Rory only had Jasper standing firmly on her side at the moment—and while that alone meant more to her than she could put into words, it was also a glaring problem.
Jasper wasn't omnipresent. He couldn't remain by her side every waking second, shielding her from danger and watching her back. The reality of her situation meant that she needed more than just his protection; she needed someone trustworthy nearby at all times.
With that thought weighing on his mind, Jasper followed Rory into the kitchen. The soft clatter of utensils and the comforting aroma of simmering broth filled the air. He watched her for a moment, clearly hesitant, before finally breaking the silence.
"Rory," he began carefully, "about your other matches… the nine in total. Where are the rest of them? Aside from the ones I've already encountered, I mean."
