His brother’s voice turned dark. “You should know something before you make that promise to yourself.”
“What?” He didn’t want the answer—but he needed it.
“Athena has information about you putting Zeus to sleep.”
Hypnos went still. “That’s how she got you to agree to protect the girl? She’s threatening to tell him?”
Thanatos nodded grimly. “And if Zeus finds out I knew and did not tell him, I’ll lose more than my autonomy. So will you.”
Hypnos didn’t have to ask what Thanatos meant.Zeus was not a forgiving god. If the king of Olympus learned the truth, Hypnos’ punishment would be legendary.Would he hang from the heavens like Prometheus, chains carving into his flesh? Roll a boulder for eternity like Sisyphus? Or worse—Tantalus’ curse. So close to sustenance, yet forever denied.
How would he survive without sleep?
“Fine,” he bit out. “I’ll help protect the girl.”
It felt like surrender, but he had no choice. Thanatos had looked out for him, covering for him when he screwed up or disappeared. His brother had never asked for anything in return.
“If Athena is using this against us, it means that the stakes are bigger than we realized. Give me a moment, and I’ll follow,” Hypnos said.
Thanatos nodded. “Understood. I’ll meet you there.”
After his brother vanished, Hypnos stood there alone, trying to steal a few minutes of peace before he had to go.
The quiet should’ve been comforting, but he only felt anxious.
He scowled before growling softly and transporting himself to Thanatos’ home in Switzerland; a remote, secure location they’d agreed upon in silent communication.
The living room was warm and comfortable, with a large fireplace and a wall of built-in bookshelves, but it wasn’t his. His couch, his silence, his peace—gone. His shoulders slumped.
“Hypnos.”
He froze. That voice. “Pasithea?”
“I have been trying to reach you. Are you home? I think we should talk.”
He gritted his teeth. “What do you want?”
“To talk. To see you.” She sounded hurt. Vulnerable. The way she used to when she wanted something. “I know I hurt you. I know I made mistakes, but—”
“Mistakes?” He almost laughed. Why the hell was she contacting him now? She’d had centuries to make things right.
“Please, allow me to explain.” Her sweet voice was so familiar, the mental nudge something he’d ached for. “I have changed. I have had centuries to think about what I lost; what we lost.”
Despite everything, part of him wanted to listen. She sounded genuine. Maybe—
Iliana’s laughter drifted from the other room, penetrating his thoughts. The unexpected sound reminded him of the defiance and liveliness of their interactions. It affected him more than he wanted to admit. His body reacted before he could stop it, heat flashing through him.
Absolutely not.
He shook his head. “I’ve got to go.”
“Hypnos, wait—”
He cut the connection and headed toward the kitchen. Right now, he needed something else to focus on besides his ex-wife.
When he entered, Iliana was bent over and peering into the freezer. She muttered to herself about the foreign labels while his brother and Anubis watched her with amused expressions, clearly entertained by her commentary.
Hypnos cleared his throat, causing both gods to look over their shoulders at him. They grinned, unapologetic, and he rolled his eyes before turning back to her.
