Hearing Evangeline concede, Soren shot Finn a triumphant smirk.


    Finn, of course, understood his petty need to show off. He chuckled inwardly but said nothing. He knew that if he wanted to, he could easily stop this, and Evangeline would listen to him. But this whole disy was so childish that he found it utterly uninteresting. More importantly, he was already secure in Evangeline''s feelings for him. He wasn''t about to get into a pissing contest over something so trivial.


    Evangeline went out and didn''t return until dusk. She had found some bamboo stalks and fashioned a simple steamer.


    Before starting, she confirmed onest time with Soren. Only after he insisted did she ce the fish inside. Even so, she added a few mint leaves and some wild ginger she had managed to find.


    When the fish was cooked, Soren took his first bite.


    It was tender and fresh, with almost no gamey taste.


    Soren raised an eyebrow. It wasn''t nearly as bad as Evangeline had imed.


    "The bones are removed. Try some."


    Just as Soren was about to say something, he saw Finn tear off a piece of freshly grilled fish and offer it to Evangeline.


    Evangeline''s hands were busy, so she naturally leaned forward and took the fish from his fingers. "Not bad," she said after a moment, "but the cooking time is a little off. I think mine tastes better."


    "Oh, really?” Finn replied.


    "Mhm. Here, you try."


    She tore off a piece from her own fish, removed the bones, and held it to Finn''s lips.


    "You''re right, it''s delicious," Finn said with a contented hum.


    Evangeline took the fish she had been grilling and swapped it with Finn''s. "I may not have your survival skills," she said with a proud smile, “but I''m a better cook."


    Finn gave her an appreciative thumbs-up.


    As the two of them bantered back and forth, Soren couldn''t understand how they could find such joy in something so mundane Suddenly the fish in his mouth, which had tasted fine just moments before, turned bitter.


    That night, Soren couldn''t sleep.


    In the flickering firelight, he watched Evangeline sleeping peacefully across from him. For the first time he truly saw her face more. beautiful than he''d ever


    remembered. Her features were delicate and small, her palm-sized face fair and pink. Her brow was gentle and serene, yet held a hint of stubbornness.


    Finally, Soren''s gaze fell on her lips. They were a soft pink, perfectly shaped.


    His throat went dry.


    He was suddenly struck by an impulse to kiss her.


    The thought ignited a primal urge that exploded in his mind.


    When he realized what he was feeling, it was as if lightning had struck him. Soren froze.


    Five years.


    This was the first time he had ever thought Evangeline was beautiful and felt a


    desire for her based on her looks alone.


    Soren''s heart began to pound wildly again.


    I''m going insane.


    I''mpletely insane!


    bet


    Soren quickly tore his eyes away, trying his best not to look at her. But his traitorous heart refused to quiet down and his gaze involuntarily drifted back to her  fo


    A voice in his head began to chant.


    If you''re already going insane, you might as well see it through.


    Soren''s Adam''s apple bobbed. After a few seconds, he pushed himself to his feet and moved haltingly toward Evangeline.