Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
ILIANA
Thanatos, as a Greek god, she could almost believe. But Anubis? Where was the jackal head? She remembered old depictions of him as a hybrid or sometimes as a full jackal.
If they were who they said they were, they were both death gods. Why save her?
“And you’re Anubis. From Egyptian mythology?”
Anubis nodded.
“How does that even work? Do all gods mingle with other pantheons?”
“Not all gods interact with others.” Thanatos’ tone was calm compared to the urgency he’d used on the roof, in what she’d thought was a dream, but wasn’t.
If they were telling her the truth. Wanting to believe them didn’t mean she should. She needed to stay wary.
Iliana clenched her fists. Hypnos. He was supposed to be gentle, helping humans to sleep. He’d stopped her and made her lose control of her own body. How could she forgive that violation? The only thing she remembered about the myths was from movies and fantasy books—authentic sources, for sure.
“But you do interact?” she asked.
Anubis was the one to answer. “Yes. Although out of the Greeks, I only find the brothers tolerable.” He smirked at Thanatos.
Iliana was thankful she was sitting down, because that smile would’ve made her knees weak.
“Same goes for you, Ani.” Thanatos’ grin sent heat pooling low in her belly.
She shut her eyes, inhaling slowly and trying to force her hormones into submission. They were death gods. Death wasn’t supposed to be attractive. What was wrong with her?
Focus, Iliana.
“Okay, you rescued me,” she said, looking at Thanatos. “Thank you.” She had a thousand questions, but she knew she had to start somewhere. “Why do the gods, why does Athena, want to keep me alive? I’m just a human.”
Thanatos’ mouth flattened into a line. Damn it, even that was too good-looking.
“I do not know. I was told that your family had been cursed. And to keep you alive at all costs.”
What did “at all costs” mean to a god?
“How far back in her family?” Anubis asked Thanatos.
“I don’t know,” he admitted.
At the mention of her family, Iliana broke. The grief slammed into her all over again. The officer at her workplace. Ashes in the wind. The certainty of being alone.
She tried to swallow it down, willing herself to maintain the composure that had gotten her this far. Grief, however, was stronger than pride. Tears spilled down her cheeks, landing in her lap.
A warm hand touched her forearm, startling her. Her teary gaze rose to meet golden-brown eyes holding quiet compassion.
Thanatos’ voice was soft. “Iliana?”
She jerked her arm away, swiping her face. “Yes.”
Anubis watched her with remorse on his face. “I should have chosen my words more carefully.”
His sincerity put a small crack in her barriers.
“My family? What’s so special about them? Why would they be cursed?” She glanced at Thanatos, who was still crouching near her chair, closer than he needed to be.
She was aware of how small she must look to him, vulnerable as she wiped tears from her eyes. If they had wanted to hurt her, they would’ve done it already. That thought should’ve reassured her, but it didn’t. She’d cursed out Hypnos. She’d tried to stab him.
Oh, shit.
He could’ve killed her with a thought, or, more likely, put her to sleep permanently.
Thanatos must’ve sensed her building panic because he slowly stood and took a step back. “I will not harm you.”
She tensed and shoved aside the terror. These men, these gods, already held too much power in this situation. She wouldn’t let them see her fear.
“I do not know how far back the curse was placed,” Thanatos continued carefully. “Or how many of your family members it might have affected. Do you know much about your relatives?”
“I was adopted.” Her voice wobbled, but she pushed on. “I was an infant. My records were sealed, I think. My parents said they couldn’t get them, but I don’t remember why.”
Thanatos looked troubled. “That changes things. If you were adopted and your birth family is unknown, then how did Athena know about a family curse?” He met her eyes. “Either it is not tied to your bloodline, or someone knows more about your origins than they shared with me.”
Her parents would know. For a split second, she considered asking them to let her speak to them. If these gods were real, then the afterlife would be real too.
Thanatos’ voice pulled her thoughts back to the present. “Your curse—”
“Curses exist? Really? Is that why I keep trying to hurt myself while I sleep?”
“Only in your sleep?” Thanatos asked.
She nodded. “I…I started waking up in dangerous places. Then the roof.” Her breathing quickened. “I can’t sleep. I don’t want to sleep.”
Anubis frowned. “Yet, you have only slept since you arrived.”
Both his and Thanatos’ gaze moved to the doorway.
She turned.
Hypnos rested against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest.
She jumped to her feet, dwarfed by all three gods despite her own taller-than-average height. She felt the need to run. To flee the room even though she had nowhere to go.
Thanatos stepped between them, holding up a hand in her direction. The gentle god, who’d been consoling her, now looked hard. Protective.
“I told you not to come,” Thanatos snapped. “You broke her trust. How am I supposed to protect her now?”
Hypnos barely reacted. “She thinks we kidnapped her. We did. What if there’s no curse? I sensed nothing while she slept.”
Indignation rose in her. Before she could tear into him, Thanatos’ voice lowered. “You did not see what I saw. Something was controlling her. If you cannot help me, we will go somewhere else.”
She saw pain in Hypnos’ eyes before anger returned. Anger and betrayal. “Then go. Why did you ask for my help in the first place?”
Anubis walked between the two brothers, placing his hands on both chests and pushing them apart. “Enough. Fighting now will solve nothing.”
The brothers stepped back in unison, and Anubis lowered his arms, turning to face Thanatos.
“If it is a sleeping curse, we need Hyp’s help,” Anubis said, before turning to Hypnos. “And stop wallowing. She fears sleep, and now you. You do not want her here, but we need you. You promised to help. Now do it.”
The twins looked at each other, communicating silently. After a long moment, they nodded. Three gods faced her, each with a different expression. Anubis looked entirely at ease. She got the sense that it wasn’t the first time he’d acted as the intermediary between them.
Now that the brothers were side by side, their resemblance was unmistakable.
The same facial features. The same tall, lean build.
Yet their coloring set them apart. Thanatos was light, with a steady gaze that was quietly protective.
Hypnos was his opposite—dark hair and demeanor.
He looked at her with resignation and annoyance.
Iliana pulled her attention away from Hypnos, preferring to focus on the other gods who weren’t looking at her with bitterness but with kindness. She fidgeted, not knowing what to say under their scrutiny.
Anubis must’ve sensed her discomfort because he broke away from the group and approached her.
“Iliana, we only want to keep you safe. We may not know what is affecting you or why Athena wants you protected. But,” he took another step closer, giving her time to back away if she wanted, “I swear to you, we will protect you.”
She held her breath as he approached, inclining her head so she could keep her eyes on him.
She didn’t trust them, but she had no other options.
Fighting them would be pointless, and refusing their help wouldn’t make her situation any better.
If someone had cursed her, these gods might be her only hope to stay alive.
Be smart, Iliana.
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll accept your help. But I don’t want him—” she pointed at Hypnos, “—to put me to sleep again. Not unless I ask.”
Relief relaxed Anubis’ perfect features, and he gave her a wide grin. “Deal.”