He did not speak with the intention to wound, but he did not coddle her with his words, either. She had given him honesty and the truth in her heart and he gave the same, even knowing that hearing it would give her no solace.
She rewarded his trust in her by holding her temper, though he could see the cost of it in her thunderous expression. There was no surprise in his eyes to hear that others had called her 'martyr' - if not for her actions at the meeting, then for other reasons - but he held his peace as she made her displeasure clear and then took some time and space to think.
When she spoke again he listened and inclined his head in respectful acknowledgment of her statement. Emerald eyes considered her stance and he sighed softly but nodded in acceptance. "I understand," he rumbled quietly. "And I will respect your choice." Even if he did not agree with it. Though he was quietly glad that she was not trying to die. He raised his glass again, contemplated it for a long moment, and then tilted his head back, taking a long swallow of the minty alcoholic beverage. When he lowered it there was only a finger's width of liquid still in it alongside the ice. He continued to hold it up, elbow propped on the table as he contemplated the proud, headstrong, fierce and enigmatic woman across from him.
"What do you intend to do now?"
She rewarded his trust in her by holding her temper, though he could see the cost of it in her thunderous expression. There was no surprise in his eyes to hear that others had called her 'martyr' - if not for her actions at the meeting, then for other reasons - but he held his peace as she made her displeasure clear and then took some time and space to think.
When she spoke again he listened and inclined his head in respectful acknowledgment of her statement. Emerald eyes considered her stance and he sighed softly but nodded in acceptance. "I understand," he rumbled quietly. "And I will respect your choice." Even if he did not agree with it. Though he was quietly glad that she was not trying to die. He raised his glass again, contemplated it for a long moment, and then tilted his head back, taking a long swallow of the minty alcoholic beverage. When he lowered it there was only a finger's width of liquid still in it alongside the ice. He continued to hold it up, elbow propped on the table as he contemplated the proud, headstrong, fierce and enigmatic woman across from him.
"What do you intend to do now?"
