Page 45 of Celestial Combat

“Kali–”

“Not interested.” She gripped the handles of the cable machine, adjusting the weight without looking at me.

“I need to talk to you.”

“And I need to finish my workout.”

I exhaled, jaw tightening. “Kali.”

“What part of ‘not interested’ don’t you get?”

“The part where you think ignoring me is going to make me leave you alone.”

She pulled the cables, slow and controlled, her delicate, powerful muscles flexing with the weight. “I don’tthink. Iknowit will.”

I dragged a hand through my hair, forcing myself to stay calm and focused.“I understand you’re pissed about what happened here four years ago–”

“Oh, youget it?”She dropped the handles and turned toward me, arms crossing.“Yougethow I felt walking into Python, barely holding myself together, only to haveyoushut me down like I wasnothing?”

The heat in her voice burned straight through me.

I clenched my fists at my sides. “I didn’t know–”

“Exactly. Youdidn’tknow. But you assumed.Allyou fucking do is assume. From the very first time you met me, to the moment I walked in with Tony. You think I don’t see the way you look at him when he’s with me? Like you’re gonna gut him or something.”

“What’s so fucking special about that guy anyway?!”

Emotion pressed against my ribs like never before, morphing into anger and bursting out of me before I could control myself.

Suddenly, the gym got quiet and we had a lot more than just a couple pair of eyes on us. My cheekbones burned. I never got angry.

Kali gave me a one-over, raising a brow at my out-of-character emotional outburst. “Andnowyou wanna talk to me?”She scoffed.“Because I’m finally good enough for you? For your gym? Because I proved I could fight? Because I proved thatI could not be broken?”

“No.”My voice came out rougher than I intended.“BecauseIfucked up.” I stepped closer, voice low.“BecauseIshould’ve paid attention.Ishould’ve seenyou. And anyone else in those circumstances.” I breathed hard. “And I’m so fucking sorry. There’s no excuse.”

Something elusive passed through her eyes, so fast I almost missed it.

I stepped closer. Not touching, but near enough that she could feel it – the weight of me, the way my presence wrapped around the space between us.“I can’t change that. But I can tell you how sorry I am. I know I have to do better.”

Kali’s eyes searched mine.

For a second, I thought –hoped– I was getting through to her.

But then she smirked, stepping in so close I could see the gold flecks of light reflecting in her dark eyes. The daggers in her gaze hit me square in the chest, stabbing deep and twisting.

“Well, I’m not sorry. If it wouldn’t have been for you…” Her lips curled at the corner, voice dropping lower. “I would’ve never met Tony.”

I went still.

Something cold, that felt a lot like envy, slithered through my ribs and wrapped tight around my lungs like a green viper.

Just like that, the air between us turned to ice.

I held her stare.

Sharp fangs and venom.

I knew exactly what she was doing.