Page 31 of Celestial Combat

The room felt too small, the air thick with something unspoken.

“Then what…?”

Trevor rolled his shoulders, the way he did when he was trying to shake off anger. “How do you feel? What hurts?”

“I mean… My body kind of hurts. Head too. But I feel fine, I think. Just disoriented.” I studied his face, the sharp tension in his jaw. He looked exhausted. More than that – he lookedpissed. “Yeah, I’m good,” I added quickly, hoping to ease whatever was weighing on him.

Trevor just stared at me, eyes dark, unreadable.

I swallowed.

“Do you want to give us the room to talk?” Natalia asked softly.

Trevor’s eyes flicked to her, then back to me.

For a second, I thought he’d argue, but after a long beat of silence, he nodded. “I’ll be outside.”

He didn’t say anything else. Just turned and walked out, the door shutting behind him with a quiet click.

I turned to Natalia, my eyes suddenly narrowing on her clothes. “Is that my brother’s shirt?”

Her brows shot up, confusion painting her features before glancing down at the black hoodie with Trevor’sbasketball number on it. A sudden blush coasted her cheekbones.

“Yeah. I was uh… I got cold.”

I nodded slowly, though that felt weird since it was May and city was already burning with summer. “There’s nothing going on between you two… Right?”

A breathless laugh. “Of course not.”

“I mean I love him. He’s a great guy, but… Not the one you want to date.”

She shook her head, looking away while pulling on her sleeves to cover her hands. “Of course. I know that.” Her eyes met mine again.

We sat in silence for a while.

I felt the exact moment when the air changed, stomach twisting. She hesitated, her fingers still lightly brushing my forehead. “A man attacked you. You were already unconscious when they found you.”

“They? Who’s they?” My pulse ticked up.

“A couple of girls in the club bathroom.” She exhaled shakily. “They walked in as the attacker was pulling your jeans down.”

The words felt like a physical blow.

I couldn’t breathe.

“The mirror was cracked,” Natalia continued, her voice quieter now. “Police think he smashed your head into it. That’s why you have the cuts – there were shards of glass in your face. You also suffered internal bleeding. Your ribs – ” She stopped, shaking her head. “Kali, they had to do surgery.”

The world spun.

“He got away.”

A hollow, sickening feeling curled in my stomach.

Natalia’s hand found mine, squeezing tightly. “The police are looking for him as we speak.”

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think.

“So are Trevor and Zach, of course. They’ll find him. And when they do, they’ll make him regret he was ever born.”

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