How did someone like human Deidre handle a situation like this, where there seemed to be no real hope?
Silver lining. Past-Death dwelled on the thought she'd heard others use when talking about human Deidre. The Dark One's mate had managed to make a relationship with a demon work, had spent years with a terminal brain tumor and almost died several times when she entered the Immortal world.
She did it by looking for the good in everything, and Past-Death closed her eyes to think hard. Where was the good in her situation?
"I have nothing else to lose," she said for her ears only. She could start over, prove to herself and Gabriel that she was capable of being a better person. If there was one thing she learned from Deidre, it was that the human-turned-demon never lost hope.
Gabriel had loved her for so long, wasn't it possible he might one day love her again? If she became the person he deserved, the kind of human she needed to be?
Jared was pacing, his attention on the door. "Before you start that shit again, why not come with me to see what's out here?"
"Why?"
"Because I think we will both be pleasantly surprised. And I need you to get back in here."
Past-Death sighed no longer caring whether or not he was setting her up to be eaten or killed. "I doubt there's anything there that will surprise me."
"I bet there is."
"You willing to make a deal?"
"Yes. I bet something out there will surprise you, in exchange for you getting me a snack."
"Is that all you think about?" she grumbled. "Fine. Same small print as before." She climbed to her feet, drained and miserable.
With a nod, Jared opened the door to her bedchamber.
Deidre winced at the sight of the trashed room that had been hers. Seeing the damage didn't sting quite as much this time, though her gaze strayed once again to the jewelry box. Knowing the soul wasn't there, she resisted the urge to check again.
Human doubt. It was worse than pretty much every other emotion she'd learned about so far.
Jared didn't venture too far ahead of her, as if suspecting she was going to make a run for the closet and lock him out of it.
The bedchamber was quiet, the door to the bathing room open. Steam curled out of the door and clung to the ceiling of the bedchamber. The entrance gaped open. There were no sounds of pursuit or death dealers in the hallway outside.
"What is it?" she whispered. "What do you think will surprise me?"