

Deidre's Death

#2, Rhyn Eternal

By Lizzy Ford

http://www.GuerrillaWordfare.com/

Cover design by Regina, Mae I Design

http://www.MaeIDesign.com/

Smashwords Edition

Deidre's death copyright © 2013 by Lizzy Ford

http://www.GuerrillaWordfare.com/

Cover design copyright © 2013 by Regina, Mae I Design

http://www.MaeIDesign.com/

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events; to real people, living or dead; or to real locales are intended only to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and their resemblance, if any, to real-life counterparts is entirely coincidental.

## Prologue

From "Gabriel's Hope"

At the Caribbean Sanctuary, Fate watched the Oracle record the latest batch of deals made between deities. They were routine. Boring. Nothing he really wanted to see.

And then it came. The one he was waiting for. He leaned forward, intrigued as the Oracle scribbled down the agreement.

Immortal Mate (Death – current) and Immortal Mate (Dark One - current)

This much he predicted. Sometimes, he kept himself entertained by forecasting what happened without letting himself peek at the details. This was one such instance where he refused to look, instead reveling in the thrill of anticipation. Now it was time to see if he'd guessed correctly.

IM-D given one week to make Death fall in love. Deal: IM-D, IM-DO souls. Winner takes all.

Fate contemplated the deal between Gabriel's new mate and the Dark One's new mate. A week was generous to one woman and dangerous to the other. His guess had been three days. Little Deidre was going to have a rough go in Hell, especially when she discovered what it meant to have the Dark One as a mate, while past-Death was going to find herself unprepared for the mortal world.

Prior to the details of the deal, Fate was considering going on vacation. Seeing the bet, he decided he wanted to stick around long enough to observe a few more events in the women's futures. Both were on the courses he laid out for them, though that was not always an indication his preferred outcome was inevitable.

Straightening, Fate smiled.

He had a good feeling about this one. He was definitely sticking around.

Checkmate.

## Day One

## Chapter One

Wynn paced in the closet –sized portal room. The two demons lurking in the shadows weren't opening the only way out of Hell for an Immortal. They were waiting for their ill-tempered demon lord, Darkyn.

Which meant Darkyn wasn't done with Wynn yet.

He had done his part. He didn't even demand a deal of the demon lord, knowing the terms weren't likely to be kind. He'd agreed to come down to help Deidre. It was meant to be the final act of their friendship, spurred only by the memory of the look on her face when he was forced to tell her what he did to her.

It didn't quite work out as he planned. He paused in his pacing, staring into space. He came to help her, to appease his guilt once and for all. It hadn't worked. He was leaving conflicted after seeing the marking on her back, the one that identified her as Darkyn's mate.

Sweet Deidre. The woman who brought sunshine into every room, who managed to touch his sick heart. The only innocent soul in Hell, for Wynn's was as black as the stone blocks of Hell's fortress. What kind of deal did she make with Darkyn to rewrite the mating laws of the time-before-time?

Gabriel had to fix this. It was beyond Wynn's control, but maybe, somehow, another deity was able to save Deidre from Darkyn, who was not likely to be merciful, even to his mate. This thought, of what the demon lord might do to the poor girl who had suffered enough, was what made Wynn feel guiltiest.

Had his actions truly set her on this path to end up as the plaything of a creature with no capacity for mercy? Gabriel was struggling with his domain. What if he wasn't strong enough yet to fix the chain-of-events that Wynn had unknowingly started?

The door to the portal room opened, and he readied himself for an interaction with Darkyn. To his surprise, Deidre strode into the portal room.

"Wynn. Nice to see you again," she said with a cool smile.

For a long moment, he was too surprised to speak. It wasn't his Deidre. It was the Deidre, the deity who ruled over Death's domain before turning it over to Gabriel. She crackled with the power of a goddess, her eyes turning colors and her delicate features cold.

"It was you in her head," he managed. He knew there was a soul in the tumor in human-Deidre's head. Suspecting it had belonged to the goddess who was Death, Wynn still wasn't expecting anyone in their right mind to revive the most dreaded of the deities.

"Back from the dead-dead," past-Death said. "Raised by the Dark One, the only other deity capable of reviving a dead-dead soul. Heading home to my Gabriel."

"Home," he repeated.

She turned to display the marking on her back. The immortal mating script clearly read, Gabriel.

"I don't want to know what you did to rewrite the mating laws," Wynn said. "Let's get the fuck out of here, before Darkyn changes his mind."

"He's busy with her right now," she replied then snapped her fingers at a demon. "Portal!"

"Lord Darkyn says you will await him," a demon delivered the same message Wynn received a few minutes before.

Wynn's jaw clenched. Darkyn was ruthless. The demon would leave nothing to chance, especially not the claiming of his mate. In the meantime, Wynn was trapped in a room that felt way too small with the deity he meant to kill instead of the human he almost succeeded in killing.

No matter how he looked at things, he'd fucked up worse than he initially thought.

"You came out better as a human," he said without heat.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" past-Death's smile was genuine. "I didn't expect her to turn out as perfect as she did."

"What made her beautiful had nothing to do with your tinkering," he snapped. "Or mine. She was naturally good. If anything, you and I nearly broke what was too good to be real."

"You're still in love with me, after all I did to you," she murmured. "How can that be?"

Wynn eyed her. He suspected she was taunting him. The look of consternation on her face, however, told him differently. She was curious.

"Emotion is a weakness, one we cannot always control," he replied. "You will find much of your power diminished, especially among those who used to bow to you. I've learned this altogether unpleasant lesson myself."

"You mean Gabriel."

"I mean everyone," he said with a smile. "You and I were at the top when we became dead-dead. We are at the bottom now, hated by all, without the resources of power to which we were accustomed."

"Interesting," she said. "You will help me relearn."

"No, I will not."

"You will, Wynn. As the deity who brought you back from the dead-dead, you are obligated to me," she reminded him. "You will do as I say."

His jaw clenched. He almost spoke, then stopped. If she hadn't learned anything yet, she would soon. He was happy to sit on the sidelines and wait for those hard lessons to start.

"You can start by telling me how my replacement acted," she continued. "What she did. How she won over Gabriel. If I am to become her, I need to know more."

"You have a better chance of telling him what you did and begging him for mercy," Wynn said with a shake of his head.

"Mercy?" Her eyebrows shot up. "I've never begged anyone for anything, let alone mercy."

"You are like me, too broken to pretend not to be. Deidre isn't broken like us. Honesty is what will win you Gabriel. Deception will not. You want my help then do what I say."

Past-Death frowned. She looked ready to ask him something else when the door opened again. The demon lord entered and closed the door behind him. Darkyn was lean and wiry, his youthful looks at odds with the ancient intelligence in his black eyes. His quiet power was underwhelming, until one saw him in action. Short, dark hair framed a face with plain features that showed the signs of a lifetime of battle. His fangs were receding. A demon's canines grew when he fed.

Wynn didn't want to imagine what Darkyn did to the sweet girl he left behind in Hell.

"Going somewhere?" the demon lord taunted in a low growl, no part of which sounded human.

The human was lost the moment Darkyn's name appeared across her back. Wynn pitied her but wasn't about to ask any favors of the demon lord that didn't involve Wynn leaving Hell – and Deidre – behind.

"Waiting on you," past-Death replied. "We had a deal."

"I always keep my terms."

"I know. For which I thank you."

"You also made a deal with my mate," Darkyn said. He crossed his arms as he approached the woman who was identical to his mate. The demon lord stared down at her.

Wynn stepped back. Past-Death didn't recognize the threat before her, not yet. She'd learn when she returned to a world she no longer controlled. Past-Death hadn't felt the sting of reality that Wynn learned the hard way his second time around. Survival was a skill, one that creatures like the two of them had been never needed when they were rulers over their domains.

He listened, though, curious what kind of deal human-Deidre had made with the only goddess to ever outsmart the Dark One and Immortal Laws.

"It was made between us. I assume you know the terms, since it was sealed with your power," past-Death said firmly. "There's no room for your interference. It's done and was executed between her and me. You cannot interfere and you must respect the terms."

"I always do," Darkyn growled. "I am aware of the terms."

"It does, however, place you in a potentially bad situation, doesn't it? If she wins?"

Darkyn was listening with the focus of a predator, his sharpened teeth resting on his lower lip.

Neither a hero nor a Good Samaritan, Wynn found himself retreating to the far wall, in case the worst-case scenario happened, and one of the powerful creatures decided to act. Past-Death was far too arrogant for his comfort. The idea of watching Darkyn strike her down made him eager to see blood spill. No part of him wanted to see her spared a demon's mercy.

"You may want to take steps to prevent her winning," she suggested. "Just in case. You don't want to risk losing your blood monkey. It's a potential outcome, if this doesn't go my way."

"I don't lose deals," Darkyn replied.

"It wasn't your deal."

"She used my magic to seal your deal, just as you used Gabriel's to seal yours," he said with a slow smile. "Her win or loss is mine to enforce, if either of you chooses not to honor the terms. I do not lose. Neither will she."

"You won't want her to win," past-Death insisted. "Not if it means you lose her."

"How I plan to keep her is not your concern. Your outstanding debt to me is."

"There is no outstanding debt."

"I raised you from the dead-dead. As past-Death, I'm sure you remember. It creates a sort of obligation," he said mockingly.

Wynn watched their exchange, fascinated by the idea of seeing two bloodthirsty deities try to outwit one another. His own interactions with deities left him more than willing to shun them, if at all possible.

"You forget your new place. You are a deity without a domain or source of power, which means you have nothing I could possibly want," Darkyn said. He circled the small, blonde woman and stopped behind her, gaze on Gabriel's name, which was written across her back, along with the Immortal mating script. "But I will consider your obligation to me complete, on one condition."

"I'm listening," she said, frowning.

"You leave Hell a human in every way."

"Absolutely not."

"Then you don't leave."

"We had a deal," she snapped, facing him. "You bring me back, I provide you a mate, and you let me go."

"Who defines the terms to be completed for the reincarnated?" Darkyn snarled.

"The deity who brings one back," Wynn supplied, gaze on past-Death. "It's a separate obligation."

She shot him a glare.

"You will try to win the deal you made with my mate the same way she won him. Without your powers," Darkyn said. "These are the terms of you leaving Hell."

"If I win the deal, will you return my power?" she asked, face flushed.

"No," the demon lord said. "Gabriel or power? You choose."

She looked ready to challenge Darkyn. Wynn wasn't able to pity her, but he was able to understand the bigger picture. Darkyn wanted more than for past-Death to lose her bet; he intended to guarantee she never again became the threat she was.

"You've gone this far to guarantee a life with him," Wynn said to her gently. "You've got one chance. You'd be a fool not to take it."

Past-Death was quiet, considering Wynn then Darkyn. He saw the uneasiness on her face. She was starting to taste the bitterness of reality.

"I'll do as you asked and help you," Wynn added. She didn't need to know he planned on having her killed off, once and for all, once they were free of Hell. As a human, she'd be much easier to render dead-dead. For good this time.

Past-Death was visibly torn, her eyes changing colors faster and faster as she thought. For a moment, Wynn thought she'd refuse.

"Very well," she said at last. "I agree to your terms, Darkyn."

"Then you may leave." Darkyn motioned to the portal.

She hesitated, as if waiting for him to say more. When he didn't, past-Death stepped onto the dais. Wynn trailed her, but the demon lord rested a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

Wynn cursed silently. He watched as past-Death disappeared through the only way out of Hell for regular Immortals like him.

Wynn drew a deep breath and faced the smaller demon lord.

"Sasha," Darkyn said.

"My son, dead by your hands, I believe," Wynn replied, tensing.

"Not by mine directly. He served me well for the time he was here. Sharp but erratic. Born to betray any master he served. My favorite kind of creature."

Wynn said nothing. He hadn't wanted to believe one of his sons betrayed the rest of the Council, though he wasn't exactly surprised, either. Sasha had a side that was far more depraved than that of any of Wynn's other sons.

"How badly do you want to leave Hell?" Darkyn sounded amused.

"What are the terms?" Wynn said through clenched teeth.

"Very simple. You undo what Sasha did."

"I don't understand."

"Come." The demon lord strode out of the portal room.

Wynn's gaze lingered on the only outlet home. He sighed and followed. Darkyn opened one of the internal portals within Hell and strode through it. Wynn trailed, dread growing at the pit of his stomach. He emerged in a hallway lined with stone doors. Darkyn waited beside an open door, hands clasped behind his back in a deceptive display of ease.

Wynn entered and stopped a few steps into the room, not expecting what was before him. A girl in her mid-teens lay in a hospital bed in the center of the large chamber. She appeared to be sleeping. Half her face was knotted with horrible scars, the other half displaying skin close to the same shade as the white pillowcase beneath her.

"Sasha did many things to her, the finality of which was kill her," Darkyn said. "I raised her when I was able to. I went after him, not knowing that whatever he did, it was something only he could undo. His soul was... lost soon after we threw your old body into the deepest chasm in the mortal world."

There was no emotion in the demon lord's voice, no indication of warmth or affection whatsoever.

"Who is she?" Wynn ventured.

"Selyn. My daughter, a hatchling born by an Immortal blood monkey."

Wynn hid his surprise. And then something else clicked. Only the Dark One was able to raise someone from the dead.

"You raised her?" he asked, the words from Darkyn's discussion with past-Death returning. "You raised past-Death. You got promoted."

"Rarely does a promotion involve conquering a creature older than time." Darkyn's smile was chilling.

Wynn felt cold inside. Dealing with Darkyn was bad enough. Knowing the most powerful creature – one the Dark One himself exiled at one point for his ruthlessness – had taken over Hell was another matter entirely.

"You're the Dark One. It's not common knowledge yet," Wynn whispered.

"Not yet. Soon."

"What are the terms?" Wynn wasn't about to ask why it was secret or spend too much time in Hell with the violent creature before him.

"Heal her," Darkyn said. "You have five days. If you succeed, you leave."

"If I can't?"

Darkyn moved in front of him. Half a head shorter than Wynn, the demon lord nonetheless commanded any space he was in. His black eyes saw through Wynn.

"If you can't. If you won't. If you don't. If you cause more damage," Darkyn said in a soft, lethal voice. "I will do to you what I wanted to do to Sasha. It will last for eternity. Every second of your life will be worse than the last."

"Understood," Wynn said. He looked away.

"You will have access to any equipment you need from any realm. The oldest of the healers has tried to repair her without success," Darkyn added. "Summon me when you know what you may need."

"What of Deidre?" Wynn ventured. "Your... mate."

"What of her?"

"She's the only innocent caught up in this mess. You are showing your daughter mercy," Wynn said carefully. "Can you not also show her mercy?"

"What I decide to do with my mate is of no concern to you," Darkyn said in a low growl. "If I decide to keep her, I'll blood-bind her, in the tradition of demon mating. It's the oldest bond there is, old enough to keep the mating bond from shifting when she wins her deal."

Wynn listened, aware of the demon blood bond and its origins from the time-before-time. The mating bond of the Immortals and deities and the blood bond of the demons were the two oldest bonds, unbreakable under the Immortal Code and from the laws older than the Code. But he didn't see Darkyn taking a blood bond. The creature that refused to bow down to the Dark One was not going to allow itself to become blood-dependent upon a mate of human origin.

It would be endless torture for Deidre. There was only one creature in any world that deserved to suffer from a blood-bond, and that was past-Death.

"I don't lose deals, Wynn. If I decide not to keep her, I'll kill her," Darkyn finished. "Either way, she will not leave Hell."

"Will you kill her quickly at least?"

"How important is she to you?"

"Not enough for me to consider a deal," Wynn said, aware of where the Dark One was headed. Hell ran off deals, but Wynn's life was already in enough trouble without incurring another debt on behalf of a woman who had no hope of ever escaping Hell.

"For you, Wynn, if I decide to kill her, it'll be slow. You can watch the woman who brings sunshine into every room fade away like the sunset." Darkyn's words were mocking.

Wynn gritted his teeth. He didn't feel the Dark One in his mind, but he was there, reading his weaknesses.

"I hope you can one day see her as I do," Wynn said.

"You have a greater concern," Darkyn reminded him. He slid away.

Silently agreeing, Wynn released the breath he held only after he heard the door close behind Darkyn. His eyes went to the girl in the bed. At least the challenge and its terms were almost fair. What was Wynn, if not a healer?

He pushed Deidre from his mind. His own survival was more important. She was fucked at this point, and he hoped Darkyn killed her. Even if slow, her death would spare her an eternity at the hands of a demon with insatiable bloodlust.

## Chapter Two

Past-Death, the original Deidre, felt no different until she stepped into the apartment she visited once before leaving her underworld in the hands of Gabriel. It was then she felt the effect of what Darkyn had done to her.

Her skin was prickling the way it did when another deity used magic around her, the fair hair on her arms standing on end. The colors of the mortal world were brilliant, the light in her bedchamber blinding her. Beneath her feet, the carpet was plush enough to fascinate her as she took a step. It cushioned her bare feet the way she imagined a cloud might.

Her attention shifted as the world around her continued to register. She was... cold. Hungry.

No, starving. It hurt. Had she ever been so hungry? Deities ate for pleasure, not out of need.

She wasn't expecting the intensity of sensations in the human world.

Shivering, she stripped out of the Hell garb and flung it aside to put on some of the clothing she'd chosen. Her soul had been sentient only since she died-dead, about six months ago. Her soul had been planted into the human's head upon birth. Death was required to give up its soul when it ran the underworld. Past-Death didn't remember why exactly, but the rule was that Death could not be a responsible collector of souls if it did not appreciate what it was to have a soul. Without one, she had existed in a state of sentience without feeling, a world of permanent grey.

Being dead-dead was pleasant, though she'd tried to pay as much attention as possible to the world outside of human-Deidre's head. She recalled people, places, and some routines, like those that human-Deidre did at least once a day: getting dressed, the bathroom, showering.

If not for Gabriel, past-Death had no reason to want to try to leave the simple existence of a soul. She'd forced herself to try to watch human-Deidre as much as possible.

Past-Death stood before the wardrobe, considering what human-Deidre would do in her place.

Deidre ran her hands over the clothing in the wardrobe, gasping at the sensations. The sweaters weren't just the most vibrant shades of autumn, they were softer than anything she'd ever experienced.

She stood back, astounded. This was what it was like to be human? Was this why humans were so ensnared by their world and their minds so limited? Moving from the wardrobe to the dresser drew her attention to the carpet again. Cool air made all the skin of her naked body prickle.

She grinned, enjoying her newfound abilities. With great focus, she dug through the undergarments in the dresser and chose a set that matched, like human-Deidre did. Deidre managed to pull them on and then went back to the wardrobe, selecting the softest sweater and a pair of jeans. Infatuated by the carpet, she kept her feet bare.

Pleased with herself, she began to think being human wasn't going to be so hard. It was going to be much more pleasurable than she imagined. Now that she was alive again and survived Darkyn, the hardest part was over. All she had to do was practice for a day or two and then find Gabriel. They'd start their lives together and live happily ever after.

"Light, off!" she commanded the annoying overhead lights.

Nothing happened. She rolled her eyes, recalling she had no magic.

"Deidre?"

She perked at the voice and strode to the landing overlooking the bottom floor. She recognized the female death-dealer at once.

"Cora," she said. "What are you doing here?"

"Sleeping on your couch. You were asleep when I got here," Cora replied. "I didn't want to wake you."

Deidre's gaze was caught by the bank of windows lining one side of the penthouse. They'd been there when she originally selected the apartment, of course, but the sight of the sunrise left her breathless. The sun was brilliant, the pinks and oranges – combined with the multiple shades of blue sky as it lightened – creating a vision beyond that of any dream.

"Wow," she said.

Cora followed her gaze, brow furrowed. "Are you alright?"

"It's beautiful, isn't it? It's a shame there's only one." In the underworld where she spent almost her entire life, there were two suns and two moons.

Deidre returned her attention to the death-dealer, who looked confused. Deidre went downstairs. She had to appear to be a normal human by being careful in everything she said and did. She knew from watching human-Deidre where the food was and opened the pantry door. Cans and boxes lined the shelves. Nothing looked... edible.

Lipton Tea. Deidre reached for the box. She opened the box and carefully unwrapped a tea bag, attention arrested as much by what was in her hands as the stiffness of paper.

She held up the bag by its string. The tea she remembered drinking didn't look like this. It came in a cup. Her gaze went to the cupboards. There were mugs there, she recalled. She opened them until she found one and placed the bag in the cup. Stepping back, Deidre waited for the tea transform into what she remembered tea to be.

Nothing happened.

"This isn't working," she said, perplexed. "Do you know how to do this?"

"Um, yes," the death-dealer said.

"Oh, good. You can show me. We can have breakfast." Deidre went back to the pantry, trying to remember what human-Deidre ate. "Do you know where the omelets are?"

Cora didn't answer. Deidre turned to find the assassin staring at her. She'd said something off but wasn't sure what.

"We can make some," Cora said.

"Okay."

"Do you want me to... uh, remind you how?"

"Yes, please."

Deidre stepped back as Cora moved into the kitchen.

"This is a Keurig. You can make tea with it," she started.

Deidre watched closely as Cora demonstrated how to heat water, insert the teabag and then add sugar. She tested the tea Cora made and was thrilled at the rich, sweetened flavor.

"Wow," she said. She crossed to the pantry again, suddenly curious about what kind of new, intense flavors awaited her in the assortment of boxes and cans.

"The eggs are in the refrigerator," Cora said.

Deidre hesitated. The death-dealer gave her another long look before she pointed to the stainless steel box at the end of the kitchen. Deidre crossed to it and opened both doors. One side was cold, the other freezing. More food items lined the shelves of both. Her eyes went over the shelves. She read the names of everything, until she found the eggs.

She removed the carton from the fridge, opening it as she walked to Cora. She carefully lifted an egg. Fascinated by the cool, smooth texture of its shell, she bumped into the counter. The egg fell, and she gasped as it exploded on contact with the floor.

"I can fix it," she said quickly and knelt.

"No, no. Um, it's... you know what, you can drink your tea and I'll make breakfast," Cora said, taking the eggs. She handed Deidre the teacup and saucer.

Deidre went to the breakfast bar, eyes following Cora's movements. She had to learn to do everything a human did, and she had to learn fast. Her eyes went to the strange red chili lights dangling around the edge of the kitchen. She wasn't certain she liked them; they clashed with the creamy décor of the apartment.

As she watched Cora, Deidre began to think she'd missed a lot over the past few months despite trying to pay attention to the human world. Preparing food wasn't something human-Deidre did often. She ate at restaurants, where food was brought to her.

But the day she met Gabriel, human-Deidre made an omelet. Deidre wanted to experience everything about that day. It was the second strongest memory in human-Deidre's mind, the day when both of their lives changed.

The strongest memory in human-Deidre's mind: the moment she realized she'd made a deal with the Dark One, when his fangs had pierced her body. Deidre wasn't expecting to go through it with the human. Even as a sentient soul, she'd felt fear.

It must have terrified human-Deidre. She frowned. As a deity, she had few real emotions. She was numb to most of the world, and the colors of the worlds were muted. The thought of human-Deidre in the hands of the Dark One made her feel something... unpleasant.

Deidre studied her hands. They were so human, their coloring peachy, the skin delicate. She hadn't looked in a mirror, but she guessed she had the healthy coloring of a mortal. At least she had the mind of a deity still, the memories and...

She froze. Memories. Deidre concentrated hard. She'd expected Darkyn to screw her over somehow, and she now knew how. She was human in every way, including her memories. She recalled nothing beyond her human age of twenty-six years. Knowledge gathered over tens of thousands of millennia... gone! She struggled to recall what her real mother looked like or the day she became Death or even the day she met Gabriel.

The memories were gone. Something cold slid through her. The sensation was almost physical. If she had to guess, she'd call the emotion fear.

Cora placed an omelet before her with a fork. Deidre glanced at her.

"Gabriel wants one of us with you at all times," Cora said. "Did you plan on leaving today?"

"Leaving."

"I think you like going to the farmer's market in the morning."

"Yes." She thought she vaguely remembered seeing the farmer's market before.

"I'll let him know. He's supposed to come by this afternoon."

Deidre dropped her fork, not expecting the news. Cora was walking away already, leaving Deidre to her internal war. She wanted to see Gabriel; it was the reason she'd done everything she'd done. But she didn't feel quite ready yet. As someone accustomed to being in control of her world, she needed a little more time before she was ready to face him. The purpose of this apartment was to give her a place to practice being human.

She didn't need to practice. She really was a human.

Her thoughts went to the deal she'd made human-Deidre. She wasn't going to have much time to prepare herself, either. Darkyn was never going to let his newest treasure go, but Deidre didn't intend to lose her deal.

Wynn's warning weighed heavier on her thoughts. To win Gabriel, Deidre planned on lying to him, convincing him she was human-Deidre. As much as she distrusted Wynn, she'd seen the caution in his features, the haunted wisdom of his gaze. He wasn't the arrogant, ruthless Immortal she remembered.

Broken. The word fit him. The human world that fascinated her had broken him. She didn't understand how, when there was so much beauty around her.

Deidre couldn't learn to become the human she created in half a day. She considered. Wynn said to tell Gabriel the truth. Telling him that she'd mated off human-Deidre to the Dark One would make Gabriel hate her. She wasn't willing to lose him already, not after all she'd gone through to keep him.

Thoughtful, she began to put together another plan and rehearse what she'd say. She ate, her attention soon captured by the sensations of the airy omelet and melted cheese in her mouth. She finished everything and returned to her bedroom, going through the rest of human-Deidre's morning routine. When she was satisfied, she rejoined Cora on the main level of the penthouse.

"You might want... shoes," Cora said awkwardly. "There's no carpet in the street."

"Ah, of course." Deidre ran back up to her room and looked over the assortment of shoes. The ones she chose were beautiful, but human-Deidre never touched them. She'd worn either sandals or tennis shoes.

Deidre borrowed her sandals and trotted down the stairs. Cora handed her a purse and sunglasses. Deidre took them, excited at her first venture into the mortal world as a human.

Her eagerness lasted until she stepped from the apartment building to the sidewalk lining a busy street. Deidre froze. In her penthouse, she was able to take in things at her own pace. Here, the world was shoved in her face. The sidewalks were jammed with people and smells, the traffic thick and loud. The buildings blocked the sun, and the barrage of sensations overwhelmed her.

"It's rush hour," Cora explained. "The market is only two blocks away. Are you ready?"

Deidre nodded. Cora began weaving through the crowd. Deidre followed, surprised then angry when people jostled her instead of moving from her path. She was about to summon a spell to clear the sidewalk completely when she recalled she wasn't able to use her power anymore.

Deidre stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, feeling very exposed to the blaring world. Another of the newfound feelings crept into her. This one was worry.

"Deidre," Cora called from a few feet in front of her.

She shook off the strange feeling and followed once more. They walked to a corner and turned away from the busy main street onto a quieter side one. Deidre struggled to take in everything around her, bombarded by the noise, smells and activity. They soon reached an area where the street was sectioned off, and a line of white-topped tents lined the street. People milled through the farmer's market.

She joined them, trying to recall the reason human-Deidre came to these. The displays of fruit and vegetables, homemade food, crafts, and other items soon enthralled her. She stopped to admire the colors of a fruit pyramid and the textures of textiles. They reached the food section, and Deidre's attention shifted to the source of the scents. She followed her nose until she found the one she wanted.

"My gods," she breathed, stopping in front of one stand. She read the sign. "Funnel cake."

She spent a minute thinking over how she'd seen human-Deidre buy things. Deidre looked through her purse and pulled out the wallet. She had a ten dollar bill. She looked at the sign again and stepped forward.

"One of those," she said, pointing. They smelled too good to eat just one. "No. Three of those."

Ten minutes later, she sat at a picnic table, devouring the crispy-sweet treats. She made it through two and a half of the dinner-plate sized confections before she grimaced. Her stomach was too full to finish. Her gaze lingered on the remaining half a funnel cake. It was the most incredible food in the world, much better than omelets. Why did human-Deidre not eat these every day?

Deidre delicately wiped her face and stood, stuffed but beyond pleased with her first day as a human. Cora said nothing, her features emotionless and eyes roving for threats.

They continued, and Deidre's attention went to a small shop behind the tents, from which incense drifted. She entered the darkened store while Cora remained outside. There were a few people in the store. She went to the back, where the jars of essence were kept. Intrigued by the new scents, she began opening bottles to smell them. Light flared suddenly behind her, and she turned curiously. The clerk darted around the counter towards the corner, where someone had accidently tipped over a lit candelabra that was now burning the curtains. The other customers crowded the back with Deidre. The clerk was holding an extinguisher, shaking and cursing it.

"Go out the back!" he shouted to them as the fire grew.

Deidre let the group jostle her down a small hallway that emptied out into an alley behind the row of buildings. The group lingered, peering into the store to watch the fire and the clerk.

Deidre stayed for a moment then decided to leave, more interested in exploring the world than waiting long enough to see what happened. She walked down the alley, nose wrinkling at the scents of trash and stagnant water. She paused at the intersection with another narrow alley, not liking the smelly alleys at all.

With a look around, she started down a new direction, hoping it emptied out somewhere that didn't creep her out so much. At the far end, she saw what looked like a busy street.

"You here for me?" The voice was mocking.

Startled, Deidre turned. She hadn't heard the demon drop from the top of the building to land a few feet behind her. Without her power, she wasn't able to sense him or the danger he posed. His pointed teeth, soulless eyes and rumbling growl gave away the otherwise human-looking creature as a demon.

"Definitely not," she snapped.

"How about me?"

She whipped around at the voice of the second demon.

"You have no business with me," she told them coolly. "Leave, before I take matters into my own hands."

One laughed.

"Word on the street is that Darkyn took your power," the other said with a toothy grin. "Making you... mortal. A sweet treat for a demon."

Uneasiness drifted through her. "Did he send you to harass me?" she demanded, mind on the demon lord's parting words about ensuring his mate won their deal.

"No. We're just hungry."

"Immortal Law states that the mate of an immortal or deity is beyond –"

"Immortal Law!" the first one laughed again. "Demon Law offers you no protection, Death's mate or not."

