Irina's fiery smirk remained as she walked over to Astron, who stood at the edge of the summit with his usual calm demeanor. Her gaze flicked briefly to Julia, who was still catching her breath, muttering about Irina's unexpected presence.
'This guy,' Irina thought, a mix of amusement and exasperation flickering across her expression. She had pieced it together the moment Julia spoke—Astron hadn't mentioned their team was right behind them. And knowing him, it was deliberate.
Stopping beside him, she tilted her head, her amber eyes narrowing slightly. "Did you not mention us to Julia?"
"No," Astron replied simply, his voice steady as ever.
Irina crossed her arms, her sharp gaze studying his unreadable expression. "Why?"
"There was no need," he said, glancing at her briefly before looking back toward the horizon. The faint breeze at the summit ruffled his dark hair, and his composure was maddeningly unaffected.
