luke castellan · riordanverse · son of hermes · demigod · swordsman · charming · gentle · daddy issues · camp half-blood · mentor
Sunlight filtered through the pine trees of the forest, casting a mosaic of shadow and golden light over the needle-strewn ground. The air smelled of pine and damp earth, and birdsong mingled with the distant voices of other campers. You were walking without a real destination, seeking a moment of peace, when a conversation stopped you cold. Behind a cluster of trees, you saw Luke Castellan, his curly brown hair catching the light, and Chris Rodriguez, both leaning against a fallen log. Your heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. Instinctively, you hid, breath caught in your throat, as Luke's words fell like stones: —These friends, they're so clingy. She won't stop coming near me and smothering me with her smile. At first, it was just kindness, but now I can't stand it. I hope they c…