Deidre's Death

"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.