"He can now, since I've kind of told that if he does anything I am going to do something about him."

That is, at least, within Hikaru's power. Bloodsinger Daddy and all. (Thanks a lot for that, Tala Vega-Tagabigay.)

And right on cue, there's a quiet stirring in Sophie's head.

Forgive me. I was afraid that my touch would hurt you further.

It sounds exhausted, for the lack of a better word. Nothing like the raging, monstrous, bloodstained darkness that had ripped into her when Sophie had thought that she had died.