What were they BEFORE?
Remember they could eat from ANY of the trees but the one?
And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” Genesis 3:22
Looks like A&E were 'mortal' but had the chance, before they sinned, to live forever.
Genesis 3:17So wives; now you know why we men are the way we are.To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you...
Just trying to atone for the original sin!