Page 229 of Celestial Combat

For a few seconds, we just stared at each other, the silence sharp but familiar. The kind only siblings can master. Then his shoulders dropped.

“Zane has helped me heal in ways only romantic love could.”

His jaw tensed. He knew what I was referring to.

His gaze dropped to the ground for a beat, then lifted with a big-brotherly frown. “He treats you well?”

I smiled. “More than.”

He looked across the villa, where Zane was listening to Maria – both of them already planning how to track down the man from South America.

“You love Kali?” Trevor called out to Zane across the pool.

“I do.”No hesitation.

That was it.

Trevor nodded slowly, exhaling through his nose. “Alright.”

And just like that, a silent truce settled between us. Maybe not perfect, but real. And real was more than enough.

The villa breeze kissed my skin as Trevor and I stepped back through the wide-open window-doors. The scent of sun-warmed saltwater drifted in with the golden light, stirring the sheer curtains as we returned to the bedroom.

Zane stood where I’d left him, shirtless and quiet, bruises blooming faint purple along his ribs from Trevor’s earlier ambush.

But his eyes were soft when he looked at me – and even softer when they flicked to my brother.

Trevor scratched the back of his neck. “I didn’t tell Mom and Dad,” he said, his voice level. “So as far as they’re concerned, you’re still single, and Zane’s still your totally trustworthy bodyguard – slash – trusted friend of the family.”

Zane’s mouth ticked up in a knowing smile.

Trevor crossed his arms. “But now that we’re all playing nice again… There’s no reason you two can’t come clean to them, right?”

Zane’s smirk deepened. He lifted his chin with calm, unshaken confidence. “You got it.”

My heart flickered warm. I stepped into Zane’s side, wrapping my arm around him and hugging into his side, my cheek brushing the edge of his chest. The sun painted gold on the hardwood floor and haloed us in morning light. I could feel his muscles relax under my hand.

He brought his arm over my shoulder, kissed the top of my head before I pulled away.

Then Trevor stepped in, finally opened his arms and offered the universal truce.

Zane grinned and pulled him in for a one-armed bro-hug, firm and brief, with that familiar shoulder slap men used to disguise real emotion.

Maria’s voice cut in with perfect timing. “Alright, lovebirds. Enough trauma bonding.” She stepped forward, efficiently shoving Trevor and Zach out of the room. “Out. Let them have some privacy. We’ll be in the kitchen. I’m starving. So y’all better have food.”

Trevor muttered as he let himself be pushed, “When aren’t you hungry?”

Maria smacked him on the way out. “Shut up and go make me a sandwich.”

Zach’s laughter boomed down the hallway, loud and unapologetic, echoing off the villa walls.

I leaned into Zane, grinning.

He smiled down at me too.

And before I knew it, his lips were pressing against mine, letting me feel the happiness and relief beneath.

When we stepped into the kitchen, dressed and put back together, it was as if nothing had happened at all.

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