Chapter 15
Chapter fifteen
HYPNOS
Hypnos cursed under his breath as he turned away, his patience unraveling thread by thread.
Everything changed the moment Anubis brought her into his home.
Thanatos was furious. Anubis looked at him like a failure. And Iliana…he couldn’t even think about her reaction without regret constricting his lungs.
Hypnos ran a hand through his hair as he stormed toward the bedroom. He needed space. Time to think.
Emotions tangled inside him, confusing and unwanted. Guilt when he remembered her terrified expression. Anger when his brother looked at him with disappointment.
And underneath it all was a dangerous longing.
But he couldn’t escape this. He’d promised Thanatos he’d help.
With a frustrated growl, he dropped onto the edge of the bed. He barely had time to pull his thoughts together before the inevitable sound of footsteps followed him.
“You know humans need food and water, correct?” Thanatos’ voice was quiet but lined with unmistakable disappointment.
Hypnos rolled his eyes. “Of course, I know that.”
“Then why did you starve her?” he asked, stepping into the room and crossing his arms. “She was here for three days.” He stared at Hypnos. “Three.”
He frowned. Three days? Had it really been that long? Time meant little to him. In his home, the hours ran together.
“She wouldn’t have died.” His attempt to mask his guilt made him uncomfortable.
“No, it would not have killed her,” Thanatos shot back. “But she was already weak when I found her. And now, thanks to you, she’s worse.” He shook his head. “You also did not have to scare her.”
Hypnos looked at his brother. He hadn’t meant to scare her or let her go hungry. Time just got away from him like it always did, but he kept seeing her shaking hands holding that dagger. The way she’d crumpled when he’d made her sleep.
Guilt, sharp and unwelcome, dug into him again.
“I didn’t intend to scare her. Or starve her.” He almost choked on the words but forced them out. “I was curious. Then I lost track of time.”
Thanatos’ frustration gave way to understanding, making Hypnos feel even worse. He sat beside him on the bed, resting his elbows on his knees. “I need your help.”
Hypnos stiffened. He buried the small bit of pride at being needed beneath his usual indifference. “I don’t know how much help I can be. I don’t know how to interact with her. I’m only good at putting people to sleep, and she doesn’t want that.”
His twin rubbed his temples. “She might not. But this is about what she needs.” His hand landed on Hypnos’ shoulder. “Sleep will find her, with or without your help. You are the only one who can give us insight into this curse. It only affects her when she sleeps. You have to figure this out.”
He was curious about the curse. He’d sensed nothing off about her sleep before, but he hadn’t been looking either. If someone had used his domain, his power, to enact this curse, then that was a problem.
He shrugged. “I already told you I’d help.”
Thanatos studied him. “What if we need to leave the cave? I have a feeling we cannot keep her locked up here forever.”
Hypnos sensed it too. Keeping one human alive was supposed to be simple, but this? This was becoming something else.
Would he be able to leave when the time came? Or would he break a promise to his twin for the first time?