Deidre shifted. She found herself reaching for her power again, only to find it gone. The reminder made her feel something colder than worry.

"Gabriel will kill you if you touch me," she said quietly.

"If he can find us. He can't find souls, let alone demons."

She frowned. She'd left him the soul compass and his soul in her jewelry box, along with the ring he gave her, so he knew they were intended for him. Before she could warn them off again, one grabbed her. The grip around her arm was tight enough to cause a new sensation: pain.

Deidre tried to pull away but was unable to move. She was too weak.

Like a human.

His fangs lengthened, and she stared at them, the reality of her situation beginning to sink in. The other demon snatched the back of her neck, and she gasped.

"Don't worry. We won't kill you," the demon in front of her said. "I don't need Death tracking me down. But I want to be the first demon to taste a deity." With the second demon holding her, he closed the distance.

"Don't –" she shouted, bracing her hands against his chest. He gripped her wrists and pushed her hands down with little effort while the second demon pushed her head to the side to expose her neck.

Deidre panicked. The intense fear broke within her, and she struggled.

"I love my breakfast fighting," the demon before her whispered a moment before his fangs sank into her neck.

She screamed, not expecting the level of sharp pain.

"Deidre!" Cora shouted.

Deidre was flung aside. One demon fell beneath Cora's flashing swords while the other bound away and disappeared.

Stunned, Deidre placed a hand to her neck and lifted it away. It was covered in blood. Her blood. Hot, throbbing pain was in her neck, and she felt woozy. Cora dropped to her knees beside her and pressed Deidre's hand back to her neck.

"Keep it there, so you don't bleed out," Cora ordered then tilted her head to the side. "Gabriel."

"Oh, no," Deidre mumbled. She wasn't ready to face him yet!

She hurt. She'd never felt pain as a deity. She'd never been attacked by a demon, either.

Wooziness turned to lightheadedness. The world faded into shadow and light then into an uncomfortable darkness, not quite sleep but not consciousness either. Deidre closed her eyes, unable to fathom some stupid demon had hurt her.

She was human. She was weak.

She was terrified.

Something warm drifted through her, and her body felt like it was floating. The pain faded then stopped suddenly, but she wasn't able to leave the in-between place.

Wake up, sweetheart. The quiet command was accompanied by a flare of warmth and strength within her. Deidre's eyelids fluttered open. She was lying in her bedroom, on her bed. Someone had figured out how to turn off the overhead lights that blinded her earlier.

She had a nasty headache and groaned, touching her head. Soft voices drew her attention to the doorway, where she was able to hear but not see Cora behind the massive frame of Gabriel.

Deidre stared at him, not remembering him to be as big as he was. Just under seven feet tall and muscular, he wore all black with weapons strapped to various parts of his body. His back was to her, his arms crossed, and his t-shirt stretched tightly across his thick back and shoulders. His hips were slim, his long legs shapely. She didn't remember the aura of power and command around him either. It was subtle but compelling, drawing her attention involuntarily.

Her Gabriel, who spent his life a part of the shadows, radiated the quiet power of a deity that reached her from across the room. He'd never blend into the shadows again.

Her heart was racing and something new fluttered through her, warmth that pooled at the base of her belly. And fear. If a demon nowhere near his size was able to hurt her, what could Gabriel do, if he was upset at her for any reason? If he found out the extent she'd gone to in order to be here with him?

In his place, she'd kill him.

She reclined back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. The soft bed was warm from her body heat, and she found herself running a hand over the downy comforter while she tried to understand the emotions within her.

"Are you okay?"

Deidre's heart flip-flopped at Gabriel's husky baritone. He sat down on the bed beside her. Her breath caught.

Beautiful did not describe him. The features she'd admired when she was Death she now saw as stunning. Chiseled to perfection, covered in olive-hued skin, with a low brow, piercing gaze and strong jaw...His nearness made her feel hot.

"I'll assume that's a yes," he said with a faint smile. He reached out to tilt her chin to the side to see her neck. Warm energy fluttered through her. His large hand was unexpectedly gentle as it settled on her neck over where the demon bit her. She'd never let him touch her like that before, but she found his touch calming.

Fascinated by the texture of his palm, she took and held his hand up until she was able to see the roughness of his calloused palm. She traced her fingertips over his wide palm. It was almost twice the size of hers.

He lowered his hand, resting it possessively on her upper thigh. Desire stirred within her, along with some confusion. He'd never touched her without permission. He seemed at ease with himself, another thing she didn't remember about him.

"Don't take this the wrong way," he started, studying her. "Who the fuck are you?"

Her jaw dropped.

"It's okay. Whatever happened... There's nothing to stress about," he added when she was silent. "But you're not exactly the same woman I saw here last night."

Deidre's careful story didn't even make it to her tongue. She simply gazed at him. He definitely never would've spoken to her like this, as if...

...as if he was Death and she was not. She never stopped to consider what it would be like if he became the person she had been. If their roles were completely reversed. In her mind, she saw only them being happy, finally, after an eternity of struggling to understand one another. She once thought the problem was him, because he was of human origin. Many years ago, she figured out the opposite was true: they had issues, because she wasn't human.

Changing that, then, was the only thing that lay between her and her love.

Except, something still wasn't right. What?

Deidre pushed herself up carefully, unable to take her eyes off of Gabriel. His hand fell from her leg, breaking her trance enough that she looked away. She pulled her knees to her chest and leaned against the backboard.

He was waiting. The Gabriel she remembered would've dropped it and left. This Gabriel wasn't going anywhere.

"I am me," she said at last.

He raised an eyebrow. Her face felt warm. She wasn't certain why.

"I made a deal with Darkyn." She paused, trying to figure out what to tell him.

"Don't stop there," he said grimly.

"I'm what's...left of the two of us," she said and stopped. Lying was hard as a mortal. It didn't feel good. She touched her neck and felt the scars. Was human-Deidre going through the same pain many times a day at Darkyn's hands?

"Are you in pain?" Gabriel's voice softened. He reached out to her again and pulled her hand away, placing his against her neck. She shivered at the odd connection, the heat and warmth. The fact he touched her without hesitation. Did she like that or not? She debated.

She never offered to heal him, either, when she had been Death and he was her servant. She didn't understand what pain was at that point. Her greatest warrior, Gabriel had experienced his fair share of battle wounds. The idea he'd gone through something like this, and she didn't know to help him made her sad.

She never wanted him to suffer.

"No pain," she murmured, pulling her attention back to him.

"So you just made a random deal with Darkyn." His thumb brushed her jaw line. Back and forth, back and forth, in a way that left her skin tingling and her feeling as if she was falling under some sort of spell.

"Sort of," she replied. "You didn't used to...touch me without asking."

"You didn't seem to mind me holding you for hours last night on the beach."

"I don't mind. I..." She shook her head. "I can't think when you do."

"Tell me what happened," he said and dropped his hand. "I'll wait to touch you until after." He was amused.

Deidre's brow furrowed. He didn't say he'd ask to touch her. Just said that he would.

"I made him a deal to take the tumor out. He made the two of us one," she said slowly. It wasn't coming out the way she practiced it, maybe because Gabriel was sitting close enough that she wanted to lean against him instead of the bed and place his large hands on the parts of her body hidden by clothes.

"You are past-Death and... Deidre?" Gabriel asked.

"I'm both Deidres," she replied with some offense. "We are the same person."

"In some ways, maybe," he allowed. "The tumor is gone?"

"Yes."

Her first thought was that he wasn't buying it. His gaze remained steady.

"Turn around."

She frowned. "Why?"

"I want to make sure you're my mate and not a shape-shifter demon."

"Do I look like a demon?" she retorted.

"You can show me your marking, or I can hold you down and look myself," he warned.

"You wouldn't..."

Gabriel shifted towards her. Deidre sprang back.

"Okay," she said, uncomfortable with the idea she had no control whatsoever over the man before her. He didn't answer to her anymore, as he had for thousands of years.

Did she expect him to?

Confused, she turned her back to him and pulled her shirt up to expose the marking. Gabriel placed a large hand on her back. She gasped, the heat and energy of his touch making her shiver. Fully splayed, it would almost cover the width of her petite frame. The thought of letting him run those hands wherever he wanted thrilled the human in her and terrified the former goddess.

She pushed her shirt down and moved away to break contact, facing him again when half the bed was between them.

"Just when things seem to be going well," he said and stood. Fire flashed in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked uncertainly.

He crossed his arms, dark gaze hard, towering in the bedroom that suddenly felt too small for her.

"What's wrong," he repeated. "Do you have any idea what he could've done to you?"

She was quiet.

"Why the fuck couldn't you come to me first?"

She flushed and looked away. She'd seen him upset but never angry. Neither she nor human-Deidre thought to involve Gabriel in their plans. They were more alike than Deidre realized; they both sought out Darkyn for quiet deals they hoped would result in ending up with Gabriel. Only one of them made it out of Hell, though.

"My mate trusts the Dark One over me to help her. It's a shitty way to start things off." Furious, he started towards the door.

Deidre swallowed hard, wanting to chase after him but unsettled by his anger and the changes in him. She waited her whole life for this moment, and all she was able to do was watch him leave her. The human emotions were crippling the cold logic that brought her to this point. She couldn't lose him now, because of human weakness!

"Gabriel, wait!" she called.

He stopped at the door but didn't turn.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To do my job. Right now, I need to kill some demons."

"I thought... I thought this would make you happy."

"You know what would make me happy, Deidre?"

"What?"

"Being able to trust my own mate. Neither Deidre ever understood that."

She stared after him. She had to say something to keep him from leaving her, but she was too stunned. He waited. She screamed at herself silently, afraid he meant to walk out the door forever.

"Did that go the way you expected?" he asked quietly.

"N...no," she whispered.

"Last night you were ready to trust me. What happened?"

Deidre thought back, struggling to remember what human-Deidre felt, if not the events. Gabriel had held her on the beach. They'd sat for hours, until human-Deidre's distress faded and turned first to disbelief then hope then resolve. It was the same sequence Deidre went through before making the private deal with the demon lord, the one that resulted in her reincarnation and condemned human-Deidre to become the mate of the Dark One.

"I knew Darkyn could give me a second chance with you," she said. "Clean slate."

"Everything would be different – better, perfect – overnight."

"Yes."

"Did it work?"

"I don't know."

"I wouldn't be walking out right now if it did."

She sighed. Her eyes grew blurry, and hot wetness slid down her cheeks. Deidre touched them, surprised to find they were tears. She'd never cried as a goddess. Ever. Why was she crying? There were too many emotions for her to identify them, but one of them – or all of them? – caused the tears. Frustrated, she realized she wasn't able to control whatever it was.

Gabriel left. The door closed behind him. Her Gabriel was gone.

The pain settling into her was of a different kind. It had no physical source, but it hurt her physically nonetheless. She was hardly able to draw a deep breath through her tight chest. A new emotion formed. It felt much like dread. She rested back on the bed and cried.

The tears stopped of their own accord after a while, and the calm of her mind brought back her focus.

She gave up her power, her domain, and her entire life for this opportunity. She didn't factor Gabriel's transition into Death into the equation. She didn't factor her transition into a human, either. The overload of emotions, the inability to read Gabriel's mind to find out what he thought, so she knew what to say or do.

How did she win him, if she had to guess what he was thinking? How did she win him, if she wasn't able to control the human feelings?

Trust? As a goddess, she had no need for those around her to trust her. They feared her, and this was what kept them in check.

Gabriel didn't trust her. This made her hurt more. After all their years together, he didn't trust that she would do what she had to in order for them to be together.

## Chapter Three

The night before, he'd left his dying mate, praying he was able to save her life. This morning, he left a perfectly healthy woman – who looked like his mate and wore the Immortal mating tattoo – and yet was distinctly different.

Gabriel was still reeling from the sudden, inexplicable changes in his mate and the admittance by Deidre that she had made a deal with Darkyn. Maybe he should've felt it. He noticed something... missing the night before, soon after he left her. The instinct was nothing more than a tiny warmth at the edge of his mind. He barely noticed it was gone until this morning, when it abruptly reappeared. He was able to sense her presence once more without knowing she'd been gone from his reach for an entire night.

What if she was in danger? What if Darkyn hadn't let her go? If he noticed her absence soon after it occurred, would he have been able to follow and stop her deal with Darkyn?

Right now, the only thing that made much sense was killing shit.

Gabriel hacked at the demon before him then straightened. Chest heaving, he gazed around the meat locker to assess how many bodies were present. Immortals and death-dealers battled the remaining demons at the warehouse-sized storage facility where the demons had been gathering the human dead.

There were hundreds of them. He sheathed his weapons, grim at the discovery. Rather than taking souls and risking a run-in with him or his dealers, the demons snatched the dead or killed whomever they wanted and brought them here, where they'd have more time for soul extraction.

"Clear!" one of the Immortals shouted from the far end.

"All good," Landon, Gabriel's second-in-command, told him.

"Count and collect," Gabriel ordered.

Landon issued the orders through the mind message system. Gabriel moved through the meat locker, unaffected by the cold after the half hour battle.

"Fifty four dead demons, three hundred dead mortals," Landon reported after a few minutes. "Fifteen dead Immortals, three dead dealers."

"Damn." Gabriel's attention was caught on a faint green glow on a table in the middle of the stacks of dead bodies. He crossed to it and saw a shallow bowl filled with water. The glowing green gems on the bottom were souls the demons had extracted. "This isn't three hundred souls. Maybe twenty." He lifted a small soul-tracking device off the table, a round compass whose edges were lined with symbols from a dead language too old for him to read.

"They're picking and choosing the ones they want," Landon said.

"Darkyn's after someone in particular," Gabriel said. "They got another compass. Unlike me, they can read it to find who they want." He studied the compass. It was a new one, recently made by the Ancient Immortal that Gabriel hired to help, indicating another of his dealers had defected. "Find out who this one was issued to."

Landon accepted it. Gabriel drained the bowl of water and placed the souls in his pocket.

"Darkyn doesn't have the numbers to set up a facility like this in too many places. He's not in much better shape than we are," Rhyn, the leader of the Immortals and Gabriel's best friend, said as he approached. The half-demon rippled with power. His silver gaze was wary and his muscular frame only slightly smaller than Gabriel's.

"Whatever he wants is around Atlanta." Gabriel's thoughts drifted to Deidre. He initially suspected the soul in Deidre's tumor was what Darkyn sought. But the demon lord had Deidre in his clutches and let her go.

At least, it appeared that way. The woman Gabriel touched today wasn't the one he touched last night. The mating bond present last night formed anew the moment he healed her from the demon attack. She looked like past-Death. She had the haughty edge of past-Death.

She was human like Deidre. Gabriel hadn't wanted to believe her story of Darkyn combining the two Deidres into one, but it certainly seemed possible. The extent of the Dark One's powers on his home turf in Hell was beyond anyone's ability to know. It was said he had no limitations. Could he then merge two souls together into a single body?

Why would he do it?

"Meanwhile he distracts us with a fucking goose chase across the world chasing the demons raiding human schools." Rhyn's gaze was stormy.

"Your brother found this place, right?" Gabriel asked, focusing once again on his surroundings. The five remaining death-dealers he brought with him were quickly extracting souls.

"Yeah. No word yet on whether or not there are more."

"They are way too comfortable in the mortal world right now."

"No shit."

At the half-demon's frustration, Gabriel glanced at him. "Not your fault, Rhyn. You're doing everything you can."

Rhyn grunted in response, his fury clear. As the head of the Immortal Council That Was Seven, Rhyn was charged with protecting the human population from demons. In the course of a few months, the old understanding between Immortals and demons – that humans were off-limits – crashed to the ground. Rhyn's Immortals were struggling to recover from battles with the demons, while he struggled to keep the Council together, let alone focused.

Gabriel understood why the old standard was gone. He wasn't allowed to tell Rhyn, due to Immortal laws governing the dealings between deities. The Dark One that ruled Hell since the time-before-time had fallen to a ruthless demon lord whose goal had long been to take over the mortal realm. Forged by war and hardened by exile to the bowels of Hell, Darkyn understood only violence, war and bloodlust. He honored nothing but laws from the time-before-time, deals he made and the occasional Demon Laws, which he authored. An understanding was not worth acknowledging and definitely not binding to the new Dark One.

The thought of the Dark One reminded Gabriel that he lost three death-dealers to him in the course of a week, not to mention the deal Deidre made.

"If it makes you feel better, I've got another traitor," Gabriel said in cold anger, motioning to the soul compass the demon's had obtained.

"Morale is low. The dealers think we'll never get home," Landon supplied.

Gabriel and Rhyn eyed him. Gabriel bristled at the reminder that his own underworld had shut him out.

"I'll check in with the lake," Landon muttered.

"Take these," Gabriel said, handing him the souls he took from the bowl. "Then call everyone in. Looks like I'll be conducting mind checks morning and night."

"Got it." Landon pocketed the souls before calling a portal.

"I need to move Deidre," Gabriel said when the death-dealer was gone.

"Something happen?" Rhyn asked.

"Yeah. She got attacked by demons today."

"Drop her off at my place," he said, referring to the Immortal's stronghold in the French Alps.

"I thought being in Atlanta might help her. It won't work," Gabriel said. He shook his head. "I need Wynn, but he's nowhere to be found this morning."

"Haven't seen the fucker," Rhyn said, tone hard.

Gabriel knew how much Rhyn hated his father. Not many people thought differently of the first Ancient Immortal, who had led the Council with six of his sons for many years before being killed. Wynn was a brilliant surgeon, the only person Gabriel knew to bring in and evaluate Deidre's claim that she was healed.

Not that he didn't believe her. But, well he didn't. He pushed aside the nagging instincts he'd been ignoring since seeing her earlier.

"Hey, boss," one of the dealers approached. "We got everyone."

"Drop them at the lake and hang out for a bit," Gabriel said.

"Go get your woman. I'll see you at the castle," Rhyn said, calling a portal.

Gabriel nodded. He looked around, furious at Darkyn for earning the trust of people who didn't trust him in his new role as Death. With some dread, he returned to Deidre's apartment.

It was past dark, and she was dozing on the couch. Cora waved from the kitchen. Gabriel sat down across from his mate, studying her. It was hard for him to remain detached around the beautiful woman with silver-white hair. She slept peacefully, her delicate features and shapely body at ease as she slept on her stomach. His eyes went over her perfect legs and lingered on her ass. Their history made him want to touch her, to feel the softness of her skin before waking her to gaze into the huge blue-green eyes that were able to stop him in his tracks.

Both Deidres in one. He rubbed his jaw. He didn't know how it was possible. He barely accepted the idea of being mated to a woman who only looked like his ex. Now, she was at least half the woman he'd spent lifetimes loving and hating.

She was human. No matter how many Deidres were shoved into that perfect little body, she'd never have the control over him she once had. He was Death, after all, a deity in his own right. It was his turn to protect her the way she never bothered protecting him.

"Deidre," he spoke her name quietly.

Her face skewed a moment before her eyes opened. She stared at him and sat up quickly.

"I'm moving you to Rhyn's."

"Why?"

"It's safer there."

She appeared lost as she looked around her. She had the artless expressions of a human, an endearing trait that made him want to wrap his arms around her.

"Why don't we go home?" she asked.

"We can't right now," he said. "I'm locked out of the underworld."

"Locked out?" She arched an eyebrow at him. "You're the master of the underworld. It can't lock you out."

"Apparently it can," he said dryly.

"What on earth did you do?"

That was the tone of the goddess. Gabriel drew a deep breath and stood. He motioned her up.

"Come on," he said. "I'm headed to Rhyn's. I'll take you."

She frowned. "Gabriel, I want to stay here."

"No."

"You never used to tell me no, either!" she snapped and rose, marching towards the stairs to the second floor.

"Get used to it," he called after her.

He watched her angry walk, gaze on her swaying hips. A smiled spread across his face. Maybe having the former deity as a mate wasn't so bad. He definitely liked the look on her face when he told her no.

"Get your shit and let's go," he added.

She glared at him, the blue fire in her eyes stirring his blood.

"Don't forget shoes," Cora yelled as Deidre disappeared down the hallway. Her voice lowered as she faced him. "Gabe, she needs a babysitter."

"What's wrong?"

"She doesn't understand the human world yet."

Gabriel met Cora's eyes. The death-dealer was shaking her head in disbelief. There was something else in her gaze, the knowledge that she'd figured out this Deidre wasn't the same one she was yesterday.

Gods, he had a headache already.

"You want the job?" he asked.

"I'm not sure I can keep up with her. She tried on every piece of clothing today and took five baths to test the different soaps. She discovered the toaster this afternoon. She used it to warm up her socks. Nearly caused a fire."

Gabriel smiled, entertained as much by the story as he was by Cora's visible exasperation.

"We went to the other side of the country to find her more funnel cakes. It's all she wants to eat."

He listened, thoughts turning darker. Deidre made a deal with the Dark One, one good enough to bring her soul back from the dead, combine the two Deidres, cure the tumor of one and release the final product from Hell. It sounded far too good to be true, especially since Darkyn knew who she was and what he might extort out of Gabriel to have his mate returned.

It had to be the private deal, the one Gabriel found no trace of that Darkyn himself had mentioned to him. What were the terms? Did Deidre owe a debt? What of the deal made with Darkyn by human-Deidre? Was it, too, unofficial and therefore not recorded in the Oracle's book?

The instincts that warned him the night before were louder this night. Whatever happened, there had to be more to the story than what Deidre told him.

He gave her five minutes then started up the stairs. He knocked before opening her door and saw her wardrobe empty with clothes piled and stacked on the bed. She was leisurely sorting through everything.

"I mean now," he said.

"I'm not ready," she replied archly.

He crossed the room and snatched the gym bag at the bottom of her wardrobe. He tossed it on the bed and grabbed a handful of clothes then stuffed them in.

"Oh, no, I don't want that one," she objected and pulled out a sweater. "It's not soft like the others."

He grunted and stuffed another handful in.

"Gabriel, stop!"

She sounded so distressed, he did. Gabriel let her push him aside so she could squeeze between him and the bed to protect her precious clothes from his callous groping. She paused to consider her options again then dumped out what he'd started.

"You've got sixty seconds," he told her.

"No, Gabriel, I can't decide that fast," she said in the haughty, dismissive tone that used to infuriate him.

His gaze traveled her body as she bent over the bed and stretched for a maroon sweater. He resisted the urge to take her hips. She straightened and very carefully folded the sweater before placing it with similar care into the bag. The deliberate movements alone took a minute.

"Gods, are you trying to test me?" he growled.

"I'm going to do this my way."

Her way. It was how things always used to be with her. On her terms, her time, her way. Her way involved deals with Darkyn and lying to Gabriel. Something within him clicked, and he recalled his resolve not to let the woman in his life strangle him anymore.

He reached around her and tugged free his favorite sweater. His hand settled on her back, and their bodies brushed. Deidre stilled suddenly, her breath catching softly. Gabriel glanced at her. She was trying hard to control her expression and the flush moving up her features.

Amused, he dropped the sweater into the bag, grabbed a few more and a pair jeans. He loved touching her and loved even more watching her try to figure out what to do about it. When he was satisfied, he lifted the bag and stepped away.

"Come on," he said and called a portal.

"I have to just leave them?" she asked, gaze on her clothes. "They're so beautiful."

"They'll have more for you at the fortress."

Gabriel waited in front of the yawning portal. Deidre sighed. She kept her distance from him. He motioned her into the portal. With a look of dread, she went ahead of him. He followed.

"You really are locked out," she said, stopping in the middle of the shadow world. The portal to his underworld was grey; only yellow mortal portals and the black one to Hell were visible. "How can that be?"

"Someone didn't leave an instruction manual when she walked out on me," he replied calmly.

"Why would you need one?"

Gabriel stopped and turned, glaring down at her.

"It's not that hard," she murmured as the silence grew.

"Maybe to someone who's been doing it for tens of thousands of millennia," he replied. "When you left, the demons were pouring in, the Lake of Souls was bubbling and everything else was falling apart. Guess who gets to clean up that mess?"

He started walking again and waited for her at the portal to Rhyn's.

"I guess I didn't realize you weren't ready," she said as she joined him.

Gabriel said nothing, but it took effort. She stepped into the portal, and he trailed. They emerged in the chamber she'd been in before. Deidre gazed around her, eyes settling on the green glow, visible through the French doors. It was night on this side of the world, and the otherworldly glow from the lake near Rhyn's house reminded Gabriel that he was no closer to getting those souls home yet.

"Why does that look like souls?" she asked, puzzled.

"Because it is."

Her mouth dropped open.

"You were here yesterday. You don't remember?" he asked.

She seemed to be thinking of how to respond.

"I'm having trouble with memories in general," she admitted. "Maybe because everything was um, mashed together. Almost everything feels new. It's a little unnerving." She glanced around.

There was a vulnerable note in her voice, one that bothered him.

Gabriel tossed her bag on the floor next to the bed and strode to the doors, opening them. The night air of spring was chilly in the mountains. He breathed it in deeply. Dawn would soon break across the horizon on this side of the world.

Deidre trailed, eyes on the direction of the lake near Rhyn's fortress. Gabriel sat down on the railing to face her, arms crossed as he took in her features. Shadows played across the delicate, pert features. Her lips were full, a perfect bow, and her large eyes steady and concerned. Her hands were rubbing her sweater absently, her silver-white hair long and loose, hanging almost to the small of her back. Narrow shoulders, rounded hips and a petite frame were distinctly feminine.

"I can't believe they're here. What did you do, Gabriel?" she demanded at last, the fire flaring in her eyes once more.

"You always assumed I'm the one who messed up," he replied.

She met his gaze.

"I never was, though, was I?" he asked.

"I wouldn't say never." At her shiver, he offered his hand. She eyed it.

"Gods, woman. You melted for me last night," he reminded her. "Before you walked off to betray me to Darkyn."

That did it. Deidre's face flamed red once more. She took his hand. Gabriel drew her into his body, and she tucked her head against his shoulder, so she didn't have to look at him. He wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her womanly musk. Her fine hair tickled his chin. He was far too content holding the petite woman he didn't dare trust.

"What were the terms of your deal?" he asked carefully.

"I told you. He cured my human side, brought the deity side back, and joined our souls," she replied a little too quickly.

"Darkyn doesn't do shit for free. What were the rest of the terms?"

She was silent. Gabriel waited. She pressed her face to his neck.

"I love the way you smell," she murmured.

"Terms, woman."

"I don't know. I mean, I couldn't leave Hell with any deity powers and um, basically only one of us left. Because we were combined."

He didn't need to read her mind to know she was lying. But why? If the deal was over, and she was here, what did she need to lie about?

He made the mistake before of not reading her mind when he should have. Though he hated the idea, he wasn't about to take any chances this time around. Gabriel prodded her thoughts.

They were sealed off to him. Surprised, he tried again. He almost felt relief, knowing he couldn't ever be tempted to read her mind again. She had violated his mind at every turn when she was Death. He swore never to do that to her and now, wouldn't be able to. Except suddenly, he realized this was the one time he needed there to be an exception. Too much could be at stake for him not to know what went down with Darkyn.

"Do you have an outstanding debt to Darkyn?" he asked.

"None." This assertion was firm.

"I guess I can check the Oracle."

She tensed in his grip. "It was a private deal."

"Convenient."

"You don't trust me?"

"No."

Deidre pulled away enough to meet his gaze. She was frowning.

"I want Wynn to verify your tumor is gone," he added.

"You'd trust that Immortal over your mate?" she asked, anger flaring.

"You trusted Darkyn over me."

"He could do something you..."

It was Gabriel's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Care to finish that? Or maybe explain why you didn't even tell me before seeking him out? It's not like you didn't have the opportunity."

She pushed at him to try to move away. Gabriel didn't let go. Deidre appeared frustrated and wiggled again.

"Easy," he warned. "We're having a nice little chat about trust. Something neither of us does well."

"You didn't use to be like this," she snapped.

"You didn't used to be a weak, puny human."

"Son of a bitch!"

Gabriel chuckled. "Things have changed, Deidre."

"You're scaring me, Gabriel."

"You know I'll never do anything to hurt you."

When he refused to release her, she sighed and leaned against him. The warmth of her body made him not want to let go.

"Wynn is in Hell," she said at last. "We were both in the portal room. Darkyn sent me home, but Wynn didn't follow."

"He's still there?"

"I don't know. I didn't stay to find out."

"Why was Wynn there?"

"To make sure my... operation went well. Darkyn dragged him down to help, since it was his magic in my head," she replied.

"I didn't think Darkyn needed help with anything."

"I think Wynn was insurance, in case something went wrong. What Wynn did was really bad, Gabriel. I was going to die in a few days."

One arm tightened instinctively around her while he lifted the other to touch the soft skin of her neck. The scars from the demon attack were there. He rested his hand around her collar, disturbed by the scars. He found himself drawn to her again, almost too strongly to resist, and reminded himself something was off about her story. What if the tumor wasn't gone? He'd pushed her away in order to keep the tumor from growing.

If he wasn't able to find Wynn, there was always Andre, who could tell him if it was there. Maybe Andre could read the thoughts that were blocked to Gabriel.

Her breathing was quick, the pulse he felt in her neck flying. She was affected by his touch. He ran his hand down her arm and rested his hand at her lower back. He wanted to let his hand drift downwards but stopped himself.

The urge almost seemed stronger with her today than when he left her last night. He was already struggling not to let his hands roam her body freely, the way he wanted to.

But something was wrong. His mate was lying to him. It had to do with her trip to Hell, with the deal she made Darkyn.

Gabriel. Landon's summons drew his attention.

"I've gotta go," he said, standing.

"Where?" she asked.

"Work."

He hugged her close. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him back.

"If you need anything, Katie is four doors down on the left," he reminded her.

"Okay."

Gabriel withdrew and called a portal to take him to the lake. He glanced over his shoulder as he entered the shadow world.

Deidre was watching him, her large blue eyes lost and frustrated.

He forced himself to walk away, uneasy. Disliking the thought, he did what he should've done last night. He shut down her ability to use the portals, just in case there was something else going on.

"Did you find out who it belonged to, Landon?" he asked as he emerged onto the bank beside the eerily glowing lake.

