There is a long moment in silence, where River does not move at all. She heard the invitation, but she has trouble believing it; Erik's always been so private, so careful, firm on this boundary even when he plays at being in her control. It seems so...sudden, for something so enormous.

She sits up and turns at the same time, propping herself up on an elbow - and drawing in a sharp breath. Her hand reaches out, and then she stops; permission to look is not permission to touch. Her ears flatten into her hair, she bites her lip in worry...

In her lowest whisper, barely speaking at all: "Who burns for this?"