Viola could sense her Sebastian more strongly than ever, which was why she hugged him rather than leaving him to protect herself. Now that she knew they were meant for each other and that Nerrisa was the one keeping him from completing the final act of marking her and breaking the curse, she no longer believed that his words alone could push her away from him.
She felt his jaw work against her breast, felt him swallow convulsively, as though fighting back his own emotions, and she understood, no matter how deeply the spell had taken hold, her husband was still in there somewhere, his love for her hadn't vanished.
But she couldn't save him alone, not if he wouldn't fight alongside her. He had to fight for them too, even if it was by him not trying to push her away.
She was exhausted, but that didn't mean she was ready to give up on him, to let him go. If staying with him meant staying blindfolded together, then that was exactly what she would do until a solution was found.