The massive lake was roughly round with a panhandle on the side nearest the fortress. His death dealers were lined up along one side of the panhandle, waiting for the invasive mind check, where Gabriel went through their heads for signs of betrayal. He hated the idea but understood the necessity, especially after finding the second compass in the hands of demons within a week.

"Boss, we have a bigger issue," Landon's voice was hushed.

Tymkyn, the best tracker in the underworld, stood behind him, hands clasped and chest heaving. He looked as if he'd fought his way through a herd of demons to reach them. The tracker was wide and thick, a head smaller than Gabriel, and built like a boulder.

"Mind check," Gabriel said.

Both death dealers bowed their heads without hesitation. Gabriel knew they were loyal before he placed hands on their heads based on their body language. Still, he made a show of checking the two assassins before he let them continue.

"You find Harmony?" Gabriel asked Tymkyn in an even voice. The highest ranking of his death dealers to defect, Harmony had been Gabriel's lover for months and his second-in-command since he took over the underworld. She disappeared, and Gabriel assumed she was in Hell hiding.

"I did," Tymkyn replied. "She's in the underworld."

Gabriel stared at him.

"They've been moving through the portal in Hell," Tymkyn explained. "Harmony and a few others."

"How?" Gabriel's gaze went to the waiting death-dealers. He counted a total of seven missing, including the three known traitors.

"Apparently, the portal isn't closed from Hell. The demons can't access it, but an Immortal or dealer who goes through Hell can."

"You mean, one who survives Hell," Landon muttered.

"Or who makes a deal with the demons," Tymkyn added. "They're aggressively recruiting dealers."

"Five reported interactions with demons this evening," Landon said. "Probably when they realized why they're here tonight. Another four are missing, assumed in the underworld."

"I'll determine who's at risk in about five minutes," Gabriel said firmly, eyes going to the waiting death dealers. "Landon, start taking accountability of dealers and compasses throughout the day. Surprise visits and inspections."

"Will do. But, boss, that's not the worst news," Landon said with a glance at Tymkyn.

"The dealers in the underworld are rebelling," Tymkyn said. "I caught one of the them in the shadow world on his way back to the mortal realm. They know you're shut out, and Harmony has told them it's because you were of human origin and the underworld is rejecting you. According to the dealer I cornered, there's been some skirmishing between those loyal to you and those who want to install someone else."

"Install someone else," Gabriel repeated and shook his head. "It's not possible."

"They seem to think it is. They're searching for something. They tore a part the palace and your cabin. I don't know what it is, but it's important. They seem to think if they can find it, they'll be able to replace you with a Death of their choice."

Gabriel frowned, unaware of anything that could push him from his position as Death.

Deidre would know.

His gaze drifted towards the fortress.

"How bad is it in the underworld?" he asked.

"Bad. Those who support you are few and are being driven into the Everdark forest," Tymkyn replied. "But, you have to take the information in stride. It's one source only. He might've been bluffing to keep me off guard."

"Where is he?" Gabriel demanded. "I can determine that."

Tymkyn pulled a soul from his pocket. Gabriel sighed in frustration. He took it.

"Find me another one," he ordered. "Keep them alive until I can go through their minds."

"Will do, boss."

"Let me get this over with. Landon, my mate is here. Keep that quiet, though. I want Cora assigned to her fulltime."

Landon nodded. Tymkyn waited for more. Gabriel lifted his chin in dismissal. His second-in-command signaled Cora over while Tymkyn disappeared into a portal. Gabriel checked Cora's thoughts, relieved to find her clean and started down the line.

He found the five who reported the demon interactions with ease. Demons – especially those personally trained by Darkyn – knew how to sense weakness. They'd done their jobs well. All five of the death dealers were borderline about abandoning Gabriel. He pretended not to notice, though, and thought hard as he checked the minds of the remaining assassins.

What did he do to those who hadn't taken that final step but probably would soon?

The responsibility of Death weighed heavily on his shoulders. There was no room for traitors in his ranks, not with his critical mission on the human world and his own mate within striking distance. The underworld would open for him, when he'd conquered his challenges here in the human realm. The deity Fate had told him as much, after shutting down Gabriel's access to the underworld.

A mate lying to him and death dealers deserting right and left.

Gabriel reached the end of the assassins and turned to gaze at the lake with its souls. His duty was beyond question the most important there was: protecting the souls of the dead mortals and dead-dead Immortals. There was no room for mistakes or hesitation.

He drew a deep breath then turned to the waiting death-dealers. He walked down the line to the nearest of the five the demons had approached with offers and paused before the Immortal with icy blue eyes. Reading their minds confirmed they were considering the demons' offers.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you now," Gabriel said calmly.

The death dealer stared at him. Those around them were silent, still. Instead of responding, the assassin knelt.

"Granted." Gabriel acknowledged the request for a quick death. He placed his hand on the assassin's head. A small pulse of power, and the man dropped.

Gabriel called the soul to him silently and watched the green fog form around his hand before it crystallized into an emerald. Gabriel tossed it into the lake. He moved onto the next death dealer whose loyalty was swaying and paused before the slender woman.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you now," he repeated.

She knelt.

Gabriel went down the line. None of the five fought him or made excuses. All obediently requested quick deaths, and he granted them, tossing their souls into the lake instead of crushing them to send them to Hell, which was the usual fate for the souls of traitors.

"Dismissed!" he called to those remaining.

Landon waited for him a short distance away. Gabriel took a moment to breathe deeply, unsettled by how quickly his assassins were falling. He thought them all loyal and supportive when he took over. At the first sign of real trouble, those who weren't had begun to show their true allegiances.

He never expected there to be so many. It was a blow to him, considering he'd worked with many of them for thousands of years. No matter what they thought of his human origins, he was still the deity in charge of the underworld. More importantly, the underworld accepted his appointment. He was starting out doing a shitty job, but he was slowly conquering his challenges here on the human world.

Landon was right. Morale was low, and many had lost faith in Gabriel. He wasn't certain how to prove to them he was their leader, aside from doing his job. In the meantime, killing dealers he used to consider colleagues or allies weighed heavily on his emotions at a time when he needed to think clearly.

Eight traitors in the week he'd been shut out of the underworld. If what Tymkyn learned was true, the underworld itself was at war.

He had to get back soon.

"Find Andre," he said to Landon. "Send him my way."

"Got it."

Gabriel summoned a portal and returned to Deidre's room. She was seated on the bed, folding and stacking the clothes he'd packed for her. He watched her for a minute. Without the senses of a deity, she was unaware of him. Her concentration was on the clothes, and he tried not to smile as she spent a minute petting a sweater.

He hadn't thought about how different the world would be for her. Human-Deidre was enamored by the world; it was one of the traits that drew him. She found beauty in everything. This Deidre shared that trait. She was just as entranced, just as easily pleased by the world.

He liked that. No, he loved that. The goddess never appreciated anything around her, or anyone. To appreciate, one had to feel, and those born deities were somehow numbed to the world. He needed the reminder of the good in the world, because he saw none of it from the shadows where he spent his life. The human-Deidre was able to do that. If their souls were smashed together as Deidre said, he was glad this part of the human remained.

"Deidre, I need to ask you a couple of questions," he said.

She jumped and faced him. The raised eyebrow expressed her disapproval of his sudden appearance in a way that made him want to touch her and remind her that he did what he wanted now.

He moved to sit on the trunk at the end of the bed, close enough to see the details of her features without being too tempted to take her in his arms.

"Long story short, there's a rebellion brewing in the underworld. My expulsion hasn't gone over well," he said. "The dealers stuck below are flipping out. They're tearing apart our home, trying to find something they think can remove me from my position."

Her mouth was agape again, as it had been when he told her he was expelled. She shook her head, clamped her mouth shut then opened it to speak. Gabriel held up his hand.

"I don't want a lecture," he said firmly. "Tell me if there is something there I need to be concerned about."

"Lecture," she muttered, eyes flashing. "Clearly you found the compass. As long as you took the soul with it, there's nothing they can do."

Fuck. Gabriel thought back to the three items he'd discovered in her jewelry box: the compass, a soul and the tarnished ring he gave her hundreds of years ago. He took the soul compass only.

"And if I didn't?" he asked.

"Why wouldn't you? It was your soul."

"My soul?"

"You can't rule the underworld if you have a soul. It's a conflict of interest," she said with some exasperation.

"What the fuck kind of sense does that make?" he demanded.

"I don't remember why. I only have twenty-six years worth of memories, thanks to Darkyn." She frowned fiercely. "But I didn't make that rule up. How do you think I had my soul to plant in human-Deidre's head when she was born? When you become Death, your soul is rendered unnecessary. You were supposed to place it in with the souls of the other deities."

"Which was..."

"In the closet in the corner of my bedchamber, the one I told you to go through."

"You did not tell me to go through it!" Gabriel rose, furious once more, and began to pace. One minute, he was admiring the light of anger in her eyes. The next, he wanted to kill her.

Like old times.

"Of course I did. I told you, if you wanted to be exactly like me, to walk through that door," she said. "Isn't that clear enough? Please tell me you got your soul and put it there."

He glared at her.

"You didn't, did you?" she stared at him in a cross between dismay and amazement. "And you wonder why everything is in shambles."

"Don't go there," he warned.

"Do you have your soul at least?"

"No."

"Then you have to fix that, Gabriel," she said and rose, concerned. "How could you ever think you'd rule the underworld, if you didn't take it seriously? Yes, there is a way to kick you out of your position. It involves them taking your soul and sending it to Hell." She neared him as she spoke, pausing close enough that she had to crane her head back to meet his gaze. Her hands were on her hips.

"If you'd left me instructions or told me what to do, I would've done it," he said through clenched teeth.

"Did you ask?"

"You left me," he hissed. "If you'd given me a fucking day or two advance notice, I might've had a chance to ask."

"You had tens of thousands of millennia to ask!" She jabbed him in the chest.

"Then tell me now!"

"I ..." She blew out a breath. "I can't. Darkyn took most of my memories."

Gabriel growled at her, the brief touch enough to stir desire. His blood was already humming with desire; he forgot how much of a turn on arguing with her was.

"You are this close from me kissing you," he said and held up his index finger and thumb an inch apart.

"That reminds me. Don't touch me without permission." She whirled away.

"Oh, fuck no. We're not going back to that." Gabriel took her arm and spun her back. She glared up at him.

He kissed her. He expected her to push him away and slap him, and he was prepared to leave and remain furious at her for the next week or two.

She froze as their lips met. When she didn't reject him, Gabriel deepened the kiss, nibbling at her full lower lip. Deidre responded timidly at first then leaned into him. Gabriel's arms went around her. She tasted sweet and saucy, like the woman herself, her heat, scent and silky skin filling his senses in a way that left him wanting more of her. All of her. Her lips were soft and warm, her body molded against his. She'd gone from defiant to yielding in the space of a single kiss.

Gabriel. Landon's summons irritated him.

Gabriel trailed kisses down her jaw line and to the sensitive skin of her neck. She gasped.

"You don't get to tell me what to do anymore," he whispered against her ear. "I'll touch and kiss you whenever I feel like it."

Assuming she's not still dying of a tumor. Gabriel almost groaned. The whole reason he'd avoided her was because of Wynn's warning – pleasure kills – a reminder that Deidre's tumor was connected to her emotions. Happiness and pleasure caused it to grow faster.

He kissed her again, slow and deep, savoring her flavor, then pulled his head away. Deidre was breathless, her eyes glazed. He loved that look, where her lips were plump from kissing and her cheeks flushed. She wanted him; he saw it on her face.

"I like you this way," he baited her. "Not pissing me off."

Her face flushed the way he knew it would. Gabriel chuckled and kissed her quickly again before she was able to object. He released her and left.

Landon was in the bottom floor of the fortress, waiting with a familiar face in the study. Andre, the eldest brother of the Council That Was Seven, had been recently reincarnated by Gabriel to help in the search for demons. Able to manipulate minds, Andre was also the much-needed calming force on Rhyn and the other high-spirited members of the Council. A diplomat by nature, he had long served in the peacekeeping capacity among his brothers, before he was rendered dead-dead seven months before.

"Good morning, Gabriel," Andre said in a smooth voice as deep as his skin was dark. His eyes glowed turquoise, and he held a glass of wine in one hand. Dressed in a mock turtleneck of some expensive fabric and slacks, the seated Immortal was relaxed and bright-eyed, despite accompanying them on the hunt that led them to the meat locker a couple of hours ago. Gabriel was envious of how refreshed the Immortal managed to appear without sleep.

Andre's calming magic had an effect even on deities. The tension melted from Gabriel's shoulders as he sat on the settee across from Andre.

"Good morning, Andre," Gabriel said then tossed his head towards the door. Landon took the hint and left.

"Were you pleased by our rather gruesome discovery?" Andre asked.

"Yeah," Gabriel said with a snort. "We rescued three hundred souls. I'm grateful, Andre."

"It's what I do." Andre dismissed the praise with an easy smile. "I'm afraid I have no good news on the other front. I visited dear Tamer and spent most of the day with him and his records. I didn't know he had such an extensive library. I plan on returning to see what my brother is doing with all those histories he's not sharing."

Gabriel hid a smile, hearing the gruff-but-gentle disapproval of an older brother in Andre's voice. Gabriel knew the secrets of all the brothers on the Council; there were things people told Death that they never revealed to anyone else. He was accustomed to hearing and safeguarding the secrets of others.

"In any case, Tamer had no information to share with regards to the tumor," Andre finished. His cultured accent made even bad news sound pleasant.

"We may not need the information anymore," Gabriel said pensively. "But I can't find Wynn to help verify. You were able to feel the tumor in Deidre's head the other night, right?"

"I was."

"I need you to look again."

Andre's eyebrows rose. "Of course," he said.

He didn't ask questions, which Gabriel liked. Having played the patient sounding board to the Council members for thousands of years, Andre was adept at discretion.

"She's here," Gabriel added. "Sometime today would be good."

"I will take her breakfast," Andre said with a smile.

"Appreciate it." Gabe rose. "Check in when you're done."

Andre inclined his head.

Gabriel left for the Caribbean Sanctuary, where the book possessed by a long dead Oracle was busy scribbling notes about the Present. He strode to the lectern where the massive book was perched.

"Show me the deals past-Death and my mate made with the Dark One within the past year."

Two images sprang from the pages. One he'd seen before – that of past-Death and past-Dark One agreeing on a deal that resulted in raising Wynn from the dead. The second was made two nights ago, after he left Deidre in the Atlanta apartment to help Andre research how to help her.

The Oracle listed the complete terms, but Gabriel was only able to see the portion concerning his domain. Deidre had bartered for Darkyn to remove the tumor and to do so without pain. Darkyn's end of the deal was hidden from Gabriel, but the deal was marked as fulfilled, according to the Oracle.

What had she paid for this favor?

More importantly, what was the deal that brought past-Death back to life? What had the two Deidres traded in order to be combined and let out of Hell? Gabriel knew Darkyn well enough to know the demon lord would exact no small fee for these favors.

And yet, he couldn't deny that Deidre was back or at least, a woman who had the knowledge of the goddess and the body and heart of a human. If not for the fact she was lying to him, she would be the perfect mate.

Gabriel rubbed his jaw.

The terms of their deal were over. If Andre verified there was no tumor, did it matter what she was hiding? What could be more important than being able to spend eternity with her?

Nothing was.

The thought eased his concern without completely removing it. Gabriel's gaze lingered on the images playing before him. Uneasy, he also realized he had to focus on mopping up the rest of his mess in the mortal world, so he could start to address the underworld.

Maybe this was the best solution: the two Deidres combined.

The more he tried to accept the idea, the harder it became to swallow.

It couldn't be that easy.

He was almost grateful he'd never trusted either Deidre completely. He'd be a wreck if he had.

## Day Two
## Chapter Four

Unable to sleep, Deidre paced, trying hard to shake the sensations clouding her head. Her body was on fire, her hands shaking, her thoughts so scattered, she wasn't able to think. All it took was a kiss from Gabriel, and the words that thrilled her.

I'll touch and kiss you whenever I feel like it.

She sighed dreamily then shook her head. She was exhausted but couldn't sleep. She didn't understand how humans could feel so much and still function when she was overwhelmed. She wasn't going to fall under the spell of Gabriel's strong body, his passion, his taste. Her first kiss as a human obliterated any resistance she had to him. He tasted as good as he smelled. Those huge hands had started to explore her body in a way that left her feeling feminine, delicate, and willing to let him take control in a way she never permitted him before.

With a frustrated growl, she threw herself into bed. It was bedtime on her side of the world, but dawn was breaking the sky outside her windows. Her eyes went to the green glow of souls again. The sight dulled her desire. She walked to the French doors.

There had to be millions of lost souls to create that vibrant of a glow. She'd broken the rules from the time-before-time for a chance with Gabriel. What else had she broken to cause Gabriel so much hardship? Lost souls, shut out of the underworld, was the greatest nightmare for Death. The innocent were vulnerable to creatures like Darkyn.

Deidre struggled to remember if this had ever happened before and if so, how it was fixed. Her memory was stunted by whatever Darkyn did to her. Without them, she'd never know for sure. How did Gabriel get souls back to the underworld if he wasn't allowed there?

In the meantime, the lost souls were stuck in a lake in the mortal world. She'd taken her duty seriously, even if it caused everyone around her to hate her. But she protected her souls. They never once suffered because of what choices she made.

Until now. The underworld was cracked when she left; that much she remembered. It was the sign it was time to resign, for her power was nearly gone. Gabriel was the only person she trusted to take over.

Deidre watched the sunrise, awed by the colors that filled the sky. The verdant pines outside the fortress wall were beautiful, and she watched their long pine needles stir in an early morning breeze. When the sun was up, she retreated from the French doors, troubled by the lost souls and what she did to make Gabriel's life worse, when she'd hoped to make it better.

A knock at her door drew her attention from her thoughts. She waited. If it was Gabriel, he'd made it clear he'd walk in. When no one did, she crossed to the door and opened it, startled by who stood before.

"Andre!" she exclaimed.

The Immortal offered a polite smile. Deidre recalled dealing with him many times before without remembering exactly what they'd discussed. The only calm, civilized Immortal on the Council That Was Seven, she had sought him out rather than try to reason with the irrational leaders of the Council.

"I brought you breakfast," he said. His French accent rolled off his deep voice in a way that made her smile.

She realized he was holding a tray of food. Deidre opened her door to him and closed it behind him.

"Gabriel raised you?" she asked curiously.

"He did a few days ago."

"My Gabriel. Breaking all the rules." She was proud of him. He used to frown at her when she acted outside the Immortal Laws, unable to appreciate that a deity charged with managing a domain often had to take steps outside the rules to protect one's underworld.

He had no idea how many rules she broke in her time as Death. That he understood now how he needed to break rules from time-to-time to preserve his domain was gratifying after years of him judging her for it.

"Becoming a deity makes one different, I am certain," Andre said. He set down the tray on the small table near the blazing hearth and sat. "Come. Sit with me." He poured them both tea.

Until that moment, she thought him there to visit. Deidre crossed her arms as she went to the other chair before the hearth. The air around her felt heavier as she sat. She shook her head, her body relaxing involuntarily. In the distance, an alarm sounded.

Andre was a mind reader.

The warning instinct faded, leaving her pleased to see him again. Deidre accepted her tea.

"He's learning what it means to be a deity," she said. "Why did he bring you back?"

"To help him track demons."

"Ah, of course." She reached forward for a croissant and bit into it, almost groaning at the buttery, flaky, airy bread. "This is heavenly!" she exclaimed when she'd swallowed her first bite. "I can't get over how incredible the human world is. The colors, the food. Why did no one tell me there was so much pleasure?"

"Deities view the world differently?"

"Very," she said emphatically. "It's... grey. The colors are faded, the flavors nonexistent. When you touch someone, you feel nothing, not the warmth of their skin or the smoothness." She dwelled on Gabriel's touch, lost momentarily.

"You are happy now?" Andre asked. He sipped his tea.

"This, too, is different. I feel Andre. Emotions. Real ones. As a deity, it was not so. The only emotions I felt had to be so intense and when they were, they still felt nothing like those I know now," she explained. "I loved Gabriel, but I know now that love was nothing compared to what I feel now."

She heard herself talking. A lot. She didn't usually talk this much, but something about Andre put her at ease. The alarm sounded in the back of her mind.

Mind reader.

The air grew heavier in response, and it faded once more. She wolfed down the rest of the croissant.

"Before we chat, he asked me to verify your tumor is gone. May I do so quickly?" Andre asked.

"Yes."

"Be still. It'll take a few seconds only." Andre leaned forward and rested the fingertips of one hand on her temple.

She closed her eyes at the cool touch. A ripple of cold energy floated through her head and made her shiver. Even this sensation she loved. True to his word, he removed his fingers and leaned back. Deidre opened her eyes.

"Not there, right?" she asked.

"No, it's not," he agreed. He didn't smile this time but sipped his tea, eyes on her. "Are you feeling well?"

"Very." She ate another croissant. "Except I can't remember anything beyond my twenty-six years."

"I may be able to help you with that," he offered. "You do seem very...different from the other night when we talked."

Deidre struggled to recall what happened, when human-Deidre had last seen Andre. Vaguely, she recalled human-Deidre sat with Andre in the penthouse. She recalled no emotions, though, to indicate if that exchange was good or bad. She doubted it was bad. Andre was an Immortal, a friend of Gabriel.

"Yes. That night I went to Darkyn for him to remove my tumor," she said.

Andre was listening patiently, relaxed and interested.

Deidre shook her head. The air grew heavier. She wasn't certain what was wrong with her, but she didn't want to lie to Andre. She needed to tell him the truth. The urge was beyond her control.

"I mean... she went to Darkyn," she said. "I was in her head. I guess we went to Darkyn."

"She?"

"The human I created twenty six years ago. I made her to carry me and to bring us together. Except..." Deidre strained. She didn't want to tell him. But she did. "Darkyn was supposed to find us sooner. I made him a private deal. I made Zamon, his predecessor, a private deal first... I..." Her head hurt from struggling.

"Relax. Have more tea," Andre said and poured her more.

She took it, grateful for the warmth and sweetness.

"You made a deal with the past-Dark One," Andre prompted after a moment. "I need you to concentrate hard. I can see your memories are there, and I can see that they have been bound beyond your normal reach. I'll help you access them, but we must both focus."

Deidre nodded. She drew a deep breath and thought hard. It was strange to struggle against her own mind. She felt Andre in her head with her, and together, they pushed away the dark wall that stood between her and her memories.

"A private deal," she said. "Everyone knew Darkyn was beyond a threat. His predecessor, Zamon, knew he was about to be defeated. With the power of Hell behind him, Darkyn could raise an Army of Souls to wipe out the mortal realm. Zamon and a few others sought me out, offered me a private deal, one that would give me what I wanted and possibly stymie Darkyn."

"What was it you wanted?"

"Gabriel. I, uh, couldn't have him when I was Death," she murmured. "I waited tens of thousands of years for one of us to have the mating tattoo appear. It never did. Fucking Fate told me it was because I was destined for someone else. When Zamon came to me, I jumped at the opportunity."

Andre was quiet. Deidre sipped her tea, her head aching. She pushed at the black wall again, wanting to remember.

"Private deals are dangerous," she added. "I'm lucky Zamon and Darkyn both followed through."

"What did Zamon offer you?"

"A way to make Gabriel my mate and a way to prevent Darkyn from destroying everything. At least, that's what we hoped happened. I'm still not certain it'll work, but that chain of events is in motion."

"How?" Andre asked, gaze sharpening.

"I made a human into a deity's mate," she paused, thinking hard. "I created one by implanting part of my soul into hers. She was supposed to attract Gabriel, until I was brought back, and then she was to be turned over to Darkyn as his mate. This was Zamon's plan, to offer Darkyn something capable of distracting him, of shifting his focus. He's unstoppable otherwise," she explained. "We had to get Darkyn to take the bait. The deal couldn't come from Zamon. I made the agreement with Zamon and then dangled the carrot in front of Darkyn."

"The carrot being the human you created," Andre murmured. "Why would something as cruel as Darkyn want a mate?"

"Because it's the one thing he couldn't ever have," she said. "The Dark One is the only deity without a predestined mate. Darkyn is ambitious. He wanted to be a deity, and he wanted what he couldn't have. When I was reincarnated, the human I created became the only deity's mate without a deity." She shrugged. "Zamon didn't say why he thought this would work, and I didn't ask. When the Dark One seeks you out for a deal, you'd be a fool to say no. He knew what I wanted. I understood why he needed to defang Darkyn. It was a simple deal."

"The other Deidre is Darkyn's mate."

"Yes. She went to him for him to save her life. He removed me, raised me, and accepted his mate as payment," she replied. "My deal with Zamon is complete. My deal with Darkyn is complete, and I get Gabriel."

"Darkyn isn't just going to kill her?"

"It was a risk." She struggled to remember. "If he doesn't kill her, she might be what prevents him from building his Army of Souls. The deities plotting against him – and me, the sons of bitches – will salvage the mortal realm. If he does, I guess they've got to create a new plan."

"So you left Deidre in Hell at the mercy of the Dark One."

She looked up from her tea at the note in his voice. She wasn't able to muster any concern, not with the heaviness of the air around her. Andre didn't appear to be judging her.

"Yes," she said simply. "I didn't think I'd meet her before I left Hell."

"She knew at that point."

"She did. We made a deal..." Deidre drifted off. This memory was recent and came easily. "I was angry and upset. I shouldn't have agreed. I have to win over Gabriel in a week. I think she thought that if I failed, she'd get him back. She doesn't understand how unlikely that is. Darkyn doesn't lose deals. Or battles. He won't lose his mate, even if he chooses to kill her rather than give her up. He went after Sasha when Sasha hurt his daughter and didn't stop raiding the Immortals until Sasha was dead. Darkyn doesn't lose."

Andre's hand was over his mouth. He studied her.

"I, um, didn't realize how intense the human world is," she continued, troubled. Her hand went to her neck, and her thoughts grew disturbed. "I can't help thinking I hope he doesn't hurt her. But I mean, of course he will. It's what Darkyn does. It makes me feel..."

"Remorse?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Zamon manipulated you and Darkyn."

"Maybe." She frowned then nodded. "I got what I wanted. The only thing I didn't count on was Darkyn giving me the choice of my power or Gabriel when I left Hell. I chose Gabriel."

"The world of deities is messy," Andre said. "It is a shame to involve the innocent in such dealings."

"It is. But sometimes, it's necessary," she replied. "What is one life in exchange for saving the mortal realm? Zamon phrased it thusly."

"On the surface, it's a fair argument. It grows harder when you meet that one life, doesn't it?"

She nodded, gaze going to her tea. "Gabriel loved her."

"Gabriel has loved you since the beginning," Andre said. "She was much like you, though neither of you were able to gain his trust, for reasons I believe are understandable."

She flushed at his gentle chiding.

"He doesn't know all this, does he?" Andre asked.

"No," she answered. "Probably won't help him trust me if he did."

"Trust is earned. It takes more than a week," he said with some amusement. "Lying to him about what happened in Hell is going to break bad for you, Deidre."

"I... can't tell him, Andre," she said. "He'd never forgive me."

"A secret this size – where the Dark One takes a mate – is not going to stay secret long."

She searched his face. "You won't tell him."

"I am a man of discretion."

"I risked everything to get to this point. I even gave up my power, my domain, everything. But I won't risk losing him," she said. "Can you not see that?"

"I can," he agreed. "But can he?"

Deidre was silent. She tried to deny it, but she knew Gabriel too well. He was honorable and good. He wasn't going to understand what she'd done. She won a bet but backed herself into a corner.

Wynn was right. She'd have to throw herself at Gabriel's mercy.

"No," she said out loud. "I can make this work. I'm a former deity. I ruled Death's domain for countless millennia. I can make it as a human. I can win him over."

"It is your choice, of course. If any part of you believes he loved the human you created, you will realize you must tell him what happened to her. If there is any way to save her, he will find it," Andre said.

"There's not. This is Darkyn. She was damned the moment she stepped into Hell," Deidre said firmly. "By now, he's found a way to keep her there, even if she wins our deal. Or he's killed her. Darkyn does not hesitate."

Andre said nothing.

Deidre avoided his gaze. The oppressiveness of the air around her faded, leaving her confused as to what they'd been talking about. Until she remembered his other gift: mind manipulation. Andre pulled the truth out of her in a way that reinforced how weak she'd become.

What did she tell him? Deidre drank the rest of her tea but had lost her appetite. She knew Andre to be discreet, but could even he withhold these secrets from Gabriel, the deity who raised him from the dead-dead?

Remorse. Heavy in her mind was the thought that there might've been something Gabriel could've done to save the other Deidre. What if there was? What if her assumption about Darkyn was wrong?

What if it was her fault the human Gabriel loved died?

"I need some fresh air," she mumbled. "My head is killing me."

"I can walk you outside, if you'd like."

She nodded and rose. Andre waited as she put on shoes. He led her through the stronghold and into the courtyard and garden area between the walls and the fortress. Deidre's eyes were caught by the gardens but drifted to the pine trees beyond the walls.

"I believe Cora is staying with you," Andre said.

Deidre glanced over her shoulder, not really caring at that moment, not when she felt like her world was squeezing the life out of her. She headed for the door in the wall that led from the gardens to the exterior of the compound.

She was able to breathe easier when she stood outside the massive fortress that sat on a clearing the size of two football fields. Deidre gazed at the strange human forest, whose trees weren't alive like those of her underworld. These didn't move out of her way when she started into them. She stopped and gazed around, spotting a small dirt trail a few feet away.

Deidre started down the trail, holding out her hands to the pine trees. The needles were long and soft, their vibrant green coloring leaving her breathless. The forest air was cool and damp. It smelled of earth and sunshine. She walked slowly, taking in everything from the patches of blue sky visible through the trees to the spring flowers sprinkling the forest floor.

She traded everything for this moment, and Gabriel wasn't beside her.

Were Wynn and Andre both right about telling him?

Did it matter, if doing as they said cost her Gabriel?

