Atticus blinked slowly, taking a moment to comprehend her words. Understanding dawned in his eyes, but then he frowned.
"It's with Sirona, but… why do you want it?" Atticus tilted his head, the very picture of boyish innocence and confusion. "I can protect you. I will always protect you," Atticus swore, patting his own chest proudly as he stared down at her. "I'm the strongest, so you don't need to worry. You don't need to know how to use magic without crystals."
Daphne's heart stuttered at his words. In the past, his display of protectiveness and strength would have given her nothing but effervescent joy and butterflies in her stomach, but now they only made her feel a quiet dread.
Atticus claimed he would always protect her, but it didn't comfort her in the slightest. Atticus would protect her from everything that wished her harm, but what could she do to protect herself and her loved ones from him?
