"You speak of your will, and you say it's weak. I think the opposite. Your emotions played a part in this too Ella. You care for me, and you didn't want to see me dead. You don't want me to hate you, and you know it. I still love you, I'm just... Shocked right now, by events." He reached down and ran one of his fingers across her cheek, staring down at her.

Even with all that had happened, the biggest thing visible in Markens gaze was was concern. He reached his arms out and pulled Ella into another tight embrace, having no desire to let her go just yet. By now, he'd set the vial of poison onto his bedside table, so that he didn't have to hold the vile thing any longer.