Deidre walked deeper into the forest, wrestling with herself mentally. After half an hour, she grew tired of the internal argument. She wasn't able to win either way. She loved human emotion, but she hated the doubt and insecurity she felt.

"Gabriel." She didn't know why she summoned him, except that right now, she wanted to see him, to reassure herself.

## Chapter Five

Thousands of miles away, Gabriel was with one of his death dealers surveying the gruesome discovery. His dealers were beating the demons to the souls. Gabriel was working them – and himself - overtime to try to catch up. Their list of outstanding collections was growing smaller.

So was his list of dealers able to collect them. Landon reported one more going missing and another killed in a fight with five demons when he went to claim a soul.

Gabriel rose from his position crouching over the body of someone he knew. This Ancient Immortal hadn't given up his soul without a struggle. Erik, one of Rhyn's half-brothers, was bloody and bruised from what looked like a prolonged battle with several demons. Four demons lay dead in the living room of his house, while the Immortal had dragged himself into the garage.

Not that it mattered. The fifth demon had finished him off by crushing his skull and taking his soul. Gabriel studied the scene before deciding finally he had to tell Rhyn.

He summoned the half-demon and waited.

Each of the Council members had a unique gift. At the moment, he wasn't able to remember what Erik's was. The quietest and most distant of the brothers, Erik was charged with protecting northern Europe from demons. Gabriel doubted Darkyn was after the Immortal because he was fighting demons. Rhyn reported Erik missing months ago. It appeared as if he'd been living quietly here, until discovered by demons.

"Yo," Rhyn said, stepping through a portal.

Gabriel moved aside. Rhyn froze, staring at the body of his half-brother. Gabriel knew from his history with Rhyn that there was no love lost between Rhyn and any of his half-brothers, none of who wanted him alive, aside from Andre.

At the same time, Rhyn's undying loyalty to his family was what made him do everything he could to keep the Council together. It didn't matter that he'd been sentenced to Hell by the very people he was now charged with protecting. Gabriel assessed the half-demon was conflicted.

"What message is he sending me?" Rhyn growled.

"You think it's a message?" Gabriel asked. "Could there be anything Darkyn wanted from Erik?"

"Damned if I know. He went missing and refused to come when any of us summoned him. I went looking for him at one point," Rhyn said. "I almost assumed he was dead-dead but thought you'd tell me if so."

"I would," Gabriel agreed. "Darkyn is already slaughtering kids. I don't know if this is a message or something else."

Rhyn was quiet. He knelt beside his brother.

"His soul is gone," Gabriel said quietly.

"What the fuck would Darkyn want with Erik's soul?" Rhyn asked angrily. "He's not Sasha. Sasha was fucked up. Erik was just... stubborn."

"I don't know why either."

"He took out four demons and still didn't summon me before the fifth took off his fucking head."

Gabriel said nothing, sensing the half-demon's explosive temper was close to the surface. He looked around to make sure he hadn't missed anything else that might give him a sign as to what Darkyn was doing by killing off an Ancient Immortal.

"He had to know I'd come!" Rhyn added and stood.

"This isn't your fault, Rhyn. Don't start down that path."

"Easy to say when you're not fucking up everything."

"But I am," Gabriel said, laughing.

Rhyn snorted.

"If nothing else, keep an eye on your brothers, I'd say."

"Maybe Darkyn is still pissed at me for breaking into Hell to rescue our friends a few months ago."

"Maybe," Gabriel said. "There's no telling with that sadistic bastard."

"I've gotta do something about the kids, Gabe." Rhyn's voice was hushed. "We're tracking the demons now but not fast enough."

"You're not thinking of a deal with Darkyn."

"I am."

"You're a brother to me, Rhyn, but let Andre negotiate, if you do that," Gabriel advised. "I don't think it's wise at all. You've got Andre. Let him help you. You'll catch up."

"How many more die before we stop him?" Rhyn asked. "Gabe... I've got a hatchling on the way. All I can think about is what I would do if something ever happened to her. Darkyn tried to grab Katie already to get to her."

"Darkyn preys on the desperate, Rhyn. Remember that," Gabriel cautioned his friend.

"I know it. I also know I'm feeling desperate right about now. Will you let me know if you find Erik's soul?" As he spoke, Rhyn fingered the black necklace he wore. On it was one soul, that of his brother Kris, who had given up his life to get Katie out of Death's underworld.

"Yeah."

"I'll issue an alert to the Immortals. Except Tamer. Darkyn would be doing me a favor if he took out that jackass."

Gabriel said nothing. Rhyn and Tamer were similar enough in temperaments that nothing would make them get along.

"I'm headed to see him next," Gabriel said casually. "I'll let him know."

"Whatever."

"You want Erik's body taken to the basement at the castle?"

Rhyn considered. Gabriel knew how sensitive the crypt in the basement was. It had been where Wynn, the father of all the Immortals on the Council, had lain for hundreds of years before being dragged out by Sasha, the son who betrayed them all to Darkyn.

"Yeah," Rhyn said softly. "He's my brother. He deserves a burial of some sort."

"I'll have someone bring him over."

Rhyn nodded. His gaze lingered on the body of his half-brother. Gabriel summoned Landon and gave a quick order for the dealer to deliver Erik to Rhyn's fortress. He then called a portal to visit Tamer, the Immortal making the soul compasses. Gabriel withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket as he went, studying the symbols. Tamer, Rhyn's half-brother and the least friendly member of the Council, had deciphered five of the twenty symbols on the compass. The keeper of ancient Immortal histories, Tamer was able to read scripts from the time-before-time. It was his secret power, the one few others knew about.

Gabriel emerged into Tamer's palatial home in Cairo. The limestone and marble foyer was lined with artifacts, a sign of Tamer's passion for all things ancient. The door to the secret library was open, as if Tamer expected him.

Gabriel strode down the narrow hall to the only open door and entered. Muscular and dark-skinned, Tamer was hunched over the table in the center of the room, putting the final magic touches on a new compass.

"Wait," the Immortal barked.

Gabriel snorted and sat in one of the plush chairs. He studied the five symbols on the paper in his hand. Tamer had translated them, but they meant little to Gabriel.

River, ravine, tree stump, cloud, rain.

Magic vibrated in the library then faded.

"Alright. Here's another," Tamer said and held out the compass.

The tool lit up at Gabriel's touch, the symbols swirling around the edges then settling. He handed it back. Tamer hefted it.

"Looks good," he said with a satisfied nod. "What do you want?"

"Good day to you, too," Gabriel said, always amused by Tamer's curtness.

"You had to tell Andre about all this, didn't you." Tamer motioned to his library.

"I didn't tell him anything," Gabriel replied. "I sent him to ask you a question. Whatever happened from there is on you. You're welcome for bringing him back, by the way."

"Now I've got two brothers in my hair."

Despite the words, Gabriel knew Tamer was pleased about Andre's return. All the brothers were, because Andre alone had been able to manage the different personalities in such a way that they all trusted him. He debated what to tell Tamer. Technically, it wasn't his business or duty to tell Rhyn's brothers about Erik.

"Speaking of people in your hair, you may want to keep an eye out for any pesky demons," Gabriel said. "They may be after you all."

"I don't give a shit."

"Alright. You get any farther on these?" Gabriel asked, holding up the paper.

"A little." Tamer rustled through a notebook. "Figured out three more. Shrub, well, mountain." He scribbled them down onto another piece of paper and tore them off for Gabriel.

"Well," Gabriel said, recognizing the symbol. "That's the one the demons seem to be after. Any clue how a hole in the ground equates to an evil soul?"

Tamer was pensive for a moment. His eyes went from Gabe to the paper in front of him. He started to sketch something, paused then leaned forward with more interest and continued.

"I saw something in an ancient text," Tamer mumbled. "It compared the earth to a cesspool."

"Helpful."

Tamer scowled. "The sky was given the status of something pure and clean, the earth sort of a dirty wasteland, and anything below water level or the ground considered Hellish. See what I'm saying?" He showed Gabriel the drawing of the different symbols with a sketch of the sun on one end and the ground on the other.

"Hole, meaning a bad soul," Gabriel said, gazing at the symbols. "Darkyn is after the bad apples. Makes sense. He's building an Army of Souls to attack the human world. He won't want anyone with a conscience."

"I'd say not. I have no fucking clue what the rest of these symbolize, except that it's a ranking structure. These in the middle, I'm guessing about," Tamer said, circling half the images he'd drawn.

"You're certain about the bottom three? The bad ones?" Gabriel asked.

"As certain as can be, based on what I know. The top three and bottom three seem pretty solid to me. But who knows if a shrub or flower is more or less pure, based on the distance from the sky? Is this a sunflower that's taller than me or like, a daisy?"

Gabriel laughed. "Yeah, I get it. Great work."

Tamer rolled his eyes then smiled. "You're not so bad to work for. You need any death-dealers?"

"Don't joke about that. The dealers lose their souls when they come work for me."

"Offer's always out there. I can fight, and I hate most people."

"I'll let you know." Gabriel stood. Tamer was serious, but Gabriel wasn't about to take him up on it when his own dealers were ditching him. He always hated the enslavement of the death dealers; he refused to give Death his soul until forced to make a deal with her for Rhyn's life a few months ago. It never sat well with him that those charged with enforcing Death's mission served not out of choice but obligation to the deity that stole their souls.

It was one of the first things he'd change, if he ever made it back to the underworld.

Gabriel. Andre's summons came a little later than Gabriel was expecting.

"I'm out. Let me know if you get anything else," he said, standing.

"You serious about demons being after me?" Tamer asked.

"Talk to Rhyn."

Tamer shook his head at the mention of Rhyn. Gabriel returned to the study of the Immortals stronghold. Andre was seated, as if he'd never moved. Midmorning sunlight streamed in through the large windows at the rear of the study. Gabriel squinted, unaccustomed to so much light after all his years in the underworld. He sat with his back to the windows.

Andre was grave, the first warning things hadn't gone well.

"Do you want to clean up first?" the Immortal asked politely, gaze on the demon blood on Gabriel's clothing.

"No," Gabe replied. "I gotta go back out after this. The tumor?"

"Gone."

Gabriel nodded and felt himself relax. His mate wasn't going to die after all. He didn't need to stop with a kiss next time. He liked that idea more than he thought he should.

Except that Andre wasn't smiling. The Ancient Immortal was studying him hard. If Gabriel wasn't immune to the mind manipulation magic, he suspected Andre would be using it on him right now.

"This sounds like good news to me. What's wrong?" Gabriel asked.

Andre was quiet for a long moment. Gabriel sensed he was trying to balance his natural inclination to be discreet with his obligation to serve the deity that raised him from the dead-dead.

"There never was a tumor in the head of this Deidre," the Immortal said cryptically.

Gabriel waited for more. Andre smiled.

"You're certain there was one in her head the other night, right?" Gabriel asked.

"Yes."

Of course, it was possible that Darkyn combined the souls into Deidre's new body, after raising her from the dead-dead. Perhaps the other body hadn't been salvageable. Deidre hadn't tried to dye her hair pink or hide the fact she was different.

If it was so simple, Andre wouldn't be trying to drop a hint without betraying the confidence of Deidre.

"Do I need to be careful?" Gabriel asked uneasily.

"Careful? No. She's completely enamored by you and has no power, so she poses no danger. But" Andre paused, debating silently "I'd say you need to determine how much you are willing to trust her."

"I figured that much."

"Then you know what you need to know. Keep in mind there's more to the story than what there appears to be," Andre added. "I've said more than I feel comfortable saying."

"Thank you, Andre."

Dread was heavy in Gabriel's stomach. Andre read her mind. It was clear Gabriel's instincts about his inability to trust her were right, and Gabriel had no idea how to interpret Andre's warning.

Gabriel. It was Deidre summoning him.

"Speak of the devil. I've gotta go," Gabriel said, standing.

A moment passed before he appeared. He was like a massive shadow among the sunny forest, dressed all in black and armed as if for battle, even when coming to see her. His dark eyes went from her to Cora, and he lifted his chin in silent command to dismiss the death dealer.

Deidre had never seen him like this, as a quietly commanding figure, capable of lethal force one moment and gentle kisses the next. With his chiseled features and muscular frame, he was without a doubt the sexiest man she'd ever seen. How had she never noticed his subtle power before?

He was waiting.

"I, uh..." She felt herself caught in his gaze. "I don't know. I guess I just wanted to see you."

"Alright."

She sighed. There was an edge to him, subtle but present. One that told her Andre was right about him not trusting her. Why did she want to cry again? What emotions were distressing her this time?

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she murmured. "I shouldn't have disturbed you."

"You're not," he said. "You like the forest?"

"I love it," she said honestly, smiling as she gazed around. "The colors, the smells. It's incredible." Her gaze lingered on a small bunch of colorful flowers hugging the base of a tree. "It's good not to be dead."

"If you say so." He was studying her.

"Do you like the forest?" she asked, suddenly nervous under his scrutiny.

"If you do, I do."

Her face felt warm. She met his gaze. He offered his hand. Deidre stepped forward to take it, and they began walking down the path. She was lost for a moment in the sensations of his warm hand clasping hers. The trail was narrow enough that she found herself running into his frame or leaning against him. His scent and heat, the warmth of his magic, the heady sensations of being so close to him...

She concentrated on placing her feet and not on his body.

"Andre said your tumor is gone," Gabriel said.

"Yes," she answered.

He lifted his arm to guide her ahead of him as the path narrowed. His other hand went to her back. Deidre's insides were shaking already from the touches. When he pulled her to a stop, she held her breath. His thick body was at her back, and he shifted close enough to remain in contact while his large hands settled on her arms.

"Do you see them?" he asked.

She blinked, pulling her attention from the heat racing through her body. In a clearing that started a few feet away was a small herd of elk. A majestic buck, several dark does, a couple of spindly-legged fawns. Deidre watched, intrigued by how graceful and silent the large creatures were as they moved through the clearing.

"They're beautiful," she said. "They're like you. They're pretty light on their feet for being so big."

"Thanks," he said with a snort.

The quiet between them felt awkward. She leaned back, resting her head on his chest. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Tucked against him, she was comfortable but unable to relax, too aware of the effect his size and strength had on her. She waited for him to say something about all that Andre had pried out of her. Would he be holding her like he was, if he knew?

No. It wasn't possible. He was too good. Andre was serious about leaving her to tell him. The feeling she didn't like – guilt – crept into her. She didn't want to keep secrets from Gabriel. If she did, she was making it harder for him to trust her. She didn't want to think about the human she'd left in the hands of the demon lord.

Revealing her secrets, though, would drive Gabriel away forever.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

She almost gasped, wondering if he was reading her mind. She reminded herself if he did, he wouldn't be holding her. He'd be condemning her to Hell the same way she did the human he loved.

"I'm thinking...I waited my whole life for this moment," she replied.

"Are you happy?"

"No," she whispered. "It's not like I wanted it to be. I thought it'd be easier."

"Being human isn't easy."

"I'm seeing that. How do I... earn your trust, Gabriel? So you want to be with me?"

He shifted behind her and was quiet for a long moment. She held her breath, wondering if he meant to respond or not. She hated not being able to read his mind and see his thoughts, the way she had for the thousands of years they served the underworld together. Was he angry at her? Judging her? Did he think she was weak, the way she thought he was weak when their roles were reversed?

"Let's get something straight. I already want to be with you," he started. "When we were on the beach last, you challenged me to win you over. I think we both have that issue now."

"You don't have to win me," she returned.

"You don't trust me, either. Pretty sure you're hiding something important. If you trusted me, that wouldn't be the case."

"I did not think of it that way," she said, abruptly dismayed. "What if what I am not telling you drove you away?"

"That won't happen."

"Hmmmm."

"There's the problem." He chuckled. "I don't know shit about a functional relationship, but being with you all those years taught me what a dysfunctional one was. I never trusted you. You never trusted me. That is the first fucking thing we'll figure out this time around."

"We were dysfunctional?"

"Seriously?"

"I thought everything was fine," she said.

"You know that's not the case now, right?"

"I don't know," she said. After a pause, she continued. "Gabriel, I didn't know you were unhappy with me."

"You didn't have the capacity to care."

"But I did care. So much I gave up everything to be right here, right now."

He said nothing.

"You know that, don't you?" she pressed, heart fluttering.

"I know what you were capable of as a deity. I'm afraid to know what you've done to get here," he said softly. "No matter what it was, though, you're my mate. I'll protect you, Deidre, I promise it. It's my duty and obligation. I want it to be more, but that might take time, if we ever get there."

Deidre listened. She wanted to believe him. Would he really accept her once she told him she sacrificed an innocent human to the Dark One? A human he might have loved?

She was terrified by the thought of him leaving her. Or rejecting her. Or worse, staying with her for eternity but hating her.

"We can start with you telling me your secret."

"There's nothing to tell you," she whispered. "Will you answer a question for me, Gabriel?"

"I'll do my best."

Her heart fell further. By the cool tone, he was as far from trusting her as she was from revealing her secret.

"I know I'm... different now than I was the other night when we were on the beach," she said hesitantly. "Does that disappoint you? Me being different?"

Gabriel was quiet for a long moment, which she took as a bad sign. If he had to think about how to respond, it probably wasn't good.

"I don't know who you are, Deidre. I never have. If you don't stop lying to me, I never will," he replied. "It doesn't matter what color your hair is or what Darkyn did to you." There was more that he wasn't saying, and she suspected he was protecting her from the truth.

"You loved her. Me," she corrected quickly. "The human version of me better."

Gabriel released her and moved away. Deidre felt the pain again, the one without a physical source but which she felt as if a knife was piercing her soul.

"You both lied to me," he said. "You both trusted Darkyn over me."

No, this definitely wasn't what she expected when she made the choices she did long ago to start this chain-of-events. She didn't remember what those choices involved but didn't think it mattered. The chain-of-events had unfolded the way she planned, except that Gabriel didn't fall into her lap, and she had lost all her power in the process. There was too much resentment in his voice for it to be the result of one week with the human she created.

Her Gabriel had distrusted her – hated her even? – for much longer. Dysfunctional? She thought what they had was special, never realizing he was miserable. Her chin trembled, and suddenly, she cursed the human emotions. They made her weak and frightened. The goddess she had been would mock her for choosing to become what she'd always despised.

What happened if Gabriel didn't want to be with her at all? If she lost her deal with the human and Darkyn came to collect? The mating laws from the time-before-time were absolute, but what if Darkyn and Gabriel made their own private deal to return the human Gabriel loved and abandon past-Death to the hands of the Dark One?

She shivered. She never thought she had a chance of losing this round.

"For what it's worth, Gabriel, I've always loved you," she said in a low, tight voice.

Unable to look at him or control the tears starting to form, Deidre walked away.

There was a good chance that human-Deidre was dead by now anyway. She didn't want to know what happened at the end of the week, when Darkyn showed up to claim her soul.

She'd already lost two days. How could she possibly win in the next five?

Gabriel watched Deidre's small form walk into the forest. Her shoulders were hunched, her head down. He felt her pain but didn't know what to do about it. For the first time in their relationship, he'd been completely honest with her. Unfortunately, he realized he would rather have told the goddess version of her the truth than the fragile human.

Even so, she hadn't even considered telling him whatever it was she was hiding. He wasn't certain what frustrated him more: knowing he hurt her or knowing she'd changed every part of her – but the one that mattered. The one that might one day consider him an equal worth trusting with her heart.

So he said nothing. Her question was a good one: did he like who she was two days ago better? He didn't think it mattered. Whatever she did sounded permanent.

Troubled, Gabriel didn't move until she was gone from sight.

He returned to Andre. The graceful Immortal was in the study, hands folded in his hands, as if waiting for him.

"Shit," Gabriel muttered.

Andre smiled.

"You knew how that would go."

"I made an educated guess, based on what I knew about both of you," Andre replied. "Before you ask: the answer is no."

Gabe drew a breath, expecting Andre wouldn't betray the confidence of his mate. He planned on asking. Andre's patient smile reminded him of how there was a time when he never would've considered asking for such a favor.

Deities did things differently, but he wasn't about to do what his predecessor would have and demand a favor of someone like Andre. He wanted to be different than the other deities who didn't respect any boundaries, even if he was breaking Immortal Laws right and left to try to salvage his underworld.

"I get it," he said. "Will you tell me if she's in any danger?"

"Not that I can tell, but we didn't get into details about her dealings with Darkyn. A better person to ask might be Darkyn."

"Yeah, right," Gabriel said with a grimace. "Trust a demon above my mate?"

"You wouldn't be the first."

"Ouch, Andre."

"That's for considering asking me to betray someone else's trust," Andre said with a grin.

"If she owed him something, Darkyn wouldn't be waiting for her to deliver. She'd be scared. So, I'm assuming he isn't the looming problem."

"Safe assumption. Except that he's still got a hand in all this," Andre said calmly.

Gabriel shook his head. "You know what I'm going to do, Andre?"

Andre waited.

"I'm going to kill demons and collect souls, until I set things right. Whatever happens with my mate, happens if or when it does."

"I support that. You both need your space," Andre agreed.

Gabriel frowned. He didn't like the sound of that.

"In other matters," Gabriel started. "I need to talk to you about something important. It has to do with Erik."

"I'm guessing he's no longer missing."

"Parts of him aren't," Gabriel said with a wry smile.

Andre gave him a disapproving look, and Gabriel realized the joke was probably misplaced when talking to the family member of the deceased.

"Rhyn said you didn't find his soul."

"We didn't," Gabriel said. "You may not want to leave the fortress."

"I'm not worried about Darkyn," Andre replied calmly.

"That makes one of us."

"I've yet to meet someone who couldn't be handled, given the right approach."

Gabriel smiled. Men like him and Rhyn didn't know how to be diplomatic like Andre. He began to think more and more that raising Andre was worth breaking the thousands of Immortal Laws it cost.

"It is a shame about Erik," Andre continued. "I don't suppose you will find a need to raise him or Kris as you did me."

"If I need to, I will," Gabriel said. "Right now, I'm wondering what Darkyn wants with his soul."

"Ask him."

"You really want me to see Darkyn, don't you?" Gabriel crossed his arms. "There's still some connection between him and my mate, isn't there?"

"Connection is a strong word."

Great. Gabriel wasn't certain what Andre wanted him to know. He did know, however, that the last time he avoided a deity – Fate – he ended up fucking up his world. He didn't think he could do much worse, but the fact the Dark One held the key to something he might need to know was not promising. At all.

"I'll consider it," he said. "As much as I dread it."

"Gabriel, I don't want to turn you against her," Andre continued. "It's a hard line for me to walk. She does love you. She always has. You should remember that."

"It's hard to believe when I feel like she's lying to me."

"I know it is."

Andre didn't deny she was lying to him, which left Gabriel even less certain what to do about his mate. His instinct was to do what he had last week: put up some sort of barrier between them, until he saw she could be trusted. He didn't want to be hurt again. Ever. Or risk that there was something else going on that would drive his mate back to Darkyn for whatever reason.

Then again, putting up that barrier was what drove her to Darkyn after their romantic night on the beach. He didn't give her the reassurance she sought about whether or not they had a real future together, and she brokered a deal with the Dark One in a desperate attempt to ensure she had a chance with Gabriel.

For what it's worth, Gabriel, I've always loved you. These were the words of the goddess not the human. This much he knew.

## Day Three

## Chapter Six

Past-Death slept fitfully. She'd had what humans called nightmares. They were awful. She was running from someone in the forest and instead of helping her, Gabriel would only watch. Then there were those where Darkyn was stripping off her skin and sucking her blood. She hadn't been able to wake up, and the sensations felt too real.

When she awoke, she was relieved but tired. She stretched and climbed out of bed. The room was chilly, the marble flooring freezing. Deidre hopped from foot to foot before realizing she could put on socks. She didn't have a sock warmer in her room – something Cora called a toaster – but the socks were better than the floor.

Only when able to tolerate the floor did she cross to the French doors. She'd left them partially open, and the morning air was cold as it swept through her room. She pushed the door closed and stood, shivering, and gazed at the green glow visible even during daylight.

"This is totally fucked up," she murmured, shaking her head. Even if she wasn't Death anymore, she could gauge just how bad things were. She cocked her head to the side and filtered through her memories.

What she recalled was a pittance of what she had known as a goddess. She mourned the loss of all she'd ever learned or known. But she remembered everything from the past twenty-six years. Significant events of the human world, deals with deities, Immortal dealings. Was there anything remaining of her memory that might help Gabriel? Make him want to trust her?

She padded around her room for her morning routine, thoughtful. The crushing emotions from yesterday were more tolerable today. All she had to do was find a way to prevent them from crippling her logic for now. She wished with all her heart she could package them back up and put them back wherever they'd been when she was a deity.

She needed to think. She hadn't outsmarted generations of deities and Immortals while laden with emotions, but she had still done it. She just had to get control of herself and be proactive, the way she was a mere three days before. She could help Gabriel and the souls, even if her whole world crashed at the end of the week.

When she was dressed and ready, she left her room and walked through the fortress to the bottom floor. Andre took her to the garden the morning before, and that's where she went this time. Stationed outside her room, Cora trailed her at a distance, silent and darkly dressed, like a shadow.

Deidre paced through the garden, not really interested in the blooming flowers, statuary or neat rows of hedges. Instead, she concentrated on figuring out what knowledge she could about the souls in the lake. How was it possible they were in the mortal realm? Why were they cast out of the underworld?

She stopped in front of a small mural depicting a triangle with a form at each of the points.

Human, Immortal, Deity.

Her eyes rested on the figure of a girl representing the humans. Reluctantly, her thoughts returned to the human she'd left in Hell.

She'd dreamt of human-Deidre, too. Those dreams were the worst. In them, she had been the human trapped in Hell being bled and tortured daily by Darkyn. Even if she managed to save the souls and win Gabriel, the truth was going to ruin everything.

Unless she could make the truth... bearable. Different.

"Cora, can you ask Gabriel if I can go to a...um, mall today?" she asked, turning.

Cora stepped forward. "Mall? You've got demons after you."

"I need more shoes and I can't call a portal."

Cora shook her head. She let out a sigh and summoned a portal. She disappeared into it. Deidre waited until the portal closed then bolted out of the gardens.

She ran outside the walls of the fortress into the forest. Only when she was panting did she stop and look back to make certain no one from the castle could see her.

"Darkyn," she called. She waited.

He didn't come at first, and she frowned, assuming he was messing with her. The Dark One never missed an opportunity to prey on someone. She turned to leave, suspecting she didn't have much time before Cora returned and raised the alarm about her being gone.

Darkyn stood behind her. Deidre jumped back, gasping.

"Gods, Darkyn!" she belted. "Why must you do that?"

"I take pleasure in knowing you can't sense me anymore, love," he replied with a half-smile.

"You've been there since I summoned you."

He nodded.

Deidre shifted, aware again that she was now defenseless against the creatures that used to either fear her or at least, respect her power. A head taller than her, he was lean and calm, his black eyes missing nothing. It struck her that his way of doing business was strange. His predecessor lulled people into trusting him with charisma and magic.

Darkyn was the opposite: aggressive. He never tried to hide what he was. He sank his teeth into someone and never let go, until they were in Hell. He was the unpredictable, violent creature she always considered him in battle but not in dealing. Here, he was calm and calculating. Predatory.

"How can I be of service?" he asked.

His polite address terrified her. He was treating her the way he did every other hapless, foolish, unsuspecting human he pulled down to Hell. Which meant he was likely aware of what it would take to condemn her and was waiting for his opening. With no magic, she had to be more careful when dealing with him.

"I wanted to know if Deidre is still alive," she said.

"How is that your concern?"

"It's not necessarily," she admitted. "I simply want to know."

Darkyn's gaze never left hers. He was assessing. She willed her mind not to betray her, aware he could read her too easily now that she was human.

"For now," he said.

Deidre wasn't certain if that was good or not. Was it worse to be alive in Hell at his mercy or slaughtered by the Dark One?

"She's... okay?"

Darkyn smiled coldly. Deidre swallowed hard, images from her nightmares returning.

"You can ensure she stays alive and relatively okay," he offered. "How important is it to you?"

"No," she said quickly. "No deals."

"So it's not important to you that the woman Gabriel loves stays alive," he said.

Deidre bit her tongue to keep from taking the bait.

"I find it fascinating that you and Wynn profess to care yet aren't willing to deal," Darkyn mused. "Must be some emotional failing."

"Self-preservation, I think," she said. "If I thought you'd give me a fair deal, I'd consider it."

"Maybe you prefer her dead," he continued.

"No," she said before she could stop herself.

"It would remove the obstacle between you and your mate."

"You answered my question. That's all I wanted to know."

"Very well." He turned as if to leave then stopped. "I wonder. How is your deal with her going?"

"How is that your concern?" she asked mockingly.

"I have an interest in the outcome."

"Not until the deal is up," she said.

Darkyn circled her, pretending to consider. She did her best to stay cool and detached, the way she would have if she were still a goddess.

"You are doing well at ensuring my mate wins," he stated. "I don't think you need my help in that area."

The human side of her hated his tone and the truth of his words more. She was fucking up without the help of the Dark One that wanted her to lose.

"Then again, I'm known for ensuring I win at all costs," he added. "Would revealing your secret to him make him pity you or drive him away?"

"Whatever you want from me, you won't get it," she snapped. "I'm not making a deal with you. Ever."

"Maybe that tune will change when you lose your soul in four days."

"You also know Gabriel won't kill me even if I do lose. You will have to wait for my soul to come to her." Deidre glared at him. He was pleased with himself.

"What if something happens to you at the end of the deal?"

"Something like you kidnapping me, killing me and claiming my soul?" she challenged.

"It has a nice sound to it, doesn't it?"

"Except your mate would get my soul, not you."

"Because she bears you less ill will than I do?" Darkyn responded. "Because you didn't dump her in Hell with the most violent demon in Hell?"

Deidre said nothing. She never realized how easily he read those around him until he was throwing her thoughts into her face. Human Deidre was probably terrified, a bloody mess who would do whatever Darkyn told her at the end of the week in exchange for him sparing her more pain.

"I can summon her," she said suddenly. "What makes you think I won't tell Gabe, summon her and he'll claim her?" At least, she could when Gabriel let her access the portals again.

