"Oh," David's smile lightened, almost through sheer force of will. "I'm not looking for answers from you, Arla. Don't worry." He laughed. "I like fixing things, but metaphysical ethics go beyond even my range."

In truth, while it had once seemed simple, David didn't know whether he even wanted her to be right. Helping Erica would always be one of his dreams, but the others? However many innocent men he had condemned to blank oblivion, there were just as many villains who, in David's mind, didn't deserve a second chance. Something else at the back of his mind reinforced that; if his powers could be undone, bad things would follow.

None of which was even remotely relevant. He'd answered her question honestly, but the last thing Arla needed was to be dragged into his head. "My turn," he said lightly, bobbing in the middle of the water. "Tell me one thing you're absolutely disastrous at."