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Father turned to Wyatt and crooked his finger once The girls holding onto him released their claim on him as he stepped forward

Gasps turned my attention to the streets in front of me Dankmar had come and he hadn’t coan, who I had cuddled up against my side She was mine

"Well, well, well, Dankmar and pals To wat do e dis honor?" Father asked in his usual jolly tone

"You knohy I’an The possessive gleam in his eyes made my skin crawl in fear Would I be able to stand up to him? Would Father expect me to handle Dankmar all on my own?

"Tsk tsk tsk, I don knohut youhis hand in our direction "She did"

The blonde transporter started toward us when Dank her? Would it really be this easy?

"No You forced her choice That wasn’t part of the deal," Dankan shivered in my arms and stepped back away from me

"Here’s the soul you came for," Father pushed Wyatt toward Death and instantly Wyatt was in the protection of a transporters arotten her wish, her one demand It had been fulfilled Now, Death needed to leave

"Now is dat all you want or would you lak to axe her yorself?" Father turned toward us, "Coan," he coaxed

She was terrified of Father I gently squeezed her aro to hily

"Axe her Dankan and shoved her toward Death

I took a step toward her What was Father thinking? Dankmar could reach out and take her

"I want--"

"I didn’t ask you anything just yet, Pagan Hold onto that thought just a an to focus on Father "You’ve uy this time Ghede You like your entertainment but I was never one to entertain"

The transporters began toready to leave? Was this finally over? Then the warriors began to descend I’d never seen one of the Creator’s warriors before I’d heard of them Feared the on their side would sile swipe A human’s freeas the only poe held The warriors however were given their power froainst theurl?" Father asked in astonishment

"Yes," Dank his hand out to Pagan

"I can’t," she sobbed

"Trustthat this was it If she went to hian chose hio

As if in slow an stepped forward and placed her hand in his Dankhtly The relief on his face was azed up at hiht this any her hate an for the majority of my life but I couldn’t force her to love me I finally understood that

"Bad choice leetle gurl," Father hissed He hadn’t expected her to go Deep down, I’d known she would

"No, Ghede You’re the only one who made the bad choice You don’t take what’s ed Then he paused and bent down to whisper in Pagan’s ear before handing her to the blonde transporter that had so fiercely protected Pagan before

"You took a soul that was too young to defend itself A soul that belonged to the Creator You changed fate and then decided to play with a world that is not yours You stepped out of your realive you a choice Ghede We close this portal today as well as the ones found in Africa and Haiti where the warriors are now standing guard and we seal theht now You crossed a line" The gauntlet had been thrown Danko Free of any restitution You stay clear of her and her family for all eternity and remain as you are But I warn you, if I see your son, you or any of your spirits again reion There will be no second chances It’s your choice"

Father turned and stared back at an This was it I would have to let her go now It was the only way She was never h in o" I replied Then I dropped aze and turned to walk away Back into the castle, where my future would never be complete I’d lost the key to my happiness