Mayerling kisses Sharon back equally passionately, holding her tight against him, and should he not care about common decency, he very well may have carried on further so long as Sharon continued to kiss him, such is the intensity of the emotions between them and the way they flood his system from the compounding effects of elevated vampire emotions, increased Legend emotions, and shared Familiar bond feedback. So he breathes hard when Sharon pulls away, closes his eyes, and focuses on Sharon's heartbeat and her words to ground himself.

He strokes her spine for a few moments, nothing mattering but the two of them. Exile, for all its dangers, seems to appreciate what they've done for it. They have space, a pause, a respite.

"How much it means to you is why I will do it, however much it takes, however long it takes, for your well being is worth any trial or tribulation. The fact that I can help in such a meaningful way fills me with joy."