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.