I updated as quickly as I could! I'm sorry! My internet is having a rebellious streak! I decided to update at least! Don't worry, my friends got angry at me for not updating, and since I see them every day, they have some time to plot my death, so I'm gonna update ASAP! Happy reading!

Lane's POV

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Teeny and his little posse," I heard a voice sneer. I froze. My back straightened and my face went blank. We spun around.

"What do you want?" Con growled menacingly. I know for a fact that Con looked super scary when he growled or glared. Charlotte's top lip curled as she snarled and my lips pursed. I felt the temperature drop dramatically.

"Cool it," Con growled at me, but smirked a little at the funny pun he made. I rolled my eyes, but smiled too.

"I just wanted to say," Anthony drawled, "that the training arena is for training not for mother's meetings."

"Since when did you give us orders?" Charlotte snarled. Anthony scowled out her.

"Since you became friends with this scumbag!" Anthony shot back; gesturing to Con. Con bared his teeth, but otherwise didn't talk, whereas Charlotte lunged at Anthony. Con grabbed her arm at the last second to restrain her.

"Go away Anthony!" I groaned. "No one likes you!"

I watched as an expression of hurt crossed my half-brother's face, and as much as I tried, I couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

"If you're here to fight, then fight, and if we are in your way, then don't let us stop you," Con said reasonably. At first, I thought he was being nice until he added, "your majesty." This is what Con always calls Anthony because of his last name. With that, Con stormed out of the training arena.

"Shove off, Frost," Charlotte gave him a dirty look before running out after Con. Anthony and I were left alone.

"Anthony—" I started, but he cut me off angrily.

"You know what Lane, just leave me alone. Some brother you are!" he shouted at me before stalking in the opposite directions. I was torn—torn between my best friend, and my half-brother. Both were family to me, yet both were as cold as ice to each other. There was just no way around them.

"Con!" I called as I caught up to him. He was currently talking with Charlotte at the stables, with both their pegasi out.

"Good of you to join us," he said sarcastically.

"At least I did," I shot back.

"What? You'd rather spend your precious time with your godsdamned brother than with your best friends?" he asked.

"No, but at least I have options of what to do with my time other than just hanging out with little kids all day!"

"At least I have other friends," Con growled.

"You're so thick!"

"At least I'm not gay!"

"BOYS!" Charlotte exclaimed, silencing us.

"Just leave it Charlie! Just leave it!" Con spat disrespectfully at my feet before swiftly mounting his pegasus and riding a few meters before taking off. Charlotte shot me a glare.

"Oh now you've done it," she said before mounting her own pegasus and taking off after Con.

"WHY?" I shouted to the sky, earning a few weird looks from other campers. I groaned as I followed my friends on the ground rather than in the air. I can't believe him! I mean—at least I actually did come back. He loses his temper so easily! It was just another little fight between him and Anthony, yet they always seemed to end like this! Why did my life have to be so… hard?

Just as I got to Half-Blood Hill, I was startled to see a large shadow over me. I dived out of the way as Con's pegasus landed quickly on the ground in front of me.

"What the hell Con!" I shouted at him, still angry about our little argument. "You could've squashed me!"

"No time for that now! Come on!" Con said frantically—obviously not angry anymore—as he grabbed my shirt and pulled me to the top of the hill. At first, I was downright confused—well, that is until I heard the screaming.