Gabriel's Hope

Because he wanted her to live. Gabriel dwelled on the idea with the same irony that made Wynn regret his vengeance. Urgency filled him at the thought of finding a way to save the woman he might've killed a few days ago. Reconciling past-Deidre and human Deidre was enough to give him a headache. How was it possible they looked exactly alike, yet were so different? Would the Deidre that was his mate snap one day and turn into the goddess he remembered?

It didn't matter, if she died in a few weeks. Stymieing her sunny nature now was a small sacrifice compared to seeing it snuffed forever. He had to figure out a way to do it in a way he was able to recover from, if she survived.

*****

Deidre's eyes were puffy from crying herself to sleep. She showered and left her room, mourning the loss of her last good friend. She located the correct courtyard beside the dining hall on the first try and walked in. No Immortals waited for her. In fact, it was empty, except for the nun who brought her breakfast. Deidre didn't want to talk to the Immortals, but she felt alone eating breakfast.

Despondent, she went from the dining hall to the top of the wall and leaned on it. The sight, sound and scent of the ocean helped her relax. She'd never seen such a beautiful body of water. Her gaze flickered between it and the interior of the Sanctuary. She left everything of value she owned at Wynn's. Terrified she'd find him in the tub, nothing more than a pile of bones, she pushed herself away from the wall and focused hard on calling a portal.

It came today. Dread sank into her belly as she entered the shadow world and crossed to the glowing doorway. She stepped through into the guest bedroom she'd left the night before. Her things were where she'd left them. She changed into her own clothes and gathered the most important of her belongings before bracing herself to leave the room.

She went to Wynn's bedroom first. His bed was made, and there was no body on the floor. Heart beating fast, she descended the stairs in the marble foyer, listening. While she heard nothing, she smelled coffee. Deidre followed the scent to the veranda, thrilled to see Wynn seated at the table where they'd had dinner.

And then she remembered the demon that took the shape of Logan. She paused in the doorway to the patio.

"I made coffee. I don't know how you drink it," Wynn said, turning his head to the side.