"Insurance."

Deidre frowned, confused. Darkyn wasn't afraid of anything she might do. She didn't understand exactly why, except that Gabe was locked out of the underworld. Even if they got human-Deidre away from Darkyn, Darkyn could find and reclaim her anywhere she was hidden, outside of Death's underworld.

"By the end of the week, she won't want Gabriel anyway. You'll be stuck with your mess and no soul," he said.

Her eyes widened. "That I'd almost make a deal about. Unless you're using magic on her, there's no way any woman – Immortal, deity or human – would ever choose to stay with you."

The demon lord bristled visibly for a split second, long enough to tell her she hit a nerve.

"We'll see, won't we?" he asked, relaxing. "Fortunately, I'm not the one with my soul on the line."

Deidre studied him, unable to determine what was going on with him and the human he'd kept in Hell. Human-Deidre was alive, if nothing else. Darkyn spoke as if he intended for her to remain that way, at least through the end of the deal.

What condition Darkyn's mate was in was not something past-Death wanted to think about. It made her feel ill.

"A visit to Gabriel seems to be in order," Darkyn said. "You're fucking up fine, but... sometimes it pays to be doubly sure."

"No, don't," she said, gritting her teeth. "You think I won't tell him. You're wrong."

"Am I?"

She was quiet for a moment, grappling with emotions that kept clouding her judgment. It was dangerous to deal with Darkyn when emotional.

"You will do the opposite of what the human you created would," Darkyn said. "Perhaps you belong in Hell, not her."

She flushed.

"When you want to deal, summon me. Otherwise, don't waste my time." The demon lord strode into a portal, leaving her angry and no closer to alleviating her remorse.

Deidre blew out air in frustration then looked around. She was so tense, her shoulders ached. She shrugged them and glanced back the way she came. No part of her wanted to be cooped up right now. She had to find a way to help Gabe.

Darkyn was right. She wasn't going to reveal her secret unless she had to. Perhaps when she lost her soul at the end of the week or maybe, if she could help him recover his underworld, she'd tell Gabriel then. She had to wait for the right moment, when she wouldn't risk losing him.

She paused mid-step. The thoughts made her feel worse. She couldn't think about human-Deidre, powerless and vulnerable in the hands of the most violent demon in Hell. Then again, Darkyn was right. As guilty as she felt, she wasn't willing to make a deal with him to protect the human she'd condemned. Because if she did, she'd lose what little she had left.

Past-Death began walking again. She was unaware of where she went until a death dealer faded from the surrounding forest. He didn't confront her, but he startled her. She slowed, hating that she no longer had the heightened senses of a deity. No one had ever been able to sneak up on her before, and now, it seemed like everyone did. The human senses that made her gasp at the colors of spring flowers were also ill-made to defend them against Immortals and deities.

The death dealer didn't challenge her, instead melting back into the forest shadows.

Deidre reached the earthly version of the Lake of Souls. She always experienced a sense of peace around the souls. Perhaps it was the knowledge they were safe because of her. No deity or Immortal or living human ever welcomed or accepted Death, but the souls always had.

She went to the edge of the lake and peered into it. Seating herself on a low bank, she studied the souls. They were green, glowing and healthy. They didn't suffer, which was good. The only problem seemed to be that they were somehow trapped on the mortal plane.

"There are so many," she murmured, dismayed by the green glow over the lake. It wasn't a natural phenomenon.

Losing a soul was always a possibility. Sometimes even she had put one in her pocket and forgotten to drop it in the lake for weeks. But how did one misplace or lose millions? Possibly billions?

"Deidre!" Cora sounded frantic.

She glanced over her shoulder. The female death dealer was exiting a portal.

"Don't leave without me," Cora lectured. "I'm under strict orders to keep you safe."

"I can do as I wish," Deidre snapped in response. She pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the death dealer's glare. "These souls. Are they all new? Or did they cross over from the underworld?"

Cora frowned. When she didn't answer, Deidre faced her.

"Look, I may not be Death, but I'm his mate. Tell me."

"Gods. We don't know," Cora responded. "Does it matter?"

"Of course it does."

"All we know is that they appeared in over fifty lakes across the world. Gabe had us gather them all and place them here near the Immortals."

"So they crossed over."

"Maybe. We haven't been able to collect souls for very long. We didn't have the ability to gather this many."

Deidre gritted her teeth, silently cursing everyone under the sun for not keeping better track of the souls. Maybe Gabe was right; maybe this was partially her fault for breaking too many Immortal Laws at once.

"I feel like I should know how to fix things," she muttered. "It's in here somewhere." She tapped her temple.

She remembered what caused the dome of her underworld to crack. If it happened before and she fixed it, she couldn't recall. Her eyes went to the sky instinctively.

The souls crossed over into mortal lakes, after the dome of her underworld cracked, and she resigned. How were the two connected?

"Gabriel said no more shoes," Cora said.

"Fine."

Deidre ignored the grunt the death dealer gave her in response. She moved once more to the edge of the lake and stared at the souls. Most of them rested in piles at the bottom of the lake while some floated in the water. They moved slowly to the bank on which she stood, bumped into the dirt wall and floated to nestle into piles at the bottom.

The deliberate dance was methodical. She watched it for a few seconds, entranced by the movement. The green gems were caught in some sort of invisible current that ended when it reached the bank. A few floated away until caught by another current while others settled nearby.

Her instinct wriggled. Deidre sought to figure out what it was about the currents and subtle movement that kept her in place when she wanted to return to the castle, where it was warm. She found herself walking along the bank, gaze on the souls that were moving. The panhandle fed into the roughly circular main body of the lake, and she paused. More gems swirled in the lake, seemingly at random.

But they weren't.

Lake of Souls bubbling.

That issue, she should understand how to fix. Maybe, at one time, she did. Mesmerized by the souls, Deidre stopped in place suddenly. She didn't understand what her instincts were trying to tell her, but right now, they wanted her to climb a tree to see the lake from above.

Striding to a tree, she barked an order.

"Tree, up!"

It didn't respond like the ones in her underworld would. She touched a branch gingerly, uncertain if the trees here were sensitive to touch or not. When it didn't fling her, she moved closer and gripped a low branch. With effort, Deidre hauled herself up onto a branch, wrapped her legs around it in a careful balancing act then stretched upward for the next. She continued in that fashion until she was a good fifteen feet off the ground. It wasn't high enough for her to see exactly what she wanted, but she was tired from effort.

"These are the laziest trees in any of the worlds," she complained, not caring what the tree thought of her.

Deidre looped her arm through branches and leaned out as far as she could to see the lake.

The movements that seemed random when standing beside the lake were lazily coordinated from above. She could see the paths of currents. They moved like pinwheels around the mound of souls in the center of the lake. The starting point was on the near side of the lake. The movements seemed to start there, circle around the lake then drop, as if there was an invisible wall.

It meant something, but she didn't know what.

"What're you doing?" Cora sounded exasperated.

Deidre shifted to see the woman standing below. She carefully began the trip down the tree. Dropping the last few feet to the ground, she regained her balance.

"I am not pleased by these mortal plants. They're beautiful but useless," she grumbled. "Any idea why the currents run the direction they do in the lake?"

"No." The death dealer was gazing at her intently.

"Did you notice the currents in the lake?"

"No. I'm sure Gabe did."

Deidre almost rolled her eyes but stopped herself. It was good that Cora had faith in Gabriel when he was losing death dealers who no longer believed in him. Cora was a good woman, and Gabriel needed those in his life.

"There are no currents in the Lake of Souls," she told Cora. "Do you know what this means that there are here?"

"No."

"Me neither." Deidre strode to the edge of the lake again. She wiped away the pine needles clinging to her clothes.

Cora joined her on the bank. They stood in silence.

"Currents," Cora repeated. "There's no river feeding into this lake. Could be an underground spring or river or something causing them to move."

"They're moving in patterns," Deidre said. "This way, around the center of the lake." She drew a circle in the air.

Underground spring. She felt it again, a sense that this should mean more than it did.

"The souls just appeared," she murmured. "In lakes. With currents."

A gem bubbled to the top of the lake then dropped down, rejoining the rest of them beneath the surface. Deidre cocked her head to the side.

The Lake of Souls in her underworld was always still. What made it bubble? It was a sign that her power was weakening, just like the cracking of the sky in the underworld's dome. The demons had been able to enter her realm when the sky broke apart.

Cracking of the sky.

"Cora, I think I understand," she said. As her excitement grew, she spoke faster. "The dome cracked and the demons came through. What if the lake cracked, too, and the souls went the other way, out of the underworld and into the mortal realm?"

Cora stared at her then out at the lake.

"You're saying there are fifty cracks in the Lake of Souls?"

"The Lake of Souls is much larger than any lake on the mortal world. Maybe it cracked the plane between the two."

"Is that possible?"

"I don't know. Why not?" Deidre couldn't remember it ever happening before, but it almost made sense to her. "We have to see for sure."

"How?"

"Swimming."

Cora's eyes were on the lake. Deidre saw more than interest in them. She saw hope. Cora was loyal to Gabriel but wanted to go home, and right now, the only way there was through Darkyn. For the first time in her life, Deidre pitied the death dealers. They were caught in an impossible position: stay loyal to Gabriel and maybe never see the underworld again or deal with the Dark One to return home.

"Can you swim?" Cora asked.

"It can't be that hard." She trotted to the spot she'd identified from the tree as being where the currents appeared to originate from.

Cora rolled her eyes. She tugged off her weapons and stripped down to her bra and pants. Deidre was too cold to shed her clothing beyond her jacket but did take off her shoes. The cool mountain air made her shiver. She touched the water of the lake and groaned. It was colder than her marble floor!

Tying her hair back, she pulled off her socks, took a deep breath and dove into the frigid lake.

"Wait for –" Cora's words were swallowed by the shock of the cold water.

## Chapter Seven

Gabriel was fed up with everything. His mate, the demons, his exile to the human realm. Today, it seemed harder to swallow than before. He wasn't certain why; they were making progress on every front. He knew what souls the demons were after, and his death dealers were equipped with the soul compasses. His mate was allegedly no longer dying of a tumor, even if he couldn't figure out what secrets she hid, and his newfound independence left him wary of the Immortal Laws but no longer enslaved by them.

The longer he thought, the more he realized his frustration had nothing to do with his duties as Death. It had to do with a certain mate. With not trusting her but wanting to without understanding why. Andre confirmed that her tumor was gone, which meant they had a chance at a healthy relationship. Gabriel could move forward, try to win over the woman who seemed much more interested in him than she had a few days ago, before her deal with the Dark One.

Did her secret really matter? It wasn't possible that it could affect their life together. Nothing could, at this point.

"Darkyn," he summoned the Dark One, determined to uncover what he could.

Tomorrow. The response was instant.

Gabriel rolled his eyes. What was so important that the Dark One ignored a summons?

He tapped the lectern on which the Oracle was busy writing in her book. The heavy Caribbean air of the Sanctuary was warm and fragrant with the scent of the sea. Pushing himself away from the book that would reveal nothing he sought, he went to the small, square window overlooking the stone structure of the Sanctuary.

"If Daniela finds you here, she'll flip out," he said without turning.

"Shit. There's nothing she can do to make my day worse."

"She could poison your tea."

"Gods, I hope she does."

Gabe smiled, glancing over his shoulder at the frustrated half-demon. Rhyn looked angry, his air crackling with agitation. His dark hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck. He wore jeans and a snug t-shirt that outlined his muscular frame. He was armed with several knives, and his silver eyes were fiery.

"You really aren't supposed to be here," Gabriel chided, knowing it was useless. His friend was well aware he got a pass at just about every rule he broke.

"Hey, you wanna spar?"

"What's up?" Gabriel faced his friend, entertained at Rhyn's apparent restlessness. "You act like you've been shut out of your underworld or your mate made a deal with Darkyn and turned into someone else. You upset about Erik?"

"Shit no." Rhyn flashed a grin. "Ever have like a secret you can't tell your best friend but you really, really want to?"

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

"I don't have one now. It was about Katie, when she was in the underworld and you didn't know she was alive," Gabriel clarified.

Rhyn stared at him then began to laugh.

Gabriel eyed him, unaware of what the half-demon found funny about the major event preceding his takeover as Death. Rhyn stopped after a minute of belly laughs.

"Alright. You made my day," he said. "Where's this poisoned tea?"

"Something going on?" Gabriel asked, perplexed.

"For once, I think Kiki is right. I need to be discreet. Besides, we're even now."

"I don't want to know." Gabriel shook his head. "I feel like I'm winning my battles but losing the war."

"I won a battle today," Rhyn said with a frown. "No idea what it'll cost, though. The demons stopped killing human kids."

"Please tell me you didn't make a deal with Darkyn."

"I didn't. All I did was ask someone who had some influence with the bastard."

"No terms?" Gabriel asked, unaware of the Dark One doing anyone favors for free.

"None."

"That's great, Rhyn."

"I want to think so." Rhyn didn't look happy at all. He shook his head.

"There's a lot more, isn't there?" Gabriel asked. "Darkyn doesn't listen to anyone."

"Yeah. But, it's done," Rhyn hurried on. "Your dealers are finding souls and you're beating the demons. I don't think you're losing the war. Making up ground, maybe."

"Could be. Something isn't right yet. I've got a handle on things, but the underworld is still closed to me. I can't fix whatever is wrong down there," Gabriel said in frustration. "I found out there's a way for the rebellion to permanently remove me from my position." His gaze went to the Oracle, who had shed no light on what was going on in his underworld. Even the book was shutting him out.

"So you'd be stuck here?" Rhyn asked.

"No, I'd be sent to Hell."

Rhyn grimaced. Gabriel felt a pang of guilt. He'd been the one to deliver his friend to Hell many years ago. Though he had visited Rhyn regularly, Gabriel never was able to fully forgive himself for what felt like a betrayal of the only friend he had.

"I need to get back home," he muttered. He definitely didn't look forward to waking up one day in Hell. He wanted to think that being booted from his position was the least of his concerns. He always put his duty first.

But he was worried about his soul.

"Can Deidre help?"

"Not sure. Darkyn did a number on her before sending her back," Gabriel said.

Rhyn looked at him blankly then said. "Oh, yeah. Your current mate."

Gabriel eyed him.

"You could always ask her. Maybe there's a backdoor or someone she knows in Hell who can help you."

"I will," Gabriel said, doubting that Deidre was able to help without her memories.

"Any news on Erik?"

"No. None."

Rhyn watched him. To anyone else, the predatory stare of a demon would come across as threatening. Gabriel knew his friend well enough to know he was contemplating.

"Sometimes, you have to let go of shit that happened in the past," Rhyn said at last.

Gabriel laughed. "You are the worst philosopher I know."

"I'm being straight with you." Rhyn grinned. "I think you're here looking for answers in that thing." He motioned to the Oracle's book. "You have your mate. She's healthy. She adores you. Go with it."

"I'm waiting for the tables to turn and there to be another Deidre. I've known what? Three in the past few months?" Gabriel shook his head.

"I think this is the last Deidre you get. I don't think the other one is coming back," Rhyn replied. "Not that there is another one. Just that... whatever happened, it's done."

Gabriel studied him.

"You're afraid of being hurt and not willing to take a chance," Rhyn assessed. "I know you Gabe. Trust me. Whatever is going on, this Deidre is your mate."

"You think I'm in my own way again.

"I think you've suffered enough. Deidre is here. The rest will work itself out. You might as well accept it."

Gabriel smiled. Every once in awhile, the half-demon surprised him with the depth of his observations and compassion. Though rough around the edges, Rhyn was the best friend Gabriel had ever had.

He considered the simple wisdom of his friend. Rhyn was right. Whatever deal the Dark One made, the result was clear. Gabriel's mate was alive and well. No tumor, nothing to stop them from working through whatever issues they had to make a life together.

His gaze drifted back to the Oracle. The only danger he saw of losing his mate – again – was if she had any outstanding debt to Darkyn. She claimed not, but he wasn't entirely certain. Even so, he had his mate, and she wasn't going anywhere. Maybe, just maybe, it was okay to take a chance.

"Alright. I'm headed back. You staying here?" Rhyn asked, opening a portal.

Gabriel looked around. The Oracle had given him nothing, and he didn't feel able to sit still and drink tea with Daniela, the headmistress of the order of nuns who managed this Sanctuary.

"Yeah," he said. "I'll make sure Deidre hasn't set the place on fire yet." Gabriel followed Rhyn into the portal. Instinctively, he looked around for the grey door leading to his underworld.

Every time he didn't find it where it should be, he grew more homesick.

Rhyn went through one door while Gabriel went through another. He emerged beside the lake, where two death dealers stood over Cora. The female dealer was in her bra and a soaked pair of pants.

Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and he went to them curiously. Of all the insanity going on around him, he figured Cora was the last to go crazy and dive into the lake.

"We figured it out!" she exclaimed. "Well, Deidre did."

"Figured out what?" he asked.

"Where the souls are coming from."

Gabriel glanced out over the lake. Cora flung water from her arms and stood. A rope was tied around a rock nearby. It was taut. His gaze followed it to the water, where it disappeared into the lake.

"She thinks the Lake of Souls cracked the same way the sky did," Cora said in excitement. "We found where the souls are coming into the lakes. There are little tears between the two worlds, and the souls are escaping."

Though terrible news, Gabriel couldn't help thinking it was the best thing he'd heard all week. He was able to tackle this kind of problem, unlike the strange tension between him and his mate.

"Deidre figured it out," Cora said again.

"How?" he asked, hoping this wasn't secret knowledge she hadn't shared with him.

"She noticed the currents then climbed a tree and said they were moving in a pattern around the lake. We went to where the pattern started, and there were the cracks."

"Wow."

"Yeah. We found five tears. They're letting in about five souls a minute."

"Five souls a minute times how many minutes in the past six months..." Gabriel shook his head. "If souls can get out, maybe we found a new way in."

"Well... I tried to hack a part one of the tears," Cora said. "It didn't work. The only thing we might be able to do is plug the holes."

He chose to overlook Cora's disappointment at how close she'd been to home without being able to go back. They were all suffering; the more he dwelled on it, the worse it seemed.

"What is this?" he asked, kicking the taut rope.

Cora's eyes dropped, and she jerked forward. "Oh, gods. I forgot about her." She leaned over to grab the thick rope and yanked it up, pulling it up hand over hand. Her lean body handled the strenuous task easily.

"Let me guess. My mate?" Gabriel asked.

Cora grunted in response. "By the way, if she tells you she can swim, she can't."

Gabriel crouched near the edge of the lake. A few seconds later, Deidre's blond head bobbed to the surface. She was a few feet into the lake, coughing and sputtering.

"Cora!" she complained.

"Sorry," Cora replied. "I forgot." She hauled the smaller woman closer to shore.

"It's... okay. I'm not... dead."

Gabriel smiled. It shouldn't be funny, especially not when coming from her. When Deidre was close enough, Gabriel stretched out and gripped the rope looped under her shoulders. He hauled her out of the water easily. Deidre gasped, gaze flying up to him.

He rested her on the ground. For a moment, she seemed apprehensive. And then she grinned. A huge, triumphant grin with the satisfaction of the goddess and the beautiful flush of a human. She was drenched and shaking from cold but happy.

"I figured it out!" she told him.

"I heard." Gabriel untied the knot from the rope and tossed it.

"I can't feel my hands," she said and displayed them, fascination on her features.

This time, Gabriel did laugh. "I think you need to warm up."

"Not before we seal the tears," she told him stubbornly. "We have to take care of the souls first, Gabriel."

"Are you lecturing me again?" he asked, entertained.

"I'm helping you. How long have the souls been here and you didn't know? And now I'll help you fix everything, since you can't do it yourself."

She was too happy for him to be offended. She truly wanted to help him. Gabriel wasn't certain why that surprised him. Deidre had always been protective of the souls. Suddenly, he thought that she had never looked as beautiful as she did standing drenched and shivering beside the lake. She glowed.

"Cora. Plug the holes," he ordered. "You're going to warm up, Deidre." He opened a portal.

"No, Gabriel, I – "

"I'll carry you."

Cora coughed to cover up her laugh. Deidre stared at him as if deciding whether she wanted to be angry or disappointed. Finally, she went. Gabriel trailed her, resisting the urge to wrap her shivering body in his arms.

When they reached her room, he went to her wardrobe.

"You need to change before you get sick," he said.

"I don't get sick."

"Humans do."

She appeared surprised. Water dripped off her into a puddle at her feet. Her attention shifted to her hands, and he stared at her as she focused on moving them. There were moments when he didn't know what the human side of her was thinking. She seemed to have dropped any form of common sense somewhere between Hell and her world.

He shook his head and pulled out a new sweater. Deidre glared at him.

"Different color?" he asked.

"Don't touch my clothes."

Irritated by her tone, he reached in and ran his hand down the line of her sweaters.

"They're mine, Gabriel," she retorted. "You could be nicer. I just helped you protect the souls."

"You did," he said. "I'm impressed."

"You shouldn't be." She crossed to him and pushed the door to her wardrobe closed. "You don't have to trust me, but I really am trying to help you."

"Because you love me." The words were out before he thought to stop. He wasn't even certain why he said them. She'd claimed as much yesterday.

Deidre didn't respond. She locked the wardrobe, still shivering.

"Am I right?" he asked, bracing an arm on either side of her.

She kept her back to him. "I shouldn't have said it."

"So it's true."

Deidre sighed.

"You said it earlier. I just want to hear it again," he said.

"Why? You already said we're dysfunctional."

"We were dysfunctional. It doesn't mean we have to be this time around."

This caught her attention, and she turned. Deidre rested against the wardrobe, arms crossed as she shook from cold but blue eyes riveted to him. He liked trying to get a rise out of her, and he really did want to know where they stood in her mind and whether or not he had to worry about her running off to make more deals with Darkyn.

"How do we become not dysfunctional?" she asked, puzzled. "Especially since I never knew we were."

"I think it starts with us giving each other a chance."

Deidre studied him. He wasn't certain what might be going through her mind. She appeared conflicted yet hopeful. The difference between her before her Monday night deal with Darkyn and now almost made him reconsider. But wasn't this what he wanted? The woman he fell for on the beach, without the tumor?

"How do I do that?" she asked.

"You started today with the souls. I'm grateful for your help."

"We can do it together, Gabriel." She beamed a smile. "I can help you with being Death. We can both take care of the souls."

It was a far cry from the woman who ran away screaming from the soul she accidentally touched last week or the goddess who would've commanded him rather than risk getting her hands dirty. Gabriel was taken aback. He didn't realize how great of a transformation had really taken place within the small woman gazing up at him. She didn't just have the body of a human and the knowledge of the goddess; she wanted to help him enough that she was willing to overcome her fear.

Granted, he was Death, and she was offering a partnership running the underworld instead of deferring to him in his role in charge of the underworld. In the course of three days, the goddess had almost learned to see him as an equal while her human side no longer in denial about her destiny.

She'd done something today he didn't expect and uncovered something he and all his dealers had overlooked for months. She was honest about wanting to help him and about how she felt.

Maybe Rhyn was right and the past didn't matter so much.

Maybe the secret could wait until they had built a better foundation. He'd cave to Andre's advice and double-check with Darkyn about whether or not his mate owed the Dark One anything – formally or informally. Then, he'd stop throwing up barriers and give this Deidre a chance.

"Gabriel," she said hesitantly. "Will you kiss me?"

His arms dropped. He wasn't expecting the question. Building their relationship would mean easing into intimacy once more. He had no idea what she wanted on that front. The goddess had used sex to control him. The human feared a relationship with someone who wouldn't share more than his body.

The woman before him was completely different than either woman. The reminder revived his uneasiness. What if he fell for this Deidre and she changed once again?

"You sure?" he hedged.

She nodded. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips nervously. Gabriel offered his hand. She took it.

"Gods, you're freezing," he said and rested his other hand on top of hers to try to warm her.

Her eyes were on their clasped hands. She tucked her other hand between his to try to warm it, too. Gabriel's gaze took her in with some concern. She really was going to get sick from the cold and being soaked.

He cupped one of her cold cheeks in his hand, wanting to warm her up in whatever way it took. Gabriel dipped his head and kissed her. Her face was cold but her plump lips were warm, soft, her lips parting for him before he prodded them apart. She tasted slightly sweet, the heat of her mouth contrasting with the chill of her skin, and smelled of lake water. Deidre sank against him, and he wrapped his arms around her trembling body. Lake water seeped through his clothing. He paid it no heed, instead fascinated by the feel of her frame.

Desire spiked through him at the knowledge that his mate was in his arms. She responded to him with raw hunger, no longer timid as she had been when he kissed her the day before. Her hands were soon roaming his body curiously, resting on his jaw and trailing along his neck.

"You always smell good," she murmured, pulling away.

Her eyes traveled with intent interest over his face and followed the trail of her fingers down his neck. She rested her hands on his chest, but they didn't stay, instead running over the muscles of his chest and around to his back.

"You're so strong, Gabriel," she said in awe. "Have you always been like this?"

He chuckled. Sometimes, he thought there was none of the human left at all, just an incarnated goddess whose fascination with her new world extended to him. He loved that she was curious about his body. His one-night stand last week made him appreciate what it was to have a lover who was as infatuated by his body as he was hers. It was another part that remained of the girl he fell for last week.

He kissed her again. Her fingers ran through his short hair. She didn't move away or object when he allowed his palms to skim her curves, tracing down her sides to her hips then around to her tight bottom. He squeezed lightly then circled his arms around her, pulling her into his body. She yielded, fitting against him in a way that made him more possessive of her petite frame and fiery spirit.

Forced into hiding by the circumstances of the past two weeks, Gabriel's yearning for his mate emerged stronger than ever at her passionate kisses and touch.

"Deidre," he whispered, fluttering kisses down the side of her neck.

She groaned.

"Are we ready for this?" He paused and brushed wet hair from her face with one hand, scouring her features.

Gabriel felt a thaw deep within him, one fed by the hope that arguing over her sweaters was the worst they'd face from here on out. The worst case scenario – that she died of a tumor – was no longer possible. He had his mate in his arms. She loved him, wanted to help him.

Maybe Rhyn was right. Gabriel had to let the past go. The changes in his mate were new enough to startle him sometimes, but she was without a doubt his mate. Even his lingering doubt about the real cost of her deals with Darkyn didn't extend to the question of whether or not he was meant to be with the woman in his arms.

"I've waited my entire life for this," she said.

His resolve lasted until she spoke, and he saw the truth of her words and the expression on her face. The emotion she'd admitted to yesterday – which Andre had told him as well – shimmered in her large blue eyes. She meant it when she said she loved him. Why, then, was he hesitating to claim the woman who clearly wanted to be by his side?

Whatever secret she kept, it couldn't change this moment or what he felt.

"Are you sure?" he asked again.

"Yes, Gabriel," she replied without hesitation. "I want you more than anything. I always have. I always will."

"Then let's get you out of those wet clothes," he said huskily.

## Chapter Eight

If Deidre found pleasure in funnel cakes and warm socks, she found utter ecstasy in Gabriel's arms. She didn't remember his passion, the way he tasted and smelled and felt, or the movement of his muscles beneath taut, smooth skin. His velvety tongue was hot against her neck and her lips and as he pleasured her in ways she never experienced before. He wanted her, and nothing had ever made her happier in her life than when she saw the depth of his emotion in his eyes and lived through the consuming intensity with which he made love to her. Over and over, like it was their first time. Or maybe, like he really had loved her through the millennia they were together.

Their first afternoon of love was more than she ever thought possible. He wore her – a goddess! – out with his lovemaking and passion. Her own body burned with emotions she couldn't control: love, happiness, and a hunger so deep, she thought she'd die before he sated her. Everything from the texture of his skin to the heat of his hands branding her was heaven to one unaccustomed to the sensuality of her world.

Deidre loved it. She reveled in every inch of his skin. She wasn't expecting his gentleness or the level of his interest in exploring her body, a combination that rendered her breathless before her clothes were off. He was certain to take her to climax each time before seeking his own release, a practice she'd never participated, when she was a goddess who felt nothing.

Being with him, naked in bed, was the most natural, right and incredible experience. It reinforced what she had begun to doubt: This was where she belonged. Beside him, in bed and out, working together to run the underworld.

Dozing after his insatiable passion, she roused herself when one of Gabriel's hands moved down her body. She rested on top of him, listening to his heartbeat. His chest was warm against her ear, and she drew loose shapes against his skin, beyond intrigued by the smoothness.

It was past midnight. The room was dark, aside from the glowing souls visible through the balcony doors. Gabriel had stayed with her for hours without showing any sign he was ready to leave.

"Happy?" His voice was soft and low.

"Very," she replied. "This was the best day of my life, Gabriel."

He laughed, the rumble of his chest causing her to raise her head.

"Why are you laughing?" she asked curiously.

"I guess our first night together was subpar, if today was so much better," he replied.

A trickle of jealousy moved through her, but she dismissed it, unwilling to think about the woman he'd slept with less than two weeks before. He thought it was her, and she couldn't tell him differently.

"I want every night to be like this," she proclaimed.

"I agree."

She returned her head to his chest. Did he still think they were dysfunctional, or was he as pleased as she was? She loved the feel of his warm skin against hers and breathed in his scent deeply.

"Thank you, Gabriel," she murmured.

"For what?"

"For taking a chance on me."

He squeezed her with his thick arms, and again she marveled at how he managed to be gentle with her when he was so strong. She never appreciated his strength or level of discipline, either, before this day.

"This is a good start," Gabriel said.

She propped her chin on his chest, unable to see his eyes in the night.

"We've got a long way to go."

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"Trust."

"Ah." She absently traced a hand down his shoulder and large bicep to the roped muscles of his forearm. "But it's possible, right? We'll be happy?"

"Of course."

She'd never heard such awesome words!

"We're kind of doing it backwards," he said with humor. "Normally, you build trust then sleep with someone."

"But we already loved each other. We're not starting from scratch," she pointed out. "We're starting in the middle."

"It's still something we will work on." There was firmness in his tone that threatened to pull her happiness down a notch.

"I don't want us to change this," she said. "What if trust does?"

