“What happened?” Thanatos demanded. “She was fine a moment ago.”
“I set my dagger down,” Anubis said, guilt darkening his eyes. “The curse…” He brushed her hair back, his movements careful. “Stay with us, little one.”
Iliana’s lips parted as if to speak. Instead, a cough wracked her frame. Blood speckled across her chin, falling from the corner of her mouth.
Hypnos wiped it away. “Slow breaths,” he instructed. “Stay with us.”
Her eyelids fluttered before they closed.
No.
“Move!” The sharp word stopped any thoughts he might’ve had to reach for her soul.
He looked up to see Panacea at Hermes’ side, her expression grim.
“I had to convince her to come,” Hermes complained.
Iliana let out another wheezing gasp.
Hypnos’ attention snapped back to her. “Hurry. She’s fading.”
Panacea rested a hand near the wound. “Put her to sleep,” she ordered. Then softly, “It’ll hurt.”
Hypnos hesitated. He’d promised not to use his power without her consent. But there was no choice. He pressed his forehead to hers, letting his power flow into her. He pulled her under—into the deepest sleep she’d ever known.
The room disappeared.
When he opened his eyes, an endless field of wildflowers surrounded him, illuminated by golden sunlight. A light breeze stirred the grass, bringing with it the far-off sounds of birds near the coast.
And next to him, Iliana.
Moments ago, there’d been blood on her lips. Tears. Panic. Now she gave him the most peaceful smile he’d ever seen.
“Hypnos?” The disappointment as she said his name was mild, but it still stung.
“Do you remember what happened?” he asked. He needed to know how much of it followed her into the dream.
Her frowndeepened. She rolled onto her side, studying his face. “I fell asleep…then pain. I remember you and Anubis, and then I woke up here.”
She sat up suddenly.“I fell asleep.” Suspicion narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t…”
“No, I made a promise,” he said firmly. “I noticed your exhaustion, but didn’t have time to stop you from falling asleep. I was too busy talking with the others.”
She regarded him for a long moment before rolling her eyes. “You weren’t the one who fell asleep despite all the dangers.”
He let the faintest curve touch his lips to keep the mood light. “No, I wasn’t.”
Turning away, she looked out over the field. “Where are we?”
“An island that no longer exists. We’re in your mind—anchored to one of my memories.”
A gull cried overhead, and she watched it fly across the sky. “It’s beautiful.”
They sat in silence for a moment. The island granted her peace in the same way it once had for him, the breeze holding the briny scent from the ocean. Then, she gasped, holding her chest.
Panacea must’ve removed the blade.Iliana tensed, and Hypnos experienced the pull against his power, her body instinctively fighting to wake.
Moving in front of her, he took her hands, trying to ground her; to keep her present with him. “Iliana, look at me.”
