Deidre's Death (#2, Rhyn Eternal) (22 page)

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.