[He freezes ... and then wraps his arms around her shoulders in return in that careful way of his, that way that says she's something precious that he's terrified of breaking. Though after a moment, that relaxes a little too, and he dips his head just so he can smell the mass of her dark hair, between her horns.]

I am not sure what I would say. [he admits in a soft voice] I have had a great deal of time to think, but ... perhaps just that I am sorry.