"We'll deal with it. I won't lose you again. We won't spend our nights away from one another. Ever."

Guilt fluttered through her, making her cold on the inside.

"You're my mate, Deidre. I swear it on my duty as Death. I won't walk away from you, no matter how bad it is," he said softly.

She said nothing. She wasn't certain why her chest felt tight enough to hinder her breathing while her eyes were watering. Why was she sad? He swore to stay with her forever, just like she wanted him to, and she felt sorrow.

Deidre tried to sort through her emotions and rationalize them. It was impossible. She didn't know what to do to return to the heady high she'd been on.

"Do you love me Gabriel?" she asked.

"It's hard for me to respond to that," he replied.

"Why?"

He was quiet for a moment. One of his thumbs stroked the small of her back as he thought. Deidre waited, needing to know what it would take for him to love her. It was far more important than the bet with the human, but Deidre couldn't help thinking about her deal and Darkyn's threat to reveal everything to Gabriel.

It was the fourth day of their seven-day deal. She'd gone from hopeful to devastated in the course of the first two days. Right now, she felt like she was on the verge of an important break through with Gabriel. One that would result in her capturing Gabriel's heart and keeping her own soul.

"Because every time I start to love you, you betray me," he said at last.

Deidre flinched.

"I want this time to be different. I know you have a secret and made deals with the Dark One. I'm holding my breath, hoping none of that shit comes back to bite me," he continued. "I guess a better answer is that I need time to heal before I can trust myself to love you, Deidre."

He was right without knowing it. She had no way of guaranteeing him that something she'd done wouldn't return to make them both miserable.

Like the deal she made out of emotion with Darkyn's mate. In three days, Darkyn may come on behalf of his mate to collect by any means necessary. Darkyn had been correct about the human she dumped in Hell. Human-Deidre had no reason whatsoever not to give Darkyn the soul he snatched when the deal was up.

If Gabriel didn't fall in love with Deidre in three days, he would be betrayed once more. This time, permanently.

For the first time in her life, Deidre didn't know what to do.

"I did mean it, Gabriel," she said in a hushed voice. "I have always loved you."

"I know."

"I never meant to hurt you. Ever. I never knew I was."

"Oh you knew you were fucking me up," he replied.

"But I didn't know what that felt like," she said.

"You do now?"

"Yes," she said, tears in her eyes. "It's like your soul is being torn in two."

"Yeah, it is."

"How did you bear it for so long?"

"Because I did love you, Deidre," he responded. "Until you pushed me away the final time. Until you took an innocent human and condemned her to near-death for your selfishness. Katie didn't deserve to have you mess with her like you did."

She listened, not wanting to cry or acknowledge the level of pain she put him through for so long. She remembered talk to Rhyn's mate, Katie, in the underworld, trying to understand what it was to love from a human standpoint.

"You made me choose between you and doing what was right in the underworld when I saved Katie and her daughter," he continued. "I realized then you'd never understand or accept me for who I was. You wanted to break me, Deidre, by turning me against everything I was."

Deidre thought back. The events he spoke of occurred just a few months before, when Darkyn was attacking the Immortals and before Rhyn took over the Council That Was Seven. Once more, Gabriel was right. She recalled clearly the decision she'd forced him to make and kicking him out of her bed, the moment he resigned his soul to her to save his friend's life.

Her plan had been near its finale. She was plotting her return with a chain of events that ended with the human that bore her likeness being turned over to Darkyn. At the time, she had viewed it all as part of a process. Any pain she caused was going to be short lived and quickly fixed, when she revealed herself to Gabriel once more and told him they could be together. Though she couldn't recall the thousand-year process it took to reach this very place, she knew the end results.

"You couldn't be Death if I didn't have your soul," she said. "It was the last piece of the puzzle. I had to have it, Gabriel. I didn't mean to break you. I wanted you to understand what it was like to be a deity. Human emotion could only complicate that."

"Human emotion... you didn't have it before last week. How did you know it could complicate the role of Death? How is a sociopathic deity better at ruling the underworld than a compassionate human?" he returned with no heat. "You always thought my emotions were weaknesses. It was human emotion and compassion that made me your best death dealer."

She listened. Sometimes, she thought it made sense. At other times, it didn't, because her own emotions were too hard for her to control. She couldn't make important decisions while wrangling her feelings. Yet Gabriel managed to. He had done it every day he served her as her lead assassin and he was doing it now as Death.

The reality of his stark words made her wonder what he would've done in the same situation. What if he couldn't have been with her unless he gave up his underworld and power? Would he have taken a similar course?

"What would you do?" she asked. "I mean, if you had to choose between me and your world?"

"I did choose you. Every day, Deidre. Even after you rejected me," he replied. "Until you took my soul a few months ago, I was there because I loved you and for no other reason. I could've walked away at any time. I would've spent every day with you, if you hadn't done what you did."

Her tears rose again. He was serious. He did love her. But no longer, because she'd been trying to make sure she never lost him. How much easier would it have been, if she simply accepted his love and walked away from the underworld? They could've both gone somewhere else entirely, wherever they wanted to go, without the underworld crumbling or the pain Gabriel was in.

The pain she was in or the situation where she might lose her soul in three days.

"I wish you could've told me this long ago," she said.

"You didn't have the ability to understand." His voice was gentler.

"Is it too late?" she asked. "Can you ever love me again?"

"I just need time, Deidre." He raised his hand to her face. She closed her eyes as he brushed away her tears. "You're my mate. Everything that's mine is yours. My heart, I can't vouch for. I've gotta heal first."

"I understand." And she did, clearly enough that she felt the pain of her heart aching once more. "Is there anything I can do?"

"You know what."

Trust.

She was beginning to hate the word. Though she didn't want to in front of him, Deidre started crying.

"Gods, woman," he said with a grunt. "Don't start that shit. This is the first time we've had an honest discussion in about a million years." He nudged her off him and onto her side then wrapped his arms around her and held her against him.

No words would come. Deidre sobbed, suddenly wishing she could go back and change whatever it was she did to start this chain of events. In three days time, she'd not only lose her soul, she'd lose Gabriel, too, this time for good.

The only thing that was clear was that her soul was lost. Before she went, she owed him the truth. But not tonight. Tonight, she'd take comfort in the arms of the only man she ever loved.

## Day Four

## Chapter Nine

Gabriel left his sleeping mate in her bed with a lingering glance. Her slender frame was relaxed, her breathing deep and peaceful. His skin smelled of her, and he breathed it in, loving her scent. He wasn't entirely certain what to think about last night, but he felt like he'd gotten somewhere. They'd taken a step together towards their future by talking openly on topics he never thought he'd be able to bring up.

She made love to him as if she'd waited her life for the moment. She cried as if she was losing him.

He didn't know what that meant or even if it was a possibility that she would one day trust him enough to tell him what was burdening her. He came to the conclusion that she, too, needed time to heal. Her own journey to reach this point hadn't been easy. She was hurting, even if he didn't know why.

He dressed then slid out of the room. It was just after dawn, and the fortress was silent. He walked down the hallway to the stairwell and down. He felt good after the night with his mate, and it was too nice outside to take a portal when he had the energy to walk.

The morning air was crisp and cool. Gabriel was halfway to the lake when Darkyn spoke to him.

Available at your convenience.

Gabriel almost stopped mid-step, having forgotten he contacted the Dark One yesterday. He considered cancelling the meeting. Deidre would trust him in time, and he didn't want to break the thin bridge of trust they'd established last night.

Then again, if she owed any sort of debt to Darkyn, Gabriel wasn't about to be caught off guard. He also wasn't going to let the Dark One hurt or threaten or even talk to his mate ever again. Meeting the Dark One so close to the fortress, then, was not an option.

After a moment, he responded to Darkyn. Deidre's old apartment. Five minutes.

Gabriel trotted first to the lake, curious to see how last night had gone now that they knew about the tears. The lake was placid. A few of Rhyn's Immortals were sparring on one bank under the watchful gaze of one of the death dealers.

Gabriel waved the dealer over.

"Update on the tears," he directed.

"All five are sealed. Landon issued orders to the dealers last night to seal the others in the lakes where we found the souls originally. They'll be back to collecting souls by noon," the dealer reported.

"Excellent." He glanced around the lake. When he didn't sense the dealer he sought, he summoned him silently. Landon.

His second-in-command appeared instantly.

"I'm going to meet with Darkyn. Stay available," he directed him.

"Sure, Boss."

Gabriel opened a portal and strode through the shadow world. Setting foot in Deidre's old apartment again was surreal. The human lived here for a few years with a boyfriend that one of Darkyn's demons killed. This very building was the one Gabriel dived off of in an attempt to keep the terrified human from trying to kill herself.

Maybe it was a mistake to come here. His gaze lingered on a picture of Deidre on one wall. It was her... but not. At least, not anymore. The Deidre he spent the night with and the Deidre who went to see Darkyn four days ago were very different.

On a mission to ensure there was a clean slate between his mate and Darkyn, Gabriel waited in the middle of Deidre's old apartment for the Dark One to arrive. He glanced around the tiny place, unable to rid himself of the instinct that warned him he was missing something. He didn't understand what. The sense of unease rose again, this time more strongly. He reminded himself why he chose this place: it was where Darkyn met him originally, before the Dark One had brokered a deal with Gabriel's mate. If Darkyn had a connection to Deidre, he'd be affected by the place as much as Gabriel was. Gabriel just had to watch for the signs.

"What brings Death to my door?" the Dark One asked, emerging from the hallway leading to the master bedroom.

Gabriel assessed the demon lord. A full head smaller than him, Darkyn was nonetheless the most lethal creature Gabriel had ever known. The demon's wiry frame was armed, his black eyes steady and quiet power restrained. Something about the demon was different enough to make Gabriel pause. Darkyn normally simmered with restless energy that emerged in sudden, unpredictable violence. Today, he seemed... calm, if the ruthless Dark One could be called that.

"Your choice of venue is...interesting," Darkyn said with a glance around.

"I take it you found what you were looking for, the last time we met here," Gabriel said. Darkyn had demons searching the apartment last week for what Gabriel assumed was the soul contained in the tumor of the human-Deidre's head. Why he wanted the soul that he then let go was another mystery Gabriel wanted to resolve.

A cold smile crossed Darkyn's face. "You would guess right."

"You made a deal with my mate."

"I did."

"Are the terms fulfilled?"

"They are."

"That easy?" Gabriel studied him with a frown. "You prevent one from dying, bring the other back from the dead-dead, combine their souls and release her from Hell. In exchange for what?"

"You misunderstand the terms." It was Darkyn's turn to tilt his head curiously.

"What were they?"

"Ask your mate," Darkyn said, unconcerned. "Unless, of course, you don't trust her."

Gabriel ignored the barb.

"It seems a deity like you could easily uncover the information you wish by reading her mind," Darkyn added. "Or checking with the Oracle."

"I can't read her mind or find all the deals in the Oracle. The meat of the deal was private, was it not? A matter between you and her?"

"Perhaps you should look more closely." Darkyn shrugged. "The terms are completed. Do you think I would hesitate to collect, if they were not?"

"Absolutely not," Gabriel said with a snort.

"Then why are you here, Gabriel?"

Gabriel said nothing. Darkyn's question hit home. As much as he hated to admit it, Darkyn wasn't one to wait to claim debts owed him. Gabriel didn't know what he hoped to obtain from the demon lord on this issue. Clarity, insight. Reassurance that no nasty deal between his mate and the demon-lord would arise. Deidre was evasive about what happened though she, too, was insistent that the terms were complete.

Andre was the only one who seemed to think there was a reason for Gabriel to be here, and Gabriel trusted Andre more than both Deidres and Darkyn combined.

"To discuss how you are assisting my death-dealers get into and out of my underworld," Gabriel replied, changing the subject.

"For the right price, I will assist any of them get home."

"There is a way through Hell?"

"Demons cannot pass through it, but your death dealers can. I simply offer them a route home in exchange for favors," Darkyn said. "They are dropping quickly."

Ten, Gabriel knew. To complicate matters, he had no idea what shape the underworld was in, if the reports Landon received were correct. If true, the rebellion forming in the underworld needed to be dealt with swiftly and his soul found. He just didn't know how to do that without making a deal with Darkyn.

"Would you like to go home?" Darkyn asked with a cold smile.

"I've been shut out for a reason."

"And you accept that. Just like you accept your mate's version of our deal."

Gabriel grated his teeth. "Don't play with me, Darkyn. We both know anyone can get to Hell. You are the only way out of Hell, and I'm not about to make you a deal. There is another way, and I'll find it."

"You brought me here to play with me." Darkyn looked around again. "I have no business with your mate. Whatever your concerns, they are not with me. As for the underworld, I prey on depravity. I will continue to do so and lure your dealers home."

"Your demons and my dealers know your status. Is it no longer a matter of discretion?" Gabriel asked.

"It is not," he confirmed. "Recent events forced my hand. Hell is aware I have ascended to the position of the Dark One."

"Recent events? Such as..."

"What do you really want from me?" Darkyn focused his dark, soulless gaze on him for the first time since arriving. "I cannot undo what I've done to your mate."

"I don't want you to," Gabriel replied firmly.

"You are satisfied with her."

"My mate is my concern, not yours." Uneasiness grew within Gabriel. Darkyn did have an interest in Deidre. There was more to the story of their deals. "One such as you is not capable of understanding how...complex that relationship is."

"One such as me would view that relationship – and my mate – as a battle to be won."

"A battle," Gabriel said with a snort. "You've never been able to control yourself. You would bleed her dry the first night."

"You would hesitate to claim her as you should." The demon lord was bristling. "In fact, you did – and do – refuse to claim your mate. You're here because you doubt her and want me to tell you what she would not."

"No rush. We have eternity," Gabriel replied. He didn't know what nerve he hit, but he'd hit something. As irritated as he was with Darkyn's words, he was also fascinated by the idea the demon lord who prided himself on preying on the vulnerabilities of others was capable of being offended.

"Would you say the same about your underworld? You are happy to wait for the rebellion there to settle down?" Darkyn challenged. "The longer you let both deny you, the harder it becomes to win."

"Relationship advice from the Dark One," Gabriel said dryly.

For a moment, the demon lord looked ready to snap. Gabriel rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, waiting for it. Darkyn shrugged at last and relaxed.

"I won my battles, without being kicked out of my domain," the demon growled. "If you wish to return to yours, you know how to summon me."

"Would you be willing to let one of my dealers verify the route exists?"

"For free?"

"Verify not traverse."

Darkyn considered. "Very well. Summon him."

Landon.

A second demon appeared behind Darkyn. Landon arrived a moment later.

"Go with him to Hell. Verify there is a portal through Hell to our underworld," Gabriel instructed Landon.

The death-dealer stepped forward without hesitation. Darkyn's demon opened a portal, and the two disappeared.

Death and the Dark One stared at each other, assessing one another. Gabriel was never one for small talk. Instead, he reviewed what little he'd learned from Darkyn about the deals Deidre made and the issue of his death-dealers.

I won my battles. In the context, Gabriel almost thought Darkyn was admitting to taking a mate. But it wasn't likely, given the demon lord's renowned temper and thirst for blood. He was rumored to go through five to ten blood monkeys a day and was said to have single-handedly wiped out whole villages. Gabriel pitied even the foulest of demonesses, if Darkyn took her for his mate.

"Why did you choose this location?" Darkyn asked.

"It's where we met last time," Gabriel said with an unconcerned shrug. "It means something to you, though, doesn't it?"

"Not as such. A curiosity only. Right over there is where I sucked Harmony near-dry." Darkyn motioned to the wall across the kitchen.

Gabriel glanced the way indicated, noticing the blood on the wall. He didn't pity her, even after their relationship. She'd chosen a side deal with Darkyn and betrayed him.

Like Deidre, only Deidre came back from her deal with Darkyn. Standing before the Dark One, he grew more unsettled.

"Your women have a habit of seeking me out," Darkyn observed.

"Yeah, they seem to," Gabriel agreed, unwilling to let the Dark One see he was thinking the same thing. "At least you freed the one that matters." Inside, he was burning with anger at the reminder.

"I am pleased you feel that way."

Gabriel eyed him. He'd dealt with Darkyn a few times since the demon lord was released from his exile in the pits of Hell. The demon lord was brash, aggressive – and almost always honest, until it came time to deal. Right now, the Dark One was amused but also satisfied, like he just won a deal Gabriel didn't know they made.

"Why?" Gabriel asked suspiciously.

"I went to great lengths to assist your mate. I am pleased that she turned out the way you wished."

"What were the terms?"

"A private deal is a private deal. You are not the only one who knows how to be discreet."

Gabriel was ready to challenge the Dark One when Landon and the demon reappeared. Landon's grim expression was enough to tell Gabriel the route to the underworld was there.

"If you have any desire to address the rebellion in the underworld, you know how to summon me," Darkyn said with a cunning smile. "But before you go, I want to show you something. It's for your eyes only."

Gabriel tossed his head towards the portal. Landon and the demon both went.

Darkyn was entirely too satisfied with himself for Gabriel's comfort. He shifted, waiting.

"Gabriel."

For a moment he was certain the familiar voice of a woman was a memory, perhaps brought on by standing in Deidre's apartment. Only when he sensed the approach of someone behind him did he realized it was real.

Gabriel turned. He had the sense of being in a dream.

She was real. Except she shouldn't be.

## Chapter Ten

"Deidre?" He faced her fully. "You're alive."

She nodded.

Stunned, he was speechless for a long moment. His eyes swept over her. Her hair was still pink and in a loose bun on the top of her head. She wore the clothing of the women of Hell: a black, silky, backless dress that reached the tip of her sandaled feet. The faded signs of massive scarring were on one side of her neck while there was blood on the other, as if someone had just hurt her. Her eyes were red-rimmed, too, and his gaze rested on the tiny fangs resting on her plump lower lip.

"What the fuck is going on?" he demanded.

She jumped at the harsh words. She glanced at Darkyn, who was still. Silent. Watching. Gabriel couldn't take his eyes off the woman who had been his mate, for however brief a time.

"I, um, made a deal with Darkyn. I went to Hell and..." Deidre drifted off. She crossed her arms, the range of emotions crossing her face too fast for him to decipher.

Suddenly, Andre's cryptic warning made sense.

"...had the tumor removed which happened to be past-Death's soul. Darkyn brought past-Death back, fulfilling their mystery-deal, and you were at the mercy of Darkyn," Gabriel finished.

She nodded. "As his mate."

"His mate." This was almost beyond Gabriel's ability to believe. He began to think this was a shape-shifter demon, like he originally thought about past-Death when she suddenly appeared.

He started towards her, senses trained to catch any movement from Darkyn before the demon attacked him. Darkyn did nothing. Deidre skirted away, placing the recliner between them. He stopped and searched her face.

"I just want to see the mating marks. That's it," he said.

She hesitated but nodded.

"You okay?" Gabriel asked in a hushed voice. His jaw was clenching and unclenching. He was tense enough to feel claustrophobic.

Another nod.

Gabriel stretched towards her slowly, afraid of spooking her. He had no idea what she'd been through the past few days at the hands of Darkyn. While she looked healthy, she bore blood on her neck that made him feel ill at the thought that Darkyn was bleeding her dry.

Deidre didn't move. He took her arm with one of the hands that had explored every part of her body – or the body he thought was hers - not even a few hours before. He tugged her out from behind the chair then turned her gently. He pushed her hair over one shoulder, and his hands dropped.

"Gods, Darkyn," he muttered, astonished.

She wore two mating markings: the Immortal tattoo and the mark of a blood-bound demon.

Deidre looked at the demon lord, and Gabriel followed her gaze. Darkyn's eyes were on Gabriel. The sense of satisfaction was there again, along with the faint smile that made Gabriel furious.

"I win this round," Darkyn said.

"Double bond. You weren't about to take a chance that you lose her," Gabriel said, grappling with the reasoning behind the demon lord's actions. From what he knew of demon blood bonds, they were restrictive on the two bound together to the point that they could never have another mate. What made Darkyn blood-bond Deidre?

Gabriel turned her to face him again. Deidre looked up at him, trembling. Gabriel didn't know what to say for a long minute. He was a fucking fool for trusting the goddess, even in her human form. Her secret now revealed, Gabriel understood why she'd refused to tell him.

What the fuck did he do now that he knew?

His attention fell again to the bloody neck of Darkyn's mate.

"Tell me Darkyn did that to you, and I'll fucking destroy him," he said.

Deidre shook her head, a smile slipping free. It lit up her features, and he saw the tiny fangs she was trying to hide.

"One of your death dealers attacked me," she said.

"What?" Gabriel growled.

"I came here to... visit," she said with a quick glance at Darkyn that said she probably ventured out of Hell without telling her new mate. "They found me."

"Followed her," Darkyn corrected. "Your doing, Gabriel?"

"Of course not," he snapped.

"Harmony was with them," Deidre added.

"The bitch betrayed me to you, Darkyn. Which means this could be your doing."

"The funny thing about traitors," Darkyn replied. "You can't ever really trust them. Harmony was granted access to use Hell to go to your underworld. I can assure you if she's found going through my portals again, she'll be sent straight to me."

Gabriel studied the demon lord. He almost sounded... protective of his mate. Which made no sense. If Darkyn told him about the death dealers attacking his mate, Gabriel would've ignored him. Coming from the sweet human before him, however, the news made Gabriel want to bargain for entry into Hell just so he could destroy those dealers who thought it was okay to hurt her.

"How many were here?" he asked Deidre.

"Two," she replied. "And Harmony."

"They hurt you," he said, lifting her chin to see the blood. No wound was there. Now that she possessed a fraction of the Dark One's power, she would heal instantly.

"Yes," she said. "Darkyn rescued me from them. He has the two I think."

Gabriel faced the demon lord. Darkyn stepped out of the corner where he stood.

"There were two who attacked my mate," the demon lord said. "I'm taking the dealer who hurt her."

Gabriel waited, sensing the Dark One wasn't finished.

"My... spies report that you can't keep dealers and have no idea what's going on in the underworld. The other dealer you can have."

"This sounds like a favor," Gabriel said with a frown.

"It is."

"What do you want in return?"

"Harmony. When you find her."

The instinct that Darkyn was protective of a mate rose again. Gabriel considered. Darkyn had gone through the process to blood bind Deidre; he wasn't going to let his only source of food go. Ever. He also wasn't going to let anyone else threaten his blood monkey.

Deidre glanced at Darkyn in puzzlement, and Gabriel realized she didn't yet understand the depth of the Dark One's obligation to her.

"By letting them attack you, Harmony made a personal affront to the Dark One," Gabriel explained. "I can't imagine that will go well for her."

"What does that mean?" Deidre asked uncertainly.

"I imagine an eternity of punishment as only the Dark One can devise. Same for the dealer who hurt you today."

"But I'm okay. He didn't hurt me," she said, looking at Darkyn. "An eternity? For one mistake?"

"Even I won't go to bat for him," Gabriel said. "Either of them. Mates are sacred."

"But it's my fault," she said. "Darkyn, I never should've come here. I don't want him paying for something I did."

"He will pay for drawing your blood," the demon lord growled in a tone that made her jump. "Anyone who raises a hand to my mate also raises a hand to me and will be dealt with accordingly."

"For once, I agree with Darkyn," Gabriel said, staring at the Dark One with no small amount of surprise.

Deidre was quiet, her features troubled.

Deal? Darkyn asked Gabriel mentally. No other terms.

What you did to Deidre cannot be undone, Gabriel replied.

What I did to both Deidres cannot be undone was the unsettling response.

Gabriel was quiet for a long moment. His eyes went back to the girl who had been human just a few days ago. Her gaze was on Darkyn.

"Has he hurt you?" he asked, unable to fathom how she survived Hell so far.

"No," she replied. She was agitated to the point of distraught. The Dark One lifted his chin in subtle command.

Deidre crossed to him, unafraid of the creature whose appearance often made grown Immortals quake and grovel. She leaned into his side, and Darkyn rested a hand on her hip. The Dark One's touch calmed her air instantly.

What the fuck had Darkyn managed to do in four days that Gabriel hadn't been able to in the week he spent with her? Removed her tumor, immortalized her and now, could comfort her with a single touch. Gabriel had never felt inadequate in his life until that moment.

"Agreed," he said. "Harmony for the dealer you have."

"I'll have him brought to the shadow world and summon you," Darkyn said.

Deidre was watching him, her gaze troubled. Gabriel wanted to say something to her, to apologize, to rationalize what happened... He felt like he was on the verge of snapping, unable to settle the turmoil of his emotions.

"You don't deserve to spend your life in Hell," he said, pacing. "Gods, if I could send her home with that demon in your place, I -"

"Gabriel!" Deidre exclaimed.

"Would you consider a trade, Darkyn?" Gabriel asked with a bitter laugh.

"She did what she did because she loves you, Gabriel," Deidre said. She moved away from Darkyn to stand in front of Gabriel, searching his gaze.

"After all she did to you, how can you say this?" he demanded, glaring down at her. "She'll be lucky if I let her survive the day."

"I was angry at her," Deidre admitted. "Maybe I still am. But you can't kill her! She deserves a chance."

"To what? Turn on me again? To make my life hell?" Gabriel shook his head.

"To have a second chance with you," Deidre answered softly.

"I knew something was wrong. Her story just didn't make sense." He looked away, towards the window, hands on his hips.

"When you thought I was dying, you weren't willing to take a chance," Deidre added sadly.

"Deidre, I –"

"No, wait. You weren't, Gabriel. You did exactly what she did. You hurt me to protect yourself," Deidre said with emotion that made her face flush. "I had to make a choice without knowing what would happen or even if you would be there for me in the morning."

He was quiet, unaware of the depths of her hurt until now. Everything he did was to help her, or so he thought. Did he ever tell her that? Or did he simply push her away, leaving her to interpret his rejection in the worst way possible?

"I don't want you to apologize, Gabriel," she said with a sigh. "I want you to see what I do. You both made selfish choices. You both have a chance to make it right."

"And leave you in Hell with him?"

"I made a choice, too. I chose to live, no matter what the consequences. That path lies in a direction I never would've expected. But I accept that, Gabriel. There's a greater purpose than myself. You and she never understood that, when it came to caring for someone else. You have that chance now."

He studied her.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is..." she drifted off.

"You're breaking up with me," he said, smiling faintly.

"Oh, god," she mumbled with a look at Darkyn. "Deidre gave up everything to be with you. You weren't willing to do that for me. Maybe you can set aside your pride for her."

"You're too nice to be involved with any of us."

"The only innocent soul in Hell, I've heard," she said and rolled her eyes.

"If Darkyn ever, ever hurts you, you have a place to go."

"Thank you, Gabriel."

"We're done here," the Dark One said smoothly. "Send my regards to your mate."

Gabriel didn't trust himself to respond. He called a portal and left, needing to escape then realizing the emotions he didn't want to feel went with him.

He went to the lake near Rhyn's. Unable to function from shock, he sat down on a rock overlooking the lake. His death dealers were around, ever-wary for signs of demons.

The morning sun felt hot, and Gabriel was soon sweating. He suspected it was the feeling that he was about to explode and not the cool morning. He stripped off his shirt and flung it then tossed all his weapons in a pile at his feet before seating himself once more.

It didn't help. His head was still reeling to the point he was fevered. It was worse than the morning after he slept with human-Deidre and awoke to discover whom he spent the night with.

What exactly happened? Why did Darkyn choose to keep the human over the deity? What other deals were in place that Gabriel didn't fully know about?

"How's life?" Fate's tone was casual.

"You are the last person who should be around me right now," Gabriel snarled.

"Peace, friend," Fate said, approaching. He stopped a safe distance away, his multi-hued eyes on Gabriel. As usual, he appeared the least affected by anything that was going on. He was dressed as if he'd just come from some club, all in leather with his blond hair in a braid.

"Peace," Gabriel snorted. "You knew."

"I even told you."

Gabriel thought back. At one point, Fate had told him a story about how he tricked the goddess into a series of agreements that landed her out of a job. He did it by pushing the only button that seemed to work on the deity. He told her that she was destined to be the mate of the Dark One. In desperation, the goddess made a series of deals with the former Dark One, Fate, Darkyn and others to alter the series of events that might see her with anyone but Gabriel.

At the time, Gabriel had laughed at Fate's manipulative story, not realizing that Fate's alleged lie held more truth than not.

"I'm beginning to see why she hates you," Gabriel muttered.

"It's for a good cause."

He stared at the nonchalant Fate.

"What is one life in the bigger picture?"

"Everything," Gabriel said.

"Believe it or not, I'm less a fan of Darkyn than I am of your goddess," Fate said. "The good news: now that the Deidres are in their right places, you may find life a little easier."

"I refuse to believe this is the way things were meant to be. Why fucking give her to me then take her away?"

"You're taking it personally. Don't."

Gabriel glared at him. "Have you ever been human?"

"Of course not," Fate said quickly.

"Have you ever known what it was to love someone?"

"Does it matter?"

"Answer the fucking question."

"Relax, Gabe," Fate said with a smile. "Not that it matters but no."

"Then you have no idea how personal it gets," Gabriel snapped.

Fate simply gazed at him. Gabriel was reminded of the many times he'd expressed something human to the goddess he'd loved for thousands of years. Before she became a human, she never understood him or what he felt and thought.

"I am not incapable of emotion," Fate said, as if reading his mind. "I am not like your predecessor."

"Every last one of you is a sociopath."

"I have emotions," Fate said more clearly. "I've checked on your little human almost every day to ensure what I planned for her was not altered by Darkyn's bloodlust."

"Now you'll convince me you care."

"I do care," Fate replied. "I cared about you and the humans enough to interfere and give you a second chance. I cared enough to make sure Darkyn's little fruit bat is okay. I cared enough to let Darkyn strip the powers of a goddess when every other deity in the worlds wanted her dead-dead."

Gabriel hated it when one of the deities made sense. Fate's plan was as flawed as Gabriel's. He saw the logic, even though he didn't want to. What he didn't understand: why. Or what exactly his mate had done.

"We'll have this talk again when you've got a mate," Gabriel said. He was calming, though it had nothing to do with Fate's presence. "Can you see your own future?"

