Page 126 of Celestial Combat

Tony patted my shoulder, walking away and starting to wrap his hands, leaving me alone with the echo of a name I hadn’t realized had taken root in my chest.

Zane.

Theair in Python’s underground fight club was thick with sweat and steel. My sports bag was slung over one shoulder, the strap damp against my skin from the workout. My hair clung to the sides of my face, and Tony had just given me one last fist bump before heading toward the back staircase.

“Later, Kali,” He called over his shoulder with that classic smirk.

“See you,” I said, adjusting the bag and rolling my sore shoulder. My body felt loose, adrenaline still simmering, but I wasn’t ready to leave just yet. I lingered near the corner of the main ring, catching my breath.

That’s when a group of Zane’s guys walked in – all broad shoulders and tight discipline. One of them had someone new with them. Tall. Confident. Way too smug.

He caught sight of me and smiled. “Hey. You train here too?” He asked, stepping forward. “Dax. I’m Python’s new fighter.”

I tilted my head slightly. “Welcome to the club.”

“You ever come to those underground circuits near Chelsea?” His grin widened. “There’s a big match tonight. We could–”

“She’s not interested.”

The voice was low, dark, sharp as a blade.

I turned my head fast. Zane stood a few feet behind Dax, dressed in all black like he’d materialized from shadow. His eyes, those dangerous glacier-cut eyes, were locked on Dax with a kind of calm threat that chilled the air around us.

Zane stepped forward slowly, hands in his jacket pockets.

Dax blinked, trying to play it cool. “I didn’t mean any disrespect, man.”

“I know you didn’t,” Zane replied. “Let’s keep it that way.”

Silence pressed in, heavy and immediate.

Dax swallowed and nodded once, quick. “Of course. Respect, boss.” Then he backed off and disappeared with the others toward the back cages.

I stood frozen, eyes still wide. What the hell just happened?

Zane was already gone, like nothing had happened. I followed him towards the stairs to his office. Hs back was a wall of control and tension ahead of me.

He pushed into his office with his usual cool detachment, but I didn’t give him a second to ignore me.

“What is wrong with you?” I demanded, shutting the door harder than necessary.

Zane didn’t turn to face me. He paced toward the back wall, jaw clenched, shoulders stiff beneath the black tailored fabric of his jacket.

“You can’t just do that,” I continued, stepping forward. “Jump in and growl at some guy for just talking to me.”

He turned, eyes sharp, voice barely controlled. “He wasn’ttalkingto you. He was trying to take you somewhere I didn’t clear.”

“God forbid I say yes to someone who’s not you!”

His gaze flicked back on mine. Something unreadable tightened in his jaw. “You got that right.”

He didn’t elaborate. Didn’t need to. The look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know.

He didn’t want me to say yes to anyone but him.

My pulse thundered.

“Well,” I said, closing the space between us, “If you’re gonna get all jealous…”

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