She was hungry. Worry had prevented her from eating earlier. She walked down the hallway in search of the dining room, thoughts on all Darkyn's mate had said. Relief was forefront in Deidre's mind and the acknowledgment she'd gotten damn lucky that the demon lord favored winning deals over killing mates.
She paused at an intersection to let a group of Immortals through, uninterested in talking to anyone just now. Her eyes settled on a familiar form, and she stared at him.
Wynn stopped in the middle of the hallway. He regarded her for a long minute and then smiled. It was a cold, knowing smile, one that screamed I told you so.
Deidre spun and walked back the way she came.
"I never took you for a coward," Wynn taunted.
Deidre stopped. The first Ancient Immortal approached her. Tall with dark skin and glowing turquoise eyes, he most closely resembled Andre of any of his sons. The cultured mannerisms that made talking to Andre comfortable were quite different from Wynn. He was cold where Andre was warm, and Wynn's direct gaze held no emotion.
"You're starting to see how right I was," he assessed.
"How did you get out of Hell?" she asked coolly.
"Long story. We'll talk sometime."
Deidre studied him. She didn't recall what it was that made him hate her. It was locked away with her memories. She did remember bringing him back from the dead ten years before in order to help her with her plan and how cold he'd been to her then.
Only he'd tried to kill the human she wanted him to preserve. He failed in his mission, for which she was grateful. But she saw what lay beneath his actions: hatred for something she'd done to him.
"Wynn," she started. "What did I do to you that made you want to kill me?"
He considered her. "You don't recall?"
"No."
A flash of irritation crossed his gaze. He clasped his hands behind his back and drew a deep breath.
She waited apprehensively.
"Many things. I don't care to relive it all," he answered.
"You've never forgiven me."
"Never," he said in a low voice. "I never will."
The powerful words made her frown.
"Even so, I'm sorry," she said softly. "It may not help you now. Whatever it was, I apologize for hurting you so much that you bore a grudge for thousands of years."
Wynn listened intently. She wasn't certain what to expect. The silence grew. Finally, he spoke.
"My only regret is that I didn't save the human you sacrificed when I had the chance," he responded in the same tone. "We are both culpable for sending the only innocent soul either of us has ever known to Hell."