"Parts of it. Nothing impressive. Many more years of... this," Fate said, glancing around. "Mentoring other deities, manipulating the destinies of innocent humans, reminding you how not to destroy the universes."

"You said things will get easier. Does that mean the opposite?" Gabriel asked.

"I mean, you're about to find a way into the underworld. When you do, you'll make things right."

Except for Deidre. No matter who assured him the woman he fell for was okay, he couldn't help but blame himself for all that happened to her. Or might have happened, if things broke bad. He couldn't help feeling angry with the goddess who set this all up or escape the emotion he felt knowing his mate was the woman he'd loved for thousands of years.

And hated for just as long for pulling shit like this stunt.

But she was human now, capable of being what she wasn't before. Capable of loving him the way he'd craved for the entirety of their existence together. Capable of happiness and sorrow and compassion. She demonstrated that last night.

He had always wanted this. Not at all costs, however. He was nothing like the deities who didn't mind sacrificing a few humans to get what they wanted.

"She didn't deserve any of this," Gabriel said, frustrated. "Why is she even in the picture?"

"That question is for your mate."

Gabriel looked at Fate. "I don't like the sound of that."

"You saw the human. You know she is well."

"I don't know how you can be so optimistic. She's in Hell."

Fate shrugged. Gabriel guessed the deity considered his work done and was no longer concerned. He prayed to all the deities he never, ever grew aloof and callous towards the humans. He had to remain a compassionate Death, one who understood what it was to live.

Where the fuck did this leave him with his mate?

"Landon," he called. "Get lost, Fate."

"A few more days, and I can go on vacay," Fate said with a wink.

Gabriel ignored him. The death-dealer he summoned appeared.

"Time for a mind check," Gabriel directed him. "Afterwards, go get the death dealer Darkyn has and apply some pressure. It's time we figured out what the fuck is going on in the underworld."

His second-in-command nodded and trotted into a portal. Fate was gone, and Gabriel couldn't help thinking the cheerful warning he received was a bad omen. His thoughts went to human-Deidre.

Fate's mention of him gaining access to the underworld made Gabriel wonder if the deity was referring to Darkyn's mate. Darkyn would slaughter Gabriel in a deal, but human-Deidre... would she do it, if he asked? For the sake of his soul, if nothing else?

Gabriel pulled on his clothes and weapons again, pensive. He tried hard not to think about his soul being kicked around in the underworld. He hadn't been sent to Hell yet, indicating no one had found his soul, but the thought lingered in the back of his mind.

It wasn't exactly hidden. He'd left it in a jewelry box in the bedroom he'd shared with past-Death. He needed to get home. Soon. Before it was too late.

"Gabriel, can I talk to you?"

His pulse quickened. His mate didn't know he knew about the human yet, but he didn't think he could pretend everything was okay.

"I've gotta do a mind check," he said, trying to keep his voice even. "Is it quick?"

He faced her.

His mate had been crying. She nodded and swallowed then motioned him away from the lake, towards the trees. Uncertain he could handle more bad news, Gabriel trailed. Thankfully, Deidre was too upset to notice his tension. He watched her pace, wondering how she could do what she'd done.

"You want the truth," she said and drew a deep breath. "I owe you that, Gabriel. Even if you reject me or hate me or..." She cleared her throat.

He didn't expect her to confess. Gabriel crossed his arms, surprised.

"I swear to you, Gabriel, I never meant to hurt anyone. All I wanted was a chance with you." She rushed on. "But I can't... it's killing me not to tell you." For a moment, she appeared to be lost to her emotions.

"What is this about?" he made himself ask.

She shook her head and focused on him.

"I lied to you about the deal with Darkyn," she whispered.

## Chapter Eleven

Gabriel listened to her tell him what she did, the mind check and traitor forgotten. He suspected there was much more to past-Death's story but never expected to discover the human was alive and well in Hell. If he hadn't seen her, he wouldn't believe it possible.

Hearing the lengths his mate went through to condemn the human rendered him speechless. He gazed at Deidre as she admitted to abandoning human-Deidre in Hell. She was crying. He wanted to hold her. The buzzing in his ears was too loud. Had he ever been this angry?

Just when he thought things were going well and they spent the night making love and talking, he woke up in a new nightmare.

It took him a long moment to realize that she was finished talking. She gazed at him fearfully, terrified he was leaving her.

He couldn't. But he couldn't stay right now either. Gabriel reached out to her, wiping away the tears on one cheek with his thumb.

"I'll be back," he promised.

"Where are you going?"

"I need a minute to cool down."

She looked away.

Gabriel left the forest. Dusk had caused shadows to darken the forest. He went to the lake and the souls, the only place that seemed to calm him. Landon was waiting with the dealers for their mind checks. He barely registered they were there. Landon approached then paused.

Gabriel stood for a long moment, numb, and then flung a knife into the forest with a roar.

What the fuck did he do now? His mate admitted to basically killing the woman he'd fallen for last week. But what did that mean? He loved them both? Did it matter, since Darkyn had double-bound the human?

Gabriel wiped his mouth.

"Boss?" Landon called.

"Reassemble them later," Gabriel barked.

Even the lake wasn't calming him. He flung his head back, trying to remember the last time he'd felt some semblance of peace. It was the night he sat with human-Deidre on the beach. The night he slept with her and condemned her to walk the path that led her to Hell.

Grief made him angrier. He'd played a hand in sentencing the sweet human to Hell.

He opened a portal and returned to the beach where they met. The soothing sounds of the ocean greeted him. It was nighttime on this side of the world, and the sky was clear. The moon was non-existent, and the waves sparkled in starlight.

Being here was probably a mistake. He shook out his tension but felt an even heavier sense of guilt.

Gabriel sat on the beach. He'd seen Darkyn's mate yesterday and knew she was at least alive. She'd seemed uncertain and scared, though. He didn't know if it was because of Darkyn or because of being attacked by death dealers that defected.

Also potentially his fault.

What was worse: he suddenly realized he might have the means to get into his underworld. Darkyn would never let him through Hell, but Deidre...

He felt like shit just thinking about it yet recognized the danger he was in. If he didn't find his soul and quell the rebellion, more than his fate was fucked.

Gabriel sat in silent thought, comforted by the ebb and flow of the waves. The other night, he sat on a beach with one Deidre and watched the moon cross the sky. Tonight, he was alone, but he needed to be for a while. His soul, the underworld, rebellion... everything that mattered didn't when he considered how the mighty Death hadn't been able to save one innocent human from a dark fate.

Only when the moon was halfway across the sky did he rouse himself. He saw Darkyn's mate yesterday. She'd been shaken, and he wanted... needed to verify that she was okay.

"Deidre," he summoned the demon lord's mate.

A moment passed. Gabriel suspected the Dark One wasn't going to let his little human out of Hell, especially not to see her former mate. His fury grew.

"Hi, Gabriel."

He twisted, staring. He'd been too shocked yesterday to notice how much she changed. Deidre glowed darkly with the Dark One's power and something else, an aura that drew his gaze and left him feeling slightly addled. He looked her up and down.

Dressed in the seductive clothing of Hell, her body's gentle shape appeared voluptuous, her narrow shoulders exposed, her round hips and breasts enhanced. The black dress she wore fit her like a second skin, outlining every curve, dip and nook of her body. Sexy little fangs rested on her full lower lip. They were the kind of fangs a man fantasized about, not too large to cause damage but sharp enough to offer an exquisite combination of pleasure and pain if she nipped him. The perfect bow of her mouth appeared red, roughened and plump from kisses. Her large eyes were steady, her porcelain skin clear and smooth. He noticed her eyelashes, long and thick. She oozed fragile innocence and sultry sex appeal, her allure capable of ensnaring even a deity.

Struck by the change, Gabriel laughed in bewilderment.

"He turned you into a sex demon!" he said. He saw her blush in the dim starlight.

The ocean breeze made her dress move as if it was alive, and her pink hair swept across her features. She pushed it away and crossed her arms, shivering.

"I like it," he added. He patted the sand beside him.

"Of course you do. You're male. Me? Not so much!" she retorted in a silky voice. She hesitated then sat beside him. "This is where we met."

The sadness in her voice chased away his mirth.

"I'm surprised he let you come," he said, eyes returning to the sea.

"He says the mate of the Dark One can do whatever she wants. Apparently, evil is equal opportunity."

"Not sure seeing an ex-mate is included."

Deidre glanced at him. Gabriel kept his eyes on the ocean.

"Are you really okay?" he asked.

"I think so."

As hard as it was to believe, she looked great. Gabriel took in her body and face again. He saw the massive scarring that could come from no other than the Dark One, probably when he turned her. Otherwise, she appeared healthy. Not at all like Darkyn was bleeding her dry or torturing her.

"He, um, has been very assertive and direct," she added.

"You mean violent and aggressive."

"Not violent. Not with me, at least. He leaves no room for failure or my hope that certain things will change," she said.

"You don't think you'll ever leave Hell."

"I can come and go. But he will always be my... mate." She said the word in a hushed voice that sounded husky and sexy with her newfound status as a seductress.

Gabriel didn't know what to think. The immortal mating rules from the time-before-time couldn't be broken. Yet, his mate had found a way to reset them. He didn't think it was possible for that to happen twice, but if it were...

Would it matter? Human-Deidre was now a demon, blood-bound to the Dark One. Nothing – not even Darkyn – could change that, even if the Immortal mating script changed again. She was effectively trapped in Hell with the devil for eternity.

"I'm serious about taking you to the underworld, if he hurts you," he reasserted. "Immortal Laws be damned. If I'd had the balls to..." he stopped.

She rested her temple on one knee, eyes on him. Her smile was gentle.

"It's scary to be with him," she admitted. "But... he doesn't mistreat me and there's potential for me to do good from Hell. I helped Rhyn already. We stopped Darkyn's demons from massacring the kids."

"He told me it was over," Gabriel said, surprised. "How did you convince Darkyn to stop?"

"I asked him."

Gabriel snorted. "You make it sound easy."

"Well, it was," she admitted. "I don't understand his motivation."

"You were right yesterday about saying I wouldn't take a chance," he started. "I want to clear the air, though. There's more to the story than what you know."

"Gabe..."

"I have to." He took a deep breath. "I didn't take a chance on you for the reason you think. It had to do with the tumor. Wynn said your happiness made it grow. You were so close to the end, we couldn't take a chance. It had nothing to do with you or how I felt."

"Instead of making my last days happy, you decided to make me miserable in the hopes you could find a solution," she said.

"Pretty much," he replied. "I was going to Darkyn myself to make a deal to save you."

"Really?"

"You beat me to it."

Deidre was quiet for a moment. "I think we both did things imperfectly."

He chuckled at her polite phrasing.

"Up until today, I wasn't convinced that this might have been destiny from the beginning," she began. "This will sound weird, but bear with me. Hell has a library, and the librarian has been teaching me about the deities through these little video tutorial things."

"You've been sitting in Hell watching movies?" He smiled.

"It's like these books and when you open them, these movies spring up," she said, motioning with her hands. "I don't know how to explain it."

"It's called an Oracle. Hell has one, and Death does as well. The book houses the spirit of a dead Oracle from the time-before-time that records history, among other things."

"You mean it's possessed?"

"Yeah."

Deidre appeared taken aback.

"Voluntarily. The Oracles wanted to be put in books," he explained. "Though saying it that way does sound strange."

"It's totally bizarre."

He laughed.

"Anyway, I saw how Darkyn was created from a lowborn demon scorned by others because he was smaller. He had nothing but ambition. I saw how you were created from a seventeen-year-old boy who wanted nothing more than for your mistress to love you." She paused. "I saw what was between you and the original Deidre. Her plan didn't just happen when I was born. She really did create me. She waited thousands of years and worked with both Dark Ones to make it happen. Fate played a hand, too, as did Wynn. I don't think she knew they were working as much against her as with her. She had one focus: to be with you in a way you couldn't be together when she was Death."

Gabriel listened, jaw clenched.

"I was meant to be..." Deidre cleared her throat.

He glanced at her and saw the tears in her eyes.

"Disposable," she managed. "Basically. Or would've been, if Darkyn hadn't decided to honor the informal deal he made with her."

"Gods," he muttered. "You were never disposable."

"Seeing the relative lack of consequence your life has in the grand scheming of deities and Immortals kind of makes you view things differently, Gabe."

"Sometimes when you look at a grain of sand in your hand, you forget that there couldn't be a beach without every one of them."

"That's sweet." She smiled. "I guess what made the biggest impression was watching you and her over the course of thousands of years. There was never a day when you didn't love each other. There were days when you hated the fact you did love her, and there were days when she almost walked away from you for good, because she hated that she couldn't control how she felt," Deidre continued. "But there was never a day when you didn't love her and she didn't love you."

The words were hard for him to hear. There was too much truth in them for his comfort. He wanted to condemn the horrible things past-Death had done that resulted in an innocent human being thrown to the Dark One. Her actions disgusted him, but he was angrier with himself for not being able to make himself feel less towards her.

His gaze lingered on human-Deidre, and he was troubled by the memories of the time they spent together. Time he might have enjoyed, if he hadn't pushed her away. Could he have prevented this outcome? How could he ever forgive his mate for what happened? He'd only learned the woman he fell for last week was still alive and now he had to let her go.

Again.

"I'm sorry, Deidre," he whispered. "You gave me hope when I was numb to the world. You don't deserve any of this."

"Silver lining," she said softly. "I helped Rhyn protect kids. I can help others. Darkyn is not an easy person to understand or live with, and I'm still not certain at all what to think of him at times. He's been fair and brutally honest, and he can't hurt me because of our blood bond. I kind of like him, even if he scares me."

"Kind of like him." Gabriel smiled. "Only someone as sweet as you would say that about the Dark One."

"Don't get me wrong. He's not normal. But it makes me think that maybe things happen for a reason."

"What reason is there behind falling for a woman and watching her get shipped off to live with the Dark One?" he asked bitterly.

"You did love me," she said, smiling.

"Yeah."

"I've got news for you, Death," she said in a lighter tone. "What you loved about me is present in your current mate. You just have to give it a chance."

"She sends you to Hell, and you go to bat for her."

"Not for her. For you," she replied. "I want you to be happy. I am out of the picture. I understand this. I also forgive both of you, Gabe. I can't say I want her to be happy yet, but I don't want her to be sad."

He laughed. "That's as spiteful as you get, isn't it?"

"Pretty much." She was blushing. "I loved you, too, Gabriel. I think a part of me always will. You gave me the strength to take a step I wouldn't have otherwise. You made me want to live when I was ready to die. I'll always be grateful to you for that."

Her eyes were shimmering with tears that only heightened her seductive appeal. She meant what she said; that much was clear. His anger lessened without him understanding why. She accepted her fate with the Dark One. It should've made him angrier.

Gabriel didn't say what he thought, that she might've been better off in the Lake of Souls than with Darkyn. A part of him was relieved. Human-Deidre was alive and healthy. He purposely didn't let himself think about Darkyn being in her bed instead of him.

"You're welcome, I think," he said with a shake of his head. "My offer to hide you in the underworld is always open."

"I won't need it."

They sat in silence, both of them gazing at the ocean. She shivered in the chilly ocean breeze. Gabriel resisted the urge to wrap his arm around her the way he had once before.

"You want something else from me," Deidre assessed.

He glanced at her.

"Darkyn said my weakness is being taken advantage of by others. He shared some of his power or whatever your deities do. I can sense that you have an ulterior motive of some sort," she explained. "I can't see it, but I feel it."

"Savvy demon," Gabriel murmured. "You needed that."

"No more men like Wynn killing me slowly." Her features saddened.

"You're right. I do need to ask you for something."

She focused on him in interest.

"I have to get into the underworld. The dealers are rebelling, and they've figured out a way to out me from my position. I have to be there in order to prevent it," he said carefully. "The only way into the underworld is through Hell."

"Darkyn will make you a deal you probably can't live with," she guessed. "I can't make deals."

"I wasn't going to ask you to," he said. "I was going to ask you to help me get home."

Her calm acceptance faded, replaced by turmoil. He couldn't read all the emotions crossing her face. She ducked her gaze, and her breathing quickened.

"You're afraid," he said.

She shook her head.

"You're not the only one who can sense emotion in others," he reminded her with a nudge. "It's more than fear. I'd say you're still pissed at me."

"You know what you're asking me to do?" she said at last.

"Yes. I have no other option, Deidre. There's something in my underworld that I have to find before they do."

"What is it?" she asked.

He grappled with himself. He trusted the human, but dared he trust the mate of the Dark One?

"Only my soul," he replied ruefully.

"Oh, god, Gabriel."

"Just get me through Hell. What happens then won't matter."

"Gabriel..." Deidre sounded distressed. She rose and paced, the dress tracing her movements in a way that made his eyes follow her body. "You shouldn't have told me that. You shouldn't have asked me."

"I have no alternative," he said with some irritation, rising. "I'm not asking because of what we had. I'm asking because I have no choice. I'll owe you."

"You already do owe me one favor," she reminded him.

"I'll owe you two."

Deidre sighed. "I'll try to help you, Gabriel. God help me, I don't know how."

She paced. He watched her, resolute despite how it made him feel to ask more of the woman he'd already fucked over.

"I have to figure this out," she murmured. "Can I have a little time?"

"Whatever you need."

"Don't worry. I'll figure it out way before our deal is up," she said, rolling her eyes.

"What deal?"

"The one between me and your Deidre."

"You made a deal." He crossed his arms, unimpressed. He'd thought to ask Darkyn about any debts owed but not about any future debts. "Do I want to know what it was?"

She hesitated. "No. Because it doesn't matter."

"Your deal is sealed by the Dark One. Why do I have the feeling he's waiting to collect?"

"I can't talk about it with you, Gabriel. She shouldn't either," she said quietly. "Please just know I bear neither of you ill will, despite the outcome."

"Fuck," he muttered. "That scares the shit out of me."

"It shouldn't. I'm the only one in this mess who isn't out to hurt anyone else," she retorted. "It's strange, but I've learned from Darkyn not to be ashamed of my nature. He laughs at me for being unwilling to hurt anyone else, but he says no one should feel shame about who they are."

"He's a living example of that," Gabriel remarked wryly. "Life lessons from a sociopathic demon lord. I never expected him to be capable of treating you well."

"He does, in his own way," she replied. "Can I get your soul from the underworld?"

"A demon of human origin?" he shook his head. "Neither humans nor demons are permitted entry to the underworld."

She gave a sound of frustration.

"It would take all of five seconds," he said. "I'll accept all risk and if Darkyn is angry, I'll take you with me."

"Let me figure it out," she repeated. "Thank you for checking up on me and for the offer to protect me."

"It's the least I can do."

Troubled, Deidre nodded. She nibbled on her lower lip with the tiny fangs. Gabriel sensed someone else join them and tensed. He knew who it was without looking.

"Romantic setting for two former lovers." The Dark One's low growl made Deidre blink.

"We're just talking. No need to be jealous," Gabriel said. Any gentleness he felt with Deidre dissipated at the arrival of her mate.

"One might ask why you're distressing my mate," Darkyn said.

Deidre sighed. "I'm not distressed. He didn't do or say anything bad."

Gabriel watched her, wanting to verify that she didn't fear the creature she was trapped with. Deidre crossed the short distance to her mate and paused in front of him. Darkyn appeared unwelcoming as usual, his frame rigid and his growl loud enough for Gabriel to hear. He half-expected Darkyn to snap or scream at her. As confused as he felt, Gabriel would never let anyone hurt either Deidre, no matter whose mate she was.

The demon lord did neither. Deidre leaned forward until she was resting against the demon, who didn't move away. She nudged his chin with her cheek. Darkyn lifted his head in what Gabriel took to be disapproval.

He almost smiled. In that moment, the demon lord reminded him of Rhyn when the half-demon was trying not to let his mate soften his mood. Darkyn wasn't happy, but Deidre wasn't scared, a sign Gabriel took as good. His only hope was that Deidre didn't share what he revealed to her with the Dark One, who would do whatever it took to beat Gabe to his soul.

She nudged him again. Without taking his eyes off Gabriel, the ruthless demon lord that knew no mercy bowed his head to his mate and nudged her gently in return. The subtle nonverbal exchange was intimate and powerful, enough to tell Gabriel that there was a side to Darkyn only his mate knew. It was also a warning, one Gabriel understood innately, that Deidre belonged to the Dark One. Darkyn was claiming his territory with one small touch.

"This was where we met, Darkyn," Gabe said. No part of him was unwilling to bait the demon.

"Thus far, only one of us has managed to hold onto her," Darkyn replied.

"No fighting," Deidre said softly. "Go home, Gabriel."

He smiled to himself. He didn't want to provoke the demon lord into a fight, not when he might need to deal with him soon.

"Always a pleasure, Deidre."

She turned to look at him without leaving Darkyn's body. The demon had yet to touch her aside from the nudge, and she kept herself between the two of them as Gabriel called a portal. He thought he saw a flicker of sadness cross her gaze before he crossed into the shadow world.

He wondered if she'd be able to swing helping him. If she turned him over to Darkyn, he deserved it. But he hoped that wasn't the case.

Gabriel stepped out of the portals to find himself beside the lake near Rhyn's fortress. It was almost morning on this side of the world. He wiped his face, still able to smell the scent of his mate on his skin. It stirred his blood. Seeing human-Deidre left him pensive, not entirely certain what to do about his own mate.

His eyes settled on the lake. She'd figured out how the souls were crossing over. Their attempt to dig a hole to the underworld failed, but at least they'd stemmed the flow of souls. He was proud of her for this and for telling him what she did.

What he couldn't quite rationalize: what he would've done if she hadn't gotten lucky and Darkyn didn't want his mate. The goddess fucked over Deidre without any sort of remorse. Now human, she understood what she had done. It helped but wasn't enough for him to be able to forgive her just yet.

His thoughts returned to the deal the two Deidres made. Neither had told him what exactly it was. All he knew was that it would be over soon. He didn't believe Darkyn's mate when she said it didn't matter. Or that she bore them no ill will. It sounded as if she'd already won, which meant his mate had lost.

What was on the line?

Gabriel glanced towards the fortress. He hadn't been able to face his mate since her confession. He wasn't certain that he was able to now. She hadn't sought him out, which made him think she was too afraid to talk to him.

He'd promised to spend every night with her. Unable to determine what he felt, he did want to at least see her.

He walked back to the fortress, hoping the cold night air cleared his mind.

When he reached her bedroom, he hesitated then entered. The French doors were open, rendering the room cold. His eyes fell to a toaster on the dresser with two socks resting beside it, as if waiting for their turn to warm her feet in the morning.

His mate was curled into a tight ball in the middle of her bed, on top of the covers. Her sleep was fitful, and he walked to the bed, standing beside it in the dark.

How the fuck did he just go with what she'd done? He still didn't know. The human was okay, and his mate was at his side, where she'd always belonged. He sat on the bed, reaching over to rest a hand on her head. He used his power to soothe her sleep.

Being near her calmed him, despite his ambivalence.

She'd told him the truth, because she wanted them to have a relationship built on trust and love. Because not telling him was hurting her.

This wasn't the same goddess who fucked them all over. She'd been incapable of empathy or remorse. Darkyn stripped her power, turning her human. The woman in the bed behind him wouldn't hurt anyone else.

The woman in the bed behind him had taken three days to warn him about the human left in Hell. What if Darkyn slaughtered the innocent life dragged into this mess for no other purpose than to make the goddess' transition easier.

Disposable. The human thought herself unwanted, except by Darkyn, who had done more to help her than Gabriel thought possible. She was able to justify it as destiny. He wasn't as forgiving of himself or his mate.

There was never a day when you didn't love each other.

Gabriel considered the human's sad wisdom. This was what troubled him most: that despite everything his mate had done, he never stopped loving her. He hadn't been able to during their time together when she was a goddess and he her servant. He couldn't now that their roles were reversed.

He had never doubted himself before. He couldn't afford to now but there was a part of him that hurt.

Deidre stirred from behind him. She took the hand he rested on her forehead into both of hers. Gabriel didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry, Gabriel," she whispered again.

"So am I." He squeezed her hands.

"Do you hate me now?"

"No," he said quietly. "I'm angry."

"At me."

"Yes and at myself."

"You did nothing wrong, Gabriel. I did. I thought I was doing right."

"I know," he replied. "Deidre, is there anything else?"

She was quiet for a moment. Her hands left his. He heard her stir and shift. Gabriel shifted to see her. Her hair was mussed.

"Yes," the word was barely audible. "We made a deal."

"Who?" he asked, unwilling to tell her that he already knew the answer to this question.

"Deidre and I did. In Hell. She challenged me to win you over in a week like she did."

"What was at stake?" He felt cold. By the tremor in her voice, she knew she'd lost this one as well as he did.

"Oh, only my soul," she replied with a half-laugh. "We were both a little emotional at the time. I didn't realize... anything."

Gabriel rose and paced. It was worse than he thought. The firm assertion of Darkyn's mate that she bore no one ill-will made more sense when he understood why she said it. She may not, but Darkyn... what would he do to get the soul of past-Death? The Dark One had let it go once as part of a deal. He wasn't going to let her go again.

"At least I can't kill you," he mused. "We'll keep you safe until we can return home. He can't go there."

"Does it really matter? You can't ever love me."

He wanted to agree out of anger but couldn't. The truth was he never fully stopped, because he couldn't.

"I'll always take care of you," he replied. It was better for both Deidres if he worked to ensure his mate never died-dead. "We need some time to... deal with all of this."

There might one day be a way to win her soul back. If he kept her alive and well and his eye on any potential opportunity to rake the Dark One over the coals, he'd do it.

Never mind that they bartered over his love like some sort of prize to be won at a fair. Never mind both women had not only betrayed his trust to make deals with Darkyn, but would soon both have their souls owned by the Dark One.

Near the boiling point, Gabriel drew a deep breath.

"I'll be hunting demons today," he said, needing a release for his fury. "Stay at the fortress."

Deidre said nothing. He left, barely able to see straight let alone think straight.

When he was done killing demons, he'd interrogate the death dealer he had sitting in a cell at the bottom of the fortress. He wanted the dealer scared but not dead, and right now, he didn't think he'd be able to handle a traitor without ripping off his head.

## Day Five

## Chapter Twelve

The portals were unlocked. Deidre tested them three times but was afraid of pissing off Gabriel by disobeying him so early in the day. Of course, it didn't matter, since he was already angry. Tell him the truth hurt more than she thought.

With nothing else to lose, all she could think about was what happened to the human she left in Hell. The news of their deal had infuriated Gabriel once more and driven him off, leading Deidre to believe that he had loved the human more than her. It was a brutal realization, one that left her devastated but also guiltier than ever.

She couldn't start to make things right with him, if she didn't start there. Gabriel had seen human-Deidre but said nothing about what shape she was in. Deidre needed to see Darkyn's mate herself, to face what horror she'd committed before she was able to understand the consequences of her actions.

Deidre entered the shadow world and summoned the human she'd left in Hell. After a moment, a form emerged from the black portal.

Darkyn's mate stopped as soon as she was through.

Deidre's heart flipped in her chest. She almost cried out in relief. The human was alive and well. Still wearing the garb of Hell, Darkyn's mate was sporting fangs with her pink hair and a heavy sultriness that made Deidre look twice.

"Hello," Darkyn's mate spoke first in a hushed voice.

"Hello," Deidre replied. "My gods, what happened to you? Darkyn turned you into a sex-demon?"

"I guess if you give a man the ability to build his own mate, he'll make her a tramp." The Dark One's mate rolled her eyes.

Deidre stared at her then gave a startled laugh. She didn't expect to find the human alive, let alone of a mindset to make a joke.

The moment turned awkward. Their first and only exchange hadn't been pleasant and resulted in a deal made under duress. Deidre didn't know what to say. Her perspective of everything was too different now for her to recall what happened with anything but regret.

Darkyn's mate ducked her head and crossed her arms.

"You called me?" she asked.

"I guess I wanted to see how you're faring," Deidre managed.

"Weird, but good," she replied. "You?"

"You're doing good." Deidre smiled. "I'm really glad to hear it."

"You mean surprised?"

"No. I mean, yes, I am surprised, but I'm also glad," Deidre said. "I, uh, know now what I did wasn't the best route to take. You must hate me."

"I don't."

An awkward silence fell. Darkyn's mate was gazing at her. There was hurt in her eyes but not the anger Deidre expected.

She's not broken like we are, Wynn had told Deidre before she left Hell. She began to see what he meant. The human bore her no ill-will. Deidre didn't understand how that was possible.

"How can I help you?" Darkyn's mate asked.

"I'm pretty sure no one can," Deidre admitted, embarrassed when the last word came out choked. She cleared her throat. "I'm failing miserably. Darkyn stripped my power when I left Hell. I thought it'd be easy. I mean you humans... I guess you make it look simple. You know I couldn't figure out how to turn on the shower? I won't tell you how fascinating I find kitchen appliances."

Darkyn's mate smiled.

"I'm just not getting some things," Deidre said. She paused, sighing. "Like emotions. I never knew there were so many. I don't know how to control them or to make decisions when they're always there just confusing me."

"You're starting from scratch," Darkyn's mate said. "You have to go easier on yourself. Take time to learn the new things and try not be so frustrated with yourself."

Deidre stared at her. "How can you be so... nice?"

Darkyn's mate flushed.

"I mean, you're in Hell maybe even being torn to pieces every day and you're being kind to me. I don't understand any of this."

"I guess I pity you."

Pity. Deidre face grew warm. Wynn was wrong about her being broken. No, she was lost like the souls sitting in the mortal lakes.

"Why did you want to see me now?" Darkyn's mate asked. "You could've checked up on me at any point."

It was a fair question. A brutal one but fair nonetheless. Deidre thought hard about how to respond.

"I'm not sure," she replied. "I guess I was afraid to see what I'd done. I kept hoping things would just go well. I told Gabe about what I did to you yesterday, and he walked out on me."

"That's rough," Darkyn's mate murmured.

"I'm fucking up everything," Deidre continued. "He came back but he's barely speaking to me. Like he's there but I'm not."

"I remember the cold shoulder. He's good at pushing people away."

