Dax moved closer to Rory and gently hooked one finger around hers, the gesture subtle yet firm, as if grounding both of them and promising that everything would be alright. His voice lowered, steady and sincere as he said, "Don't worry, Female Master, I'll protect you too."
As a Rank Eight male of the powerful Blood Moon lineage, he would never allow his huntress to suffer even the smallest injury. That was not pride speaking—it was an inborn instinct, carved into his very bones.
Seeing that he had fully regained his composure, Rory turned to him and offered a faint smile. She nodded once, her trust sincere and reassuring. "I believe you."
This was not the moment for anyone to hesitate. On a battlefield, a single lapse could cost lives—and if someone had to bear the consequences, it would inevitably fall on her.
But she was ready for that.
