Her cool command had no effect on him this time. "Are you hurt?" he asked her without releasing the demon. "Are you saying this under duress?"

"No, Gabriel," past-Death sighed. "He's like my pet … sorta. Smelly, disgusting and always hungry but basically harmless. Release him. Please."

"I know this demon," Gabriel said, peering more closely at the blond creature. "You've alternately helped then betrayed then helped Rhyn."

"Yes," the demon hissed. "Friendly pet."

Gabriel lowered him from the ceiling, struggling to digest how he'd entered the most sacred place in the underworld only to find a fucking demon there ahead of him. He ventured a glance at his mate, and his gaze stuck, the way it always had whenever he saw her.

Beautiful, if tired, deity-Deidre's large eyes were the purest blue, her wispy blonde hair swept back and tied at the base of her neck. She was pale enough to be a ghost, and her clothing was rumpled and bloodied. His protective instinct prodded him, and he found the resentment he normally experienced whenever they saw one another slipping away at the sight of her state.

The pulse of their bond shimmered between them for a split second, his attraction to her as strong now as it had been when he first fell for her so long ago. He wanted to sweep her up in his arms, make love to her until the sad look on her face disappeared, and then conquer his world with her at his side.

We aren't ready for that yet. Frustration of a different kind left him more wired, but he restrained the urge to touch his mate, to feel her warm skin and hold her while gazing into her eyes.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she answered with a small, shy smile.

"Hey," the demon said.

Gabriel eyed him and strode to the door, tossing him out. He closed the door behind him.

"I swore to help him, Gabriel," his mate reminded him.

"If something happens, we'll hear him scream." Gabriel was transfixed by her once more.

She folded her arms across her chest, appearing as apprehensive as he was frustrated. He wasn't certain where to start and had completely forgotten the sacred surroundings.

"See? Nothing bad happened by coming here," she started. "I don't know what you thought this was, but it's not bad."

Gabriel took in the subdued room. Drawn to the souls at its center, he peered into a large bowl of multi-hued gems.

"Deities," he said, surprised. "This is where I was supposed to put my soul?"

"Yeah."

Fuck. She was right. There was nothing in the room trying to change who he was, only his fear.




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