Aria's pov
His eyes softened, but only a little. "This isn't just about us, Aria. It's about everyone here. If someone knows about my lineage, they could be preparing to use that knowledge against us. Blood Mages have been hunted down before, they might try again and start with me since I am partly one of them."
The weight of his words settled between us, thickening the air. Silence followed, but it wasn't the comfortable kind. It was the kind that gnawed at you, filled with unsaid fears and buried anxieties.
"Nobody is going to touch you," I assured him.
He reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered against my skin, a touch that sent warmth blooming through me despite the tension of our conversation. "I know," he murmured, his voice low. "But it's hard not to worry about what else might be out there, waiting to strike."
