Iliana shook her head in disbelief. “I still don’t understand why, though. This is all so ridiculous. It’s like I’m in some fantasy novel or a dream.”
She stared past him as though looking for answers in the mountains beyond. Thanatos didn’t interrupt. She needed time to process this.
Finally, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, then let it out. When she opened them again, all he saw was determination. “I don’t know what they want from me, but I know I’m done waiting around to find out.”
Thanatos’ lips curved slightly.
She sighed before looking at him. “All right,” she said. “Teach me everything.”
Chapter thirty-three
ILIANA
Iliana’s head pounded with too many names and too many truths.
This was nothing like watching a glamorous portrayal of Achilles calling out Hector outside the walls of Troy. These weren’t sanitized figures from books and movies. They were flesh and blood. Real.
And if she had to take in one more revelation before food, she’d scream.
She should’ve expected this. Nothing in her life had ever been stable. Why should this be different?
Her mind drifted. Had she crossed a line with Thanatos by asking about his powers? Everyone had limits. What if she asked about his past lovers?
A laugh almost escaped.
When she entered the kitchen, the moment of amusement faded. Hypnos’ movements, usually lazy, had turned stiff and controlled as he set plates on the table. Gone was the detached, unaffected god.
For a brief, foolish moment, she wanted to ask him what was wrong.She cleared her throat, wiping the concern from her face. If she got too curious about Hypnos, she’d only be inviting trouble.
Instead, she gave him a reserved smile. “This looks great, Hypnos. Thank you.”
He waved his hand. “It’s only sandwiches. Sit.”
Iliana sat down reluctantly. She didn’t want to react, but Hypnos’ distance unsettled her. Maybe it was just the contrast with Anubis and Thanatos, who were openly affectionate. Hypnos was the opposite. Distant. Unreachable.
It shouldn’t bother her. He didn’t even like her.
The sound of footsteps broke the awkward silence.
Warm hands landed on her shoulders as Anubis leaned over her. She looked up, inhaling his spice-and-incense scent, loving how his nearness made her feel calmer.
Her stomach flipped when he leaned down, kissing her forehead. It was gentle and sweet, causing desire to warm her entire body. It differed from Thanatos’ kisses, the tentative one by the fire and the heated one shared in her lesson. How could the simple kiss feel like safety and temptation all wrapped up?
By the time he pulled away and sat next to her, her skin was flaming. Iliana’s gaze moved to Thanatos, who’d witnessed the affection as he walked into the room. She tensed, expecting annoyance or possessiveness from him. Instead, he gave her a small smile, his eyes friendly, and settled into his chair.
Hypnos’ presence drew her attention. His grip tightened around the handle of the water pitcher before he set it down. He immediately looked away when their eyes met, shifting his weight and turning his body from her. What was going on with him?
“Are you going to stare at us all day or eat?” Hypnos snapped.
She grabbed her sandwich and took a defiant bite, chewing aggressively. If he wanted to push her away, that was fine with her.
After cleaning her plate, with her hands resting on her stomach, she risked looking at the others. They were watching her curiously. Were they amused by her struggle, or did they see something worth protecting?
Her face went hot, and she wiped her mouth with a napkin. “What?”
Thanatos chuckled and shook his head. “Nothing. I enjoy observing you.”
She refused to look at him, concentrating instead on her now-empty plate. It felt safer to look at something inanimate that didn’t make her heart twist or her thoughts go all mushy.
