Gabriel's Hope

Then you don't know me as well as you think you do. The knowledge left him calmer than when he arrived. Wynn had missed the events of the past few thousand years, which meant the changes Gabe went through the past few months were mysteries to the Immortal.

"The Immortals haven't discovered you," Gabriel guessed.

"Not yet. I've been taking a breather from that life. I'll show myself soon," Wynn said, unconcerned. "What news do you have of my sons?"

"Dangerous question."

Wynn leaned forward, interest on his face. "Do they hold the Council together?"

"Barely. Three of your sons are dead-dead," Gabe said. "Andre, Kris and Sasha."

"My Andre?" Wynn frowned, not expecting the news.

"Rhyn leads the Council."

"The half-breed? I intended to have him killed, before his mother acted against me. Did he kill the others to take over the Council?"

"No. Sasha defected to the Dark One then killed Andre and was himself killed by a traitor. Past-Death took Kris," Gabe summarized. "Rhyn is all that holds the Immortals together."

Rare emotion went through the gaze of the Immortal before him. Gabe waited. Wynn was silent, pensive and troubled. For a moment, Gabe almost thought he cared for his sons.

"Yet she brought me back," Wynn mused. "You know why, don't you?"

"I'm not obligated to tell you."

"Will you bargain? Your secret for mine? This is a game your predecessor played very well."

"I have no need for your secrets," Gabe replied.

"You will, when you realize what it is you don't know yet."

"I don't play games, Wynn. I never have."

"You know where to find me," Wynn said, holding out his arms. He folded them behind his head. "Probably with your Deidre. Something tells me she'll be back here soon."

Summoning a portal, Gabriel stood and left.

He agreed silently with Wynn's parting words but wasn't certain what to do about it. If he admitted not to killing Wynn, she'd return immediately. If she believed Wynn dead, Gabe had time. Though he could track her easily, he wasn't certain how to prevent her from using the portals. She was untraceable in the shadow world, until she emerged somewhere else. All it took was a few seconds for her to fall under Wynn's influence. The Immortal knew as much as Gabe about the portals and how to evade those who followed.

One thing was certain: he had to talk to Rhyn fast. It wasn't Death's duty to track a rogue Immortal like Wynn, but he had a need to ensure the right person did.

In the meantime, he had to come up with a plan to make Deidre miserable. Gabriel's step through the shadow world slowed. It was getting more difficult to keep his distance from his mate, and he hated knowing he'd have to hurt her emotionally to prevent the tumor from growing too fast. If what Wynn said was true, Gabriel needed as much time as he could find to figure out how to save her.