I wasn't surprised to see a new person on the couch downstairs, but he was definitely surprised to see me.
"Wow... hello there.~" the man greeted flirteously, flashing me a grin.
Before I could react, Zai stepped in, hitting the stranger with a sharp right hook. He then grabbed the man by the collar. I yelped.
"Watch yourself," Zai warned, voice low and dangerous.
The stranger apologized sincerely until Zai released him, letting him flop back onto the couch.
Without a word, Zai took my wrist and guided me into the kitchen.
He sat down, his expression unreadable.
I decided to pull out ingredients for breakfast, starting with blueberries.
I couldn't help but glance back at the pouting man on the couch, rubbing his jaw.
A crackle of lightning flickered in his hand, and he winced. That punch definitely wasn't normal.
"Who is that?" I whispered.
"Valin," Zai answered curtly.
"We're going out for dinner tonight. Be ready by five."
He said it so casually. He also made it clear he had no intention of introducing me to Valin or discussing him, so I moved on, saying,
"Yay! I can't wait!"
He gave me that soft smile—the one that always makes me feel like I'm the only person in the world.
As he sipped his coffee, I focused on baking, though my eyes kept drifting back to Zai.
Once the muffins were in the oven, I caught him glaring at Valin with a look that could turn steel to dust. Valin tried to pretend he didn't notice, but it was obvious he did.
Later that day, I was curled up in Zai's lap, savoring a muffin while he scrolled through his phone.
RJ walked in, another stranger trailing behind him—Cera, I guessed.
Cera had teal hair and matching eyes, dressed semi-formally in a blue jacket, white shirt, and jeans.
Valin, meanwhile, had rusty red hair cropped short, bright yellow eyes, and deep cocoa skin.
"So this is the girl you moved into our house?" Cera asked.
"She had nowhere else to go," RJ replied, exasperated.
Valin snorted.
"So she's a bum. How's that our problem?"
Zai didn't even look up.
"Do you want me to hit you again?" he asked sweetly.
Valin clammed up.
Zai's tone turned sharp.
"If you have an issue, say it now. I know you don't actually want to fight me."
Cera scoffed.
Zai turned to him.
"And don't forget, Cera. I know how to make you feel pain. So don't step out of line." Zai warned.
Cera's mouth snapped shut.
Then Zai pointed to Valin and demanded,
"Fix the backyard."
"What the heck happened to it?" Valin grumbled, stomping outside.
Just like that, it was over.
Everyone scattered, and Zai pulled me closer on the couch, arms firm and comforting around me.
The tension still hummed in the room, but his embrace was all I felt.
Evening came quickly. My nerves started buzzing, but Zai did everything he could to soothe me.
I felt ridiculous for being anxious.
That was, until I opened my door and found Cera in my room.
"I just want to talk," he whispered, shutting the door quickly.
I gasped and stepped back.
"Get out!"
He grabbed my arm.
"Listen. I know what you are. You shouldn't be here."
I bit his hand and screamed, lightning ripping from my body into his.
Immediately, Cera dropped to the floor. His eyes rolled back, then he began convulsing and foaming at the mouth.
Zai burst through the door. RJ, Valin, and everyone else piled in behind him. For a second, the room fell silent.
Then Zai laughed—really laughed—and pointed at Cera.
"That's hilarious."
Valin snorted, joining in.
Only RJ stayed quiet as he and Valin dragged Cera out of the room.
Once we were alone again, I turned to Zai.
"Is he going to be okay?"
Zai shrugged.
"Don't know... I mean he'll live.. and hopefully he's learned a valuable lesson."
Cera's trembling was growing less intense so I felt inclined to believe Zai.
"So, what are you wearing tonight?" he continued.
I blinked.
"That's what you're worried about?!" I snapped.
"I'm not the one focusing on the wrong thing," he remarked, glancing at Cera once more before walking off.
I should've asked why his lightning came out of my body. I'm glad I was able to protect myself but the whole experience was jarring...
Knowing Zai, it's best if I ask after dinner.
I chose a black silk evening gown Zai had bought for me, paired with the diamond necklace and earrings from our honeymoon. Heels made my legs ache, but he let me rest before we left. When I walked out, he was already waiting, hair slicked back, piercings removed except for stud earrings, clad in a custom black suit.
"We match!" Zai beamed, his eyes lighting up when he saw me.
I felt my heart race. How does he manage to look more gorgeous every time I see him?
He drove us to a high-end restaurant an hour away. Everyone was dressed formally. I was glad I made the effort. At the entrance, a woman in her forties asked for our reservation. Her breath caught when she saw Zai.
Zai simply gave his name, and we were escorted to a private room. My stomach twisted. The menu didn't even have prices. I felt like I was floating in someone else's life.
Minutes later, a man and a woman joined us at the table.
The man looked at Zai and smiled.
"Zaikel. It's been too long. Is this the woman you mentioned?" he inquired.
Zai squeezed my hand under the table.
"That's right."
The man turned to me and said,
"Could you sing something?"
I glanced at Zai. Then, softly, I sang part of the love song I had sung at the hotel.
"That'll do," the man stated when I stopped.
"She's timid, but her voice is just as lovely as you described," the man noted.
Zai smirked.
"Of course it is."
"I'm Mark Adams," the man introduced himself, offering me his hand. "Nice to meet you."
After I shook it, he handed me a business card.
"I own a music production studio. When can you come in for a recording?"
I glanced at Zai again.
"As soon as possible," I mumbled while trying to contain my excitement.
Mark grinned. "If the team agrees, we'll write up a contract. That's my personal number."
"I'll text you now," I said, practically buzzing.
The woman beside him leaned in. "I'm Liz. If you can't reach him, contact me."
Dinner arrived. Wine flowed. Zai and Mark caught up while I sat in stunned silence, overwhelmed but excited.
Back in the car, I finally found my voice, again.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to surprise you," he said.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Like how you surprised me with marriage?" I teased.
He chuckled.
"You were the one screaming, 'Oh! Zai, don't stop!' all during the ritual."
I blushed.
"I didn't say it like that!... and I didn't know we would be married by the end of it."
"Would you have turned me down if I told you?"
I fumbled with my fingers.
"Well... no, but I would have thought about it longer," I confessed
"What about this meeting?" he inquired.
"... I... wouldn't have opposed it," I mumbled.
"I'm glad you liked the surprise," he said, voice warm.
"Thank you... for setting this up."
He reached over and took my hand.
"Nothing has started yet. I told you, Snowe. I will help you," he smiled softly as he continued, "and hopefully I can shield you from a lot of the evils in the music industry..."
I wanted to ask a thousand questions... but instead I blurted,
"I love you, Zai."
He slammed on the brakes.
Horns blared behind us, and cars swerved to avoid crashing into us.
I even heard people shouting curses as they sped by.
"What's going on?!" I cried as the seatbelt's safety lock pinned my shoulder down painfully.
"Say it again," he muttered.
"What?" I stated in confusion.
His grip on the wheel tightened.
Then he turned, a smile breaking across his face, wide and joyful.
"Tell me that you love me!"