Page 232 of Celestial Combat

Aleksandr hesitated, and then nodded. “Yes. For the first time in many years.” He looked toward Zane with something close to awe, like he still couldn’t believe the man across from him was real.

That made my heart soften. I reached across the table and gently touched his hand. “You should start dating. Go to art galleries. Get flirted with by someone scandalous. Live your life.”

He blushed.Aleksandr Ivanova actuallyblushed. “I am too old to be scandalous.”

“No, you’re not,” I said firmly. “You’re charming. And now that you’re in a city full of interesting women, there’s no excuse.”

Zane leaned back with a smirk. “She gave me the same speech. Next thing I knew, we were living together.”

Aleksandr laughed again, softer this time. “You two seem happy. That makesmehappy.”

“Thank you,” I said, catching Zane’s eyes across the candlelit table.

Aleksandr nodded, then added with a smile, “So when are you going to make it more serious?”

I choked on my wine. Zane just smiled.

Aleksandr raised his hands in mock innocence. “I’m just saying. The longer you wait, the more she’ll think you’re unsure.”

Zane looked at me. I raised a brow. He grinned. “I’m sure.”

I smiled.

“Your mother would’ve liked her,” he said to Zane, voice gentle. “She would’ve told you not to let this one go.”

Zane’s hand slid over mine under the table, fingers curling between mine. “I’m not planning on it.”

And just like that, the room fell into even more comfortable discussion.

The VIP room pulsed with muted bass, its velvet booths glowing under soft lavender lights. I leaned against Zane’s shoulder, his arm casually draped around me as we laughed with Maria, Trevor and everyone else, celebrating Zach’s twenty-fifth birthday in our usual chaos-to-calm ratio.

“ZACHARY!”

Heads snapped toward the staircase. Drinks froze mid-sip.

Francesca stormed in – high heels echoing, fists clenched. Her voice cracked over the thudding beat downstairs.

Francesca’s face flushed red. “I am going to gut you like a fish, then FEED. IT. TO. YOU.”

Zach didn’t shrink, more like looked around at us confused before fixing his gaze on Maria, who was already crossing her arms.

“What did you do now?”

“Nothing.”

“Mhm.”

“Baby, I swear.” Zach lowered his tall stance slightly, trying to match Maria’s eye level.

Francesca climbed the stairs, fists still clenched. “Did you know!?”

“Know what?” Zach’s voice was pissed off, unlike usual. That tended to happen whenever someone made Maria get mad at him.

Francesca made it to the center of our circle. “That he was going to marry me!”

A ripple of confusion and stunned silence passed through our group.

“What?”