Page 234 of Celestial Combat

It was our real life – mafia life.

Tactical alliances, personal sacrifice, and power balanced on the edge of paper and ink.

I leaned onto Zane’s shoulder as he wrapped his arm around me my anchor in the storm.

There would be battles to fight.

But tonight, we held onto each other.

And that was enough.

EPILOGUE

TWO MONTHS LATER

Present

Tokyo

Tokyo in spring felt like something painted by gods.

Everything was pastel and silk-soft – petal-dusted sidewalks, the gentle hush of falling blossoms, the scent of sweet air and something ancient humming beneath it.

Zane and I had landed a week ago, just in time to watch the cherry trees crack open into full bloom, and I’d barely taken a breath since. Not because it was overwhelming. But because I didn’t want to exhale and risk changing a single thing.

We’d spent the first few days reworking the Tokyo apartment. Not big changes – just enough to make it feel like ours. New linen curtains, some records Zane picked out from a Shibuya vintage shop, a new sofa we broke in the same day.

Now, we split our time between here and New York.

Tokyo burned by in neon streaks – vending machines lit up like altars, signs flashing in electric kanji, and streetlights flickering down into smooth pavement. The Purple Lamborghinipurred beneath us like a living beast, tail curling behind in a sound only the night knew how to carry.

Zane drove like the road belonged to him. One hand on the wheel, the other resting on my thigh.

The music low, with a pulsing bass that throbbed through the car’s bones. My head was tipped back out the window, hair tangling in the wind, the air tasting of city heat and cherry blossoms.

I closed my eyes. I could’ve floated out of that window into the sky.

This was what freedom and love felt like.

The road stretched out into the glowing dark.

And we didn’t look back.

When Kali came back in, hair ruffled from the fast wind, she sank back into my lap, legs thrown over the center console and passenger seat

I glanced down, smirking as I took in the most beautiful and precious thing in his life.

“You trying to get us arrested?” I asked, low and warm.

“Drive faster,” She said against my mouth, arms wrapped around my neck.

And I kissed her, with everything I had.

Tokyo screamed around us in color and motion. And inside the car, we were a still flame – burning, steady, dangerous.Celestial.

This was what freedom and love felt like.

The road stretched out into the glowing dark.

And we didn’t look back.

THE END