Her response to his confession took him off guard. He had grown to rely on almost default responses or indifference to the many common responses, and that included questions of his purpose or authenticity. But none striking at the heart of the matter, his purpose. Or what had been his purpose.
He looked at her for a long moment, considering his reply carefully.
"First because you are not a demon," he said, stating the obvious. The second answer was more difficult, and he found his eyes sliding away from her as he struggled with his doubt. "Second, we were meant to be warriors, but also protectors. We were not created to be butchers." The last statement carried an edge as his brow furrowed. It was what he believed, with all his heart. Perhaps the last thing he was sure of, but it was the very thing that had turned him from his brothers. They didn't believe the same, and that made him question if he was wrong, or if they were. Still, he had concluded long ago that the belief was too deeply rooted to stop him. He'd made his choices, and now existed with the consequences.
He brought his eyes back up to Beauty's face, his shoulders squaring even as his voice became more gentle. "And I told you before. I will not let you come to harm if I can stop it."