“Do you blame her for avoiding sleep?”
“No, I don’t blame her, but she needs more sleep with the stress and nonstop training.”
Iliana returned in shorts and a tank top just in time to hear him say, “She’s human.”
Her face fell. Just slightly, but enough that he noticed.Shit. He didn’t mean it like that.
Before he could fumble an apology, she walked to the bed and sat, facing away from him. “I’ve been more tired lately. I thought it was just training, but…”
Thanatos placed a hand on her shoulder. “You are still recovering from all the sleep you have lost.”
Hypnos kept his mouth shut. The curse was growing. They all knew it now.
Anubis entered the room, grinning. “Bedtime? I calldibs.”
She looked at him. “It’s not a competition.”
“Oh, it is always a competition,” he said, plopping onto the bed and dragging her down with him.
“A friendly one. Since you called dibs like a pre-pubescent boy, I’ll make room for you.” Thanatos waved a hand to adjust the bed’s size, causing it to grow a few inches wider.
Anubis settled into the bed, content with her in his arms. “Why, thank you. I will be an adult and let this little one use me as a pillow so you both can join us.”
Hypnos rolled his eyes from the edge of the bed as Iliana curled against Anubis’ chest. He didn’t fight the sleeping arrangements, not when she looked that peaceful. As his fingers touched her arm, her eyes popped open. She didn’t pull away but stared curiously at him.
“I should make you both leave the room, you bed hogs,” he said, watching for her reaction.
Iliana’s eyes brightened, and she giggled. The sound was incredible.Pride filled him, knowing he’d caused that happiness. It made him want to do it again and again.He frowned. That line of thinking needed to stop.
Anubis kissed the top of Iliana’s head and winked at Hypnos, speaking in his mind. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not kicking us out of the bed,” Anubis explained.
Hypnos shrugged, trying not to let the genuine gratitude from his friend affect him. As long as he could keep a hand on her, he didn’t care who else shared her bed.
It was a lie, but he wasn’t ready to dwell on those thoughts. Those feelings.
As the room grew quiet, Hypnos sensed Iliana slip into sleep. And with it, the curse surged, pulling at him harder than before.
He focused on it and sent a mental request to Thanatos. “Touch her.”
His brother looked confused but complied. The tension eased immediately, causing Iliana to relax even more.
“What is going on?” Anubis asked, stroking Iliana’s back with his large hand.
Hypnos shook his head, trying to sort out his thoughts before answering. “Our touch lessens the curse. Alone, I can keep her asleep—but it gets harder each day.”
His brother and his friend shared a worried glance.
“Is there something more we can do?” His twin looked at the sleeping human between them.
Was there anything they could do? Breaking the curse was the only way to save her. But if the touch of the others eased it, could they buy her some time? Would another god’s touch improve it even more?
“We need Hermes.”
Thanatos and Anubis both stiffened.
