"I mean, you're about to find a way into the underworld. When you do, you'll make things right."
Except for Deidre. No matter who assured him the woman he fell for was okay, he couldn't help but blame himself for all that happened to her. Or might have happened, if things broke bad. He couldn't help feeling angry with the goddess who set this all up or escape the emotion he felt knowing his mate was the woman he'd loved for thousands of years.
And hated for just as long for pulling shit like this stunt.
But she was human now, capable of being what she wasn't before. Capable of loving him the way he'd craved for the entirety of their existence together. Capable of happiness and sorrow and compassion. She demonstrated that last night.
He had always wanted this. Not at all costs, however. He was nothing like the deities who didn't mind sacrificing a few humans to get what they wanted.
"She didn't deserve any of this," Gabriel said, frustrated. "Why is she even in the picture?"
"That question is for your mate."
Gabriel looked at Fate. "I don't like the sound of that."
"You saw the human. You know she is well."
"I don't know how you can be so optimistic. She's in Hell."
Fate shrugged. Gabriel guessed the deity considered his work done and was no longer concerned. He prayed to all the deities he never, ever grew aloof and callous towards the humans. He had to remain a compassionate Death, one who understood what it was to live.
Where the fuck did this leave him with his mate?
"Landon," he called. "Get lost, Fate."
"A few more days, and I can go on vacay," Fate said with a wink.
Gabriel ignored him. The death-dealer he summoned appeared.
"Time for a mind check," Gabriel directed him. "Afterwards, go get the death dealer Darkyn has and apply some pressure. It's time we figured out what the fuck is going on in the underworld."
His second-in-command nodded and trotted into a portal. Fate was gone, and Gabriel couldn't help thinking the cheerful warning he received was a bad omen. His thoughts went to human-Deidre.
Fate's mention of him gaining access to the underworld made Gabriel wonder if the deity was referring to Darkyn's mate. Darkyn would slaughter Gabriel in a deal, but human-Deidre … would she do it, if he asked? For the sake of his soul, if nothing else?
Gabriel pulled on his clothes and weapons again, pensive. He tried hard not to think about his soul being kicked around in the underworld. He hadn't been sent to Hell yet, indicating no one had found his soul, but the thought lingered in the back of his mind.