Chapter 44

"We should probably get a room near the palace," I offered.

Zai agreed.

The hotel rooms here were actually individual cottages—separate from one another, and only accessible after renting. Some were suspended in the air, all glowing softly like paper lanterns from the outside but offering the comfort of a decent-sized one-bedroom apartment on the inside.

We showed the wedding invitation to the receptionist and were given a pass to one of the rooms at a discounted rate. The pass teleported us directly inside.

At the front of the room, on the floor, was a hot tub with a barrier around it that kept the steam from spreading. The barrier looked like a translucent egg. All the furniture was white, the floors a soft tan, but each wall was painted a different neon color—just like the home I grew up in. There were no windows or doors, ensuring complete privacy.

"I... like this," Zai mumbled.

A twinge of excitement sparked inside me. Finally, something he approves of. His sharp eyes scanned the room before he approached and pulled me against him.

"Isn't it kind of exciting," he whispered, "how I'm not supposed to be here, and yet here I am… on this planet, with you... about to f**k you on one of their beds."

I jumped and pulled away, blushing hard.

"No, Zai!"

He pouted.

"I still need to buy a dress, and the rehearsal dinner's in two hours. We don't have the time!"

"I can be quick," he suggested.

"Don't lie to me!" I shot back, making him pout again. Even if one round can be quick, there's no way he'd be satisfied with just one.

"Fine… let's go dress shopping. You can show me around. Maybe I can meet more of your friends."

I sure hope not.

I powered up, and it felt like stretching after being cramped for days. Zai followed suit. It had been so long since I'd seen him like this—and the last time I did, we definitely weren't dress shopping. The flashbacks were making me warm.

His hair turned silver again, matching his shining eyes. Even his lashes and brows shifted in color. He looked beautiful in a different way than usual.

We went to a shopping area I recognized, but most of the stores had closed or changed names. Eventually, we found a place that promised to have our outfits ready by tomorrow.

I picked a red dress, split on both sides up to the hips and decorated with gold embroidered flowers. Zai chose a matching red suit with a black shirt underneath—high-necked, buttoned up so far it covered his throat.

The tailor took our measurements and told us to return in five hours. In the meantime, I went to a ready-made clothing store to buy a less fancy dress for tonight's dinner. I barely managed to get ready in time—but thankfully, Zai teleported us straight to the restaurant, saving us a lot of time.

The venue wasn't as full as I expected. Even though it was a political wedding, it seemed only the heads of Celestial families and close relatives were invited. That made me even more uneasy about why I was here.

"Name, please?" the host asked at the door.

"Snowe Stratus, and this is my plus one," I replied.

He led us to a table surprisingly close to the main family and then walked away. Zai sat beside me and held my hand under the table.

My heart was racing when two people approached. Smoke... and a girl clinging to his arm. I could only assume she was his fiancée.

She and I had similar proportions. Her hair was light gray—almost white. Her eyes were mostly black with a silver crescent moon shape in both. Her bob haircut was longer in the front, arched toward the back in a perfect C-shape. Her skin was slightly lighter than mine, but... I got the distinct impression we looked alike.

I'm not crazy, right?

"You came," Smoke said, relief showing on his face. Then he looked at Zai—and tension crackled in the air.

Oh no. I just realized—I never mentioned Smoke to Zai. Even when I recalled my time on Infaniya, I left him out. It felt too awkward to talk about my first crush to the love of my life.

It shouldn't matter. We barely even spent time together. I'm sure Smoke only saw me as a friend.

"Yeah... I wasn't sure if you were the one who invited me," I mumbled.

Smoke and the girl separated and sat down.

"My fiancée is the best friend of the groom, so she's going to be busy... I thought we could catch up. This is Crescent, by the way."

"Hi." She waved half-heartedly, clearly uninterested in me.

"This is Snowe," Smoke added, nudging her shoulder.

She frowned.

"She's cute. You never told me she'd be cute."

I blushed so hard I wouldn't have been surprised if I started steaming.

"I didn't think it mattered," he replied.

Crescent sighed and got up.

"Nice to meet you. Gotta go." She strolled off.

"She has to sit at the main table," Smoke explained. Then he glanced at Zai.

"Who's this with you?"

"Oh... this is Zaikel," I said.

"I grew up on Earth—that's where I met Snowe," Zai added, finally joining the conversation.

"So you're her boyfriend?" Smoke asked, now looking at me.

