Page 62 of The Death God
Thanatos stared at his disappearing back without seeing it. Did he mean Thanatos should get everyone? Almost sounded like it.
He checked the cookies in the oven and walked along the corridor. Prophecy’s room was first. He banged on the door, suspecting he was still asleep.
No reply came and he banged again. When he still didn’t reply, he opened the door, only to find the room empty. What the fuck? Prophecy never went anywhere.
He moved on and came to the room where he believed Alaric and Amell slept. He knocked gently. Rufus must’ve woken him, right?
When there was no reply, he knocked again and was met by a growl that had the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
“Alaric?”
“Yeah.”
“Kitchen meeting in five.” He didn’t say anything else. If he didn’t know Amell had been taken, he didn’t want to be the one telling him.
Farthest away was Minerva. He knocked, and the door swung open. She was fully dressed and looked as if she’d taken a shower recently. “Oh Thanatos, what’s up?” For a second it looked like she wanted to close the door, then she slumped her shoulders.
“Kitchen meeting. Amell has been taken, and Gregory followed the car.” For the first time since Rufus had entered the kitchen, fear took hold of him. Gregory was alone with a group of psychics and guards.
The color drained from Minerva’s face. “That’s not good.”
“Nope.” As he spoke, Prophecy appeared behind Minerva, also freshly showered.
He turned and walked back toward the kitchen, almost colliding with Alaric as he stepped out of the room. “Check the cookies in the oven. I’m gonna see if I can wake Himeros.”
Minerva, Prophecy, and Alaric turned into the kitchen while Thanatos continued along the corridor. Himeros was in the room across from Rufus and Jaki’s. He banged on the door, not nearly as gently as he’d knocked on the others’ doors. What if he’d set them up?
When there was no sound, he tested the handle. Unlocked.
Himeros was lying on the bed, fully dressed, and sound asleep. Thanatos went closer and shook him.
No reaction.
He shook him again, a bit more forcefully. “Himeros.”
Not so much as a twitch.
“Himeros!” His hands were not gentle as he shoved his shoulder.
An almost pained sound left Himeros, and he cracked an eye open.
“Kitchen meeting. Now.”
Himeros stared at him as if he hadn’t understood a word he’d said.
“Amell was taken by your people, we need your input.”
A roar rang through the castle, and Thanatos guessed Alaric hadn’t known Amell had been taken until now.
Himeros rolled out of bed, swayed, and stumbled forward. Shit, could he think in this state? Thanatos softened a fraction, but then he remembered Gregory being alone out there with no backup and no plan and several dangerous people who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him.
When they entered the kitchen, Alaric was pacing along the counter. Thanatos checked to see if someone had taken the cookies out of the oven and pushed Himeros toward the table. Alaric zeroed in on him. “Where is my brother?” His teeth didn’t fit in his mouth anymore and there was a crazed look in his eyes. Thanatos wanted to step back but stood firm. Alaric wasn’t angry with him.
Himeros blinked. “I…eh…don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” The snarl vibrated through Thanatos’ bones, and he glanced at Rufus, trying to judge if he would step in to shield Himeros should Alaric lose control.
“Let’s calm down.” Minerva gestured for Himeros to sit. “Rufus, tell us what you know.”
