Kara was surprised that Hallbjorn had fought for any demon kingdom when she considered the savagery that he had unleashed upon the ones who had come for her. She supposed that with such a long passage of times, allegiances, alliances, and friendship must change more then a human was used to.<br/><br/>Her heart stuttered when he told her the nature of the curse that they placed upon him. Kara could not imagine what he must have suffered through, to feel that unending anguish day in and day out. He would have had to command an astonishingly rigid control over himself to keep from going into a rage or going flat out crazy.<br/><br/>All that time as he sought the sword he suffered, and the only way to end his suffering was to kill a primordial demon king. It was clear that Hallbjorn never gave up, and that made her feel pride for him, even as she mourned what he had suffered through. Kara's hands gripped Hallbjorn's hand more tightly when he told her of Helgi's betrayal. It must have been devastating for him.<br/><br/>She nodded in response to his question. That particular fact about vampires, that they really were the walking dead until they found their mate, would have caused her fear for what her future held. But Kara believed that Hallbjorn had already brought her body to life.<br/><br/>It was obvious to see that Hallbjorn understood the reasoning in Helgi's decision to give up the sword, but that did not mean he had forgiven his brother. And it was a lot to forgive. The book had spoken of how important brides were to vampires, but it was an example such as this that made her understand just how far they would go for their one fated mate. Yet even Kara's understanding of that fact did not lessen the anguish she felt for Hallbjorn.<br/><br/>She listened wide eyed when he told her he went to fight the primordial without the sword. Hallbjorn must have been close to his breaking point from what he continued to suffer and his brother's betrayal. As much as she wanted to know what happened next, there was a part of Kara that was not sure she could take it. But she resolved herself to be strong for him. Hallbjorn deserved that from her.<br/><br/>Kara swallowed against unshed tears when Hallbjorn told her of the century, or possibly more, that he was locked in that never-ending battle. Learning that Nix delivered the sword to him made her want to thank the woman profusely.<br/><br/>When Hallbjorn finished speaking, Kara moved closer to him on the bench seat. Her arms slipped around him and she pressed her face to his shoulder as she hugged him tightly. After a few moments, when she felt like she could speak past that lump in her throat, she said to him, “I wish I could have taken that pain from you. I wish you had never had to experience those horrible things. You deserve happiness, Hallbjorn. You've had enough suffering.” The strength of her conviction rang in her voice, and she meant it with her whole heart, regardless if he believed he deserved it or not.<br/><br/>After her crushing need to hug him had passed, she reluctantly pulled away. It could not be easy to drive with her clinging to him. “Have you spoken to your brother since, Hallbjorn? Have you explained the curse you suffered, or what you had to do to end it?”