"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.