Though Thorne had lost his Beast Crystal, shortening his lifespan, he still possessed the immense strength befitting a Beastman.
On the way back to the Grymdale Tribe, Evangeline lay on Thorne's back, her arms wrapped around his neck. He carried her with such stability that even as he bounded and leaped, his stride remained perfectly smooth.
She looked down at the hard, sharp lines of his cheek, his brow set in its usual fierce expression.
Evangeline's eyes crinkled in a smile. She leaned forward, her soft lips gently brushing against his tense cheek.
Thorne's breath hitched almost imperceptibly, but his pace never faltered. A faint blush quietly crept up the tips of his ears.
Evangeline asked softly, "Are you in a hurry to leave the Grymdale Tribe?"
Her warm breath tickled his ear, making Thorne all the more flustered. He had never been this close to a female.
