Rhyn chuckled. Harmony didn't get the joke. Gabriel wasn't surprised.
"And then what?" she asked.
"For now, our mission is to protect the lost souls from the demons."
"Very well."
Gabe turned towards Rhyn, in sore need of a pep talk as only his best friend could provide.
"Gabriel," Harmony's voice was hesitant.
He looked at her once more. She considered for a moment then shook her head.
"Later," she said. "I'll catch up with you."
"You're doing good, Harmony," he said, sensing her concern.
She smiled politely then opened a portal.
"Even I know what that was, Gabe," Rhyn said, amused.
Gabriel suspected he did, too. A status check on their relationship, the one he hadn't told her he couldn't have, because he was trapped into mating with a formerly sadistic psychopath-turned-human he was trying hard not to kill. If he slipped and broke that rule, he didn't have to break it off with Harmony. He hadn't made up his mind about either woman yet.
"I have a bet with Katie," Rhyn started. "She thinks you blew up the gym because Deidre is your mate by Immortal law. I said it's because you slept with her."
Gabe grimaced. "You're both right."
"That is not good, Gabe," Rhyn said with a shake of his head. "You realize that means you can't kill the bitch who tortured you for all those years?"
Immortal Code, Rule 10 & 11: An Immortal must regard the protection of its mate above its own safety. It cannot purposely kill its mate.
"I …no. Son of a bitch." He was quiet for a moment, broiling internally. "None of my dealers can either, if I can't be directly involved in her death."
"Did you read the file?"
Gabe gave him a cold look.
"You couldn't get past the pictures, could you?" Rhyn asked. "I didn't think so. If I saw Katie with another man, there would be nothing left of this world."
"I spent thousands of years and broke the Code twice. The past few months, I've come close to breaking it hundreds of times to keep the underworld from shutting down. Now, I know what I should do by Immortal law. I saw the mark with my own eyes. I knew what it meant. And I walked away. I didn't even try. I have an obligation, Rhyn. To the lost souls, to the underworld, to a woman I want to hate," Gabe finished. "I'm failing every one of them."
"I did a shit ton of damage trying not to be Katie's mate. She wouldn't have survived, if not for you, Gabe. From the beginning, you were willing to do what I couldn't," Rhyn said. "You didn't fail me. You won't fail the underworld or her."