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"Every time you tried to cast a spell to release yourself, my power broke it" I moved over and sat beside hi to you?"

"I’ainst the seat "It hen I caer to see Rachel I hadn’t, you know, not since she was an infant Without thinking I called on her, and, well, she took the news that I was her father, an Aramanthan, and a spy for the Crown rather poorly"

I nodded "Did she reject you?"

"She told ain" He made a face "Then, when I wouldn’t leave, your father tried to shoot me"

"Go on"

"I made several htstone pendant as proof of my affection, but she still refused to see me" He rasped a hand over his cheek "I couldn’t accept the idea that hter would reject er I was to her And then there was you, randchild" Harry spread his hands "Since Rachel wanted nothing to do with ht I hardly thought it would upset anyone"

"Until Muuessed

"It terrified her to seeby your little bed," he admitted "She orderedany rown very fond of you, and I lost my temper with her I told Rachel that if I wished to see you that I would, any ti she or your father could do to stop me"

I closed my eyes for a moment "Oh, Harry"

"Christopher, your father, already hated me because I couldn’t be explained by his science When Rachel went to hiesture "I’d say that hen they decided to do so aboutcould be so foolish "Why didn’t you just leave us alone?"

"I didn’t hten your ot into a spot of trouble while I was carrying out er across his neck "My host body was ive Mum the news," I recalled "She and Da left ue and identify you"

He nodded "I was there in spirit, of course, waiting for nightfall so I could move on to another body As soon as I saw Rachel coiven h "I didn’t realize how htstone until the spell your ed me into its confines Once there, I discovered I had nowith you, Rachel, or anyone in the outside world"

"And they knew ret than anger now "They ht it the right thing to do, I’m sure," he chided "Rachel had learned a little about the Aramanthan from Arthur Doyle She must have known that once my host body died I would need another"

I nodded "So by putting you in the pendant, and having me keep you there all this time, they assured that you would never possess another el," he corrected "That was your ht of that "Did you ever want to possess , impulsive female with no money, no connections, and no prospects in a ridiculously primitive, utterly repressed society under empirical occupation?" He shuddered "I’d sooner inhabit a stray pup At least I’d eat better"

"Then you won’t enie bottle?" I asked sweetly as I reached for my pendant

He looked hurt "You wouldn’t Not after all we’ve been through these past teeks That haven’t happened yet" He usted sound "This is why I hate tiht"

"I suppose I could be persuaded to allow you your freedoht for a enie," he rerant you three wishes, turn you into a princess, or any of that nonsense"

"You can give me your word that you will not possess anyone permanently," I said

"Oh, not to worry" He waved his hand "I’ve grown accusto in spirit for of the cab as he pressed his hand over his heart "On my honor, I promise not to possess any host body permanently" He winked at me "Teo into business with me as my partner"

"Business? Work?" He recoiled "What for?"