The night went by slowly because they were both too emotionally raw to sleep right away. They whispered about everything and nothing.
Carmilla told Rick stories about her dead husband. She was finally able to talk about those memories without feeling guilty about moving on.
Rick talked about his past life. He also talked about how he needed to matter to someone in order to feel like he was alive.
As the hours went by, the talk became quieter and more personal. Carmilla's hand ran over the dragon scales that were now a permanent part of Rick's skin.
They were a gift from his bond with Sylvia. Rick's fingers brushed over the faint scars that healing magic couldn't quite get rid of. They were from battles that Carmilla had won.
"I was scared in that quarry," Carmilla said, her voice barely above a whisper. "When that collar broke our bond, it felt like dying..."
"I can feel like a part of my soul has been ripped out, and I've never felt so alone."
