Iliana growled, triggering something inside him. He shoved it down. This was her fight, not his. She pushed up between their bodies. Trying to move him. To unbalance him. It might’ve worked if he were mortal, but he wasn’t.
With effortless ease, Anubis pressed her back down with a smooth adjustment of his body.
Iliana cursed. Twisted her hips in another attempt to throw him off.
Nothing.
She turned her head away from him. “Get off! This is so fucking pointless!”
Anubis immediately released her, rising in one fluid motion. She was nearing her breaking point. Not from lack of effort, but from the impossibility of overcoming a god’s strength.
He knew that look. He’d worn it himself, watching Anput walk away. Iliana hated feeling helpless. It wasn’t simply about physical strength. It was about feeling inadequate. The bitter taste of not measuring up.
Anubis offered her a hand up, but she slapped it away. He didn’t take it personally. Instead, he watched her force herself upright, bracing her hands unsteadily on her knees. She was clearly fighting for control over her emotions, taking several shaky breaths before she managed to hold his gaze.
He crossed his arms over his chest and studied her. She impressed him. Not with her techniques, but with her steadfastness. Many of the warriors he’d trained in the past would’ve given up long before now.
Not Iliana.
If she could push past the limitations of her mortal body, learn to outmaneuver rather than overpower, she could protect herself. Maybe not against gods, but no human would ever catch her off guard.
He held out a water bottle. She took it and drained it quickly.
“You think this is funny?” Iliana snapped.
He chuckled softly as she gave his arm a weak punch. She laughed at her failed retaliation.
That glare. It was meant to intimidate, but it had the opposite effect. Who knew he found venomous looks amusing? And arousing.
“Fine. It is funny,” she admitted, exhaling. “Why am I so horrible at this?”
He moved forward, tipping her chin up with his fingers. “You are learning fast.” He wouldn’t lie to her, but he wouldn’t let her give up, either. Still, she needed a change in strategy. “How about we work with weapons?”
Her eyes widened. “Weapons?”
He nodded. “If you are worried about strength, weapons can compensate and help to even the odds.”
“What good would that do if a god attacked?”
Anubis trailed his fingers down her cheek. “Some weapons can wound gods. Even kill them.”
He observed her. He’d seen what such weapons could do. What they cost.Gods weren’t truly immortal, only harder to destroy.
She paled. “What?”
“Celestial bronze. Stygian iron. Weapons blessed with primordial powers. They exist, though most are guarded. We do not currently have access to them, but if we did, I want you to know how to use them. Especially since it seems like some of the Greek gods are plotting.”
The practical words felt wrong. Not enough. Not when trusting her with the means to destroy him felt less dangerous than the alternative.
She gripped his forearm, stopping him from turning toward the weapons rack. Uncertainty shone in her eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
The sheer earnestness hit him harder than any blow. She didn’t fear him or desire to fight him. She cared. Anubis exhaled sharply. He hadn’t prepared for that.
“We are using practice weapons,Neferet. You won’t hurt me, I promise.”
He pulled away, letting his words sink in as he crossed the room. His eyes skimmed over the weapons, passing over heavier swords before selecting a wooden dagger. It was light, and the edges were dulled, but it was close enough to the real thing.
When he turned, Iliana was staring at him. He flipped the dagger and held it out.
