Bound to my Enemy Chapter 34

The music shifts into sothing slower.

Zane turns slightly toward . "Dance."

It’s not a question.

I look at him. "No."

He doesn’t blink. "You’re going to."

Lucas moves, but I feel it before I see it. The heat of his anger at my back.

I turn my head just enough. "Don’t," I say quietly.

Lucas freezes.

Zane watches the exchange, eyes sharp.

He steps closer and lowers his voice. "You want to stand here and let them dissect you all night, or do you want to give them sothing else to look at?"

I hate that he’s right.

I hate more that he knows it.

"Fine," I say. "But don’t pretend this ans anything."

His mouth curves slightly. "I wouldn’t insult myself like that."

His hand settles at my waist.

I stiffen despite myself.

"Relax," he murmurs. "You’re too stiff."

"I’m not."

"You are."

The dance floor opens in front of us.

Zane guides into position, one hand firm at my back, the other still holding mine. His touch is confident, practiced, like he’s done this a thousand tis and never once cared who was watching.

I hate that it’s easy.

"You planned this," I say under my breath as we start moving.

"Yes."

"For Lucas?."

"Mostly."

"And ?"

His grip tightens just a fraction. "You were convenient."

I laugh quietly. "You really know how to make a girl feel special."

He leans closer, his mouth near my ear. "You didn’t agree because you wanted to feel special."

"No," I say

He pulls back enough to look at . His eyes flick over my face, searching.

"You look pale," he says.

"I’m fine."

I roll my eyes. "You don’t get to pretend you care."

Just for a second the room tilts, Just enough that the lights sar and the music dips like it’s underwater.

I blink hard.

Breathe.

Don’t faint...... breathe

Zane feels it imdiately.

"Elaine," he says sharply, no pretense now.

"I said I’m fine."

My heel slips.

The floor rushes up.

Zane catches before I fully register I’m falling. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling flush against him, steady and solid and entirely too close.

A few people gasp.

"Careful," soone mutters.

Zane ignores them.

"What the hell was that?" he asks quietly.

I grip his jacket, more to ground myself than for support. "Nothing."

"That wasn’t nothing."

"It happens," I snap. "Fuckign Let go."

He doesn’t.

His eyes scan my face, jaw tight. "You should sit."

"No."

"You almost hit the floor."

"And I didn’t."

"Because I didn’t let you."

I push against his chest, just enough to make a point. "You don’t get credit for catching after dragging out here."

Sothing dark flickers across his face.

"Fine," he says. "But don’t you dare collapse, I don’t want that on the tabloids."

I laugh, breathless. "Trust . If I wanted to make a statent, you’d know."

The song ends.

Applause breaks out, polite and shallow.

Zane releases slowly, like he’s testing whether I’ll stay upright without him.

I do.

Barely.

Lucas is already moving toward us, face tight with worry and anger tangled together.

Zane steps back before he reaches .

"This isn’t over," he says quietly, eyes locked on mine. "You don’t get to hide from ."

I et his gaze, steady even as my head still spins.

"Neither do you."

And for the first ti since I walked into the hall, I see it.

Sothing dangerous.

And that scares more than the dizziness coudl.