Alice's breath was shallow, her chest rising and falling as she remained pressed against Nate. His warmth was undeniable, his steady breath brushing against her skin. For a second, neither of them spoke, frozen in place as her racing heart thundered in her ears.
Then, Nate's grip loosened, and he released her hand, stepping back. "You're easily distracted," he said casually, as if their closeness had meant nothing at all.
Alice blinked, her face heating up slightly.
"And you're easily agitated," he continued, folding his arms. "Not to mention, you have zero patience. These weaknesses might not seem like a big deal when dueling a human or some intelligent opponent who plays by the rules. But the real threats? The monsters we've faced? They won't give you time to get frustrated or distracted."
Alice scoffed, crossing her arms. "Yeah, well, you're stronger than me. So what does it matter?"