Chapter 13
Chapter thirteen
THANATOS
She looked exhausted and terrified, but her eyes were full of life.
Thanatos felt no joy at being right. Only disappointment. He’d made a mistake trusting Hypnos. His brother should’ve met the girl’s basic needs.
Iliana opened her mouth, but only a breath escaped. Her knees wobbled as if they might give out, one hand clutching the back of a chair for support.
“Please, Iliana. I want to explain how I found you.” He gestured toward the dining table.
She glanced between them and the doorway, tensing as though considering escape. If she tried, he’d have no choice but to stop her, for her safety.
Anubis shifted his weight beside him, speaking in his mind. “What do you want to do if she tries to leave?”
Thanatos didn’t take his eyes off her. “I’ll take her out of here and watch her. I will not force her to stay—especially if she fears Hypnos.”
Iliana squared her shoulders and went to the chair, steps determined. She held his gaze as she sat. “I want answers. All of them.”
Thanatos and Anubis shared a look. They needed to stay calm if they hoped to gain her trust.
He kept his posture relaxed as he hopped up onto the kitchen island, leaning back. “Hypnos,” he messaged his brother, “I suggest you stay out of the kitchen for a while.”
A dry voice answered. “Fine. I don’t want to deal with the drama. Tell me when it’s safe to walk around my house without tripping over the little thing.”
He wanted to confront Hypnos, but Iliana needed answers first.
“I’ll speak to you later about your form of care,” he said before closing off their connection.
Focusing back on her, he asked, “Where would you like me to start?”
“How did you find me? Why did you take me?”
Thanatos stared into her hazel eyes. “Athena asked me to protect you.”
She snorted. “The Athena? This is so ridiculous. I should leave.”
Anubis leaned forward. “You are in danger. Thanatos was charged with keeping you safe, and despite your…mistreatment, we intend to do just that.” He motioned between himself and Thanatos.
“I know I’m in danger,” she admitted, frustrated. “From myself.”
He tensed, wondering if she was suicidal after all. “What do you mean?”
“You’re supposed to answer my questions, remember?”
Anubis gave her a patient nod. “You are right. We hope you will trust us enough to tell us what is happening to you.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Possibly.”
Thanatos almost grinned at her snark but held back. Now wasn’t the time.
“After receiving my instructions from Athena,” he continued, “I flew to your location and was watching your apartment when you went up to the roof. I tried speaking to you when you reached the ledge, but you did not respond. You were in a trance. And then…you stepped off.”
Iliana paled. “That didn’t happen.”
“It did,” Thanatos confirmed. “Nothing I did woke you up. That’s why I brought you here. Somewhere safe until we can figure out what’s happening to you.”
She swallowed hard, knuckles going white where they rested on her lap. “Where…where is ‘here’?”
Anubis spoke this time. “You are in the Underworld.”
She stiffened. “Am I…”
“No,” Anubis said. “You are very much alive. I promise you that.”
Iliana just stared at him, as if trying to determine whether she could believe him. After a moment, her shoulders relaxed, though the wariness in her eyes remained.
Thanatos watched her. Despite her denial, this wasn’t entirely foreign to her. How much did she already know?
“Why here? Why not somewhere in the human world?” She shook her head.
“I can’t believe I’m even entertaining this god nonsense.
But you…you had wings a second ago.” A slight crease appeared between her eyebrows as she frowned.
“I don’t remember any gods having wings. Angels, maybe, but…” She trailed off.
Thanatos deflated, knowing this revelation would either frighten her or, worse, make her hate him.
“Many have confused me for an angel,” he said, straightening. “But I am not. I am Greek.”
Recognition dawned on her face. “Death.”
He waited for the expected fear. The rejection. Most mortals either screamed or begged for more time when they learned who he was, but Iliana just looked at him, more curious than scared.
She wasn’t staring at Death.
She was seeing him.