Deidre waited for the portal to close before she rose. She paced and caught sight of her reflection in the windows. For a long moment, she stared. Her insides were shaking, no longer settled by his gentle magic.
She'd told Gabriel she wanted to live. There was no uncertainty about dying. Living promised much more that she'd be unable to control: the Immortal society into which she'd been sucked, a potential boyfriend who still seemed to waffle about whether or not he wanted to be with her, absolutely no sense of normalcy or stability. Did Immortals have jobs? Houses? Pets?
Did it matter, if she was able to live a full life? To turn her bucket list into a to-do list? Her gaze went to the kitchen, and she smiled as she recalled Gabriel putting up her latest find. She wanted a life filled with chili pepper lights.
And a chance with Gabriel.
Her smile faded. He didn't answer her plea to reassure her some part of him cared for her. She thought him sitting with her so long on the beach was an indication. Why then wasn't he willing to admit it?
Deidre wiped her face and forced herself to face another possibility. Was she willing to give life a second shot, even if Gabriel wasn't in the picture and she had no more normal friends after Wynn's betrayal?
Yes. Maybe.
Still cold from the chilly beach, she went up to her room and changed into jeans and a sweater. Tying comfortable shoes, she drew a deep breath.
"One percent chance my ass," she muttered. "Not when I have a guarantee from some freakish stranger I met in a dark alley."
Her confidence faltered. She reminded herself that the man named Darkyn promised to help for free, whichever way she decided to go. She could always double-check and walk away, if he decided not to honor his deal.
Deidre called a portal and stood before it. She breathed deeply several times, nerves and instincts unsettled. She was going to do it. She was going to live - and maybe even share a life with someone like Gabriel. It was terrifying, but she felt invigorated, hopeful.
She strode into the shadow world and stopped.
"Darkyn," she called, uncertain where he hid out.
"I thought you'd come back."
Deidre whirled, startled at how quickly he appeared. His slow smile scared her while the penetrating gaze chipped away at more of her resolve.
"I, uh, thought about what you said," she said.
He clasped his arms behind his back, waiting politely.
"I want to live. But" - she rushed on - "I want to clarify that I'm not going to owe you anything and there's no weird contract with fine print that says you get to claim my firstborn child or anything."