Serena looked at him and let out a soft laugh. "You're surprisingly thoughtful, Jasper."
"Of course. When am I not thoughtful?" Jasper nudged his fingers closer, pressing the soft candy right against her lips. "Open up."
Serena didn't move.
He raised an eyebrow. "What? Scared I'm going to poison you?"
Seeing Jasper's carefree, grinning face, Serena felt a wave of helpless amusement. She opened her mouth and accepted the candy.
The sweetness melted across her tongue.
But hidden within the liquid core was a very specific, slow-release compound.
Serena analyzed the sensation.
It was likely another sleep aid. In about an hour, it would cause intense drowsiness and muscle fatigue.
Jasper's methods had certainly improved compared to his past attempts.
Seeing Serena obediently eat the gummy and swallow it...
Jasper finally relaxed, his eyes crinkling with satisfaction. "Well? Delicious, right?"
"Too sweet," Serena replied.
Jasper clicked his tongue. "You're a girl, how can you not like sweet things?"
He grabbed another handful and shoved it into her arms. "Doesn't matter, take them anyway."
"Eat them when you're bored on the road. Or eat them when you miss me."
Serena was speechless.
Jasper leaned in with a cheeky grin. "If you run into any blind fools trying to bully you out there, just drop my name."
Serena gave him a flat look. "Will that actually work?"
Jasper looked incredibly proud. "Nope."
Serena stared at him.
Jasper's grin grew even more punchable. "So you might as well just beat them to a pulp directly. Kill them, and I'll bury the bodies for you."
Serena was entirely out of words.
Even at a time like this, he was still joking around.
Still, she knew this was just his way of lowering her guard.
Catching the faint smile in her eyes, the playful glint in Jasper's expression gradually faded.
He leaned down slightly, resting his large palm on top of her head.
"I'm here for you, Serena. Don't try to carry everything on your own."
A rare trace of genuine seriousness settled over his devastatingly handsome face.
Serena had always hated being touched, especially having her head patted.
But with these men...
The warmth radiating from his palm sent a comforting heat straight to her heart.
Her eyes curved into a genuine smile. "I know, Jasper."
Jasper looked satisfied. "Good girl."
After Jasper left, silence fell over the room.
Serena placed the candies on the table.
She looked at the teacup from Julian, the combat suit from Jerrick, and the sweets from Jasper.
These guys...
They were all trying the exact same trick to knock her out.
None of them wanted her to board that ship.
Truthfully, she had anticipated this.
The moment the exclusive,
single pass was act
she knew they would do everything in their power to stop her content.
Even though they had all acted like they were compromising at dinner...
Serena knew perfectly well it was a front.
At the same time, they clearly understood just how important Project Zero-Transit was to her.
Which meant their plan was likely
knock her out, steal the pass The Raven had given her, bind it to their own identities, and board the ship in her place.
They all wanted to absorb the danger for her.
Serena lifted a hand and pressed it against her chest.
Her heart felt a little too soft.
She never had a family before.
And she never needed anyone's protection.
Back in the Gray Zone, she had been the sharpest blade in the dark.
Anyone who wanted to hurt her got their throat slit first.
It wasn't until she returned to the Lancaster family that she realized
there were people out there whol
actually worried about her getting. hurt.
Who worried about her getting tired.