"And yet it is the name your mother gave you. Her shining star. Her hope. Her love. It's a shame that only your beloved slave and your wolf can see it anymore, even when you cannot." He leaned in and brushed his nose against Carrick's. "Tell him you love him. Even if it's just once. The road ahead for him is long and dangerous. He'll need something to hold onto and even you have kindness enough in your heart for that."
Before Carrick could answer, the angel kissed him, easing him gently back onto the bed meeting him not as a slave, but as what the vampire could see as somewhat of an equal even if he couldn't quite accept that Samandriel was his superior. They had loved enough as Spartans do. It was time for the angel to quietly take control here and perhaps inject some self-worth back into a vampire who had forgotten what that truly was in the knot of all his pride.