Charles jerks his head back as she lets him go, pride making his jaw hard along clenched teeth, but his gaze at more of a waver. He has no argument about someone insisting they care about him to the point of anger.

So released, a levering push sets his back against wall, away from her. It occurs to him to be offended that his negating his power equates him to a dead man.

He realises in time that that's being obtuse.

So he stays quiet, watching, composure gripped with the steel he has left.