Her words echo around his skull, resonating like a bell struck. Dejah's face swims in and out of focus. Curtis blinks, hard, trying to will the blur away, but that only makes it worse.

And yet.

He's safe. He knows, utterly, as those words sink into him and send a warm wash of calm over his body. The muscles along his back unknot; it's getting harder to support himself, but it's okay. Dejah's got him. She'll keep him safe.

He actually feels safe for the first time in eighteen years.

"Oh." Awed; barely a breath.