.

The smell of expensive perfume, a whiff of floral linen — a fresh bouquet of roses sat in a crystal vase by the sink. It was immaculate — mirrored walls, gold accents, the plush hand towels folded beside the basins.

I paused, trying to find my breath, facing the mirror.

The reflection looking back at me: strange yet strangely familiar.

The mask hid half my face, but not the time in my eyes.

They were different than most of the rest.

A quiet sharpness. A strength that hadn’t existed before.

Perhaps it’s because I am not running, for the first time in quite a while.

With a small sigh I turned to the stalls and let the thought float away.

But just as I was closing in, a soft creak startled through the room.

The door had opened.

I didn’t pay much attention at first — until I heard the unmistakable sound of heavy footfalls.

My brow furrowed.

That’s odd.

The soft click of heels was typical in a place like this, but these steps were too heavy. Too solid.

Something was wrong.

A prickle of unease crawled up my spine as I froze behind the stall door.

Suddenly, a deep voice pierced the silence.

"Well, well. Fancy seeing you here."

A chill sliced through me.

I stiffened, my hand immobile on the lock.

That voice—low, silky, with a hint of something dangerous—could not be a woman’s.

I slowly unlocked the stall door and stepped out.

And when my eyes fell on him, I just skidded to a halt.

Near the entrance, a man was casually leaning against the marble sink.

Tall. Broad. Wore a pricey black suit that clung to him like a second skin.

His mask covered most of his face, but the part I saw was a gut-churning sight.

Whoever he was, he did not belong here.”

His dark, assessing eyes raked slowly over me, settling in a way that made my skin crawl.

I stepped back, instinct clenching my lungs.

Something was wrong.

Very, very wrong.

"What are you doing in here?" I insisted, steeling my voice to keep it a neat edge, a toned tenant.

His lips twitched. "Does it matter?"

"Yes," I bit out. “This is the ladies’ restroom.”

He laughed, the sound deep and untroubled. "So? I go where I please."

That was not the response of a person who had erred.

In that moment, a cold wave of realization washed over me,

He hadn’t come in off the street by accident.

He had followed me.

My throat went dry, and my muscles stiffened as he stepped slowly toward me.

Its a predator stalking its prey.

You think you are so very daring, do you?' His tone was smooth, almost bemused, as if this were a friendly encounter and not a breach of my space.

I curled my hands into fists and my body into a spring. “If you take even one more step, I will scream.”

His dark eyes shone with something inscrutable.

"Go ahead," he murmured. "Scream."

My heart thudded against my ribs.

Something in his voice told me that even if I did … it wouldn’t matter.

No one would come.

No one would save me.

The air grew thick between us, charged with an unseen struggle for dominance.

I needed to move. To run.

But before I could make a choice, he did something that turned my blood to ice in my veins.

He dipped his hand in his pocket—and drew a silver dagger.

The blade flashed under the lights of the restroom, sharp and deadly.

I instinctively stepped back, sputtering as my breath caught in my throat.

He tilted his head as he watched me, as if waiting for my response.

Waiting for me to panic.

Waiting for me to break.

But I didn’t.

He was here for a reason.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, his eyes dropping to my neckline, then lower. “And even more beautiful close up.”

I felt sick.

My heart hammered inside my chest, but my face remained blank.

I didn’t know who he was. The mask made sure of that. But every instinct in me felt there was danger there.

I turned to move past him, but he got in my way.

He reeked of cologne, nostril-clogging.

“Don’t be in such a rush,” he said with an outstretched hand, as if to touch my arm.

I jerked back. “Don’t touch me.”

His smile opened, slow and predatory. “Playing hard to get?”

I clenched my teeth. “I said don’t touch me.”

He didn’t lose the amusement in his eyes.

He lowered his voice, leaning in a bit.

“I wonder…” he mused. “Your boss wouldn’t mind if I borrowed you for a little while, would he?”

A bolt of fear shot through me.

My breath came faster.

This wasn’t some low-life party guest.

This was someone who really knew who I was.

And he wasn’t here by chance.

My hands tinged, the fingers twitching at my sides.

I was alone.

No guards. No witnesses.

And the worst part? I had no inkling of who I was dealing with.

But I did know one thing—

I needed to get out.

Taking a shaky breath, my mind whirred. I could scream, but the music was loud outside. I might be able to fight, but he was bigger, stronger—

Xander.

The name had escaped before I could think.

“Xander,” I said, voice keen.

The man chuckled. “He’s busy, sweetheart.”

I ignored him.

“Xander,” I said, louder this time.

And then, as if I conjured him—

The bathroom door swung wide open.

A blast of wind swirled in behind Xander as he stalked through the door, his face stormy.

His piercing blue gaze slid over me first — taking note of my wide-eyed look, the tautness of my torso.

Then slowly, his eyes turned to the man standing beside me.

The air in the room dropped.

Xander didn’t speak.

He didn’t have to.

His whole presence demanded attention, an atmosphere of primal, deadly power radiating from him in waves.

The other man stepped back, some flash of light in his eyes — surprise, perhaps.

I couldn’t react before Xander moved.

He pushed the man back, holding him against the wall by one arm.

When he spoke, his voice was dangerously low.

“You’ve made a mistake.”

The man opened his mouth to speak, but the grip of Xander tightened.

Then he turned to one of the guards at the doorway, in eerie calmness, and said two chilling words —

"Eliminate him."

My breath hitched.

The man’s eyes widened with fear.

I was supposed to be scared too.

But when Xander glanced at me, his eyes softening just a little—

I felt safe.