Chapter 43: Leave

The music flows around us, and Zane's hand at my back feels like a steady anchor, pulling me closer. The space between us feels electric, charged with something I can't quite name. I tilt my head to look at him, his green eyes holding mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch. I lose myself in the rhythm of our bodies moving together, in the quiet, unspoken language we share.

But then, the spell breaks. The music shifts, the tempo picks up, and the crowd begins to grow more animated. Zane's gaze flickers briefly to someone across the room—an older man in a sharp suit, likely someone important for his business.

"I have to go." He leans close to me, his breath warm against my ear, and I feel the weight of his hand slipping from my waist. "Stay here. Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back."