All Chapters of Broken by One, Desired by All : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Zane's Point Of View I stood there, still and small beneath the weight of a hundred watching eyes. The music swelled, dimming the sounds of laughter and chatter, but not the pressure digging into my chest like a tight thread threatening to snap. I watched Miles and Alisa. Annoyance pricked beneath my skin like needles. Why did Miles bring me into this at all if he was going to stand there like a perfect, sculpted doll and let her hang onto him like that? Why even say those things if he was going to let her shoo me away like I didn’t matter? Was I supposed to stand there and smile? Watch him twirl around the floor with her like I was just another spectator? I took a step back, heart beating in my ears. That’s enough. I was just about to turn away, to escape before someone noticed how pathetic I looked standing alone at the edge of a fairytale, when, a firm, warm grip closed around my wrist. I turned sharply. Ronan. “Come with me.” He said gently. I blinked. “What?”

Zane's Point Of View “Tonight’s Ball Star is…”Elaris Mavellen’s voice rang out across the grand ballroom like a bell cutting through fog.The entire space went silent.Utterly.Completely.It was a stillness I could feel, a trembling hush suspended in magic and disbelief. My breath hitched. My chest felt too tight. The blood in my ears thundered like an army marching toward my heart.Then… “ZANE!”The sound of my name exploded across the hall like lightning cracking the sky in half. For a moment, I couldn’t move.What?My name… my name was echoed in magic and light, repeated by the crowd, stamped into the very air. Spotlights beamed down, searing warmth into my skin. Golden-silver magic curled around my arms and waist like threads of destiny.I blinked.Wide-eyed. Disbelieving. My knees threatened to give way.Was this… real?“Zane,” Elaris said, her voice gentler now, but no less powerful, “step forward.”I did.Not because I felt confident. Not because I felt worthy. I stepped for

Zane's Point Of View The steam curled around us like breath… thick, languid, and slow, coating the air with heat and tension that was impossible to ignore. The gentle ripples of the enchanted spring lapped against my chest, but they couldn’t drown the thunderstorm inside me. My skin already burned, not from the temperature, but from the very presence of the man moving toward me.Ronan.He emerged through the veil of mist like some mythical creature born from the depths, naked, sure, and impossibly real. Beads of water slid down the hard planes of his chest, tracing the sharp dips and curves of muscle, dancing along the ridges of his abs, and disappearing beneath the water’s surface. His silver hair was damp and tousled, framing his angular face like a crown. The shadows clung to his jawline, to the sharpness of his cheekbones. His eyes glowed softly, moonlight over molten stone, and they were focused entirely on me.My breath caught. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even speak.He came c

Zane's Point Of View The next morning, sunlight filtered through the slatted blinds in dusty gold ribbons, landing in bands across the wooden floor. I woke still drenched in the shadow of insomnia, my chest tight, mind racing, adrenaline refusing to fade. The soft hum of life in the dormitory was enough to rattle the last threads of tortured sleep from my memory.Heavy-eyed, I padded down the narrow corridor, past closed doors and dimly lit hallways until I reached the living room. The common area felt cocooned in early morning hush, chairs scattered and portraits watching from the walls. Charlie was leaning against a window sill, backlit by the rising sun, fiddling with something small in his hands.He looked up as I entered, ducking his chin in greeting. “You up early.” I rubbed my eyes. “Barely up, man.”Charlie smiled and held out a beautifully wrapped gift, pale teal paper tied with a silver ribbon. “This was left at the door for you. No name, just says ‘Zane.’ Why don't you ope

Zane's Point Of View The bar buzzed with life as soon as Charlie and I stepped in. Neon lights flickered across the polished walls, bouncing off the crystal glasses and glinting off the shimmering dance floor. Bodies moved in rhythm with the music… some slow and swaying, others erratic, wild. The scent of perfume, sweat, and alcohol hit me like a wall.I was already regretting coming.“Loosen up, Zane,” Charlie said over the pulsing beat, tossing me a crooked grin. “Let go for one night.”I offered a shaky smile. “I’ll try.”A few shots later… too many, honestly, I stopped trying and started floating. My thoughts got fuzzy around the edges, the ache in my chest dulling a little with each drink. Ronan’s name blurred on my tongue, but I didn’t say it aloud. I couldn’t.I stood from the booth and muttered something to Charlie about needing air or the restroom… I wasn’t sure which. The bass thumped under my feet as I stumbled toward the back hallway.The moment I stepped into the quiet o