Trust—the one thing he’d never been able to offer again.
Chapter forty-one
ILIANA
She was changing her clothes after another intense session with Anubis when a knock sounded at her door.
“Just a second,” she called, pulling on leggings over her sore muscles.
Fully dressed, she ran fingers through her damp hair and opened the door.
Iliana froze.
The woman standing at her door wasn’t human. That much was obvious. Her beauty was too perfect—flawless skin, lavender eyes radiating with something unmistakably divine.
Shit.
Instinct told Iliana to back away, to grab something to use as a weapon. Before the panic fully took hold, Anubis stepped into view, his tranquil smile shattering her fear.
“She is fine, Neferet,” he said smoothly. “Panacea is not an enemy.” He leaned next to the doorframe, his eyes knowing as they flicked over her still-tense posture.
Panacea. The healer.She wasn’t pushing inside or rushing her, and Iliana appreciated that.
“She wants to check on you,” Anubis added.
Grinning, the goddess said, “I thought you might also enjoy a conversation with someone who isn’t a testosterone-fueled god.”
Iliana let out a startled laugh. “You have no idea.”
When Panacea’s smile grew, Iliana stepped aside. “Come in.”
As Panacea moved past, Anubis stood there, looking between the two of them.
“What?” Iliana asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Anubis’ smirk was slow and infuriatingly knowing. “Dinner will be ready soon,” he said. Then quieter, “Try not to lose track of time, Neferet.”
Her face flamed.He’d told her just today what ‘Neferet’ meant: beautiful one. The term fell from his lips so naturally, and she didn’t think she’d ever tire of the endearment.
Before she could fire back, he turned and left her with the goddess. She closed the door behind him, her cheeks still burning as she turned to see Panacea conjuring two comfortable chairs in the room.
Iliana shook her head. “Every time one of you does that, I question whether I’m losing my mind.”
Panacea settled gracefully into her seat. “Magic becomes background noise after a few thousand years.”
Iliana dropped into the other chair with a groan. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.”
“That’s probably a good thing. It’s best to still hold some wonder for this world rather than becoming as cynical as most of the gods.” She turned serious as she studied Iliana. “How are you doing?”
Iliana straightened, treating the coming conversation as a medical checkup. “Honestly, Panacea, I don’t have any pain in my chest. Just the occasional phantom twinge. Physically, I’m okay.”
The goddess smiled. “That’s good to hear. And please call me Pan. This isn’t a professional visit. I made sure you were healed before I left last time.”
“Oh.” Iliana looked away. “Well, uh, then I guess I’m fine. What did you want to talk about?” She leaned back and let the soft chair cushions conform to her body.
Panacea’s expression turned amused. “How you’re handling the trauma of being cursed, how you’re adjusting to the world of the gods…and whether you’ve read any good books lately.”
Iliana blinked for a moment. Then her face split into a wide grin. “Patience and excitement, and oh my gods, I’ve got a reading list that would make any bookworm cry.”
