Yusuf for a moment wanted to push Nicolo away. Not because he didn't want the comfort but because he was trying to adjust to a world where he could not claim it as his own any longer. It was good that he did not, however, as his love's words hit him like lighting and it was his arms alone that were probably keeping him from the floor.

"You...What?"

It made no sense. Nicolo always had said the church came first. He had always said that his vows were to God and then to him and he had accepted that. He had known what that meant from the moment the vows were made. But now to say that he had broken from them? Renounced them?

He didn't think he was breathing anymore.

"Nicolo... What did you say?"