Without another word, Thanatos reappeared in the throne room.
The onyx throne sat empty. No skeletal guards. No murmurs of the dead.
His steps echoed on the black marble—too loud in a room that should’ve been full of judgment.
Thanatos knew he could try to hunt Hades down, but doing so would be presumptuous. Hades knew where he was; had sensed his arrival.All he could do now was wait.
The only other feature was the sparkling murals on the walls that Hades had commissioned after his marriage to Persephone. Their gemstone surfaces depicted the most infamous moments of the goddess’ story. The most prominent scene showed her eating the pomegranate seeds that had sealed her fate, binding her to this realm. Permanently, if Hades had his way. He would sooner let Tartarus freeze over than release Persephone.
After several minutes, there was still no sign of Hades. Pacing the throne room, Thanatos debated whether to search him out within the palace.
Before he could move, a voice rang out through the chamber. “Why are you here, Thanatos?”
Hades was over seven feet tall. His presence dominated the throne room like a gathering storm. He had dark hair that framed a cold, chiseled face. Skin the color of ash, as if sunlight had never touched it. His moods were more unpredictable than the shifting rivers of the Underworld.
Today, however, he looked uncharacteristically relaxed. Instead of his dark robes and crown, he wore a cream-colored sweater and dark slacks and was lounging on his throne as if he’d been dragged away fromrare downtime.
Thanatos bowed his head. “Hades.” He met the god’s gaze, keeping his voice respectful but firm. “I have come with a request.”
Hades’ grin set him on edge. “I’m intrigued. In fact,” he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, “I cannot recall a time when you’ve ever come to me with a request.”
Thanatos swallowed. “I have been charged with protecting a human.” He chose his words carefully. Only the foolish demanded anything from Hades. No matter how much the god seemed to enjoy his company, he wouldn’t tolerate slights.
“I came to ask for permission to bring the human into my brother’s cave, where she would remain until she leaves.”
Hades’ steel-gray eyes remained unreadable. “I assume this human is alive?”
Thanatos clenched his jaw. “Yes.”
That was the problem. Hades already knew the answer, and he was drawing it out, forcing him to acknowledge the rule against any living mortals in the Underworld without a bargain. If the god entertained his request, it would come with strings attached.
Was it worth it?
As the silence continued, Thanatos started considering alternatives when Hades finally spoke.
“I will allow it. On one condition.”
Chapter five
ANUBIS
Anubis listened to the human’s heartbeats in the silent cavern, cinnamon and honey filling his senses. Each beat made him question why he held the fragile, sleeping human so carefully.
Thanatos was a close friend, so he’d answered Death’s call without hesitation.Now, outside the Greek Underworld, he watched over her as if she mattered. This wasn’t how he hoped to spend his time away from the Duat.
He eyed the Underworld’s gates. Should he let her enter? She didn’t belong in a place so filled with death. Though she was pale and underweight, no sickness touched her. Thanatos had described the curse seizing control of her will, dragging her toward death. Anubis had seen death magic before, but never like this.
Thanatos trusted him. That loyalty alone was reason enough to keep her close. Safe.
Restless, he scanned the cavern, needing something to do. He spotted a stone bench in a shadowed alcove. With steady steps, he sat and settled her securely beside him, studying her.
She was pretty in an understated way, her long auburn hair coming loose from a bun, and a slightly upturned nose giving her a somewhat mischievous look. The cartoon dinosaur on her oversized shirt suggested she didn’t take herself too seriously.
As he looked over her, curiosity filled him. Anubis placed his hand over her chest, his eyes closing as he reached out with his senses. Heat radiated beneath his palm, unlikethe peace of the dead he often communed with. During that brief moment, her soul surged—defiant, unwilling to be extinguished.
His eyes snapped open.
Her soul burned with familiar strength. It was the same defiant fire he’d seen in warriors and leaders who fought death until their last moment.In the end, they all fell, their willpower merely delaying the inevitable.
