Deidre's Death

"She sends you to Hell, and you go to bat for her."

"Not for her. For you," she replied. "I want you to be happy. I am out of the picture. I understand this. I also forgive both of you, Gabe. I can't say I want her to be happy yet, but I don't want her to be sad."

He laughed. "That's as spiteful as you get, isn't it?"

"Pretty much." She was blushing. "I loved you, too, Gabriel. I think a part of me always will. You gave me the strength to take a step I wouldn't have otherwise. You made me want to live when I was ready to die. I'll always be grateful to you for that."

Her eyes were shimmering with tears that only heightened her seductive appeal. She meant what she said; that much was clear. His anger lessened without him understanding why. She accepted her fate with the Dark One. It should've made him angrier.

Gabriel didn't say what he thought, that she might've been better off in the Lake of Souls than with Darkyn. A part of him was relieved. Human-Deidre was alive and healthy. He purposely didn't let himself think about Darkyn being in her bed instead of him.

"You're welcome, I think," he said with a shake of his head. "My offer to hide you in the underworld is always open."

"I won't need it."

They sat in silence, both of them gazing at the ocean. She shivered in the chilly ocean breeze. Gabriel resisted the urge to wrap his arm around her the way he had once before.

"You want something else from me," Deidre assessed.

He glanced at her.

"Darkyn said my weakness is being taken advantage of by others. He shared some of his power or whatever your deities do. I can sense that you have an ulterior motive of some sort," she explained. "I can't see it, but I feel it."

"Savvy demon," Gabriel murmured. "You needed that."

"No more men like Wynn killing me slowly." Her features saddened.

"You're right. I do need to ask you for something."

She focused on him in interest.

"I have to get into the underworld. The dealers are rebelling, and they've figured out a way to out me from my position. I have to be there in order to prevent it," he said carefully. "The only way into the underworld is through Hell."

"Darkyn will make you a deal you probably can't live with," she guessed. "I can't make deals."

"I wasn't going to ask you to," he said. "I was going to ask you to help me get home."