Chapter 38 Ambiguity Under the Moonlight
Evelyn's POV
"Kane, are you really going to stay silent? What just happened to you?" I stared at him and asked.
I was sitting on the rough wooden table, legs dangling, hands gripping the edge tightly. The night breeze was cool, blowing the loose strands of hair by my ears, but it couldn't blow away the heat and tension hanging in the air.
I stared at him, trying to find answers in his eyes.
Kane didn't answer right away.
He kept that position where he had me trapped in his arms, hands pressed on the table on either side of me, body leaning slightly forward.
After a long moment, he finally moved.
He slowly lowered his head and looked back at me.
"Evelyn, you're mine."
He repeated that line again, his voice low and husky.
"You can only be mine."
As he spoke, he lifted his head, eyes burning as he stared at me.
This wasn't the first time Kane had said something like this. Before I could react again, he let go of the table edge and cupped my face instead.
His movements were gentle, his fingertips lightly caressing my cheeks, as if touching a fragile, priceless treasure.
My heart was beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of my chest. If he was going to kiss me, should I close my eyes or push him away?
But the expected lip-to-lip contact didn't happen. A warm, soft touch landed on my forehead—reverent, restrained, yet carrying an undeniable devotion.
His lips stayed on my forehead for a long time, as if through this kiss, through his actions, he was telling me that I belonged to him.
"I don't know how much longer I can hold back." Kane's voice sounded by my ear.
"Just now I wanted to hide you away, where no one could see you." He pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes.
"Evelyn, I... I'm afraid you'll leave me because of this greed of mine."
"But I can't control myself."
Though his words were vague, they shocked me.
I really hadn't been wrong—those overstepping concerns, that domineering possessiveness, it wasn't my wishful thinking or imagination. Kane must like me, right?
Not the kind of liking between friends, but that exclusive, burning kind of liking that only exists between couples.
My cheeks instantly flushed red, and even my ears felt burning hot.
"Kane, I..." I opened my mouth, my voice not quite sounding like my own.
I didn't know what to say.
Did I like him?
The answer should be yes.
I relied on him, trusted him, and was even willing to be close to him.
But I still didn't know what kind of shapeshifter I was, didn't know what the future would hold, and right now I couldn't even figure out if my feelings for Kane were the romantic kind of liking between couples.
Right now, should we really be together?
The road ahead was so long, full of unknowns. I didn't want to become his burden, and I didn't want to recklessly promise a relationship between two people.
Kane seemed to see through my hesitation and retreat.
"No rush."
He reached out a finger and gently pressed it against my lips, stopping the words I hadn't yet spoken.
"Don't say anything about refusing, and don't say anything about being unsure."
His gaze became gentle and understanding, turning back into that Kane who made me feel safe.
"Evelyn, no rush. I'm not in a hurry."
He lowered his head, forehead gently pressing against mine, noses touching, breaths mingling.
"I can wait, wait until you're ready. As long as you don't push me away, I'm willing to wait forever."
His voice was soft, but it deeply touched my heart.
"Okay."
I paused before continuing.
"I won't push you away."
Kane's body visibly relaxed at my words.
I could feel him smile, his low voice vibrating through his chest.
"Okay."
We just stayed like that quietly for a while.
The night wind blew through the trees, making rustling sounds. The music in the distance was still playing, but all of that had nothing to do with us.
In this little corner, there were only the two of us, and the sound of each other's heartbeats.
After a good while, we finally pulled apart a bit.
"The ball isn't over yet, and we can't be gone too long. Let's go back."
I said softly, reaching out my hand to him.
Kane effortlessly lifted me down from the wooden table. The moment my feet touched the ground, my legs felt a bit weak, and I instinctively grabbed his arm tighter.
"Hold onto me."
He said, looking down, his tone carrying even more tenderness and affection.
"Okay."
I nodded, took a deep breath, and calmed my emotions.
Kane helped me straighten my dress, and I lightly smoothed my somewhat messy hair, feeling the temperature on my face drop a bit.
"Let's go."
I took Kane's arm again, and we walked back toward the dance floor. I looked up at his firm profile, and a surge of courage rose in my heart.
Actually, what the future would be like, or what others thought—none of it mattered.
Maybe as long as Kane was here, everything would be okay.
The moment we returned to the dance floor, countless eyes turned toward us again, still filled with surprise, jealousy, and curiosity.
But this time, I still didn't look away, and Kane resumed his mask of icy indifference, just coolly scanning the crowd once.
We walked toward the dance floor, ignoring everything around us.
The music just then switched to a slow song.
Kane led me onto the dance floor. This time, his movements were no longer so urgent, but full of tenderness and care.
He held my waist, leading me to sway gently with the rhythm of the music.
Under the brilliant lights, I saw the smile at the corner of his mouth.
Kane was really good-looking. I seemed to hear his steady heartbeat, and maybe I also hoped he belonged to me.
Just as I was immersed in this ambiguous sweetness, the music suddenly stopped without warning.
The crowd that had been spinning instantly stopped, everyone looking at each other, a bit confused.
The lights at the center of the stage suddenly brightened, and Michael, wearing a dark blue robe, stood at the front with a smile.
"Good evening, everyone."
His voice, amplified by magic, clearly reached every corner of the venue.
"Looks like everyone has found their dance partner and is having a great time."
Michael pushed up his glasses, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall before finally landing on Kane and me, a meaningful smile flashing in his eyes.
"However, the ball has only just begun. The night is still young, and the real test is yet to come..."
I froze for a moment and turned to look at Kane beside me. "What does he mean? There's still a test?"