Chapter 274

• -Beth
• I told Zade I needed a minute. Just a quick breath away from the crowd, the noise, the tightness of the ballroom. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and nodded, promising to come find me soon. That kiss lingered on my skin even after I turned away and stepped into the hallway—every bit of it pulsing with his warmth.
• My heels echoed against the marble as I wandered toward the restrooms, the swish of my emerald gown whispering secrets with each step. The silence out here wrapped around me like silk, finally giving me room to breathe. Just a minute. That’s all I needed. A breath, a beat. A second to let everything melt off me.