The room went silent.
Hermes’ movements seemed sluggish as he lay Iliana on the bed, moving to her side and pulling her close to him as he waited for Panacea’s news.
Thanatos stopped behind Panacea, his arms crossed. “What?”
The healer bit her lip and looked at Hermes past Anubis’ tensed arm. “Did she fall into the water?”
Anubis’ arm fell from the door frame, as if he’d lost the strength to hold it.
The Lethe. The river of forgetting. One of the five rivers of the Underworld. It stripped memories from souls, those who touched it losing everything.
Hermes’ stomach plummeted. “No,” he answered too quickly.
He saw the doubt in Panacea’s eyes, and his grip on Iliana tightened. He had caught her in time. Hadn’t he?
“Hermes. Think,” the healer urged.
He closed his eyes, reliving the haunting moment.
Pasithea had slapped Iliana, followed by the sickening sound of breaking bones. The blow had thrown her body backward and she had fallen with her arms limp, fingers dangling down toward the water—
If she’d even barely touched the surface, Iliana’s memories were gone.
He’d been too slow. He didn’t catch her in time.
She was lost. Not to death, but to something just as devastating.
“Hermes?” Thanatos asked with horror lacing that one word.
“She might’ve touched the water,” he answered, pushing the words out through the tightness in his throat.
No one in the room spoke. No one moved. They all knew.The Lethe took memories from humans and spirits. All of them.
Iliana wouldn’t remember anything. She wouldn’t recognize him or the others.
Panacea’s voice was soft. “I’ll come back soon to check on her.”
He didn’t bother responding. Didn’t move. He kept Iliana tucked against his body, afraid she’d disappear if he let her go.
Hermes was usually an optimist and could make light of any situation. He tried to fight through his depression, to return his mask to his face. He looked up at Thanatos and Anubis, seeing the same dread and horror he felt.
He forced a brittle smile onto his face.
“Well, I guess the playing field’s level now.” He looked at them, his mask hiding the shattered god beneath his grin. “I’ll woo her before you two can stake a claim.”
Hermes held the smile, even as he felt Thanatos’ fury building across the room. Even as he saw Anubis’ fists clench at his side, and Hypnos flinch in the doorway.
Let them be angry.
It was easier than admitting the truth: he’d failed her.
As much as he wanted her to give him a second chance, her refusal might be exactly what he deserved.
Chapter fifty-nine
THANATOS
Thanatos wanted to kill Hermes. Not for taking Iliana back to the Underworld. Not even for failing to stop her from touching the Lethe.
