Twisted Veil of Devotion

Part 20

STELLA POV

I stared at myself in the mirror, not totally sure who I was looking at.

Downstairs, classical music drifted up from the ballroom, mixed with the low hum of voices. The ball had started. Somewhere under all that noise, my whole life was about to split in two.

The gown Lucia helped me choose fit like it had been poured onto my body. Gold fabric fell around me in soft waves, shining when I moved. Tiny embroidered flowers and vines covered the bodice, catching every bit of light. My hair was pinned up, a few curls left loose around my face, and my necklace and earrings glittered when I tilted my head.

I looked like a princess.

I didn't feel like one.

My fingers smoothed the skirt, but my hands were shaking. Tonight I was supposed to be Zane's perfect companion, his queen, the woman on his arm at this glittering circus.

Inside, I felt like a fraud.

Ryan's note echoed in my mind.
Get ready during the ball. We will get you out.

Relief. Fear. Guilt. They all tangled together in my chest until I could barely breathe. And under all of that, like a quiet, unwanted truth, there was Zane.

He had been... careful with me lately. Gentle in his own dark way. Thoughtful. He listened. He watched me like I mattered. And I hated that some small, traitorous part of me had started to soften around the edges when it came to him.

A knock on the door made me jump.

"Come in," I said.

One of the maids slipped inside, her eyes going wide. "Miss Stella, you look breathtaking," she said, smiling. "Mr. Cavallaro is waiting for you at the top of the staircase. He asked me to escort you."

My throat tightened. "Thank you," I managed.

We walked through the hallway together. With every step, the music grew louder, the murmur of voices thicker. By the time we reached the landing of the grand staircase, my heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my fingertips.

Zane was waiting.

He turned when he heard us. For a moment, everything else faded. His gaze ran over me from head to toe, and he actually stopped breathing for half a second.

"Stella," he said quietly. "You look... unbelievable."

I gave him a small, soft smile that felt delicate even to me. "Thank you."

He stepped closer, eyes still fixed on me. "I have something for you."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. My stomach flipped.

"What is it?" I asked, taking it from him.

"Open it," he said, watching my face.

I clicked the box open. My breath caught.

Inside was a diamond bracelet, thin and delicate, the stones catching the light like they were burning. It was beautiful. It was expensive. It was a statement.

"It's beautiful," I whispered.

"Let me," he said.

He took the box back, handed it off to the maid without looking, and lifted the bracelet. His fingers brushed the inside of my wrist as he fastened it. The metal felt cool against my skin, his hands warm and steady.

"There," he said, lifting my arm to admire it. "Perfect."

"Thank you, Zane," I said quietly.

The way he looked at me made my chest ache. Like I was the only thing in the room that mattered. It didn't make me feel special. It made me feel heavier.