Iliana just stared at him, as if trying to determine whether she could believe him. After a moment, her shoulders relaxed, though the wariness in her eyes remained.
Thanatos watched her. Despite her denial, this wasn’t entirely foreign to her. How much did she already know?
“Why here? Why not somewhere in the human world?” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m even entertaining this god nonsense. But you…you had wings a second ago.” A slight crease appeared between her eyebrows as she frowned. “I don’t remember any gods having wings. Angels, maybe, but…” She trailed off.
Thanatos deflated, knowing this revelation would either frighten her or, worse, make her hate him.
“Many have confused me for an angel,” he said, straightening. “But I am not. I am Greek.”
Recognition dawned on her face. “Death.”
He waited for the expected fear. The rejection. Most mortals either screamed or begged for more time when they learned who he was, but Iliana just looked at him, more curious than scared.
She wasn’t staring at Death.
She was seeinghim.
Chapter fourteen
ILIANA
Thanatos, as a Greek god, she could almost believe. But Anubis? Where was the jackal head? She remembered old depictions of him as a hybrid or sometimes as a full jackal.
If they were who they said they were, they were both death gods. Why save her?
“And you’re Anubis. From Egyptian mythology?”
Anubis nodded.
“How does that even work? Do all gods mingle with other pantheons?”
“Not all gods interact with others.” Thanatos’ tone was calm compared to the urgency he’d used on the roof, in what she’d thought was a dream, but wasn’t.
If they were telling her the truth. Wanting to believe them didn’t mean she should. She needed to stay wary.
Iliana clenched her fists. Hypnos. He was supposed to be gentle, helping humans to sleep.He’d stopped her and made her lose control of her own body. How could she forgive that violation? The only thing she remembered about the myths was from movies and fantasy books—authentic sources, for sure.
“But you do interact?” she asked.
Anubis was the one to answer. “Yes. Although out of the Greeks, I only find the brothers tolerable.” He smirked atThanatos.
Iliana was thankful she was sitting down, because that smile would’ve made her knees weak.
“Same goes for you, Ani.” Thanatos’ grin sent heat pooling low in her belly.
She shut her eyes, inhaling slowly and trying to force her hormones into submission.They were death gods. Death wasn’t supposed to be attractive.What was wrong with her?
Focus, Iliana.
“Okay, you rescued me,” she said, looking at Thanatos. “Thank you.” She had a thousand questions, but she knew she had to start somewhere.“Why do the gods, why does Athena, want to keep me alive? I’m just a human.”
Thanatos’ mouth flattened into a line. Damn it, even that was too good-looking.
“I do not know. I was told that your family had been cursed. And to keep you alive at all costs.”
What did “at all costs” mean to a god?
“How far back in her family?” Anubis asked Thanatos.
