Chapter 3

June 3, 2018

"Thalia, you can't just recruit my legionnaires, they have a term to serve and if they are Huntresses they can't serve their ten years! I don't know what the rules are in the greek jurisdiction, but when you are in New Rome you are a guest and as such, you can't recruit in the legion. I don't want to have to ban you, but the Senators are pushing it and soon they'll win the vote. If you keep..." Reyna complained annoyed.

"I'm starving, are you hungry?" Thalia interrupted.

"Were you listening to a single word I said, Grace?" Reyna questioned exasperatedly.

"No, not really was it important?" Asked Thalia.

"Yes, all of it, but if you're hungry I have gumbo. Hazel worries too much, but it's delicious, so who am I to complain?" Reyna said nonchalantly.

"How are Hazel and Frank I feel like I haven't seen them in years." Thalia inquired as they walked into Reyna's kitchen.

"That's because you haven't," Reyna deadpanned "But they're great Hazel was just telling me her first son is already turning into animals at just 5 months, I guess watching his sister do it sparked something." Reyna laughed.

"Oh yeah, Perce told me Hazel had just had a baby. They grow up so fast don't they?" Thalia said as Reyna heated up the gumbo. They sat and ate in companionable silence, but began a conversation as soon as they were done.

"Have you been to visit Percy and Annabeth lately?" Reyna asked.

"You mean have I been to visit Andromeda lately, and I was there yesterday I have the weekend off, Fallon is in charge of the girls."

"That's nice, so what are you doing tomorrow?" Reyna inquired.

"Visiting camp and later tonight I'll dine with New York's esteemed governor and her family. A.K.A my brother, Piper, Tom, Silena, Marcus, and Alena. The kids are such brats and Silly acts like such a mother hen over her siblings just like her namesake used to." Thalia said proudly, but Reyna noticed a twinge of sadness.

"She was that daughter of Aphrodite that died in the titan war right?"

"Yeah she did some things that weren't that great, but she ended up saving us all, sacrificing herself in the process." Thalia's voice dwindled off.

"On a happier note, Andromeda loves the toys we bought her." she perked up again. The door swung open, but neither woman paid much attention to that, they were too deep into the conversation. Nico entered and hung his bag up before going into the kitchen surprised to see his cousin there.

"Hey Rey- what are you doing here Thalia? Don't you have, oh I don't know a job? You know, that group of immortal feminists you lead. Wait are you two dating, and why am I always the last one to know anything?"

"No, it's official business, you idiot." Reyna defended, blushing.

"So Andromeda is official business?" Nico questioned, looking incredulously.

"Yes, she's a matter of national security." Thalia retorted sarcastically.

"You just- ugh. Go to your room." Reyna commanded. Nico left flipping them off as he carried his books upstairs. Thalia left soon after that and Reyna ran upstairs to her study, dagger in hand. Opening the door, and silently creeping over to Nico who was completely immersed in his studies. Reyna then took her dagger, put it against his neck just hard enough to draw blood, but not enough to really hurt him.

"If you ever come into my house and embarrass me like that again, I will kill you." Reyna hissed into his ear, then sat at her own desk.

"Don't tell me you never thought about it Reyna, come on." Nico deadpanned.

"What are you talking about I don't love Thalia Grace," Reyna began.

"I never said anything about love, that was all you." Nico interrupted smirking.

She continued ranting "She's rude, and her eyes are just annoying, and she says things sometimes that make me, just want to shut her up."

"By kissing her?" Nico inquired.

"No, maybe, ugh, you're annoying, I've never thought like that before. Anyway, she's a Huntress. Why do I even let you live with me?" Reyna exclaimed.

"Have you ever heard the vows? And I live with you because you secretly know that you love me." Nico mused.

"No, but I know the basic concept of staying pure and no romance!"

"Actually, that is outdated when my sister joined the Hunters, the vows only said things about vowing to protect all women and children and not to have any sort of relationship with a male."

"What!?"