"Rehvenge bowed his head. "I'm just glad you'll have me." The words were so quiet and humble, at odds with the incredible breadth of his shoulders. "How could I not?" He shook his head back and forth slowly. "Ehlena..." Her name was spoken roughly, as if there were a lot more words behind it, words he couldn't bear to speak. She didn't understand, but she knew what she wanted to do. Ehlena took her foot from him, got down on her own knees, and wrapped her arms around him. She held him as he leaned into her, running one hand up the back of his neck to his mohawk's stripe of soft hair. He seemed so fragile as he gave himself up to her, and she realized that if anyone tried to hurt him, even though he could more than take care of himself, she would commit murder. To protect him, she would kill. The conviction was as solid as the bones beneath her skin: Even the powerful needed protection sometimes. -Rehv & Ehlena"