Chapter 31 Chapter 31
Tiana
I was not sure the answer Zane was expecting from me, and even as a part of me felt he was going to mention it, it came as a shock.
“Tiana, I asked a question. Why did you agree to a dance with him?”
The question hung in the air between us. Clearly, there was no way I could avoid this one.
Zane’s hand remained firm on my waist as we moved through the next steps. His eyes stayed locked on mine, waiting.
“I didn’t mean to be disrespectful,” I finally replied.
He guided me into a turn, freely, like no tension hung between us. When I came back to him, his expression hadn’t changed.
“That’s not an answer.”
My throat tightened. “I didn’t think it was a big deal. He requested a dance. You were right there, so I did not think much of it. I couldn’t just—”
“Leave his hand hanging?” Zane’s voice sounded empty like it held no emotions, but it did not deceive me. “That’s what stopped you?”
“Yes. It would be rude to do that.”
We moved through another sequence. His hand shifted on my waist, pulling me closer as we turned.
“So if every male in this hall asked you to dance,” he continued in that calm tone, “you’d accept? Because refusing would be rude?”
“That’s not…” I stumbled slightly. He steadied me without breaking stride. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
I didn’t know how to explain it. How Kaius had looked so hopeful standing there. Refusing him in front of everyone might have brought attention to us, and made the night awkward for him. I had no idea that it was in fact the terrible choice, and had mattered.
“He’s family,” I said finally. “Your nephew. I thought...”
“You thought wrong.”
His eyes pierced deep into mine, and my throat bobbed at how much the words stung.
We turned again. The music swelled around us, but all I could hear, reverberating in my eardrums was the harshness in his voice.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
His jaw tightened. For a long moment, he didn’t respond.
Then, “When I left—when you thought I’d gone—why did you stay back?”
The question caught me off guard.
“What?”
“Did you not think I had gone when I left the hall?”
I nodded. “I did.”
“You sat at that table alone. Anxious and shaking.” His eyes bore into mine. “If you thought I’d abandoned you, why didn’t you find someone else to dance with? Why sit there waiting?”
I knew the answer and I hated that it was it. In that moment, the thought of dancing with anyone else had felt wrong. Because even angry and hurt, some part of me had hoped he would come back.
Because despite everything, we shared a bond.
“I don’t know,” I said instead.
“You are lying.”
“I am not lying.”
Zane spun me suddenly, faster than before while trying to match the beat. When I came back to him, there was barely any space between us.
“Try again,” he said quietly. “Your lies are obvious.”
My pulse hammered. “I didn’t want to dance with anyone else.”
“Why not?”
“Because—” The words lodged in my throat. “Because you’re my mate.”
It was quick, and I had barely caught it but I noticed a subtle movement in his Adam's apple.
“And Kaius?”
“Is not.”
“Yet you smiled at him. During my speech.”
Heat flooded my face. “He was just encouraging… he mouthed that I was doing well. It was encouragement. Nothing more.”
“Interesting,” Zane raised his eyebrows in mock acknowledgement. “Were you delivering some speech that you needed encouragement?”
I did not answer.
After a while, he continued. “Was it nothing when you danced with him during practice too?”
I froze mid-step. He guided me through the movement anyway, not letting me falter.
“How did you know?”
“I know more than you think I do, Tiana. Also, my nephew mentioned it just minutes ago. Have you forgotten already?”
The way he said my name made my stomach flip. But the questions surrounding it returned me to the hall, at that instant.
We moved through another sequence. Zane’s hand had migrated higher on my back, his fingers pressing into my spine.
“It was just practice,” I said, hating how defensive I sounded. “Madam Celeste needed a partner for me to learn the steps. Kaius happened to come in then, and she made him do it. That’s all.”
“That’s all?”