Page 26 of Begin Again

I huff. “Seriously? I’m the one who feeds you, he’s the enemy right now.”

Orion smirks up at me. “Looks like she has good taste.”

I roll my eyes, but the tension in my chest loosens, just a little.

I walk past Orion, feeling his eyes on me the entire way, like he’s waiting for me to suddenly vanish again. The paranoia is almost comical—almost. I shake my head and kneel at the basket I have beside the back door. I rummage through it and once I find what I’m looking for I call Valkyrie with a shrill whistle. Almost immediately the rhythmic click of her nails against the hardwood follows.

She trots over, ears perked, and I give her a scratch between her ears before pushing open the back door. The cool afternoon air rushes in, crisp with the scent of damp earth and pine. Crickets hum in the distance, their rhythmic chirping filling the quiet. For a second, I close my eyes, letting the sounds of the woods settle around me. I sometimes forget how much I need this—the quiet, the space to just exist.

Orion follows me outside, hands tucked into his jacket pockets as we step into the yard. “So,” he drawls, stretching the word out. “How’s work?”

A slow smile spreads across my face. “Actually, really good. I wrapped up a huge project a couple of days ago, and I’m still riding the high from it.”

Orion nods approvingly. “Nice. I assume that means you finally got some sleep?”

I laugh. “A little. But the best part? Theo found out I work for Umbra when we were on our date, and apparently, he’sobsessedwith them. You should’ve seen his face. He just stared at me, completely frozen, like I’d told him I was secretly in the FBI.”

Orion snorts. “You wish you were that cool.”

“I could be if I wanted to! Do you remember when we were in high school and I would religiously watchCriminal Mindsevery Wednesday? It’s literally my comfort show. I know all the terms and the lingo.” I shoot him with my finger guns

“Oh yeah,” Orion says dryly, shooting me a look that lets me know he is not impressed. “Because binge-watching a crime show totally makes you qualified for federal law enforcement. Should I start calling you Agent Smith now?”

“Hey, it could happen.” I toss Valkyrie’s ball, watching as she takes off across the yard in a blur of muscle and excitement. “If I ever disappear one day, just assume I got recruited for a top-secret mission.”

Orion hums like he’s trying to imagine it. “Or you finally got tired of small-town life and ran off to live in the woods.”

I huff. “That’s also a valid possibility.”

He chuckles, but there’s a softness in his expression when I glance at him. A flicker of relief, maybe. Like he’s reassured that I’m still… here.

Or maybe he’s just relieved I’m talking again. I don’t blame him.

He exhales, rolling his shoulders like he’s shaking off whatever thought he was about to say. Then, in a tone so casual I almost miss it, he asks, “So, Theo, huh?”

I narrow my eyes. “What about him?”

His mouth twitches. “Just making sure I have all the facts. You went MIA over a guy who nearly passed out when he found out who you work for?”

I groan, dragging a hand down my face. “I didn’t say he passed out. He was just excited.”

“I’m just saying, you affect the poor guy.” His grin is all mischief now. “He didn’t, like, drop to one knee on the spot, did he?”

“Oh my god, Orion.”

He laughs, dodging when I swat at his arm. “I mean, I’d understand if he did. You’re a catch, even if you do have a tendency to vanish without warning.”

I roll my eyes, but the words land deeper than I expected. Because for all his overprotectiveness, Orion has never been the kind to hand out empty reassurances.

I shake my head. “You’re so annoying.”

“I learned from the best.” He nudges me lightly with his elbow, and I huff a small laugh despite myself. The tension between us finally, finally starts to ease.

But then his expression shifts slightly, and I know the peace won’t last long.

9

Selene