"I figured I had nothing to lose now. I might as well see what all I'd fucked up," Deidre finished. "I wanted to check on you. If you were alive, I wanted to see if you had any... advice about how to deal with Gabriel."

Turmoil crossed the features of Darkyn's mate. She took a deep breath.

"Well, first, you didn't fuck me over. I thought you did at first and I'll admit, I'm not completely certain things might not break bad, but for now, I'm fine. Darkyn hasn't hurt me and won't. Look." She turned to show her back.

Deidre gasped, understanding now how Darkyn planned on ensuring his mate didn't go anywhere, even after she won their deal.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "He blood-bound you! That crafty son of a bitch!"

"In case I win our deal." Darkyn's mate flushed and cleared her throat. "Sorry. Seems kinda tacky to bring it up."

"No." Deidre shook her head. "I knew he'd figure out something. Never guessed that. He's not someone who bows to others, and a blood-bond is pretty serious, considering you were already mates. I can't imagine the impact of both on him when one is more than enough."

The puzzled curiosity on the features of Darkyn's mate made Deidre wonder if the girl fully understood what had happened. The idea Darkyn voluntarily took a bond to a human when he made a name for himself disobeying his former master...

There might be a reason Darkyn hadn't explained it to his mate.

Deidre stared with renewed interest at the woman she created. There were no signs of violence on the mate of the Dark One. In fact, she glowed with health, even if she seemed shy or nervous.

"That explains the fangs. So jealous," Deidre added. "Sexy."

Darkyn's mate blushed again and ducked her gaze. "Anyway," she mumbled. "I'm glad you told Gabriel the truth. We talked after you told him."

"He came to see you." A streak of jealousy and misery went through Deidre. She knew it was wrong. After condemning the human to Darkyn, how did she deserve to feel this way? "I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"He's always loved you, Deidre. That hasn't changed."

"I don't believe it's possible. I've been afraid of losing him my whole life."

The gaze of Darkyn's mate was on the ground. She hugged herself, visibly upset. Deidre didn't know what to say to comfort her. She was barely holding her own tears.

"I don't know how to help," Darkyn's mate whispered. "The bond between mates is strong. Gabriel is honorable. He will do what's right."

"I want to do what's right, too, but don't even know what that is."

"Darkyn's approach to the mating bond was much different than Gabriel's. Gabriel gave me space and a choice. Darkyn... no way in hell. Relentless." The Dark One's mate took on a husky note that made her flush. "Anyway I mean, if you confront something instead of letting it fester, it might be easier to deal with. Instead of waiting for Gabe to come around, why don't you go to him? Try to make things right."

"I've been trying to think of how to do that."

"Remind him why he fell in love with you. He loves... your spontaneity, your sense of humor." Darkyn's mate tapped one of her fangs absently. "He loves...you and always has. He's always loved the side of you that laughs. The part of you that makes him forget how grey his world is."

"My gods. How do you know this?" Deidre's words were barely audible.

"I ..." Darkyn's mate blinked rapidly, as if near tears.

"You figured that out after a week, and I know nothing after thousands of years," Deidre whispered. "If you weren't blood-bound, I'd give him to you now."

Darkyn's mate said nothing but managed to shake her head. Deidre knew it wasn't possible, not with the girl before her blood-bound to the Dark One. But she couldn't help feeling as if she'd never truly known the man she loved until someone else told her what she missed. Her distress toppled into full blown despair.

"If I can win over the Dark One, you can win over Death," said the mate of Darkyn. "You have the advantage that he already loves you."

No one could love her after all she'd done! Deidre said nothing, pensive. Gabriel was bound to her by Immortal Law. He needed time. Deidre didn't have time. Maybe it was poetic justice that her soul was doomed.

"Not sure why you're trying to help me," she said.

"I want to see Gabriel happy," was the simple response. "You are the only person who can do that."

"You really believe that?"

"I do."

"It's not going to happen in a week," Deidre said, pacing.

"No."

Deidre waited for her to say more. The Dark One's mate appeared uncertain once more. Deidre didn't press. She felt guilty enough being there.

"Are you allowed to leave Hell?" she asked.

Darkyn's mate nodded.

"If I don't fuck up everything and wipe out the world or die-dead in three days, I think I'd like to talk to you more," Deidre said. "If you're interested in being the friend of someone like me."

"I might need some time for that. I can forgive you, but I'm not sure I can ever trust you."

"Trust must be earned," Deidre said. "I get it. I'm learning that with Gabriel. I thought this was the first step. I'm just asking for the chance, from both of you, to make things right. If I even can."

"I'll think about it," Darkyn's mate said. "I'm gonna go. Um, I guess you know how to call me if you need anything."

"I do, thank you. Deidre, I really am happy that you're okay."

Darkyn's mate nodded, turned and retreated through the portal back to Hell.

Deidre let the tears fall that she'd held back. She covered her face with her hands and cried. She'd never hurt so much, even knowing Darkyn's mate was okay. The chill of the shadow world made her shiver. She padded to the glowing portal and stepped through.

She was hungry. Worry had prevented her from eating earlier. She walked down the hallway in search of the dining room, thoughts on all Darkyn's mate had said. Relief was forefront in Deidre's mind and the acknowledgment she'd gotten damn lucky that the demon lord favored winning deals over killing mates.

She paused at an intersection to let a group of Immortals through, uninterested in talking to anyone just now. Her eyes settled on a familiar form, and she stared at him.

Wynn stopped in the middle of the hallway. He regarded her for a long minute and then smiled. It was a cold, knowing smile, one that screamed I told you so.

Deidre spun and walked back the way she came.

"I never took you for a coward," Wynn taunted.

Deidre stopped. The first Ancient Immortal approached her. Tall with dark skin and glowing turquoise eyes, he most closely resembled Andre of any of his sons. The cultured mannerisms that made talking to Andre comfortable were quite different from Wynn. He was cold where Andre was warm, and Wynn's direct gaze held no emotion.

"You're starting to see how right I was," he assessed.

"How did you get out of Hell?" she asked coolly.

"Long story. We'll talk sometime."

Deidre studied him. She didn't recall what it was that made him hate her. It was locked away with her memories. She did remember bringing him back from the dead ten years before in order to help her with her plan and how cold he'd been to her then.

Only he'd tried to kill the human she wanted him to preserve. He failed in his mission, for which she was grateful. But she saw what lay beneath his actions: hatred for something she'd done to him.

"Wynn," she started. "What did I do to you that made you want to kill me?"

He considered her. "You don't recall?"

"No."

A flash of irritation crossed his gaze. He clasped his hands behind his back and drew a deep breath.

She waited apprehensively.

"Many things. I don't care to relive it all," he answered.

"You've never forgiven me."

"Never," he said in a low voice. "I never will."

The powerful words made her frown.

"Even so, I'm sorry," she said softly. "It may not help you now. Whatever it was, I apologize for hurting you so much that you bore a grudge for thousands of years."

Wynn listened intently. She wasn't certain what to expect. The silence grew. Finally, he spoke.

"My only regret is that I didn't save the human you sacrificed when I had the chance," he responded in the same tone. "We are both culpable for sending the only innocent soul either of us has ever known to Hell."

His words stung. Deep inside, she knew she probably deserved them.

"Darkyn was too kind to you," Wynn continued. "He should've let you remember every wrong you committed so you could relive them every second of every day. You have the capacity to care now. Your tears would never stop if you were faced with the creature you were."

"I understand," she murmured.

"You're right," he finished. "It's too late for an apology, Deidre." The Ancient Immortal swept by her, his anger palpable.

Deidre watched him go. No longer hungry, she began to wonder how many other people she'd faulted over her lifetime.

She went back to her room, startled to find Gabriel there. The sight of him made her want to cry. She managed to hurt everyone around her, even her precious Gabriel.

They stared at each other. She wiped her eyes hastily. The tension around Gabriel was present. His muscular frame and direct gaze made her uneasy. He would never hurt her, but he'd never again touch her as he had the other day, either.

The silence grew taut.

"I went to see her," she said.

Gabriel crossed his arms. He said nothing.

"I don't know what else to say, Gabriel. I understand if you hate me. I just don't know what to do to fix things."

Her mate said nothing. Deidre's shoulders sagged. She turned away from him, wanting to be alone. Thinking of taking a dive in the lake and not surfacing again, except that it meant she'd lose her soul. She couldn't change anything that happened or make things right. Where did that leave her?

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"No. I can't be okay. I've hurt so many people."

"Are there any more secrets?"

She sighed and shook her head. "The ones I had weren't enough to drive you away?"

"I told you. No matter what, you're my mate."

Deidre glanced at him. Spending her lifetime with someone who hated her was not what she wanted.

"Now that everything's on the table," he continued. "This is where we start to rebuild."

Deidre stared at him. His faint smile contained sadness. Of all the things she'd done, she'd never be able to forgive herself for hurting him.

"How can you say that?" she asked. "You deserve so much better, Gabriel. All I do is cause pain."

"I never stopped loving you either, Deidre. You have no idea how much that makes me hate myself sometimes," he said. "Our path won't be easy, but we didn't spend thousands of years trying to be together not to take the chance we have now."

She searched his face. Even hurting, he was serious about everything he said. She didn't know how he could love her still after all she'd done or why he was willing to try to make things work. Had she ever understood how honorable and good he was?

"If you're interested," he added at her silence. "It'll take us some time, but we've got eternity."

She managed a smile despite the tears she tried not to shed. Deidre nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

"We'll start slow. You want to have dinner?" he asked.

"Funnel cakes," she whispered.

"Okay," he said.

Gabriel hesitated. Deidre didn't know what to say, overwhelmed by him and her emotions.

"I'm headed to a meeting with Rhyn," he said. "I'll see you at dinner."

She nodded, looking up only when he crossed to the door and left. Deidre gazed after him, fear and hope colliding within her. For the first time this week, she didn't feel entirely doomed.

Deidre. The soft summons made her pause. Accompanying it was a vision of the shadow world. She hesitated then opened a portal.

As she stepped through, so did Darkyn's mate, from a black portal to her left. Deidre glanced at her with apprehensive curiosity, wondering what the former human wanted. Darkyn's mate wasn't alone. A teenage girl with a scarred face framed by short dark hair and tiny fangs marking her as a demoness trailed her. The girl wore the garb of Hell but appeared uncertain, mirroring Deidre's emotion. She crowded Darkyn's mate.

"Hi, Deidre," Darkyn's mate was the first to speak. "I wasn't expecting to see you so soon."

"Um, I thought you summoned me," Deidre said.

Darkyn's mate shook her head.

Dread crept into Deidre.

"Deidre, I think we need to –" she started, backing towards her portal. It had started to close.

Sensing her alarm, Darkyn's mate turned and took the arm of the girl behind her, pushing her towards the black door to Hell.

Two forms stepped between them and the portal, blocking it.

Deidre whirled and saw two people between her and the yellow portal. Heart pounding, she stared at the woman and man before her.

"Harmony," Darkyn's mate said in a hushed tone.

Deidre knew the death dealer; she'd recruited all of them. Harmony was tall and willowy with red hair and green eyes. The man beside her was Vory.

"What do you want?" Deidre demanded in a cool tone.

"You aren't Death anymore." Harmony stepped forward.

Deidre didn't see the blow coming. The punch flattened her and made her ears buzz. She shook her head, once again amazed at how awful pain was. She didn't know how humans bore through it.

"That's for recruiting me without telling me it'd cost my soul," Harmony said, crouching beside her.

"Deidre, are you okay?" Darkyn's mate called anxiously.

"Yes," Deidre replied and rose. "What's going on?"

"Simple. Because of Darkyn's bitch, I've got a price on my head from the Dark One. I didn't betray Gabriel to be stuck in the human world," Harmony said. She grabbed Deidre's arm and hauled her to the other two women. "Who is this?"

Deidre's eyes fell to the tall teen demoness, who was shaking and clinging to Darkyn's mate.

"A servant," was the quick response.

"Kill her."

One of the dealers grabbed the girl and pulled a knife free.

"No!" Darkyn's mate cried. "I lied. She's Darkyn's daughter."

Harmony stared at her then at the teen girl. Suddenly, she smiled.

"Perfect. Even better," Harmony said. "Darkyn's bitch will get us into Hell. Gabe's will get us into the underworld. Once we're there, we'll have all the leverage we need."

Deidre exchanged a look with Darkyn's mate. They'd be completely cut off from either deity in the underworld. Gabriel was locked out, and Darkyn wasn't permitted access in the first place. If both of their mates disappeared, she saw them starting an all out war rather than trying to find them.

Darkyn's mate cast a worried look at the teen demoness, who was shaking. Deidre held no warmth at all for Darkyn, but she could understand that the girl didn't belong in this mess.

"Will you leave her?" Darkyn's mate asked. "I have the power of Hell at my back. I can grant you almost anything in exchange for her life."

"I will, too," Deidre spoke up. "Any deal I make will be sealed by Death's magic."

Harmony was quiet for a moment.

"Darkyn made a deal with Gabriel for your soul, Harmony. Whoever finds you first, Darkyn keeps you," Darkyn's mate added.

The death dealer paled and glanced at Deidre. Deidre knew that look, the one that said that Harmony was staring down an eternity of demon mercy. It was the same feeling that Deidre got every time she let herself think of what happened when her deal ran out.

"Let the girl go, and I'll make sure your soul goes where it should, right beside mine," Deidre added, carefully wording the deal.

"Or you can risk an eternity with the Dark One personally overseeing your day-to-day... activities," Darkyn's mate seconded.

Harmony appeared indecisive.

"The soul of a deity or former deity has special standing," Deidre pushed. "Yours will remain right beside mine."

Harmony tossed her head towards the death dealer holding Darkyn's daughter. She held out a hand to Deidre. Deidre took it. They shook, and their deal was sealed with the magic of Gabriel. Darkyn's mate was looking at her hard. Deidre focused on the girl.

The death dealer tossed the teen demoness through a yellow portal, onto the mortal plane rather than into Hell. Darkyn's mate gasped.

"She's alive," Deidre said quickly, seeing the woman's distress.

"If either of you summons your mates, I'll kill the other. If you try to alert anyone or escape, I'll peel your skin from your bodies and watch you scream," Harmony warned. "Got it?"

Deidre nodded. So did Darkyn's mate.

"Now, we're going to Hell."

Deidre swallowed hard. This was definitely not how she envisioned the end of her week. Worst of all: she'd miss her first dinner date with Gabriel.

Not even the thought of losing her soul could rival the sorrow she felt knowing she'd disappoint him one last time.

## Chapter Thirteen

Wynn heard the commotion from his place on the terrace taking afternoon tea. He never expected to see the blue sky again or the trees around the fortress, let alone sip sweet tea and nibble on berry scones. He'd been in the middle of deciding which of his collection of knives he was going to use to kill the goddess once and for all when the noise started.

It sounded as if half a legion of armed Immortals was chasing someone through the fortress. Assuming it was some sort of uncivilized training exercise engineered by the half-breed in charge of the Council, he was nonetheless stopped from enjoying his first tea since returning from Hell.

His peace ruined, he rose and strode into the fortress. The main floor consisted of common areas and wide halls lined with massive windows. What he saw was exactly how he pictured it: undisciplined scrambling by about a dozen Immortals in uniform. He watched them, recalling a time he'd overseen the training of all Immortal warriors.

Times had definitely changed. He wasn't certain how Rhyn's men managed to drive away the demons last autumn. If anything, it made Darkyn look bad for not being able to defeat the disorganized rabble.

Determined to find some peace and quiet, Wynn ignored the men racing in different directions through the hallways and went to one of the back stairwells. He climbed halfway up before he heard what sounded like a sob from behind him. He turned in time to see someone racing away. He started to resume his climb then paused.

Unable to explain exactly why, he had the sense that whomever it was that he saw, he knew.

Wynn trotted down the stairs. He heard two of the Immortals shouting from down a nearby hall and saw the dark figure duck into a doorway. Wynn wished of the second time that day he had a weapon of some sort. He would've gutted past-Death earlier if so.

Silently, he strode down the hallway after the figure he saw. He pushed the door to a dark room open, using his senses to key in on where the person was. Though he possessed nowhere near the level of power he used to, he was still able to sense the figure cowering in a corner. Unwilling to alarm them and possibly end up stabbed, he pretended not to know and moved through the room.

He went to the window opposite the figure and closed his eyes, then whipped the curtain open. Someone gasped. Wynn turned and opened his eyes. The figure's arm was raised to block the blinding light.

Wynn moved before his victim could. He snatched the arm and whirled her, arm sliding around the neck of the mysterious person.

The skin against his jaw was rough. Scarred. The body went limp. Her breathing was ragged, her frame shaking. He leaned away to look down and confirm that she wore the dress of a demoness.

"Selyn," he said, surprised. "If that's you, tell me."

He waited to see what she did. The girl tapped his arm then held up three fingers, the sign she'd made to mean Wynn. Darkyn was one finger, his mate two fingers and Wynn three. Darkyn's daughter was unable to speak with the damage done to her head and neck. She was lucky to walk. By the trembling of her body, she wasn't going to be on her feet much longer.

What the fuck was Darkyn's daughter doing in the Immortal stronghold?

He released her and turned her to face him. There were tears on her cheeks. She held up two fingers.

"Deidre," he said.

She nodded and started breathing hard and fast, panicking. Her eyes were dark, her pixie-cut messy.

"Whatever your father did, don't involve me," he said. "Gods, he'll fucking slaughter me for talking to you."

Selyn shook her head. She was upset but didn't know how to tell him why. She held up two fingers again.

Frustrated and concerned his self-preservation was at stake, Wynn summoned a portal to take the girl back.

Selyn tried to bolt. Wynn caught her, puzzled. She was shaking her head again, staring at the portal with huge eyes. The growl of a demoness was almost a whimper.

He closed the portal. At a loss as to what to do next, he was about to summon Darkyn when the room shook. Wynn went still. He'd felt the earth crack open once before. It happened the first time Darkyn invaded the mortal world from Hell. The demon lord tore the plane between the two.

Wynn took Selyn's arm. He led her to the window. She looked out and squeezed his arm in excitement. Wynn was far less thrilled by what they saw.

Darkyn was standing beside a molten tear in the earth, flanked by seven demons that stood one and a half times the size of Gabriel, the largest man Wynn knew.

"Darkyn's here with his back-up squad. You're clearly upset about something. I don't see Deidre," Wynn said, thinking fast. "Should I assume something happened to her?"

Selyn nodded vigorously.

Rhyn and several other Immortals spilled out of the fortress.

"I think we need to get down there," Wynn said.

Selyn started away, tugging at him to follow.

"Wait, Selyn. The Immortals won't hesitate to hurt you."

Her eyes watered again. She'd been raped and killed by an Immortal. She knew what danger she was in. Wynn doubted she knew that the Immortal who did it was his son. She wouldn't be anywhere near him if she did.

"If you don't want to go through the portal" \- She shook her head - "then we'll have to go through the back passages."

She waited.

Wynn almost sighed. Whatever happened, it could break bad. Darkyn didn't tear the fabric between worlds for a simple hello.

"Stay with me no matter what, okay?" he instructed her.

She nodded. Gods help the girl, she trusted him of all people.

## Chapter Fourteen

Gabriel.

Rhyn's summons came at a bad time. Gabriel finished collecting the souls from the bowl then straightened, motioning to Landon. Andre had tipped them off about another, smaller warehouse. This one was the size of a small apartment, stacked ceiling to floor with bodies. Ten demons guarded this one, two of which he'd slaughtered before leaving his dealers to handle the rest to search for souls.

"Rhyn's calling. Can you handle this?" he asked Landon.

Landon nodded.

"I'll take these to the lake. Stay available." Gabriel summoned a portal and emerged at the lake.

He froze. He could feel that something happened. It was a new kind of sense, one he'd never experienced before. Something was broken and for once, it wasn't Death's domain. Another sense grew stronger. It was familiar. He last experienced it...

... Monday night, when Deidre had gone to Hell. He didn't understand it at the time. It was less an instinct and more of an absence of something. A warmth at the edge of his mind.

Gabriel.

He started towards the fortress at a trot, struggling to decipher the instincts of a deity. Something broken and something missing. His pace quickened, and he left the forest and trotted to the Immortals' stronghold. His attention shifted from his thoughts to the scene before him, and he slowed.

Rhyn and Andre stood near Darkyn between two lines, one of Immortals and the opposite of demons larger than any Gabriel had ever seen. Both demon lord and half-demon were bristling with power, the Dark One's growl audible long before Gabriel reached them. He paused near the crack in the ground.

He saw it once before, when he was seventeen. When Darkyn's demons had wiped out his village, a tiny stopover on their journey to enslave the mortal realm.

"Gabriel." Only Andre would manage to sound calm standing before two creatures with enough power to turn him to dust.

"What's going on?" Gabriel asked, hands on the hilts of his weapons.

He wasn't expecting anyone but Andre to answer. The two demons were locked in a silent staring contest. When he was close enough, Darkyn addressed him.

"My mate. Now," the Dark One snarled. His eyes were cold and sharp. With the tear between worlds, he was able to use more of the power normally restricted to Hell. Dark power surged around him.

"Where's your Deidre?" Rhyn asked Gabriel, his gaze never leaving Darkyn.

Gabriel summoned her with enough power that she wasn't able to ignore him, even if she was upset.

No response.

He waited another moment, unleashing his senses.

He should be able to find his mate no matter where she was – but couldn't.

Something missing.

If he couldn't find her, she was in one of two places: Hell or the underworld.

"What the fuck happened?" he asked, focusing on Andre.

"You fucking tell me." The Dark One faced him.

Gabriel didn't react, instead motioning to Andre to do something about Rhyn, who was ready to explode. The half-demon had the impact of a nuclear bomb with absolutely no control. He summoned Landon and gave his second-in-command an urgent message.

Find my mate.

"I want my mate," Darkyn repeated.

"Harder to hang onto than you thought?" Gabriel couldn't help baiting the enraged demon. He didn't think he'd ever be able to rationalize that both Deidres had gone to Darkyn instead of trusting him without resentment.

The Dark One approached him. They circled one another.

"I will destroy you and your underworld and anything else between," Darkyn growled.

"An eternity in Hell or what? Poor girl probably dove off a cliff."

"Unlike yours, my mate accepts her place."

"I fucked 'em both, Darkyn. You'll never live that down."

The demon stopped, rigid enough Gabriel knew it wouldn't take much more to make him snap.

"Gabriel, let's not lose focus," Andre said calmly. "Your past is irrelevant. We need to resolve this." The Immortal approached with caution, his movements deliberate and his voice steady and low.

"Boss," Landon appeared. He took in the situation and stepped back.

Gabriel glanced at him. Landon shook his head.

"Seems both girls are missing," Gabriel said, zeroing in on Darkyn. "Where's my mate?"

"Not in Hell, where she belongs," Darkyn snapped.

"Gabriel."

"Now you fucking show up," Gabriel replied to Wynn.

"You both might be interested in this." Andre's gaze was beyond the two deities. He nudged Gabriel's arm. "Come closer, Wynn."

Darkyn didn't move, and neither did Gabriel. Two forms came into his peripheral and stopped just out of their reach. The Dark One's fathomless eyes were colder than a winter night, and Gabriel wasn't about to back down this time. He'd let the demon bait him before at Deidre's old apartment, before the truth was revealed.

"My lord." The girl's voice was timid and raspy, no more than a whisper.

Gabriel looked and so did Darkyn.

Wynn stood with a slender teen demoness, half of whose face was knotted with thick scars. Her eyes were the same shade as Darkyn's, her skin pale. As soon as the Dark One's gaze fell to her, she dropped into a deep curtsy.

Darkyn gave a low order in the demon language. The girl scrambled up and approached him, eyes on the ground. With little gentleness, the Dark One took her neck when she was close enough. She closed her eyes, unmoving. He released her, and she gave another curtsy then took a few steps back.

"My guess is that the Deidres are missing together," Wynn murmured.

"Fucking death dealers," the Dark One muttered. He twisted and motioned one of the waiting demons forward. Sheathing his dagger, he issued a sharp order to the girl. She obeyed quickly, hurrying towards the demon.

"She told you where they were," Gabriel guessed. "Where?"

"Fuck you." Darkyn spun on his heel and strode towards his demons.

"Hell or the underworld?" Rhyn asked. "Either one, I can get into. Don't think anyone else here can say that."

"You won't get past my demons this time, half-breed. No one will."

"If they aren't in Hell, they can only be one other place where I can't sense them," Gabriel said. "Somewhere you can't go without my agreement."

Darkyn stopped.

"Unless you don't plan on going after your blood-bound mate yourself."

The demon was still.

"You will fucking tell me, Darkyn, or I will make sure you never find her."

The Dark One faced him. Gabriel stood his ground as the demon strode to him. The others stepped back quickly.

"This is because you did not heed my advice," Darkyn hissed. "I warned you. You win your battles or they destroy you!" He shoved Gabriel.

Gabriel shoved him back.

"This shit I can handle. Back off, Andre," Rhyn said. He planted a hand on the chest of each man and pushed them a part. "Let's get one thing straight. You brought your shit into my backyard. You want my help getting your women back, you shut the fuck up and listen."

Gabriel said nothing, anger barely contained.

"We're going to make a little deal, the three of us. Everyone gets to name one thing they want," Rhyn said. "I'll start. Darkyn, you keep the fuck away from my daughter. Forever. Gabe, your turn."

"Permission to traverse Hell to get to the underworld," Gabriel said without hesitation.

"Permission to access and leave the underworld to claim my mate, with power intact, no interference from you, and no unwritten terms," the demon lord replied.

"No deal," Gabriel said. "You want to come in, you can't bring Hell with you."

"Your dealers are rebelling. If I have no power, my mate is defenseless."

Gabriel said nothing, troubled by the idea of either girl being unable to help herself. At the same time, he couldn't jeopardize the underworld more.

"No deal," he repeated. "You come in without power. We leave the gateway between the two open, so she can access Hell's magic."

"I retain the ability to heal myself and my mate," Darkyn said.

"Deal."

"You traverse my domain without power," the demon lord countered. "You, the half-breed, and two Immortals of his choosing."

"I'm bringing five death dealers," Gabriel replied.

"One."

"Three."

"Done," Darkyn said with a nod. "As for you, half-breed, I agree on the condition that I get Sasha's soul."

"Shit. If I knew where that was, I'd turn it over to you without a second thought," Rhyn replied.

"You better find it, if you don't want your daughter dragged to Hell," Darkyn snapped. "Deal or no?"

"Deal."

Darkyn whirled and walked away.

"That felt like a good deal, but I always worry with that bastard," Gabriel muttered.

"I'm mostly sure we didn't fuck it up," Rhyn seconded. "Andre can track demons in the underworld, right?"

"I hope so."

"I'll bring him and –"

"Tamer," Gabriel said instantly.

"Tamer?" Rhyn frowned. "He's a nightmare."

"He fights almost as good as you and has a low tolerance for bullshit. I have a feeling we'll need that combination," Gabriel reasoned. His eyes followed Darkyn.

"You might be right. We'll want as much muscle as we can get, if the worst happens," Rhyn said quietly. "Darkyn is blood bound. If the Dark One can't feed, he's going to massacre everyone in his path. He's from the time-before-time. Hopefully, he can handle a little bloodlust."

Gabriel hadn't given Darkyn's bond to his mate a second thought.

A little bloodlust.

The Dark One could drain a village in two days. There was nothing little about his lust. Gabriel's throat tightened at a second thought.

"Deidre is blood-bound, too."

"Five minutes, half-breed!" Darkyn barked. He and his demons disappeared through a portal.

"Might be why he's in such a hurry. She's not gonna last," Rhyn responded.

"I want to know what the girl told him," Gabriel replied, eyes on the timid teen that hung on the heels of the demon lord.

"I took a peek into her mind," Andre replied from behind them.

Gabriel turned.

"The Deidres were lured into the shadow world and ambushed by death dealers. They brokered the girl's release."

"Who is she?" Rhyn asked.

"Darkyn's daughter," Wynn replied from nearby. His arms were crossed and his cold gaze on Andre.

"The one killed by Sasha?" Gabriel asked, surprised. "I thought a daughter was just an excuse to declare war on everyone."

"No. He kept me in Hell to undo what Sasha did," Wynn answered.

The portal to Hell closed. Gabriel's eyes lingered. Just when he thought there were no more surprises...

At least he had a way into the underworld. Like always, Fate had given him a glimpse of his future without warning him how traumatic it would be.

"Andre, do me a favor and interrogate the death dealer in the dungeon," Gabriel told the eldest of the brothers. "When you come to the underworld, tell the trees to take you to me."

"Of course," Andre replied.

Gabriel exchanged a look with Rhyn.

"You ready?" Rhyn asked.

"Always," Gabriel replied. "I'll go grab Tamer and meet you in the portal room in Hell."

Rhyn grinned.

Whatever happened next, Gabriel prayed the underworld didn't throw him out. He had to find his mate and Darkyn's, quell a rebellion and find a way to reopen the portals to the dealers trapped on the mortal plane.

And find his soul, before it was crushed and he was sent to Hell.

Gabriel opened a portal and crossed through the in-between place.

Deidre took the first step down the path of their future when she told him her secrets. As much as they angered him, Gabriel wasn't going to let anything happen to her, especially in his own domain. No, he'd find his mate. For the first time this week, he realized that he, too, wanted to take the next step.

I've waited my whole life for this. Deidre's words returned to him. He loved her since the beginning. For the first time in their history, they stood a real chance of turning a sordid love story into a pure one. It was going to be hard, maybe even harder than finding his soul in the underworld, but the opportunity was theirs for the taking.

He wasn't about to lose her or the chance to build a life with the woman he'd loved for tens of thousands of years.

Gabriel left the portal and blinked at the bright light of Tamer's study.

"Tamer."

The Immortal glanced up from his laptop, brow furrowing in irritation.

"How would you like to go to the underworld?" Gabriel asked, smiling.

Rhyn Eternal Series

"Gabriel's Hope"

"Deidre's Death" (July 2013)

"Darkyn's Mate" (July 2013)

"The Underworld" (2014)

