Chapter 16
Chapter sixteen
ILIANA
Thanatos excused himself to speak with his brother, leaving Iliana alone in the kitchen with Anubis. She had no idea how to start a conversation with a god.
“Are you still hungry? There is plenty of stew left.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks at the memory of how quickly she’d devoured the first bowl. Embarrassed, she looked away. “I’m good for now.”
When he turned and headed into the living room, she followed. “Would you mind answering a question?”
Anubis stretched his long legs out as he sank into the couch, his golden eyes shining. “Ask me anything, and I’ll try to answer.”
She hesitated before sitting on the opposite end of the sofa. Despite her nervousness, she felt comfortable around him. It didn’t make sense.
“I know of you,” she said. “But you don’t look like the images I’ve seen.” When his brows lifted, she pointed at his head. “You know—the jackal head?”
A deep chuckle rumbled out of him, and she smiled despite everything.
“I have three forms,” he explained, smirking as he motioned to himself. “This one, and the full jackal—which you called handsome earlier.”
She went utterly still. The black dog? The one she’d woken up to? “Wait. That was you?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “I did not want to scare you when you woke. My other form seemed less terrifying. Had I known Hypnos would treat you so poorly, I never would have left you with him.” His eyes darkened.
Iliana tensed at the change in his tone. “I don’t think he meant to be cruel,” she admitted. She remembered how, during their interactions, his interest had felt more fascinated than threatening. “He seemed more curious and amused than anything.”
“Amused?” Anubis asked.
She nodded, despite her lingering wariness. Hypnos’ lips twitched in amusement when she’d threatened him with the dagger. His lazy indifference, even as she cussed him out.
Better luck next time, little human.
“Yeah, amused.” She shook her head, not wanting to dwell on Hypnos anymore. “So…your third form,” she prompted, leading the conversation elsewhere. “That’s the one with the jackal head and the human body?”
Anubis narrowed his eyes at the change in subject, but answered her question. “Yes, though I rarely use that form. It is mostly ceremonial.” His lips twitched. “Or if I need to scare some humans.”
She laughed a bit nervously. “Then let’s keep that version of you locked away for now. I’ve had enough frightening things happen to me lately.”
Warmth returned to Anubis’ gaze as he chuckled. “Fair enough.”
She exhaled, releasing some of the tension she’d been carrying since waking up in Hypnos’ home. “Any ideas on where we start?” she asked. “How do I get rid of this curse?”
His smile faded, expression growing serious. She tensed. The comfortable atmosphere evaporated. Every nerve in her body went on high alert.
She was about to ask what was wrong when a voice came from behind her. Smooth. Entirely too relaxed. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”
A startled cry escaped her as she whirled around, losing her balance. Strong hands caught her before she could fall, Anubis pressing her against his side. His solid warmth and scent—spice and incense—surrounded her.
Before she managed to process the intrusion, two more figures appeared in the center of the living room. She barely had time to stifle another scream. Thanatos and Hypnos stood there, swords at the ready. The steel gleamed in the light—then vanished as if the weapons had never been there.
Iliana stared. They’d just appeared from thin air. The same way Thanatos had in the kitchen. Her hands balled into fists, her nails cutting into her skin.
This was actually happening. All of it. They weren’t crazy. They were gods. And she was sitting here in the literal Underworld.
The realization came with unexpected resolve. Deciding then and there, Iliana set her shoulders and unclenched her hands. She would face this new world not as a captive, but as an adventurer. She would learn everything she could.
Thanatos spoke to the intruder before she could lose it completely. “Hermes,” he greeted.
She looked at the newcomer. Hermes. The Hermes? She took him in, searching for any resemblance to the statues she’d seen in books.
The depictions hadn’t done him justice.
He was beautiful. Like all of them, but different. He had light blond hair, stylishly tousled, and a bright glint in his sharp blue eyes. He wore dark jeans, an orange T-shirt, and a navy jacket. The casual attire only made him more unnervingly attractive.
Hermes practically wore a warning sign, and Iliana had a talent for ignoring those.
“I have a message from Athena,” Hermes declared.
Adrenaline ran through her as the other gods tensed.
Thanatos’ shoulders slumped. “Go on, Hermes. We are waiting.”
Hermes’ lips curled. “If this lovely lady weren’t in danger, I’d be tempted to keep it to myself.”
The compliment hardly registered beneath the sudden wash of dread. In danger?
“Please,” she said, hating how unsteady she sounded. “What’s the message?”
Hermes winked at her, then turned to the others. “Athena warns that danger is coming for the girl. She is not safe in the Underworld. She’s being tracked. Also, others in our pantheon know she’s here, and some might get…nosy.”
Iliana’s mind reeled. The reality that she was in the land of the dead hit her all at once, sending shock and fear through her.
Through panicked thoughts, she heard Hypnos ask. “So that’s it? No explanation?”
“Glad to see your time alone has improved your mood,” Hermes quipped.
She barely noticed the bickering. She was still stuck on the idea that she was in danger from something other than herself.
Where the hell could she go if the Underworld wasn’t safe?
Hermes strolled towards her, crouching in front of her as his bright blue eyes focused on her.
“Eyes bright enough to wound even me. The summer shines from strands of hair so soft, and if I could touch the locks, would they burn me? Or would the fire consume—”
“Hermes.” Anubis’ voice was flat. “We do not have time for your poetry.”
Iliana broke eye contact first, snapping herself out of whatever spell Hermes had nearly put her under.
Was he playing with her? She’d never had a man quote poetry to her before, and she found she enjoyed the attention.
She noticed Thanatos’ rigid shoulders, Hypnos’ exaggerated eye roll, and sensed Anubis stiffen as he remained by her side.
Hermes stood and sighed, turning away from her to look at the others and giving her a fantastic view of his ass in snug jeans. She bit her lip and forced herself to look away.
Not. The. Time.
“Nothing more, but I got the impression it was urgent. You shouldn’t stay here much longer.” Hermes’ carefree tone faltered. “Athena didn’t say much except that someone had given her that information.”
“Who?” Thanatos asked as he approached.
“I don’t know, but I overheard her mentioning the Fates to them before I arrived. Whatever she was told made her seem uneasy. And you know how infrequent that is.”
Thanatos turned to her. “We need to leave.” He glanced at the others.
She looked from face to face, wondering what they were doing. They only looked at each other as if carrying on their conversation.
Anubis extended his hand before she was able to ask them. Iliana hesitated only for a second before placing her hand in his, letting him pull her up from the couch.
He bent down to speak quietly in her ear. “Hold on tight to me. This requires a connection. If you are not touching me when I shift realms, you will be left behind. Or worse.” When she tensed, he continued. “I will not let anything happen to you, but we must leave here now.”
She hesitantly wrapped her arms around his waist and inhaled his spicy scent.
It had to be her imagination, but she felt otherworldly power coming off him, like electricity charging the air during a thunderstorm.
Then her world broke apart into rushing wind and circling shadows.