"If I hunted more level 5 beasts this time, I should have enough star coins saved to buy a Gravicar." ... A tall, silver-haired Rank 5 beauty stepped gracefully out of the Gravicar. Five males followed behind her—three at Rank 6, one who had just advanced to Rank 7, and another at the peak of level seven. As they approached, her sharp gaze swept over Emma and Damian. Her eyes briefly lit up at the sight of Damian's strikingly androgynous features, but the instant she realized he was only a Rank 5 Etherian, her expression shifted into open disdain. She halted in front of Laura, offering a perfunctory smile before pointing at Emma with thinly veiled disgust."Laura, don't tell me those two are coming with us to hunt beasts?" Evie Graham's tone dripped with contempt as her eyes flicked toward Emma. "A Rank 4 female and a Rank 5 male—they're so weak. What use will they be out there? We'll be the ones doing the killing and the babysitting." Laura had known Evie for years and understood she often spoke without thinking. With a calm smile, she explained, "Evie, Emma is my closest friend. She might still be Rank 4, but she's easily as strong as a Rank 5 Etherian." Evie scoffed. "Only one suitor and not even a mate? How powerful could she possibly be? Let me be clear, Laura—I won't waste my time on weaklings. If they get into trouble, my mate and I won't interfere." Her words crossed a line. Damian had never been spoken to like that before. Fury surged through him as he glared at Evie."Don't worry. Ms. Tibarn and I don't need your help," he said coldly. "And if you're in danger, we won't lift a finger either." Evie came from a prestigious family—on Earth, she would've been considered from a noble branch line—but even that status placed her above most Etherian females. She had never been treated this way. Males usually flattered her, circling around her like obedient pets. This was the first time one dared to talk back. Evie's face twisted in anger as she turned her venom on Emma. "You're his huntress. He just insulted a female right in front of you. Shouldn't you punish him?" A suitor who dared to speak out without his huntress' permission was practically asking for death. Damian's jaw tightened as he looked at Emma, rage and restraint warring inside him. He had forgotten—suitors weren't supposed to take action without their huntress' consent, much less challenge an honorable female. Emma might be his matched huntress, but she clearly felt nothing for him. Damian's fists clenched. How will she punish me? Will she dissolve our match right here? Or worse—will she strike my mental power and force me to kneel, begging for forgiveness like my friend once did, stripped of every shred of pride? Even as the hidden force behind NexusPrime Tech, even as the heir to the Ashenflame Fox, he was still lesser before his huntress. He still had to bow his head. Even when she treated him as if he didn't matter. To some of them, males were worth less than beasts. Emma saw the tension in his shoulders, the way he bit back his anger, his fear barely contained. She didn't know what he was thinking—only that he was terrified. She stepped forward, pulling Damian behind her, and fixed Evie with a cold, steady gaze. "My suitor spoke for me," Emma replied icily. "I won't punish him." Damian's head snapped up, startled. Her voice was calm but firm as she continued, "Damian's right. Since you won't save us, we won't save you either if you're in danger." She was small, the lowest-ranked of them all, yet to Damian, the female standing before him felt immovable—like a mountain shielding him. Evie snorted. "A useless female who won't even discipline her own suitor. You're lucky if you can protect yourself." And she claims she'd save me? What a joke. The biggest one of the day. "Enough. We're teammates—stop arguing." Laura quickly stepped in, cutting through the tension. She told Evie to let it go, then offered Emma a gentle wave of mental comfort."Emma, it's fine. I'll protect you." Laura understood how much Emma endured, how hard she worked. She was more than willing to shield this little girl. "Thanks, Laura." Emma brushed the encounter aside. She'd been through this sort of thing too many times to care anymore. She was used to it.