"We're pretty much married," Zai answered before I could.

"It was love at first sight for me. Didn't take long to realize how much I needed her in my life."

He looked at me, and I glanced away shyly.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Smoke—her first boyfriend," he said suddenly.

I gasped.

"I believe I was her first kiss too, right, Snowe?"

"You never mentioned having a boyfriend before me," Zai noted.

That's because it lasted maybe two days, and we never confirmed anything. But before I could say that, music began playing, and the party commenced.

This wedding celebrated the union of Serco and a human he'd fallen in love with on Earth—Akina. I could easily tell which guests were here for her: their energy was weak. Three humans total—two relatives, and one who seemed like a close friend.

The friend stood up to give a heartfelt speech. I tried to focus, but Zai kept stroking my leg under the table, completely derailing my concentration. I forgot the entire speech.

Then Crescent went on stage.

"Serco and I have been best friends since Primary school. He was always rough around the edges and abrasive—in fact, it seemed like he hated all people in existence. I was the exception, but even I struggled being around him sometimes. He can be a real asshole!"

The crowd laughed softly.

"Still... after he met his bride, I noticed he became less... cactus-like. Kinder. At first I didn't understand the change, but once I met her, I knew it was her influence. They needed each other, and I..." Her voice cracked. "I'm just so happy my best friend found someone who could open up that side of him. I'm honored to witness it!"

She gracefully exited the stage—impressively, considering the six-inch stilettos she wore.

Smoke really downplayed his role in this wedding. Sure, Crescent's the best friend—but he's the brother. Shouldn't he have a bigger part?

After the speeches, we ate and drank. Smoke's fiancée didn't return, so it was just the three of us.

"So... what did you guys do when you were dating?" Zai asked suddenly.

I shot him a glare, but he just sipped his elixir and continued.

"I've never been here before, and I wanted to see the places Snowe liked to go—after the wedding."

Smoke frowned slightly.

"We mostly hung out at a mutual friend's house… we planned to see a movie."

"Snowe hates movies," Zai noted.

I tensed.

"I haven't always hated movies... I like action and superhero films."

That made Zai frown—while Smoke smirked to himself.

Did I say the wrong thing?

"But I never told you I hated movies... you really pay close attention to me, Zai."

He relaxed and kissed my cheek, then went back to eating.

After chewing, Zai said,

"From both of your reactions, I assume you weren't together long."

I took a sip of my drink. Smoke replied,

"What does it matter?"

"Oh, I guess it doesn't… it's just, you said you were her first boyfriend while Snowe seemed to think I was her first. Kinda funny, really. I mean, how could you be her boyfriend if she wasn't even aware of it?"

Silence. I could cut through this tension with a knife. I asked for another bottle of Elixir.

A few minutes later, the dinner ended. Those who knew the couple hugged them. Zai and I were the first to leave.

"Did you have a good time?" he asked.

I was tipsy, but the breeze outside sobered me up.

"Yeah... I was glad you were with me. Oh, but! Don't be too mean to Smoke... he was really nice to me growing up!"

My slurred words made Zai steady me by the waist before teleporting us back to the hotel room.

"You need to stop standing up for people who just want to sleep with you," he noted.

"Smoke wasn't like that!" I argued.

"Oh? How long was he nice to you? The whole ten years of school?"

I thought about it and shook my head.

"For... about a month before graduation."

I was embarrassed to admit it.

"So he was nice to you… because he wanted to sleep with you."

I pouted.

"But he never forced anything on me!"

"That's normal, Snowe. Not special."

Tears welled in my eyes.

"No one else would talk to me until he and Ibij started to... and after Smoke found out what happened to me... he tortured the guy who raped me—for ten years straight."

Zai raised his brows.

"Wow. And he never even got to hit? …Okay, now I'm impressed."

I punched his arm lightly.

"Why do you gotta be so vulgar!"

He kissed me. I instinctively rubbed my tongue against his and held my breath, panting when he pulled away. He licked his lips.

"I just like getting a reaction out of you. But… I guess he did care more than I thought."

"Why do you think he invited me here? He picked up that I'd fallen for someone else last time I visited—he kind of knew about you." I said, shyly.

"Wow… all this new info is pissing me off."

Zai stood. "I'll go get our clothes from the tailor. Alone. I need a minute."

Before I could protest, he vanished.

Is he mad that I met up with Smoke and never told him? We weren't even dating back then...

But I'll apologize. I can't stand him being upset with me.