Page 117 of Celestial Combat

I stared at the ceiling, knowing my dreams tonight would bevivid.

Chapter 30

Present

Queens, New York City

MY FAMILY’S MANSION WAS WARM in a way that made me remember old winters. I padded down the wide hallway toward the sitting room, my fingers trailing along the smooth walls. Outside, the October wind stirred the golden trees of Queens, tossing brittle leaves against the tall windows like impatient whispers.

I had already done the round of greetings – kissed my mother’s cheek, let my father ask his usual sharp questions about my safety, and nodded my way through their polite avoidance of the obvious: why I showed up without Zane.

I’d asked Trevor to tell Zane he’ll send a driver so he didn’t have to drive me, since there was no reason for him to accompany me today for Sunday family dinner.

I was a coward. Not only hadn’t I spoken to Zane myself, I hadn’t left the upstairs bedroom all morning. Just to avoid meeting his eyes after last night.

Zane was still in his gym when I sneaked to the door.I’d just yelled a quicksee you laterlike we were old friends.

Like I hadn’t practically thrown myself at him at the club and did the unspeakable in the backseat of his car while he just watched me the entire time.

In the moment, I felt powerful. Like a sex goddess. That couldn’t be tamed or brough down.

But after a cold shower and sobering up… I was closer to mortified.

In the moment, with him watching me in the rearview mirror, unable to touch me, it felt like forbidden desire.

The morning after… It felt like rejection.

I cringed, remembering how I moaned and came shamelessly, without even breaking eye contact from him.

I wrapped my arms around myself now, even though the house wasn’t cold. My off-shoulder cashmere sweater felt too thin, too delicate.

The silence in the hallway deepened as I reached the archway into the wide sitting room.It was late now. My parents had already gone upstairs to their room, leaving us kids alone.

Trevor and Natalia were curled up together on the wide, low couch near the center. She was half-buried under a fluffy blanket my mom had thrown over her to keep her comfortable, her legs drawn up. The diamond ring on her finger sparkling as her hand rested absently on her still flat tummy.

I smiled as I dropped onto the cushion beside them, curling my legs beneath me. “You two look so cute,” I said warmly, resting my chin on my hand.

Natalia laughed softly, cheeks pink, and my brother’s hand tightened around her. Not only had they been dating since my brother came back from Tokyo earlier this year – they’d also had a thing in college. Rest assured, I dealt with Trevor.

“So, have you started picking names yet? Or are you going to let me take over completely and name her after a Japanese woman warrior?”

Trevor groaned. “You’re not picking anything, you menace.”

“So, you’re both convinced it’s a girl?” Natalia asked, glancing between us.

“Duh.” I smiled big. “I can sense the divine feminine energy.”

The paper lamps gave the room a soft gold tint, and outside, I could just barely see the moon rising through the tall pines in our back garden. The wind stirred gently, making the bamboo wind chime clink like glass. I sighed deeply, remembering the first night I brough Natalia here for my family’s Christmas Charity Gala, and she met my brother.

Everything really happened for a reason.

“You’re going to be such a good mom,” I whispered to Natalia after a while, not even meaning to say it out loud.

She smiled at me, eyes shiny. “You really think so?”

“I know so.” I reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You’ve always taken care of me when I didn’t even know I needed it. That’s what good moms do.”

Trevor looked between us and smiled, his eyes warm in a way I hadn’t seen in years. “She’s going to be amazing. And this baby is already spoiled.”

---