"Rory… where's Paros? If he found you, why isn't he here with you?" he asked, his brow furrowed slightly. His voice carried a mixture of curiosity and a subtle sting of disappointment.
Is this really how Paros protects her, as his match? Leaving her alone like this?
Rory glanced down at the crystal still glowing faintly in her palm, a gift that had saved her life not long ago, a reminder of the shadow bond that was supposed to exist between them.
"He had something important to take care of, so he left first," she replied calmly, shrugging off the unease she sensed in the question. She didn't dwell on Paros's absence. Everyone had obligations, after all, and she wasn't particularly close to him.
Nor did he owe her anything, really.
Expecting him to prioritize her over his own responsibilities wasn't reasonable. After all, he had already gone to great lengths to find her and even entrusted her with an expensive, life-saving crystal. That should have been more than enough.
