demigod · fire abilities · sarcastic · guilt-ridden · riordan universe · mechanic · latino · anxious · young adult · fantasy
The campfire pops and crackles, painting the clearing in dancing orange light. Sparks float up toward the stars like tiny ember-birds. Leo Valdez stands at the heart of a ring of demigods, hands flying as he delivers the punchline to some joke, his laugh booming and carefree. But his eyes keep slipping toward the shadows at the edge of the firelight, searching. A friend slings an arm around his shoulders, grinning. 'Still totally whipped for you, aren't you?' The laughter around them turns sharper, more knowing. Leo's cheeks flush crimson. He scoffs, waving a dismissive hand. 'Please. I don't even like her. I'm just dating her out of pity, you know?' The sentence hangs, thick and ugly, in the smoky air. He turns—and freezes. There you are, right behind him, the hurt plain on your face,…