"Raven stared up at his face, drinking in the strong lines and the way he looked at her with something close to adoration. She smiled at him. "I think you've managed to put some kind of spell on me." "If I did," he whispered, "it backfired, and I managed to ensnare myself as well." They lay together for a long while, holding one another. Mikhail traced each one of the angry lines along her chest and abdomen and then pressed kisses over them. "These are already fading. Carpathians rarely scar, although these wounds were mortal, and that sometimes is a factor." She stroked caresses through his dark silky hair. "I can't believe I'm alive, let alone that this soon the scars would fade." "Had I kept you in the earth even longer, I doubt you would be able to see them." She stirred, suddenly tensing. "I don't want to know about that. The thought of being buried alive is terrifying to me." He kissed his way up her body until he found her mouth, kissing her over and over, long drugging kisses that took every frightening thought right out of her head. When he finally lifted his head, his dark eyes searched his face, noting her flushed skin, the slightly glazed look to her eyes, with satisfaction. "We will sleep here in the sleeping chamber where we will be safe. We have lifetimes for you to conquer your fears." She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around him, snuggling closer against his chest, allowing her long lashes to sweep down. Mikhail held her close to him, waiting until she was asleep before sending her into the deeper sleep of their kind. Only then did he allow himself to follow."