Chapter 40

"Oh! Her?" Aster's voice softened, the tension in her expression melting as she registered Syn's urgent question about Mia. She sat up abruptly, her broad frame shifting off Syn's thighs with a fluid grace, her blonde hair spilling over her shoulders as she straightened. The sudden movement left Syn exposed, and Pako seized the chance—her arms and legs sprawling across his torso like a possessive vine, her petite body pressing close with a gleeful smirk. Aster shot her a glare, her eyes narrowing with a flicker of irritation, but she turned her wristband on, her fingers tapping the screen with a practiced flick. A holographic display flared to life, casting a faint glow across her face.

"Yup—she's alive," Aster said, tilting the screen toward Syn, her tone matter-of-fact as she pointed at a brief text: "Mia is alive—sent 2 seconds ago." The timestamp blinked, a silent testament to the message's eerie timing, as if Mia had heard his question through the walls.