The last note lingered in the air, trembling through the chandeliers before fading into silence. For a heartbeat, no one moved. No one dared to.
Draven’s hand still rested on my hip. Darius’s fingers brushed the back of my neck in a possessive, grounding touch. My skin burned where they’d held me—where their warmth still clung to me like invisible chains.
Then someone clapped. Another followed. The hall erupted into polite applause. The moment shattered.
I stepped back quickly, breath caught somewhere between my ribs. “I—I need air,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure anyone heard me. Maybe I said it only to myself.
Before either of them could speak, I turned and slipped away.
The crowd blurred as I moved through it—the bright gowns, jeweled laughter, the scent of wine and perfume mixi
