Third-person POV
Vale stared at Jella for a long moment after her last words settled in the air between them, and then, slowly, he began to laugh. It wasn't a soft laugh or one filled with humor. It was rough, bitter, and carried something wicked underneath it, like he found the entire situation more amusing than anything else. The sound echoed lightly around the room, filling the silence in a way that made Jella's jaw tighten almost immediately.
"You know," he said as his laughter died down, shaking his head slightly as he looked at her, "I never thought I'd see the day where you'd be this desperate."
Jella's eyes narrowed, but she didn't interrupt him.
