"The danger in letting it grow is that it can't grow too much or it will pick up enough power that I'll have no hope of holding onto it. There's a careful balance." Fortunately, Tris is good at judging that, at least when it comes to weather.

Jedao's face against her, his deep breaths of incredulous relief, are enough to prompt one of her still rare gestures of affection. Tris raises a hand to pet the back of his head in slow, soothing strokes.

How could she say anything but yes? Softly, she tells him, "Fives and I have led very different lives, but I do know what it felt like to be a child who was treated as an object rather than being valued by any adult in my life. I can't leave them to that and worse."