Impossible. Impossible. Erik shook his head, kept shaking it slowly. There was a horror and a bliss to the words she said: Horror, because he was nothing like worthy of her love. Bliss, because he believed she meant it anyway. The correct thing to do would be to release her from her engagement and send her on her way. He could understand her agreement to marry him because he was her master and because he was her guardian. But if she loved him, truly loved him, he struggled with the implications for her. He was a creature. A monster. He knew it well; the whole world knew it -- only this City excepted. How long could his veneer hold, here?
But the thought of thrusting her away broke a single word from his lips - an unfortunate one in the circumstances: "No."
No, he couldn't let her go; no, he wouldn't free her. She'd agreed. She'd given her word! She was wearing his ring! She wore it even now! His grip on her hand tightened painfully, though he was unaware.