Chapter 728 165.4 - Fine

Chapter 728 165.4 - Fine

The room was filled with a quiet warmth, the kind of comfort that came after exhaustion had been tended to.

Irina sat on the edge of the plush sofa, idly twisting a lock of her fiery hair between her fingers. The faint scent of the meal they'd shared earlier still lingered in the air-a spread of richly seasoned dishes the hotel's five-leaf rating had guaranteed.

Her injuries, though still tender, had been tended to with expert precision by the hotel's private medic. A faint warmth spread through her muscles, courtesy of the salves and potions they'd used, but the deeper exhaustion of the day remained. Astron sat in the armchair nearby, his sharp purple eyes scanning the pages of a small notebook he'd produced from his bag. His calm, focused expression had remained unchanged through their rest and recovery, a steady constant in the turbulence of the day.

Irina glanced at him, her amber eyes narrowing slightly as a thought formed in her mind. 'He's not even relaxing. Does he ever stop?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Letting out a quiet sigh, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "When are we going to leave?" she asked, her tone direct, though not without a tinge of weariness.

Astron's eyes flicked up from the notebook, meeting hers with that piercing intensity she'd come to expect. "Soon," he said simply, closing the notebook and setting it aside. "Are you ready?"

Irina's amber eyes narrowed with determination as she nodded, the lingering ache in her muscles overshadowed by the fiery energy building within her. "Yeah, I'm ready," she said, her tone steady but with an undercurrent of resolve. Her fingers tightened into fists, a faint flicker of flame dancing briefly along her knuckles. The memory of the attack burned in her mind, and the anger she'd suppressed during the chaos now simmered just below the surface.

Astron stood smoothly, his movements deliberate as he adjusted the strap of his bag. His sharp purple eyes flicked to her, studying her briefly before he gave a slight nod. Irina, fueled by the crackling energy of her frustration, pushed herself to her feet, her posture straight and purposeful. She glanced at him, her irritation bubbling to the forefront. "So? How are we going to find them? Do you have some secret tracker or something?"

Astron didn't reply immediately. Instead, he extended a hand toward her, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever. "Come."

Irina blinked, tilting her head slightly as she eyed his outstretched hand. "Hmm?" she muttered, caught off guard by the sudden gesture. "What are you-?"

"Just trust me," Astron said, his tone low but firm.

Still confused but curious, Irina hesitated for only a moment before placing her hand in his. His grip was steady, grounding, yet there was a subtle urgency in his actions that made her heart skip a beat. "Alright, but if this is some weird-"

Before she could finish her thought, Astron stepped closer, his free hand moving to her back as he pulled her into a firm embrace. Irina's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing as her fiery hair brushed against his coat. "Wh-What are you doing?" she stammered, her voice rising slightly in pitch.

Astron didn't answer. Instead, he turned his sharp gaze toward the window, his hold on her tightening just enough to ensure she wouldn't pull away. Irina barely had time to process what was happening before he took a step back-and then, with a sudden, fluid motion, leapt toward the open window.

"Wait-!" Irina gasped, her heart lurching as the glass gave way to the night air, the cold rush of wind engulfing them as they plunged downward. The city's glittering lights blurred around them, and for a brief, terrifying moment, all she could do was cling to him, her fiery energy flaring instinctively.

Astron's embrace remained steady, his calm presence anchoring her even as the wind roared past them. Irina's mind raced, but as the initial shock began to ebb, her voice returned. "Astron! What the hell was that?!"

running across rooftops for what felt like only moments, the thrill of the journey having completely distracted her, 7 was planning to observe how he'd figure out the enemy's location! But I forgot!' She glanced at Astron, irritation mingling with surprise as her curiosity bubbled to the surface.

"Really?" she asked, her tone edged with disbelief as she gestured toward the

warehouse.

"Yes," Astron replied, his sharp purple eyes locked on the building below. His expression was unreadable, but there was an unmistakable confidence in his tone. Irina tilted her head slightly, studying the warehouse more closely. It was large and weathered, with faint signs of activity-a few crates stacked haphazardly near the entrance, a faint hum of machinery coming from within. The location felt deliberate, almost too perfect. She smirked, crossing her arms as a flicker of flame danced along her fingertips. "Then... can I go in?"

Astron turned his gaze to her, his expression calm but subtly appraising. "Are you asking, or are you telling me?"

She laughed softly, her smirk widening as she gestured toward the desolate surroundings. "Look at this place," she said, her tone dripping with confidence. "It's almost like they're inviting me in. No civilians around, no distractions... just enough

space for me to let loose."

Astron gave a faint nod, his lips twitching slightly as if in amusement. "Of course," he

said simply.

That was all the encouragement Irina needed. She took a step toward the edge of the rooftop, the faint glow of her flames illuminating her determined expression. The frustration she'd carried all day, the anger at having her plans ruined, and the thrill of their rooftop chase all coalesced into a fiery energy that burned in her chest.

Her smirk deepened as she glanced back at Astron. "Watch my back, will you?"

""

Without another word, Irina leapt from the rooftop, flames igniting around her as she descended toward the warehouse. The rush of wind whipped through her hair, but her focus remained sharp. Her feet hit the ground with a burst of fire, the force of her

landing cracking the concrete beneath her as she straightened, her flames flickering around her like a living aura.

She glanced at the warehouse door, her smirk never wavering. 'Let's see how ready

these guys really are."

Behind her, Astron watched from above, his calm gaze fixed on the scene below. The hunt was far from over, but for now, it was Irina's turn to take the lead.