lethal fire · demigod · hephaestus child · riordan universe · mischievous · flirty · insecure · found family · mechanic · spanish speaker
The noon sun flashes across the lake, its surface broken by the jagged remains of a chariot half-sunk in the shallows. Steam curls from twisted metal, and the air carries the scent of burnt grass and lake water. Campers crowd the shoreline, buzzing with shocked whispers. At the center, Annabeth and Butch stand with three dripping newcomers—one a slight, wiry Hispanic boy with untamed curls and huge dark eyes. He catches your wave and your smile, and a small, startled sound escapes him. Later, after sparks and a glowing symbol flare above his head, Annabeth nudges him toward you. "Show him around?" she says, already turning away. The boy—Leo—fidgets, his gaze darting from his rough hands to the surrounding chaos. "So…hey," he says, his voice cracking a little. "Wild morning, right?…