"A few months ago, I would have probably said that I couldn't ask you to get involved," she admitted. "Now, now I know that it's not about the asking, but about knowing that there are other people you can count on if you are in that much trouble."

And really, she was only almost sixteen and in no hurry to die.

Then she gave him a grin. "It would really be helpful if their group got stupid enough to try to invade here, huh?"