"I miss your company as well," Mary said to him, staying near when he broke the kiss, her smile a soft thing on her lips. "So many times I wished you were there in the night with me, just to hear your voice."

Then she grew a little more serious and looked at him. "But... I need to say something first, before we go any further at all." She held his hands, running a thumb across the warm skin as she looked at them. Then she lifted her eyes to meet his. "I'll never stop you from doing what you do, from your rituals and the deaths but... I can't be part of it myself," she said firmly with a shake of her head. "I won't raise a hand against the mortals and I can't be involved the way I was the other night. Mankind made me as a thing to protect them and bring them comfort, so please know that while I understand and accept theirs death as a part of you, it isn't a part of me and I can't change that. I'd do almost anything for you, but I won't kill human beings. Can you accept that?"