Hope was tricky like water. Somehow it always found a way in.

I'm the Sun Summoner. It gets dark when I say it does.

Maybe love was superstition, a prayer we said to keep the truth of loneliness at bay.

I will strip away all that you know, all that you love, until you have no shelter but mine.

I roll my eyes. "Well, if I plan on doing anything exciting I promise to give fair warning so just...take a nap or something.

What are you smiling at?”

I whirled, peering into the gloom. The Darkling’s voice seemed to float out of the shadows. He walked down to the stream, crouching on the bank to splash water on his face and through his dark hair.

“Well?” he asked, looking up at me.

“Myself,” I admitted.

“Are you that funny?”

“I’m hilarious.