Page 38 of Thanatos' Craving

Hypnos chuckled softly again, his melodious laughter filling the room. “Oh, Juniper, you underestimate your own charm. The God of Death is not one to show emotion easily, but since you entered his life, a spark has ignited within him. Your presence has brought light into his darkness.”

I swallowed hard, my mind struggling to process this revelation.

“And besides,” he leaned forward, his sharp nail coming closer to my face.

Fluffy just watched Hypnos with admiration, not a single hair standing on end in warning. “You were up, so I thought you could have a Harry Potter movie marathon with me?” He blinked his navy-blue eyes at me.

Cheesus what is going on here?

“Is that a reference to Jesus? Because I take offense at that.”

“Would you prefer if I saygodsinstead?”

He tapped his finger to his lips. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I would. Now, have you seen the series? Or can we start somewhere in the middle? Or wait—” he narrowed his eyes at me. “I guess you need to be sleeping, don’t you?” He hummed. “I keep forgetting that mortals have to sleep so much.”

“Uh, you are the God of Sleep, and you forgot humans are supposed to sleep?”

He stood up straight and put his hand on his hip and flipped his long white hair with the other. “Well, aren’t you Miss Sassy Pants over here? I’m sure my brother will have fun with you.”

“Wait.” I pointed at him, crawling across the bed and standing on the floor next to him. “You’re Thanatos’ brother?”

He threw his shoulders back. “We’re fraternal twins. I’m the better looking one, obviously.” He pulled his white robe at the sleeves to lengthen them. “Funny, witty, more sociable. Overall, the better brother.” He winked. “And you are Juniper. The little mortal who caught his fancy.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

I made a face but blushed as well. “He only needs me for intel on that sex trafficking ring on Earth. Athena says he also needs help to findemotion.” I air quoted.

Hypnos let out a squeal of excitement and turned his back, motioning two fingers for me to follow him. “Is that what Thanatos told you? He just needsinformation?”

I nodded.

“And you believed him?”

I nodded again and Hypnos rolled his eyes playfully. “Truly devious those Fates,” he muttered.

Curiosity piqued, I cautiously followed Hypnos as he led me through the curtain to the living room, but it wasn’t dark. The room beyond was lit with an ethereal glow emanating from the walls. Strange symbols and ancient scripts adorned every surface, casting an otherworldly ambiance.

Hypnos glided gracefully across the room, his wings lightly brushing against the air. I stumbled slightly in my attempt to keep up with his elegant stride. As we reached the center of the living room, a mist formed before us. It shimmered and danced, finally revealing a new world entirely. Of white clouds of the heavens. Shining of golden clouds, bursts of light, birds and dragons flying against the backdrop.

“This,” Hypnos announced grandly, “is the Dream Realm.”

My eyes widened in awe as I took in the breathtaking sight before me. The Dream Realm stretched out infinitely in all directions, a tapestry of vivid colors and fantastical landscapes. Floating islands hovered above shimmering oceans, while mythical creatures soared through the skies. It was a realm beyond imagination where dreams are born.

“Oh my gods, this is, this is—” I couldn’t form the words of what I saw. If I had an idea of what heaven looked like, this is what it would be, what I thought it would be.

“Come sit,” he motioned toward himself and patted the couch next to him. It was a large couch with blankets and pillows. He sunk into it, his robes of purest white blending into the cloud, and his dark skin was the only contrast.

“And what are we doing?” I cautiously walked forward and sat the furthest away from him. I didn’t feel as comfortable with him as I did with Thanatos. He was funny, amusing, but I didn’t feel the warmth of Thanatos' shadows.

Hypnos smiled and pointed to a curved screen that had not been there before. The surrounding light grew dark, stars twinkled in the sky and a full moon shone in the distance, with another blue half-moon on the other side of the dream world.

“Watching the movie. What else?” He shrugged his shoulders and shortened the couch, so I was closer to him. The movie played and Hypnos smiled, seeming pleased with himself, but it left me with more questions.

Like why a god was watching a human movie and smiling about it.

I guess I’d seen weirder things in just the twelve hours I’d been awake here.

Chapter Thirteen

Thanatos

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