“I’m not doing this. I don’t want to do any of this.”
“And yet it seems like you don’t have a choice.” He steps closer. Finn’s a strange man, closed off and guarded. I don’t think I’ve heard him speak more than a couple dozen words since he came here with Kellen, but he’s clearly the second-in-command and Kellen’s close friend. He’s handsome, but he scares me, and not in a way I kind of like. Just an actual terrifying person.
“If you were listening then you know that asshole’s blackmailing me. If I don’t spy for him, I’m done with this place.”
“And if you don’t help Kellen, you’re equally done.”
“Please don’t do this to me. It just isn’t fair.”
“Nothing’s ever fair.” He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “But I’ll be honest. I empathize with your situation, I really do. Only I’m extremely biased and I think you’d be crazy to go with Hugh. That man’s a soft, spoiled little pony compared to Kellen.”
I look at Finn carefully and he’s staring at the plants, a far-off look in his eye. It’s strange that Kellen keeps company with a man like Finn, and I have to wonder what Kellen did to earn this guy’s loyalty. It must be impressive, because I get the sense that Finn is extremely competent and not the sort of person to follow just anyone.
“Do you really think Kellen can do this? I mean, do you really think it matters if I marry him?”
Finn nods slowly. “Yes and yes. You don’t know him like I do.”
“We grew up together, sort of.”
“The way I understand it, you were his sister’s friend, but he’s five years older. He wasn’t around all the time.”
“That’s true.”
“And more to the point, he’s been out on his own for seven years. Do you have any clue what he’s been doing in that time?”
“I have some guesses.”
“And I’d bet your guesses aren’t even close to the truth.” Finn walks past me, nearly brushing my shoulder with his. “I didn’t know Kell when he lived here, but I’ve been in this place long enough to know that the man he used to be isn’t the man he is today. Whatever boy he was back then, the scars he picked up here, and the scars he earned out there, turned him into a force. Even with everything stacked Hugh’s way, you’d be crazy to bet against Kellen.”
“You really believe in him.”
“I’m not a believer by nature,” Finn says, walking on. “But I’ve seen things, and you’ll see them too if you marry him.” He reaches the bend and pauses, looking back. “Speaking of which, he wants to take you out tomorrow night. He says to wear something nice.”
“You’re setting his dates now too?”
He wobbles his head from side to side, grinning. “Just wear something nice. Show some leg. He likes your legs.”
“You’re insane.”
He waves and walks off, and my fingers reach down to touch my thighs.