The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186

Lucas’s jaw tightened at the last word, and for a moment something in his expression flickered-almost softness, almost regret.

Then it was gone.

He nodded once, slow.

“Yeah, well,” he said. “You never really needed it, so don’t worry about it. You’re exactly where you want to be, right?”

My fists curled into my dress.

I supposed so.

The music shifted-another song beginning, slower, more intimate, the kind meant for couples who believe in forever.

Lucas’s gaze lifted, catching mine.

“One last dance,” he said. “For old times sake?”

I blinked. “Lucas-”

“As friends,” he added quickly, as if he could hear my refusal forming. “That’s all. As friends. I might be leaving for a bit. It would be a nice good bye.”

My heart gave a strange, uneven beat.

I glanced toward the crowd. Toward Dominic. He was still speaking, still composed, still not looking directly at us.

Dominic had no reason to object. I was literally his wife now.

So I finally nodded.

“Fine,” I said. “One.”

Lucas offered his hand. I took it.

We moved onto the dance floor together, and the crowd made space like water parting around stone. Lucas kept a careful distance between us, his hand at my waist more formal than intimate, his grip light enough I could pull away at any time.

The song was slow, the kind that wraps around you and makes you forget the shape of time. We swayed. We turned. We looked like any two people in a room full of celebration.

Except Lucas’s eyes never softened like they used to.

Unsurprising.

They stayed sharp, fixed on my face as if he was searching for something he didn’t want to find.

“Ellie,” he murmured, spinning me once before pulling me back into place, the movement smooth and

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practiced. “I wanted to warn you.”

My brow furrowed. “Huh? Warn me?”

His mouth tightened. He lowered his voice further; so low I barely caught the words over the music.

“Dominic’s vow,” he said.

Cold slid down my spine.

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