Her tone was a familiar one to him, quiet and suggestive and filled with the promise of what was to come. Altaïr knew he could—and normally would—reply with sly words of his own, but he could only smile, half out of relief as much as out of desire.

He had missed her more than words could say. They had failed in their goal and that was a weight on him, but being close to Maria and his children helped lift it.

"I am disinclined to be with anyone else now," he said taking her hand and lacing his fingers through hers.