Page 148 of Hidden Echoes

Like, he’s really here. He’s standing there all casual, like nothing ever happened, like he didn’t just disappear off the face of the earth. Seriously, how does he just show up after all this time, and I’m supposed to act like it’s no big deal?

“Mia belongs to no one,” Zane growls. His voice is dark, protective.

Wait, what where they saying again?

But Seth shakes his head. “That’s not how it works.”

I watch them argue, watch them try to make sense of something that doesn’tneed sense.

Then I slide my fingers between Zane’s, squeezing gently.

“Little Angel,” I murmur, voice soft but firm. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He turns to me, something fierce and unyielding in his gaze.

I just smile.

We’re married, after all. Married people have to stay together.

CHAPTER 29

MIA

One spins the knife between his fingers like it’s second nature. The blade flashes under the dim basement light, twisting effortlessly between his hands before he flicks his wrist and lets it fly.

Thunk. The steel sinks deep into the wooden floor, the handle still trembling from the force.

My eyes widen.

“How did you do that?”

“I just did,” he says, already pulling the knife free. Before I can blink, he’s spinning it again—faster this time, like a game. Like he’sdaring the blade to slip.

I want to try. I want to do the same.

One notices and grabs my hand, adjusting my fingers around the cold handle. His grip is firm, controlling, like he’smolding something into shape.

“You hold it like this,” he instructs, his fingers tightening over mine. “Too tight, and you’ll mess up the throw. Too loose, and you’lldrop it. You need to be firm, but light.” He pauses. “Like when you hold something you really like, but you know it’ll break if you squeeze too hard.”

I think for a second. “Like a bug?”

He blinks. “…What?”

“Bugs. If you hold them too tight, they—”

“Okay.” He cuts me off. “Like that. But no bugs. Just the knife.”

I nod and try to mimic his motion, twisting my wrist as I throw.

The knife slips from my grip too soon.

It drops, skimming One’s bare foot before clattering onto the floor. A thin red line blooms across his skin, and for a second, I stop breathing.

“Oh! I’msorry!”

One glances down at the blood, then back up at me.

And laughs.

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