e stepped into the opulent ballroom, she couldn't help but feel the familiar flutter of nerves. These events always made her feel out of place, as though she were a

had been occupying her mind since the last event. Zane. His piercing eyes, his calm demeanor, the way h

her heartbeat quicken. She had no idea if he'd be here tonight, but a part of her

yes scanned the crowd, though they seemed distant, almost bored. But then, as if he sensed her gaze, his eyes met

send a shiver down her spine. Zane was a man who didn't need to speak to command

more deliberate than the last, her pulse racing with a mix of excitement and an

ice, his eyes gleaming with a mix of intrigu

n his lips. "Likewise," she replied, hopin

ic between them. Every word Zane spoke seemed carefully chosen, every glance calculated to draw her in closer. It was

Her mind was spinning, replaying every glance, every subtle touch. She found herself captiva

something she couldn't quite put into words. He wasn't just handsome-though he was certainly that. It was the way he made

the warmth of their conversat

the man from the last event-Alex. She remembered him, mostly because of how he had tried to flirt with h

ing how Zane's expression shifted ever so

ool nod, as though their interaction was

ll force as he stepped closer to Ruby. "I didn't get a chance to prope

row, his expression unreadable. She finally took Alex's han

hough her tone lacked the warmth s

ever faltering. "But I was hoping we coul

that felt... off. Maybe it was the way he tried too hard, or maybe it was simply the fact th

moment," she said, her gaze drifting back

idn't quite reach his eyes. "

cheeks flushed, and she opened her mouth to say something, but Zane s

teasing tone, "it seems Ruby and I w

one that Ruby couldn't quite place. She glanced

, but he nodded. "Of

ng on Ruby for just a moment longer before he tur

she'd been holding. "I didn't mean to be r

ting on her back, the heat of his touch sending shi

ke off the awkwardness of the situati

f-smile. "Nice isn't always

. There was something dangerous in the way Zane spoke, something that made her want to s

t by the pounding of her hear

ftly, "nice isn't

them, standing on the edge of something unknown, something thrilling and potentially dangerous. Ruby did

had already begun, and she was