ALPHA XAVIER POV

Her laughter, soft at first, escalated into a full-blown, unbridled roar that echoed in the chamber, shattering the tense silence. I stared at her in astonishment. It was an unexpected reaction, and it was unnerving.

“You’re… laughing?” I asked, my voice laced with bewilderment.

“Yes, I am,” she said, wiping a tear from her cheek, her laughter subsiding. “It’s just… you know, I always thought I was such a terrible spy. I mean, Alaric and Cedric saw me? They were the ones who were sent to tail me? That’s hilarious! Do you know how obvious I am? They could have easily followed me back to the castle,...