Chapter 25
Chapter twenty-five
HYPNOS
Hypnos tried to focus, brushing his powers against Iliana’s curse. He was searching for a way to untangle its grip on her, but his mind continued drifting back to the dream. To her. The memory of her peace battled against seeing her coughing up blood, her body convulsing under his hands.
He considered changing her out of her bloodstained clothes, but didn’t. The last thing he wanted was for her to wake up, see her clothes altered, and assume something had happened to her. He wasn’t about to add to the mistrust she felt toward him.
Instead, he closed his eyes, skimming the edges of her mind, reluctant to go too deep again.
He slipped into a half-awake dream state. He stood next to the bed, looking down at Iliana sleeping so peacefully in his arms. Bewildered, he watched his own arm tighten around her.
“She is pretty,” Pasithea’s voice spoke from beside him.
He tensed before slowly looking over to see the bewitching face he’d longed to see so many times over the long, lonely years.
She didn’t return his look, staring instead at Iliana.
He immediately changed the scene. Obscuring it. Creating white walls around them.
“Don’t,” he warned, but didn’t know how to finish his sentence.
He’d kept their connection open during his sleep, always hoping one day she’d slip into his dreams. Hope was such a foolish thing to hold on to, but that damaged part of him wanted to believe Pasithea would return to him.
“I am not here to hurt you,” she said, almost apologetically. “Who is the mortal?”
“It’s my duty.”
“Is it?” she asked, warmly. The same way she used to when they were happy. Or when he’d thought they’d been happy. “You care for her.”
Hypnos swallowed, feeling his hands in the waking world still where they unconsciously smoothed Iliana’s hair. “What do you want, Pasithea?”
She moved, coming closer to him. “To apologize.” The word came out broken. “Seeing you care for someone again makes me remember what I threw away, what we had.”
Despite his attempts to stay cold, he softened. She sounded genuinely remorseful. Not like the calculating goddess who’d used him for power and status. He closed his eyes, afraid he’d fall to his knees and beg her to take him back. “You left,” he stated.
“I was foolish,” she said, moving closer.
He felt her softly caress his shoulders. He stubbornly kept his eyes closed.
“I thought I wanted power more than love. Seeing the gentleness you show the mortal, I remember why I fell hard for you.”
Iliana moved slightly against his body, murmuring something incoherent. Hypnos’ attention snapped back to her as she placed her hand on his chest. Over his heart.
The touch was innocent, but it made his body come alive. It was so unlike the touch of Pasithea’s gentle hands, which felt performative. Intentional.
“The girl seems to trust you. It is surprising. Most humans fear us.”
He wanted to snort. He opened his eyes again, meeting her icy blue gaze. “She fears my power. She needs me. That’s different.”
Pasithea’s fingers moved to his chest. His breath caught, despite knowing this was the same calculated touch she’d used to manipulate him before. He looked down at Pasithea, seeing the soft, caring look she gave him. He hated how easily his body remembered wanting her.
“Fear was never something I felt for you. I knew your strength, your gentleness. I trusted you more than anyone.” Her voice turned wistful. “Maybe…maybe we could try again. Start over?”
He let himself remember the early days when Pasithea would curl against him in their bed. When she’d said that she loved him. When he’d believed he’d found his forever.
“Hypnos?” Hope threaded through her voice.
Before he could respond, he heard the sound of Thanatos returning to the room. “I have to go,” he blurted. This time, the end of their conversation felt less final. More like a maybe.
His eyes opened just as Thanatos entered the room. “Is it morning already?” Hypnos mumbled.
Thanatos shook his head, a small grin on his lips as he walked toward the bed. Hypnos followed his gaze down to Iliana and understood.
In the night, she’d moved and clung to him. One arm was draped against his chest, and one leg tangled with his. Her head rested just beneath his chin. She looked so small against him. Trusting.
Hypnos fought the twitch of his lips but failed. If she had any idea who she was cuddling with, she’d throw a fit. Or threaten him with another dagger. Probably the latter.
Thanatos settled on Iliana’s other side, propping his head in his hand as he studied her. “I think I like this girl.”
Something in Hypnos squeezed at the quiet admission, the wistfulness in his brother’s voice. He snorted softly, attempting to shake off the pressure in his chest. “What’s not to like? She’s pretty and feisty. The world is full of women like that.” He sent the words through their link.
That’s what he wanted to believe. But even as he said them, they felt wrong.
Thanatos’ lips tilted up, but there was no humor in the expression. “No, I do not think it is.” His eyes never left Iliana. “I feel pulled to her.”
Hypnos stilled. His twin had never spoken this way about anyone, much less a mortal. Thanatos was careful, detached by nature. He had taken lovers over the centuries, but never once had he spoken of being drawn to any of them.
“A pull?” Hypnos asked warily.
Thanatos sighed. “When Athena gave me this task, I was furious. Frustrated.” His eyes darkened. “But now I need to keep her safe, and not just because of the threat hanging over our heads.”
Hypnos remained silent, waiting for whatever his brother would say next.
Thanatos’ voice was quieter when he continued. “Seeing her almost die tonight…this is not only about Athena’s command anymore.” He paused as though mulling over his words. “And I do not think I am the only one experiencing it. You, Anubis; even Hermes. We are all drawn to her.”
Hypnos almost scoffed, almost dismissed the notion, but Iliana shifted again, nestling closer, pressing her face into his chest. His arm moved of its own accord, cradling her, keeping her close.
Thanatos raised a perceptive brow, and Hypnos forced himself to remain impassive.
“I feel nothing,” he lied.
His brother didn’t call him on it. Instead, he reached out, resting his hand on Iliana’s waist.
Something eased the moment Thanatos touched her—the curse’s resistance lessening for the first time. Was it because of Thanatos? Or had the curse run out of steam? Then he stretched, letting out a long sigh. “I am going to sleep while we wait for dawn.”
Hypnos swallowed his questions and glanced down at Iliana. He watched her fingers curl loosely into his shirt. He should’ve moved her and created some distance, but he let her be for the night.
Just before he fell back into the peace of sleep, he admitted something to himself. Something he would never say aloud.
I think I like her, too.