Standing in her favorite spot under the grapevine trellises, Reyna is looking out at New Rome. Much of the repair work was completed while she was away, but it still looks different from the day she stood in this very spot with Annabeth so many months ago. That somehow feels appropriate to her, though, since she feels different herself. She is no longer bearing the weight of running camp alone, but she is still very weary. She would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant saving everything she loved, but giving so much of her strength to Nico trying to get them back to Camp Half-Blood is something she is beginning to wonder if she'll ever recover from. She half-jokingly made a comment to Piper about not getting any of her shared strength back, but now, weeks later, she is beginning to think it might be true.
"It's a lovely view," a voice says from behind her. Reyna is so startled that she nearly draws her sword.
"I...I didn't see you approach," she tells the stranger still resting her hand on the hilt of her weapon.
"I apologize if I startled you," he says with a warm smile. Reyna doesn't recognize the man but his shoulder-length dark hair and big dark eyes make him very attractive.
"I didn't realize we had any new demigods in camp. I should have received a report..."
"Oh, I'm not a demigod," he tells her still smiling. "I am the son of Pallas and Styx."
"Styx as in the river?" she asks.
"My mother is the goddess of the Underworld river that bears her name," he confirms still smiling.
"And your father? I thought Pallas was a young girl who was accidentally killed by Athena."
"Are you the only Reyna in the world?" he asks curiously almost laughing.
"No, of course not," she answers.
"My father was a Titan as was his father before him," he explains. "He was the Titan of warcraft, or so I have been told."
"You never knew your father?"
"Alas, no. My brother Zelos and I, along with our two sisters, were sent to be raised by Zeus when the war with the Titan's started. We were very young," he explains.
"I take it you are Greek?" she asks since he said Zeus and not Jupiter.
"Yes, very Greek. I trust you will not hold that against me," he says now flashing that smile again.
"I'm not familiar with the children of Styx," Reyna tells him a little embarrassed.
The young man continues to smile as he takes a seat on the edge of the Bacchus fountain like this conversation could take a while. "Most people have never heard of me, my brother or my sister Bia. It's not like the four of us weren't always together on Lord Zeus's chariot. Still it's my little sister Nike that gets all the glory. Hooray for Victory," he says holding his hands in the air like a cheerleader with spirit fingers. Reyna can't help but laugh at the look on his face.
"Sometimes sisters can steal all the glory," she agrees extending her hand. "Reyna, Praetor of the Twelfth Legion."
The young man takes her hand to shake. It's strong and warm and Reyna feels a sudden urge to never let go of it. "Kratos," he says, "God of strength, power, and sovereign rule. My sister Nike told me about what you went though, I mean all of you demigods. I was impressed."
"Thank you," she says finally releasing his hand. "It took every one of us to accomplish it and a little help from the gods."
"Very little help I'd wager," he says.
"Well, I wasn't in Athens, so I could not say," she tells him. She's already tired. There's no telling what would happen if she agreed with him and upset one of the gods. Venus is already against her.
"Ah, very diplomatic," he says. "You must take that from your father."
"My..." Reyna can't bring herself to even say the word. Even before her recent trip home, thinking about her father was painful. Admitting the truth to Nico helped but only very little.
Sensing her unease, Kratos says, "I just meant that your mother has never worried about diplomacy. She's more of a shoot first and ask questions later sort of gal."
"You know who I am?" she asks since he obviously is referring to the war goddess.
"Of course, your mother actually sent me," he tells her. "She did not, however, tell me how beautiful you are."
Reyna blushes. She's not used to so much attention from a male. Usually, guys are threatened by her power and position or already taken, like Percy and Jason. "My mother sent you here, to see me?"
"She explained that you recently expended much of your power trying to stop the war between the Greek and Roman demigods. As the god of strength, she wanted me to give you a little pick-me-up," he tells her.
"Oh," she says sounding a little disappointed. Instantly, she's mad at herself for sounding that way. What did you expect Reyna. No boyfriend is going to just pop up in the Garden of Bacchus and sweep you off your feet, she thinks to herself.
"May I," he asks standing and offering his hands in front of him palms up. Reyna hesitantly places her hands on his palms down. Kratos closes his eyes and starts to chant something in Greek. Being Roman, she has no idea what he is actually saying. At first, she feels nothing then, after several seconds, she starts to feel his warmth surging up her arms. Eventually, her entire body feels flush. When he finally starts to open his eyes again, she takes her gaze from his face and looks down at her own hands.
"You might not instantly feel differently," he tells her softly.
"I feel something," she says still looking at her hands. "Warmth," she explains.
He looks at her curiously. "Hmm, interesting," he says taking his hand to his chin as he's contemplating what she just told him.
"Was I not supposed to feel anything?" she asks wondering if something went wrong.
"Most do not," he tells her. "Perhaps it was not the transfer of strength that caused the sensation," he suggests.
"I do not understand," she says knowing it would be too embarrassing to admit what she thinks he means.
"Perhaps you would buy a god a hot chocolate," he says offering his arm. She takes it then starts to lead him toward New Rome thinking, Venus, if you're messing with me again, so help me...