Seeing how close he was to panicking—how he looked like he might actually cry—Rory felt the faint trace of mischief in her heart melt away, replaced instead by a deep, aching tenderness and warmth.
But a performance had to be seen through to the end.
She looked at the man kneeling before her—noble in status, extraordinary in ability—yet utterly thrown into disarray by a single word from her. Her heart softened beyond measure.
"Rory… as long as you're not angry, I'll do anything," Vincent pleaded when she remained silent, his unease growing. He looked at her almost helplessly.
He couldn't afford not to build his own forces and train his squad.
Rory was human. Though that truth had been carefully concealed, who could guarantee it would remain hidden forever?
If her identity were ever exposed, the dangers she would face would be beyond measure.
Everything he was doing now—every squad he trained, every force he cultivated—was meant to become the strongest shield around her.
