Jasper's greatest concern wasn't the danger itself—it was the weight it might place on Rory's heart. Threats could be fought, enemies confronted, but fear and pressure had a way of eroding a person from the inside.
"I'll protect you," he promised quietly, his voice low but firm with unshakable conviction. "I'll keep your secret safe. No matter what happens, I won't let anyone uncover the truth about you."
"I know," Rory replied, meeting his gaze without hesitation. Her voice was steady, her eyes clear. "I believe you."
And she truly did.
Even so, Rory understood something just as clearly. She couldn't place every burden onto Jasper's shoulders and expect him to bear it alone. No matter how vigilant he was, no matter how many safeguards or contingencies he prepared, all it would take was a single mistake—a moment of carelessness, one loose thread—for everything they had built to unravel like a fragile house of cards.
