Gabriel's Hope (#1, Rhyn Eternal) (33 page)

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Authors: Lizzy Ford

BOOK: Gabriel's Hope (#1, Rhyn Eternal)

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Deidre crossed the room, terrified she’d find Gabriel’s name gone.

“We are destined to become the mates of deities. Deities, Ancients and Immortals all have a match,” past-Death explained. “I’m Gabriel’s preordained mate. I created you long before I ceased to exist by morphing a part of my soul with yours. You are mostly human, but you are also part of me. You were enough me to convince the laws governing Immortal mating that you were Gabriel’s mate, until I reappeared a few hours ago and set things straight, including telling Fate to fuck off.”

“You’re the two percent of me that’s not human?”

“Correct.”

“I don’t think I get it.” Deidre shivered and paused a few feet from the deity. She had a mild headache, and the tension between her shoulders was aching from the stress of the discussion. Wired, emotional energy made it hard to concentrate as she listened.

“I don’t expect a human to understand. What should matter to you is that you’re going to be the mate of a deity. It’s no small honor,” past-Death said.

I want Gabriel,
Deidre screamed silently. “I need to get out of here.”

“You’ll never leave Hell,” past-Death continued, oblivious to Deidre’s growing distress. “Darkyn was recently promoted to the Dark One. He won’t let you go.”

Somehow, Deidre wasn’t surprised the creepy demon everyone bowed to was the Dark One. If Fate looked like a frat boy and past-Death like a sorority girl, the Dark One’s youthful human form didn’t seem out of place among the deities she met.

“He said I could earn my way out,” Deidre said.

“Maybe in time. Or Gabriel or another deity can make a deal to get you out. There are possibilities. Only one issue you have to overcome.”

Past-Death took Deidre’s arm and spun her back to the mirror. Deidre was relieved to see the Immortal script, until she saw it wasn’t Gabriel’s name on her back.

Darkyn.

“One of us was intended for Gabriel. The other for Darkyn,” past-Death said. “Luck of the draw, I guess. Darkyn will never let you go.”

Deidre stared, horrified. “Gabriel won’t let this happen.”

“He will if he thinks I’m you.”

“He won’t. There’s nothing you can do to fool him. He will know before you have a chance to kiss him,” she said, her fury building. “We’re too different!”

“Gabriel will love me as he did you,” past-Death returned. “I will make sure of it.”

Something within Deidre snapped. She faced the goddess, rage streaking through her along with the terror of being mated to the Dark One.

“What are you?” she demanded. “Getting me assigned to Darkyn and taking Gabriel, who won’t want anything to do with you when he cares about me? You can’t just swap us out in his life!”

“We are the same person.” Past-Death’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t want to piss me off, human.”

“I don’t give a shit! Whatever happened, whatever this is” Deidre gestured wildly at the tattoo on her back “Gabriel will find a way to fix it. Even if he doesn’t, and I’m trapped here forever, you are too fucking selfish to understand that you can’t
make
someone love you. He’ll send you packing by day two.”

“Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?” past-Death shoved her.

“Do you have any idea who
you’re
talking to?” Deidre shoved her back. “The woman who captured his heart in a week, something you barely did after millennia! And he
still
hates you!”

Past-Death appeared surprised. A flush of anger crept up her neck and into her face.

“If any part of you cared about him, you’d want him to be happy, not force him to love you!” Deidre cried. “Even if that meant sacrificing what you want or that he ended up with me instead of you.”

“I
created
you and broke laws older than time to do it! You are nothing,” past-Death shouted. “I sacrificed everything for the chance you would bring us together!”

“You didn’t do it for him. You are throwing me away like garbage when I’m the one he cares about!” Deidre pushed her again. “There is nothing on this planet that will make him fall in love with someone like you. I’d bet my fucking life on it!”

“Would you really? Do you know what happens if you lose a wager to a deity?” past-Death challenged.

“It can’t be fucking worse than being trapped with the fucking devil!”

“Fine. Name your bet!”

“Gabriel,” Deidre said promptly. “If you can’t do what I did in a week, he’s mine.”

“You cannot wager something you do not own,” past-Death said scornfully.

“Then good luck and fuck you.” Deidre whirled, tears on her face again. Her deal with Darkyn sealed her fate. The catch she’d discounted as simple was going to damn them all.

Mr. Checkmate was probably not smiling anymore.

“Cowardly humans,” past-Death snarled and strode to the door.

Suddenly, past-Death’s words about how Deidre became Gabriel’s mate clicked. Would the reverse also work? If past-Death was dead again, was Deidre next in line to be Gabriel’s mate?

She faced the door, mind working quickly.

“Wait!” she called. “Your soul. If you can’t do what I did in a week, I get your soul.”

“Fuck off, human.”

“Who’s the coward now?” Deidre demanded. “You’re incapable of loving him the way he deserves, and you know it.”

Past-Death froze at the door. Her face was red, her eyes glittering. “You will wager your soul as well?”

“Yep,” Deidre said. “Deal?” She held out her hand and drew near. “One week. Your soul and mine on the table.”

Past-Death shook her hand. Cold energy shot through Deidre, and she flinched. The door opened, and they both looked towards it.

“Which one of you is mine?” Darkyn’s growl made her blood run cold.

“As I promised. My payment for your services.” Past-Death snatched Deidre’s arm and yanked her to the side for him to see the tattoo.

The demon lord smiled. Past-Death pushed Deidre towards him.

Deidre dug in her heels before she reached him. The heat of her anger vanished, replaced by fear.

“Deal settled,” Darkyn said, stepping aside. “With regards to our arrangement about reviving you…”

“We’ll talk later,” past-Death said and brushed by him.

Darkyn watched her go. Deidre saw the look on his face, the same one past-Death gave her when admiring the product she created. His attention returned to Deidre. His fangs were lengthening. She backed away, unable to fathom the idea of being trapped with him in Hell for eternity.

“Rules,” he reminded her and entered the chamber. He closed the door behind him.

“No running. No fighting.”

You must obey him, no matter how much you do not wish to. Your life is not the only one dependent upon this.

She stopped in place as Fate’s words returned her. Unable to quell the panic flying through her, she wasn’t willing to test the waters to discover if demons were restricted from harming their mates like Immortals. In a week, when past-Death lost her end of the bet, Deidre would be free.

She just had to survive.

Deidre closed her eyes as Darkyn’s arm snaked out to grab her neck. He dragged her against him. Breathing ragged, she tilted her head in submission.

One week.

“Welcome to your new home, love,” the Dark One said a moment before his teeth sank into her neck.

For Gabriel.

Chapter Fifteen

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.

Rhyn Eternal series

“Gabriel’s Hope” (Dec 2012)

“Deidre’s Death” (Fall 2013)

Want to learn how to earn free paperbacks, ebooks, and exclusive giveaways and discounts on swag as part of Lizzy’s Rewards Club? See details at: http://www.guerrillawordfare.com/rewards-club/

The Rhyn Trilogy – Available from Amazon