Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
ANUBIS
Hypnos must’ve pushed her too far. That was unacceptable.
She continued to laugh. It started light, then turned brittle. Desperate. Anubis tensed, unsure if he felt insulted by her or worried for her sanity. Maybe both.
He hadn’t expected to return and find her half-starved and trembling. Once he explained everything, he would hunt down Hypnos and remind him, not so gently, that humans needed to eat.
“Like…like the god?” she managed between laughs.
Anubis’ brows knit together. He wasn’t used to mortals laughing at his name. It was uncomfortable.
“Yes,” he replied.
She caught her breath and looked at him. “Sorry, I wasn’t laughing at you. I just…” She pursed her lips, forcing composure.
Her face was flushed, eyes wet with tears. Anubis tensed. If those weren’t happy tears, he and Hypnos would have more than words.
He set aside his irritation. Even if she were cursed, her vulnerability and the strength beneath it called to him.
She cleared her throat. “May I have some water?”
He studied her. When she remained calm, he retrieved a glass of water and handed it to her. Their hands touched. He resisted the urge to let the touch linger.
Give her space.
Fresh anger filled him when she drained the entire glass in a few gulps. “Hyp did not give you water?”
Her gaze dropped to the table. “No.”
Anubis forced himself to relax. Her comfort—and her answers—came first.
“Can I ask your name?” He swallowed the endearment that almost followed.
Her face turned pink. “Iliana.”
“Iliana,” he repeated. “I know you must have questions, and I am happy to answer what I can.”
“Why am I here?” she asked.
“For your protection. You were on your roof—about to jump.”
The blood drained from her face, her mouth opening and closing. “What? I don’t…” She shook her head, as if she could will his words away by the action.
“My friend saved you and brought you here. He asked us to keep an eye on you until he could return. We believe you are in danger.”
Iliana gasped, pressing trembling fingertips to her temples. Panic clouded her eyes, and her breathing quickened. “It was only a dream. It had to be.” Her voice cracked.
He leaned forward, arms on the table. He wanted to comfort her, but didn’t want to scare her. Instead, he tried to learn more about her.
“I do not know what may have caused you to believe you needed to end your life—”
She slammed a palm on the table. “Don’t you dare suggest that! I never wanted that. Never!”
Her outrage confirmed what Anubis needed to know. She wasn’t suicidal.
He raised his hands. “I was not there. I know only what I was told, but my friend believes a curse may have been placed on you.” He watched her. “Do you have any idea who might have done that?”
Shock crossed her face. Her eyes went wide, mouth parted, before anger sparked hot and sharp.
“Curse?” She shook her head. “You must be crazy. Curses aren’t real.”
She shook her head again, but too much had happened to explain away.
“I am not crazy. And curses are very real.”
Fear pinched her features. She tensed, eyes moving toward the door. Then, she locked eyes with him. “What are you?”
Before Anubis could answer, the air in the room changed, and his entire body tensed. A powerful being was about to appear. Though unaware of the magic at play, the hairs on Iliana’s arms stood on end, her pupils dilating.
In the next moment, a figure was standing next to them, white wings spread wide.
Iliana screamed, the sound piercing Anubis’ sensitive ears. Her terrified eyes focused on Thanatos. She quickly stood, pointing a shaking finger at him. “You!”
Thanatos raised his hands, speaking in a soothing voice. “You remember me?”
Iliana shook her head. “No. No, this can’t be happening.” Her breathing turned erratic, as if she were about to hyperventilate. Then she glared at both of them. “Are you two trying to gaslight me?”
Anubis frowned. Gaslight? What did fire have to do with lying?
Before he could ask, Thanatos sighed. “No, we are not. Please sit down.” He stepped back and made his wings disappear. “Let us explain what is going on,” he offered. “If you still want to leave after, we will not stop you.”
Anubis stiffened. What was Thanatos thinking? How did he plan to keep her safe if she wasn’t near one of them?
Iliana’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Thanatos, surprise crossing her face before skepticism set in. She folded her arms tightly, her posture becoming defensive. Her legs trembled with exhaustion and fear, worse than when she’d gotten out of bed earlier.
He needed to calm her. “I know it is hard to trust us. But you are safe here.”
She scoffed. “Safe? You call this safe?” She pointed at the empty bowl. “That’s the first thing I’ve eaten, and I’ve been drugged. You really need to learn the definition of safe.”
“Ani?” Thanatos asked.
“Hypnos failed to feed her and give her water. And he kept her unconscious against her will.” Through their mental link, Anubis added, “I think he forgot humans cannot survive on sleep alone. Or maybe he did not want to deal with her fear and questions.”
Thanatos’ expression grew dark. “Is this true?” he asked aloud.
When Iliana nodded, his stance grew rigid. “I am sorry for the way my brother treated you. He hasn’t been around humans in a long time.”
Her eyes became guarded. Haunted. “What are you?” she asked again.
“Iliana, we are gods.”