Eryndor took a step closer to Viana. "I do not speak to burden you, Viana. Your plan is sound, your strategy is wise. I will stand by you, as I always have, to see this trap sprung and Lazarus brought to ruin. But I would be dishonest if I did not admit that the thought of you bound to another, even as a deception, stirs something in me I cannot ignore," he said, his voice softening, though the intensity in his eyes remained.
Viana rose from her seat, stepping toward him, closing the distance between them. Her mind was a whirlwind, and her eyes held his, searching for the truth behind his words.
"Eryndor, your place in my life is unshakable. You've saved me, in many ways I can't begin to reply. This plan changes nothing about the trust I have in you, and the gratitude I feel."
