Zara looked at Carmilla with her amber eyes. "A knight. I can smell the war on you."
"How many demons have you killed?"
Carmilla looked her in the eye without flinching. "Seventeen in different border fights over the years."
"How many humans have you killed?"
"More than I can count," Zara said without hesitation or shame. "War is war."
"We both know what it is."
"Yes, we do," Carmilla said. "That's why we also know that fighting each other while the corruption destroys everything is a bad idea."
"When your life is on the line, your feelings don't matter."
Zara's laugh was sharp and happy. "I like you too, knight."
"You don't mess around."
"That's not something that happens very often with humans."
She sat back down on her throne and drummed her clawed fingers on the armrest. The quiet lasted almost a minute before she spoke again.
"Hero of Mature Hearts, I'll make you a deal."
"Show me that your bond network is not only strong but also useful."
