Page 82 of Celestial Combat

But neither did the heat.

The night stretched thick and quiet around us, the remnants of whiskey and dark chocolate lingering in the air. Brooklyn glowed through the massive windows, the city stillalive beyond the glass, but inside the loft, everything had settled into something softer.

I exhaled, setting my empty glass on the table before pushing up to my feet. “It’s late,” I murmured, my voice low, rough. “You should sleep. You need the rest.”

Kali barely had time to open her mouth before a yawn slipped out, and I smirked.

“Yeah, yeah,” she muttered, rolling her eyes as she stretched her arms above her head. The hem of my shirt rode up slightly, exposing a sliver of warm, smooth dark skin. I forced my gaze away.

She stood, helping me clear what little was left on the table, and within minutes, we were heading upstairs.

I didn’t know what I expected when we stepped into the bedroom, but I sure as hell didn’t expect Kali to collapse onto my bed like she owned the damn thing.

She sighed into the pillow, burying herself against the sheets, and I swore I saw the tension in her shoulders disappear entirely.

The thought hit me before I could stop it.She feels safe here.

I stood there, watching as she molded herself into my space.And I liked it.

The scent of my sheets – dark, warm, familiar – wrapped around her, and maybe in the morning, she’d smell like me too.

I clenched my jaw at the thought, pushing it down. “Get some sleep,” I said instead, quieter now. “I’ll take the couch.”

I turned, already heading toward the stairs.

“Zane.”

I stopped. My fingers flexed at my sides before I turned my head slightly, already knowing what she was going to ask.

Kali lifted herself onto one elbow, blinking at me in the dim light. “Can you stay with me?”

The words landed somewhere deep in my chest.

I didn’t answer right away. I should’ve said no. Should’ve walked out and put some distance between us before I did something I couldn’t take back.

But then she whispered, “Please.”

And just like that, everything else was forgotten.

I exhaled sharply, running a hand over my jaw before nodding once. No hesitation this time.

I moved back toward the bed, the space next to hertoo inviting. But I didn’t get under the covers. Instead, I laid back over them, hands behind my head, eyes on the ceiling.

The loft was silent except for her slow, steady breathing.

I watched over her, a silent protector in the dim glow of the city lights filtering through the windows. I told myself it was because I needed to make sure she was safe – that this had nothing to do with the way she made my pulse hammer in my throat.

She fell asleep within seconds.

Only then did I allow myself to do the same.

Chapter 23

Present

Brooklyn, New York City

THE FIRST THING I BECAME aware of was warmth.