"I told you to," she reminded him.
"And that's why I couldn't do it."
Past-Death frowned.
"I may have loved you my whole life, but I hated you, too. I think you know now as a human how not to deal with another human, especially one you like?"
"Yeah." Disappointed, she stared at the floor. "I hated the human part of you, because I felt like it came between us. I couldn't control it or you completely. And I couldn't understand it."
Gabriel listened.
"I did a lot of really stupid things." There was pain in her voice. "I don't … regret becoming human, though, Gabriel. I've learned more about you in the past week than I ever knew in all the time we spent together. I'm only sorry that I lost you in the process."
"You say it like there's no second chance," he said quietly.
"I've got nothing else to give, Gabe, and I don't know what to do."
"I swear to you, Deidre. I'll do everything I can to get your soul back. On my heart, on my soul, on the souls in the Lake. Whatever it takes, I'll get it back," he said.
"You can't promise me that, Gabriel. Your duty is to the underworld and its souls."
"And to my mate. You know how importantly I take that."
She studied him for a moment then looked away. "I do. I also think you let your feelings for me prevent you from being Death."
"Not my feelings. My past," he said, hearing the truth in the words. "But that stops now. We're doing this together."
"You're so sweet, Gabriel," she whispered. "You're such a better person than I am."
"Stop, Deidre. Today we're starting again. Think we can do that?"
She nodded, though he saw the doubt on her features.
"It'll work. It has to. We care too much about one another for it not to," he added softly. "Trust me?" He took her hand and squeezed it.
Past-Death lifted her gaze to his. "Always."
He smiled, a flicker of hope flaring to life within him. With nothing else between them and the door closed on their past, they had a shot at making it. He felt it.
She turned her attention to the caldron. "Your underworld needs you, Gabriel."
He shifted closer to her, and they both puzzled over the caldron. "You don't remember what should happen next?"
"No. But it can't be that hard." She frowned. "Maybe this is all there is? You put your soul here and it's done?"
He said nothing but peered more closely into the caldron, releasing her hand to lean forward. "There's writing around the inner lip of the bowl."