Chapter 20

Killian's POV

I don’t know what the hell came over me, but the moment I pulled Feya’s debit card from my pocket, I felt like the whole club was at my fingertips. The glint of gold was almost too tempting.

“Another round for the whole damn bar,” I said to the bartender, flashing the card with a grin. He raised an eyebrow at me, but when he saw the card, he nodded without hesitation.

Zane, standing next to me, looked like she’d just seen me steal a diamond. “Wait a minute. You’re really doing this?”

I shrugged, leaning against the bar, watching the bartender start pouring shots and cocktails for anyone within arm's reach. “Why not? It’s a night to remember, right?”

Zane was still staring at me, her head tilted like she was trying to figure me out. “You don’t strike me as the type to throw around money for no reason.”

I chuckled darkly, grabbing the drink the bartender slid my way. “It’s not about the money. It’s about the moment.”

Her eyes narrowed, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. “Is that so? Or is this just a really drunk version of Killian?”

“Maybe it’s the real Killian,” I said, leaning closer to her. “The one who doesn’t give a damn.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not buying it entirely. “I think you’re just trying to forget something. But you know what? If you wanna go wild for a night, I’m not stopping you.”

I threw back another shot, feeling the heat spread through me. The club was a blur of flashing lights, music thumping in my chest, bodies moving, the energy electric. People were laughing, dancing, oblivious to the fact that I was using Feya’s card like it was my personal ATM.

But it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered right now.

I turned to Zane, and before I knew what I was doing, I was pulling her close by the waist. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t push me away.

“What the hell are you doing?” she asked, but the challenge in her voice had melted away, replaced with something else.

I leaned down so my mouth was right next to her ear, my lips brushing against her skin as I spoke low. “It’s our night, Zane. Let’s make it one to remember.” My words were almost lost in the music, but I could feel the weight of them hanging between us. She was still, her eyes searching mine like she was trying to find the part of me that still made sense.

Her breath shuddered, and she didn’t move when I pressed my lips to hers in a kiss that wasn’t just about the alcohol or the chaos of the night. It was an impulsive thing. A spark. A fire I couldn’t ignore.

For a split second, I thought she’d pull away. That she’d laugh or tell me I was crazy, but when I pulled back, she didn’t. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed.

She opened her mouth, probably ready to say something, but I beat her to it. “What’s the matter, Zane? Scared to have fun?”

Her lips parted slightly, and I caught the flicker of a challenge in her eyes, like she was debating whether to let go or keep playing the game. “You’re drunk,” she said, but there was no judgment in her voice, only a quiet acknowledgement.

“I’m not drunk enough,” I replied, my words steady. I didn’t know if that was true, but it felt like it. The world around me was spinning, and it was the kind of spin that felt like freedom.

She didn’t say anything for a long moment. I could tell she was weighing her options—whether to be the responsible one or to just let go and enjoy the madness. But eventually, her hand slid up my arm, and she leaned in, her lips brushing against mine once more.

I kissed her again, deeper this time. The taste of vodka and wildness mixing with the electric charge between us. This wasn’t about Feya or Alpha Blake or anything else. This was about now, about us, about escaping all the rules for one fucking night.

She pulled away after a few moments, breathless, but her eyes were darker now, less guarded. “You’re an idiot,” she muttered, but the grin on her face said otherwise.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling the rush of adrenaline like I could take on the world.

Zane laughed, shaking her head. “You really don’t do anything halfway, do you?”

“Nope,” I said with a grin, motioning toward the dance floor. “Let’s make it count.”

Without waiting for her response, I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the center of the room, where bodies were moving to the beat, the lights flashing in every direction. I could feel the pulse of the music in my bones, in my skin. It was a primal thing—something that made everything else feel like it didn’t matter.

Zane followed me, her heels clicking on the floor, her laugh echoing in my ear. “You know, I really didn’t see this coming,” she said, her tone teasing, but there was an edge to it that made me grin wider.

“You never see anything coming, do you?” I said, pulling her close again, our bodies moving in sync with the rhythm of the night.

Zane’s eyes sparkled. “Maybe I’m just good at pretending.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound swallowed by the thrum of the club. We danced, lost in the noise and lights and the intoxicating feeling of being completely untethered.

In that moment, it was just the two of us—the chaos of the night, the alcohol, the music—and nothing else mattered.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I let go of everything. The guilt, the jealousy, the tightness in my chest. All of it melted away in the heat of the moment, in the rush of the crowd, in the feel of Zane’s body next to mine.

She looked at me over her shoulder, a mischievous grin curling her lips. “You’re not bad for a guy who claims he doesn’t like to party.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Guess you’ll just have to find out how bad I can be.”

I was feeling untouchable, the vodka coursing through my veins and the music pounding in my chest. I wasn’t sure what time it was anymore, but I knew one thing for sure—I didn’t want this night to end. Zane was still by my side, laughing, teasing, pulling me further into this reckless fun. And I was loving every second of it.

I caught sight of the stage, the lights shining down on it like a beacon. The urge was too strong to ignore. Without even thinking, I grabbed Zane’s hand and pulled her toward the raised platform. Her eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and amusement flickering in them.

“Killian, what are you doing?” she yelled over the loud music.

“You’ll see,” I said with a grin, already making my way to the stage. I could feel the stares as I climbed up, the crowd parting for me as if they knew exactly what was coming. I didn’t give a damn about any of them. This was my moment. This was our moment.

I snatched the mic from the stand, raising it high, catching the attention of the entire club. The chatter died down almost instantly. The crowd was waiting. Expectant.

“I’m Killian,” I said, my voice booming through the speakers. “And tonight, I’m here to tell you one thing… I’m a freak. A damn good one, and I’m not apologizing for it.”

Laughter rippled through the crowd, and I felt the energy shift. Some were shocked, others were amused, but all eyes were on me. Zane was standing at the foot of the stage now, looking up at me with a mix of disbelief and excitement.

“Are you drunk, Killian?” she yelled up at me, clearly concerned.

I ignored her, letting my grin widen as I looked around at the crowd.

“Not even close,” I shouted back into the mic. “Just having a damn good time.”

Without giving anyone a chance to react, I leaned down and grabbed Zane’s hand. I pulled her up onto the stage with me, her body stumbling a bit as I tugged her into my arms. The crowd cheered, but I wasn’t focused on them. Zane’s eyes were wide with shock, and I could feel her tension as I adjusted her into my arms in a bridal carry.

“You’re insane,” she said, half-laughing, half-glaring at me.

I chuckled, ignoring the teasing in her voice. “I’m not drunk, Zane. I’m just having fun. Relax.”

Her body was pressed against mine, and I could feel her heartbeat racing beneath my palm. Her breath was hot against my neck, and I could tell she was trying to figure me out—just like everyone else in this damn club.

“I think you’ve lost it,” she said, her voice shaky from the sudden change in pace.

I met her gaze, my smile never faltering. “Nope, I haven’t lost anything.” I adjusted my grip on her, lifting her higher, watching her expression shift from confusion to something else. “You’re with me tonight, Zane. And you’re not going anywhere.”

Her eyes softened for a split second, and I could feel the change in the air between us, the tension shifting again. But just as quickly as it came, it was gone. She crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Alright, you freak,” she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Let’s see what else you’ve got.”