"And have you chosen to?"

"Last night was the first time. You were too distraught to speak," he answered. "I needed to know why."

"Doesn't seem like rocket science. I find out I was a sociopathic deity. You issue me an ultimatum I can't live with and then make out with some lady at the lake. Oh, and I picked up someone else's soul last night," she said. "Yesterday was not a good one. We're through, by the way, Gabriel."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"If I'm keeping you from your lover, by all means, you can go."

"You weren't supposed to see that," he said quietly.

"Famous last words."

He chuckled. "Will you try to tell me now you weren't jealous?"

"You read my mind already. You tell me," she replied.

"You were crushed."

Deidre said nothing.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Yes, you did," she said. "You don't tell someone you'll never be able to care for them and think you're doing anything other than hurting them. But your offer won't change."

"It can't."

"Then we're still through."

"I'm upholding my end of our arrangement."

She really didn't want to leave the comfort of his arms, but remaining meant giving up something she wasn't willing to do.

"You're not running," he said cautiously. He smoothed the hair from the side of her face. His kiss on her temple was light.

"That isn't an invitation," she warned him.

"You were a helluva lot easier to bed in your past life." The frustration in his voice was clear.

Deidre moved away from him. He released her. She settled on her belly a couple of feet away, glaring at him. Gabe remained on his side, hand propping up his head. Even relaxed in bed, he seemed ready to take on the world.

"You've got a back-up plan," she told him. "She'll likely take your arrangement."

His jaw clenched, his piercing gaze making her want to crawl back into his arms.

"You know that already," she assessed. "Why are you wasting your time with me? Another part of your duty?"

"After your encounter with the souls, I think you understand why I take it so seriously. There's no room for failure, not when the souls of the dead depend on you."

Deidre gazed at him, her throat tightening at the reminder of the lost souls. She wanted to ask more about them and what happened after Death claimed someone, but it was a lot to deal with. She didn't feel up to it.

"I can see that," she managed. "You have my blessing. Not that you need it." She sat up and hopped off the bed, too aware of how alone she felt. She had no idea what to do with herself or where to go.




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