Chapter 29
Chapter twenty-nine
ILIANA
Iliana almost felt like herself after her shower.
The fresh clothes Anubis had left her—yoga pants and a flowing red blouse—seemed intentional. Before she could dwell on what plans he might have for her, the warm fragrance of herbs and freshly made bread pulled her out of her room.
She found the gods at the dining table. Three sets of eyes tracked her, and heat crawled up her neck. Blushing, she slipped into the open seat beside Anubis, across from Thanatos.
“Good morning,” Thanatos greeted warmly.
Anubis nodded at her with a tender smile.
But Hypnos wouldn’t even meet her eyes. Part of her wanted to say something, to make him acknowledge her, but she held back the urge.
She turned her attention to the feast arranged across the table. There were hard-boiled eggs, a thick paste resembling refried beans, diced vegetables, and stacks of golden flatbread.
She licked her lips. “This looks amazing. What is it?”
Anubis laughed. “This is Ful, a traditional Egyptian breakfast.”
“Really?” Excitement flowed through her. Egypt. She’d always dreamed of going there one day, desperately wanting to see the ancient ruins in person instead of experiencing them through books and documentaries.
“Yes. It was a staple in ancient times and remains popular today. This,” he pointed to the bowl in front of him, “is made from cooked fava beans.”
Anubis scooped a portion of the beans onto her plate, and Iliana hummed. She watched him add some vegetables and a piece of bread. “Is that pita bread?”
He shook his head. “Similar, but not quite. This is called baladi bread. It is made from a different grain. If you do not like it, I can prepare something else.”
Iliana shook her head, pulling her plate closer. “No, I want to try everything.”
She meant it. Not just the food, but all of this. Everything they could teach her.
She tore off a piece of warm bread, scooping up the beans and tasting a nutty richness she hadn’t experienced before. It wasn’t just food. It was history. Culture. Something she might never have gotten to taste if she’d died last night.
She fought the fear back, turning the anxiety into something she could use to strengthen herself.
I’m done waiting. I’m done hiding from life.
She wasn’t just going to survive this. She was going to meet it head-on.
For her second bite, she added tomatoes and onions, enjoying the fresh crunch against the depth of the beans. A soft moan escaped her. Holy hell, that was good. Wiping her mouth with a napkin, she looked up and immediately froze.
The gods were staring at her, even Hypnos. “What?” she asked, heat rising to her cheeks.
Thanatos hid a smirk, but Hypnos was the one to answer. “For such a small human, you eat quite a lot.”
Iliana narrowed her eyes. She could remind him that he hadn’t bothered to feed her the first few days she was in his care. She lifted her chin instead. “It’s not polite to comment on how much a lady eats.”
Hypnos tilted his head, as if he were considering her words. “If I see a lady anytime soon, I’ll remember.”
She gasped, glaring at him. Then, she cracked up laughing.
The reaction startled her. She held her stomach, giggling uncontrollably. Hypnos looked smug, but the uncertain glances from Thanatos and Anubis told her they weren’t sure whether she was okay with the teasing.
She was.
When she finally settled, she lifted her glass of water toward Hypnos. “Touché.” She took a long drink, washing away the lingering flavors of her meal.
She set the glass back on the table and met each of their eyes. “I want to be trained.”
Anubis sat up straighter, his eyes sharpening. Thanatos’ expression closed off, and Hypnos studied her with a new, unsettling focus.
Iliana didn’t flinch. “If someone other than a god comes after me, I should know how to protect myself. I also need to learn more about the gods. I don’t think reruns of Hercules and Xena will get me through this.”
“What? Who’s Xena?” Thanatos asked.
Hypnos tried to hide his grin as he answered. “A Warrior Princess.”
Thanatos shook his head and asked, “When do you wish to begin?” His gaze was soft as he looked at her with fondness and understanding.
Iliana felt the tenderness in his voice settle over her. Standing, she placed her napkin on the table. “Now’s as good a time as any.”