<span style="color: #666600">"And you'll have me and Animus by your side to help you through hardships and protect you from abuse. Have you ever even taken a vacation from this city? And I don't mean one night stands with Vyre or Ras, have you ever left for a couple days to just not have to think about being a ruler?" </span>He shrugged and sat back down.<span style="color: #666600">"Well that wasn't Ras but what's done is done and there's no point dwelling on things we can't change. The Loa really had it out for you and Ras, didn't they? It's amazing to think The'kal, who claims to love everyone so much did nothing to protect you when you needed it most. I don't hit people, ever, Ibara. If I did I'd probably... never mind." </span>He looked up at her and nodded.<span style="color: #666600">"Would you rather I make empty promises that I'll never make a mistake? Wouldn't that hurt you more if you do ever open up to me and start to trust me? I may hurt you, Ibara. I will most definitely say something stupid or insensitive, if I haven't already. Vyre is the reason I had to watch my children be murdered, if she gave me even half the attitude I know she walks around I wouldn't hesitate to put her in her place. Pregnant or not. And enough with the ghost trick! That was no trick! The ghost is gone now because it was given a body and will be born into this world. You saw it, Ras saw it, and now that child is free and will be born and it's going to be another Alex. Don't argue with me on that or I'll summon the woman carrying that child and make you see it. And I don't want to do that because then I'd have to kick Ras' ass again... which would be fun, and I'm sure you'd like it, but I don't want to wipe his blood off my boots again. That filth gets everywhere."</span><br/><br/>Ras nudged the man back like he weighed nothing and floated the door back into place and reattached it to the frame then opened it a few times to make sure it didn't squeak.<span style="color: #666600"> "Her daughter has fallen into such a dark place that she actually wants to see her mother again. So I'm here to ask, no, I will get on my knees and beg her to go to Ibara and be a mother."</span>He hunched down to look the man in the eyes.<span style="color: #666600">"Look into my eyes and tell me that I'm lying. If I wanted to hurt her you could do nothing to stop me. I'm not here to hurt or force anything, I am here to ask, plead, and bargain."</span><div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>