Away from the lava, wildfires, and thick smoke, Lachlan’s mind gradually began to clear.

He gazed at Evangeline, who was right before him, his ash-brown eyes filled with disbelief. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he murmured in a low, hoarse voice, "...Eva? Is that you?"

Evangeline gently placed Drake on the ground and turned to Lachlan. Their eyes met. Her red lips curved into a slight smile as she suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. A gentle Spiritual Energy flowed from her palms, circulating through his body.

After quickly assessing Lachlan’s injuries, Evangeline let out a soft sigh of relief. ’Good, they’re all just superficial wounds. Nothing serious.’

’It seems Julian only abducted Lachlan this time to get to Drake.’

Held in Evangeline’s real embrace, Lachlan finally snapped back to his senses.

He suddenly tightened his arms, locking Evangeline securely in his embrace. He buried his sharp chin deep into the crook of her neck, his ethereal voice, still raspy, sounding as if it were squeezed from his very chest.

"I thought... I would never see you again."

Evangeline pressed her red lips together, her hands clutching Lachlan’s waist tightly. She lowered her gaze, hiding her emotions. "I won’t let anything happen to you."

She kept her eyes down. Thinking of the scene she had just witnessed, her heart was still pounding in her chest.

Evangeline’s fingertips trembled slightly.

Beneath her palm, Lachlan’s back felt shockingly thin. ’He probably hasn’t had a single day of peace since the tribal trade gathering.’

’If I were just an ordinary female, I would have harshly berated Lachlan for being such a sincere, inflexible fool.’

’But I’m not, after all.’

’My mission had been on the verge of failure. Had Lachlan been the slightest bit selfish and left Drake’s side, delaying my arrival, Drake might already be dead. My mission would be declared a failure, and I would have to leave the Beastman Continent.’

At this thought, Evangeline held Lachlan a little tighter.

She closed her eyes, not daring to imagine what would have happened if she had arrived just a moment later.

Lachlan was willing to sacrifice himself to save Drake. This pure, almost self-destructive kindness struck her as foolish, yet it also caused a sharp, prickling pain to spread through her heart.

’These male Beastmen are all like this, possessing a personal charm refined to its absolute peak.’

’Such a temptation is a cruel test for a Task Taker.’

’I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to remain calm and composed every day, unswayed by emotion. I can only keep reminding myself...’

’Complete the mission as soon as possible.’

"Next time, protect yourself first." Evangeline buried her face in Lachlan’s linen-colored hair, her voice muffled against the side of his neck where they touched.

Lachlan felt a sharp pain from her tight embrace, but hearing the soft whisper by his ear, his eyes filled with pure joy.

He knew Eva was worried about him.

After a long moment, Lachlan finally pulled back slightly. His well-defined hand gently caressed Evangeline’s cheek. His clear eyes were exceptionally gentle, as if he were gazing at the most beautiful sight in his world. "Eva, how did you get here?"

Evangeline explained briefly in a low voice, then asked, "Was it Drake who got you away from Cloudfall Cliff?"

At the mention of "Drake," Lachlan instantly came to his senses and quickly turned to look at the young man lying on the ground. He was still unconscious, his long, golden-red hair fanned out around him like a vivid painting, which only made the bloodstains by his lips look all the more glaring.

Lachlan’s breath hitched. He asked in a low voice, "Eva, Drake... he’s going to be okay, right?"

Evangeline turned to look at Drake and shook her head. "I’ve already given him medicine. The Spiritual Medicine will slowly mend his body, but his internal organs were damaged. It’s going to be a long process."

Before she could finish, a fierce wind suddenly whipped up overhead. A circling Goldeagle let out a sharp cry, then swooped down and transformed into several Beastmen.

They stood frozen five paces away, all staring at Drake on the ground, not daring to approach rashly until Julian arrived, having heard the news.

"Brother!" Julian spotted the unconscious Drake immediately, his expression changing drastically.

He darted forward and scooped the man into his arms. His long fingers trembled unconsciously, and his handsome face was pale. Without even glancing at Evangeline, he prepared to carry Drake back to their nest.

Evangeline glanced at them but didn’t stop him. She said flatly, "If you want him to die, go ahead and take him."

Julian froze. He looked up at Evangeline, his gaze dark, his voice cold and fierce. "If it weren’t for you, how could my Brother have ended up like this? I’m taking him back to the tribe. The Witch can definitely save him! Definitely!"

"Is that so? Let me be clear with you. Drake’s Star Pattern was already shattered, and he had lost the power of an ordinary male. Then he was crushed by a giant log, shattering his lungs. Besides me, no one in this world can save him."

Evangeline’s expression was cold, and every word she spoke was brutally direct.

Julian’s face was grim, his eyes swirling with dark, uncertain emotions. He could sense that Drake’s condition was bad, yet he remained half-convinced and half-doubtful of Evangeline’s words.

"Go get the Witch," he said, his voice cold and heavy. The arms holding Drake were rigid.

A tribesman standing behind him nodded, immediately transforming into a Goldeagle and soaring toward the nest.

Before long, he returned with an elderly male Beastman.

The old Beastman had a golden feather tucked in his hair. Although his hair was graying, he possessed a powerful aura, suggesting he must have been a formidable figure in the Goldeagle Tribe in his youth.

The moment the old Beastman landed, Julian pulled him over.

However, as he examined Drake, his deeply lined face grew solemn. His withered fingers hovered over Drake’s heart for a long time before he whispered a few words in Julian’s ear and shook his head.

Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently. Each word seemed to be forced through his clenched teeth. "Is there really nothing that can be done?"

The old Beastman looked down at Drake, his eyes filled with sorrow. He shook his head. "Drake is a rare mutated Goldeagle in our tribe. I watched him hatch... But now, he’s barely hanging on by a thread."

Bloodshot veins appeared in Julian’s golden eyes, and his knuckles cracked from how tightly he clenched his fists.

After a long pause, he finally turned to Evangeline, his voice as hoarse as grinding stones. "Since you know his condition, does that mean you have a way to save him? Evangeline, Drake is your male! He willingly entered a Contract with you back then!"

His voice was sharp, and a suppressed gasp escaped his throat.

Evangeline tilted her head and glanced at him. "Drake is my partner. Of course I’ll save him. But he has to come with me."

Julian’s body went rigid. He looked down at the unconscious Drake, his jaw tightening into a sharp line. "Fine," he said in a heavy voice. "But I’m going with you! I don’t trust you to take him alone."

Hearing this, Evangeline scoffed, a layer of mocking frostiness rising in her eyes. "What? Afraid I’ll go back on my word?"

She gave Julian a dismissive look and sneered, "There’s no need for that. Drake and I have a Contract. I want him alive more than anyone. In a while, I’ll naturally return your Brother to you, alive and kicking."

The temperature around Julian plummeted. "Based on what you’ve done in the past, you think I’d believe a single word you say?"

The corner of Evangeline’s mouth twitched. She waved a hand dismissively. "Fine, whatever you want."

Lachlan stood to the side, his ash-brown eyes sweeping over Julian like a hazy mist. The hand holding Evangeline’s tightened slightly.