"It might," he told her, well aware that the opposite was just as likely. "He has gone head to head with them more than once. And made it out. Of course they've probably gotten more clever, but it does offer some... hope for all of it." The fact that he used the word at all was a call to attention.

He curled his fingers, tightening his hold on her hand. "And then there's simply having a why. Hurts the head less. And it would explain Time, at least in some respects."