[ Her words do not bring him any sense of ease; if anything, they only cause him to feel more troubled. ] And there truly is nothing that either of us can do. [ At least, that is what he is hearing, and it does not sit well with him at all. ] It does not seem right that we should be mere pawns, pulled away from each other when that is the last thing that we desire, regardless of the way in which it happens.

[ His hands clench into fists for a moment as his dissatisfaction with what he has learned begins to swell up into a storm. But in the midst of that storm, he still has enough calm left to reassure her. ]

You are- You are close to me. [ He knows he has not let her in so far, but now he is resolved to see that changed. ] And you are mine. I will not have anyone separate us, not now.