Chapter 26
Chapter twenty-six
ILIANA
Her eyes flew open. She stared straight into Hypnos’ infuriatingly beautiful face. The soft sheets twisted around them, his breath warm on her skin.
This wasn’t a dream.
“Good morning,” he said, his amusement far too obvious.
Reality clicked into place, and instinct seized control. She jerked away, her thoughts spinning.
Hypnos smirked at her from across the bed. She wanted to ask why he was there, but then it hit her.
Steel, warmth, crimson. And worse—helplessness.
The bedroom door opened, and Iliana looked up just as Anubis came inside. The instant their eyes met, something inside of her broke. Her lower lip quivered, betraying her as tears burned in her eyes. He was across the room in two strides, pulling her to him before she could even think to pull away.
“Shhh, little one. You are safe now.”
She fisted a handful of his shirt, squeezing until her knuckles went white. She fought against the sob threatening to escape, keeping her face pressed against him until she could swallow it down. When she could breathe again, she pulled back, wiping at her eyes. “What…what happened?”
She looked down, expecting to see the dagger embedded there. But there was nothing; only the torn, bloodstained shirt. She touched her skin to find it smooth. No scar. No sign that she’d nearly died.
Anubis covered her hand with his, pulling her from her thoughts. “We were distracted, then you grabbed the dagger and…”
“I stabbed myself.” The words came out hollow.
He nodded, brushing a loose lock of hair away from her face, lingering there before he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Are you hungry? I am making breakfast.”
Her stomach growled before she could answer.
Anubis huffed out a chuckle, stepping back. “That is a yes. Go and shower. I will have fresh clothes waiting for you.”
Iliana watched him leave through the door before finally turning to address the other god.
Hypnos was gone. She glared at the vacant spot on the bed.
Coward.
She’d half expected him to stay and tease her. Revel in her discomfort. Instead, he’d left without a word. The memories of last night swam through her head again, and she closed her eyes tightly, shaking the thought away.
What if they hadn’t been there? She would’ve died.
Iliana twisted the blanket in her hands, fear roiling inside her. But this time, it wasn’t the paralyzing kind. It grew into something harder.
Determination.
She pushed herself up and headed to the bathroom, the promise of a hot shower and a change of clothes getting her to move. She’d already lost too much. Another slip—another moment of weakness—could kill her. She wouldn’t be helpless again. Not if she had any say in it.