There was no way this wouldn't be confusing as hell for Airlie, but she was still here, even if she seemed to be unsure and questioning the whole situation pretty strongly. Alistair's every instinct was telling him he needed her. He needed to fuck her, and taste her, and hold her... to just feel her, close to him. He was certain that he couldn't lose her again, but Airlie was definitely not sold just yet. Alistair would have to tread very carefully with her, not forcing his luck, because this could very quickly come back to bite him in the ass, and perhaps almost literally, if he didn't take his time with it instead of rushing. Airlie was no simpering damsel in distress. With Eala and Rory as her teachers, there was no doubt that she would know everything she needed to know to protect herself.

But Alistair had no intentions of harming her. Not in the slightest. All he wanted was to be close to her and treasure the time they had together, even if it was little. He couldn't think about that right now, though. He'd go crazy if he thought too much about being separated from her again when he'd only just found her. "Airlie, I don't know what I think right now," he admitted honestly, meeting and holding her gaze quietly. "I don't know what that would mean for us. I just know that I need you. And I know that you don't trust me, and haven't for a long time. But if I destroy you, Airlie, I'm destroying part of myself. The last thing I would ever want to do is harm you again."