"I was lucky back then, I suppose," he answered quietly, understanding more fully what she meant. "We only had one enemy, and though her attacks were fairly unpredictable they never overwhelmed us. The threat's more immediate now," he whispered, standing a few steps in front of her. Rita and Zedd's attacks had never left him scarred, but these had.

And the scars on his heart, though not as tangible as the angry ridges over his breastbone and shoulderblades, were just as permanent and painful.

"But I'm not ready to let darkness overtake us entirely," he answered. "I never will be."