Elara's POV
"Not yet. He's picking us up tomorrow morning for the resort." I paused. "I'm going to tell him before we leave."
He looked at me over the menu. "He's not going to take it well."
"He doesn't take anything well."
"This is different. This'll hit that territorial thing in him. And that thing doesn't do reason."
"I know." I unfolded my napkin. "I can handle it."
He set the menu down. "I'll call her after dinner. You'll have your appointment by morning."
We ordered. The pasta came. We talked about the BioHub timeline, a supply contract I was still negotiating, and a paper I'd been blocked on for three weeks. Neither of us mentioned Orion again until the wine was nearly gone and the restaurant had gone quiet around us.
That was when the door opened.
I heard her before I saw
