He didn't know what was worse. That he believed her despite seeing the signs, or that he just ignored the signs. Still he tugged her a bit closer so he could set his free arm around her and set his head against hers.
He kept her like that for a while before drawing back and removing the headdress. "A tiny shadow of what I had in Tentochitlan. I make do." He shrugged. "For what it's worth. I won't ask you to change. I'll ask you not to stop my rituals, the sacrifices but you don't need to participate. It's not your blood I want."
Then he smiled at her and reached out his hand ot set it on her cheek. "I don't see this ending well, but it's all I have."