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Claire dropped to the floor, and Ryan rushed over to her Jared atte toward me Jared made his way to his fa with exhaustion Once again, he was all that stood between us and death

Satan took Jared’s throat in his hand and lifted hiripped the led above the floor Moving his arm to the side, Satan held Jared in the best position to watch the end

Long, blackened fingers reached for the child Without thinking, I pul ed her to the other side of ripped the Devil’s wrist It was cold and thin My skin blazed against it

"Don’t Touch Her," I breathed

He frowned, noticeably confused He tried to advance his hand to my child, but he was unable to h, Lucifer," Samuel said As usual, he had blinked into our plane without detection, but time Eli ith hi to reach the child He was clearly straining, but he was powerless in rasp

Eli smiled "Daddy says no"

Lucifer wrenched his hand back, his eyes ith anger "He’s all owing this…this huround

"Do you knohat this rinned "Too late"

Satan began to speak, but Eli held up his hand "Enough, Lucifer It’s over He has chosen to spare the child"

Lucifer charged at us, he ar to kill the baby angel in my arainst the walLarge, long fingers curled around his neck Lucifer’s eyes widened The Prince of Darkness was afraid

"Gabriel?" Lucifer said, surprised

"He said enough," Gabriel snarled "Go back to your pits, Satan He wil not ask it of you again"

"Dad!" Bex said, his hopeful and excited expression ure stepped into the rooh the broken remains of the s It was Michael, battle worn but victorious "Enough"

Sa his arms; Eli stood before the warriors His immaculate white shirt was a stark contrast to their heavy arlass and into the room, and then another Soon, twenty members of Michael’s ar has come," Lucifer seethed He stepped to the side, away frorip

Eli lowered his chin "You wil leave this family alone Hel wil leave Gabriel’s children, and their children’s children, alone He has commanded it,"

he said firmly "The child has found favor with God"

"It is not human!" Lucifer hissed

Gabriel took a step, his hands bal ed into fists at his sides "She is hter" His voice booh, your punish for the pits of Hel if you threaten her again"

"Vile!" the Devil screaar! Iniquitous! Despicable!" After his tantrum, he smiled "WelHe’s final y stooped to my level How delicious"

"Blasphe a step Eli stopped him

Before Eli could utter a command, Satan disappeared

I took a deep breath, letting out a sob Jared crawled back to us, wrapping his bloody, sweaty ar my baby’s soft, delicate forehead as Jared kissedher in his ar beside theed one weak laugh "Real y? I thought for a brush with the Devil I look pretty fly"

Gabe joined thely, kiddo" He looked to Eli

Elinext to Eli, lifting Claire frorasp

"Wait," Ryan said

Sa Claire on her feet Her clothes were stil ripped, but the gashes from her face and body had disappeared

Gabe helped Ryan to his feet with one hand, and hooked his arm around Bex’s neck with the other "Thank you," Gabe said, seely to himself

I kneas God he spoke to

Ryan pul ed Claire into his ar her over and over "You okay?" he said, visibly upset

She sed her tightly, a single tear running down his dirty cheek He breathed in quickly, and then exhaled a faltering breath

"In case I forget to tel you later," she said, pulling back "I kinda love you"

Ryan laughed once "Just reed him, and they turned to watch Bex slowly return to Ki sadness that we al felt

Ryan fetched a sheet from the corner of the room, and Claire helped him to spread it on the floor Bex lifted Kiently on the sheet He straightened her bent legs, and crossed her hands against her chest

Eli stood next to Ryan "We offer Kidom, and your arms Extend comfort to her father and to her friends, and remind them daily that the sacrifice she made, washer face with the sheet

Ryan choked, and he and Claire wrapped their arms around each other

My emotions were so tapped that I couldn’t find the tears to cry I just stared at her outline under the sheet in disbelief She was real y gone I i her father, and Beth Hoe could possible explain how she died?

"We’ll take care of it," Jared said "She’l receive the burial and respect she deserves"

"I just want her back," I said quietly "This is my fault I shouldn’t have left We would have all been safe if I’d just stayed in the Sepulchre"

Jared touched le for anyone You did what you believed you had to do in the nore as a Hybrid You didn’t want this Kiuilt would haunt me for a lifetime The threat I felt in the to back, I let et the best of me, and it cost Kim her life I would carry that for the rest of my life

Gabe kneeled beside randchild "She’s absolutely beautiful," he said, touching her tiny hand

"Thank you," I said,with tears

"You don’t understand what you’ve done here," he said, wiping the tender skin under my eye "You saved her, and she wil save us all "