Deathbelle looked up to Magnus with lilac colored doe eyes as he lifted himself to his feet. Her mismatched ears pulled back against her skull as she realized what he was doing. Despite everything, especially her instincts screaming at her to deny him, she shifted slightly to allow him closer. He leaned against her and wrapped her in a supportive hug. The Empress hadn’t meant for things to go this way, but as he whispered softly that truth to her Deathbelle sunk into him.

She wrapped herself around him and embrace him in return, feeling the heaviness of her loneliness in those few moments. Nothing beyond this moment mattered, she could let herself be supported even if Magnuns was a near stranger. Hadn’t that been all that Iolaire was when they found one another? Had Sirius dragged home another patch for her poor soul? She knew she was getting far too ahead of herself. She didn’t want to add him to the list of the cracks in her heart.

”Don’t get too close.” She warned him in a similar whisper as she pressed her features deeper into his neck. She swam in the scent of him and embraced his companionship.

Magnus was not one to show affection often, and in doing so made him unsure from the unfamiliarity of it. His heart pumped faster from nerves until his embrace was reciprocated, though hardly slowed much as he was still quite anxious. Something that felt like nausea boiled in his stomach, but he felt anything but sick. Her scent was intoxicating, though he'd never been drunk to compare the feeling yet he drank it up anyway, taking in all that he could while he held her close.

Her whisper of warning made him smile as she settled deeper into his neck; a challenge or a threat he wasn't sure but he hardly wanted to take the risk and continued to focus on calming her sadness. He would stay still in their embrace and continue to take in as much of her scent as she allowed, giving her however long she needed to quell the sad mood he had unfortunately put her in.

She was unawares of the uncertainty their closeness gave him, he held her close and that was all she wanted. Someone to be close. Magnus hardly knew her, but hadn’t hesitated when he could offer his help and support. This was loyalty, but then again it wasn’t difficult to offer a shoulder to the empress. He didn’t offer any commentary to her words, but he didn’t move away from her either. Deathbelle settled more heavily into him as she accepted his new found support. Maybe she should have ignored the little ignition in her chest, but as he breathed her in she fanned it. She felt a tiny grin take hold of her features as her body warmed by her companion and the small fire that lit up the royal chambers. She felt good to not be alone, to be held, to feel loved...

He remained anxious for some time, though he was good at hiding it and felt reassured when she settled into him more. It calmed him and he eased his position into something more comfortable and lasting as he laid with her pressed into him. His heart fluttered as he took in her scent more and he began to relax, the warmth of the tea, the fire, and her closeness easing him into a yawn. He gently rested his head across her, relaxing more into her as she had him, yet kept her pressed as close as she would allow. Never had he allowed anyone to be this close to him, fearing the worst almost always, but now it felt right and he couldn't explain it even to himself. All he knew was that he could lay there forever, intoxicated by her scent and the feel of her pressed into him.

She closed her eyes and let him hold her. Deathbelle felt him further relax into her, the pair of them sinking further into the plush furs. Her heart felt as well wrapped as she was in his arms. Silence fell over them but it felt natural and easy. She hurt, and Magnus could see it enough to do something about it. This was all she wanted, someone to hold her tightly. They had only just met, and the Empress couldn’t say she was ready to be with someone new, but having him so close brought her peace. She could hold onto him right? However unexpected and good this felt, she couldn’t help the anxiety about what was next? What force of nature would take him away from her? Belle further buried her features into his neck and she willed the thoughts away. She focused on the here and now, the present. These precious little moments she could just hold onto him. She sighed lightly and let go of her worries as he yawned. This was all she wanted from him now, his closeness for the night. Someone to wake up to when the day dawned. ”You’ll stay with me for a while?” Belle asked him softly, unwilling to move herself from him at all.

Happily wrapped up in their embrace, Magnus was relaxing quickly and settling into the first of the pelt and the empress comfortably. He'd never allowed himself to be this close with someone and the warmth of it was doing more than just relaxing him. He felt warm on the inside, his stomach fluttering in ways he'd never experienced. Her invitation to stay brought a smile to his face, though be did his best not to let it linger too long. "For as long as I'm allowed." He murmured, whispering as he was so close to her ears. Nuzzling back into the warmth of her fur, he couldn't be happier to stay the night with her.