"Carolyn," her name escapes him, the first time he's used it in this place. Riddick feels like a line has been crossed with that, an admission that's hard to quantify except to say that it's her and it always has been. That she's been in his head since that damn planet, that he's always seen her for exactly what she is, and terrifyingly she's always seen him.

The rest of his clothes can't come off fast enough, pushing them away even as he shifts. He rolls to his back, pulling her atop of him. He wants to watch her, wants to hold her face between his hands and kiss her. He wants to keep her safe, to keep the dark from haunting her.