Percy POV

I took joy in the week Michael and Bianca were gone. I didn't miss them at all. It was quiet, Alex and I got to know each other more, and he introduced me to his mom, who was really nice. I hung out with Zoe and Lilly and Maddie a lot, and I even drove us into town to go get something to eat. As Michael would say, I was beginning to have a way with the ladies.

So naturally, I was disappointed when they came back.

A one-story house had appeared behind the Big House the day before they were back, and no one could get in—not even the Stolls. So, when Michael and Bianca appeared back in camp, Alexios and Andromeda in tow, and strolled right in, we all were very surprised. Okay, not all of us. Beckendorf and Silena had guessed that it was for them and had avoided the others trying to break in.

The day after this happened, Michael pulled me aside.

"Hey, I need you to meet me by the lake in ten minutes," he said urgently. "It's about what happened to me on Olympus. Bring Zoe." He flashed away before I could even ask what part of the lake to go to. Rolling my eyes, I headed to the Artemis cabin where Zoe would surely be.

I knocked on the door, and instead of Zoe opening it, Lilly did. I blinked before grinning.

"Hey Lilly," I said. "Is Zoe in here?"

"Yeah," she said, chewing on gum. "What's up?"

"Nothing much. Michael needs me and her at the lake for some reason."

"Sounds fun." She blew a quick bubble before popping it. "Can I come?"

"I don't see why not. What he has to show you might freak you out a little, though." I thought back to when he had transformed into that winged wolf on Olympus.

"As long as Bianca's not pregnant yet, I'm sure I'll be fine."

"If you say so." She blew and popped another pink bubble. "Did Travis get you the gum?"

"Yeah. He's got a really large supply of it."

"Please tell me your talking about food," Zoe's voice came from inside the cabin. She appeared behind Lilly, almost a head taller than the daughter of Achlys.

"Close. Gum." I told her. She rolled her eyes.

"What am I needed for this time? What boy am I going to castrate?" I cringed just a little.

"No castrating anyone. Michael wants to meet with us. By the lake."

"Then what are we waiting for?" She asked rhetorically. She and Lilly stepped out of the cabin and she closed the door behind her. "Let's go to the lake."

When we were there, we saw the other demigods who had been chosen for being champion hosts.

"Oh gods, he's telling everyone?" I muttered aloud.

"You know already?" Zoe asked, easing her brow.

"A little bit," I said sheepishly. "So does Lilly, but..." I trailed off. Zoe gave an understanding nod. We both looked to Lilly, who had gone straight to Summer as soon as we had got here.

Two minutes later, Michael and Bianca flashed in.

"So what's so important that we needed to get here ASAP?" Beckendorf asked. He probably came with Silena.

"I have something to show you," Michael said. He nodded to Bianca and and walked over to Nico. He gave her a questioning look but she shrugged. I was surprised that Michael didn't even tell her. Michael took deep breaths. "Alright, here we go." He began concentrating, his eyes shut tight. He bared his teeth and I heard several people gasp at the sharpened and elongated teeth. A growl rippled from his throat and two wings with pitch black feathers sprouted from his back. He collapsed onto his hands and knees as brown fur grew from his skin, covering him in a layer of the stuff. His hands and feet turned into paws. His clothes melted into his fur and disappeared.

Finally, he opened his eyes. His eyes were more lupine and his smile was unnerving.

Pretty cool, right?

I saw Summer, Lilly, Silena, and Nico jump at the voice that rang through the air.

"Are you using telepathy?" Zoe asked, curiously scanning Michael's new form. He nodded his wolffish head.

This is the form of a creature I created with Tartarus. It is called a Seraf Wolf. S-E-R-A-F. At the moment, they are breeding down it Tartarus, with my patron and father watching over them. They look almost exactly like this, except their fur color can vary. They do not have telepathy, but they can turn invisible and flash short distances. From what I can tell so far, they can grow up to 5 feet in height when in attack form.

"Attack form?" Silena asked. "Is that what this is?"

Yeah. This is their regular form. With a flash, Michael began a small wolf pup with fitting sized wings.

"Aww," Bianca and Silena cooed in unison.

"It's so adorable," Silena said.

I would not recommend picking one up. This form is to help them hide for when hunting or fleeing.

"So you and Tartarus created this?" Ethan questioned. Michael nodded. "What does that have to do with any of us?"

Us champion hosts can create a creature with the help of our patron. It can be anything from your imagination.

"Anything we can imagine," I drawled. "And you went with a wolf with wings." He growled at me, but I couldn't take him seriously when he was in this pup form.

"Percy, you'd create a blue cookie monster," Nico retorted for my brother. Everyone laughed and I shrugged.

"I might. We will see." Michael flashed back into his attack form before shifting back into his human form.

"Your eyes are still like a wolf," Connor commented. "Or like a cat." Indeed, his eyes were reflective now, and his canines remained long and sharp. He grinned, showing off these teeth.

"I retain some of my creation's characteristics." He said. "As will you all, so go with something badass."

"Duly noted," Nico said. "Any other things we can look out for when it comes to these seraf wolves?"

"Don't let them bite you," Michael informed him. "Their bite isn't poisonous, but they have the bite force of a piranha and lion combined."

"Went all out, didn't you?" Travis teased. "I bet that my creation will beat yours." Michael shrugged.

"I wouldn't provoke me," he advised. "I can rip out your throat like this with either my teeth or hands." He raised his hand and I saw claws that were jutting out from above his fingernails. Travis paled

Bianca was checking out the rest Michael's body, looking for any other changes. When she found none, she'd smiled wickedly and I paled. She opened her mouth but Katie cut her off.

"Imagine all the kinky scenarios you can get into with those teeth and claws," the daughter of Demeter said. My jaw dropped and I noticed that Travis, Lee, Connor, and Silena did the same. Luca and Lilly blushed red and Lilly's ears were covered by Summer. Bianca smirked at Katie.

"Believe me when I say that we've done some pretty kinky things already," Bianca told her. She turned back to Michael. "I remember when you were a girl we had—"

"Hang on there, B," Michael interrupted. "I don't think they want to know anything about our sex life."

"Lee," Nico breathed, looking like his brain was trying to explode.

"Yeah?"

"Where's the Clorox?"

"What is going on?" Lilly asked and I finally remembered that she had no idea about any of the hosts business.

"Lilly," I started. "We were chosen by the primordial gods to represent them and be their hosts. We can access their powers whenever we need to. When Michael, Bianca, and Ethan went down to Tartarus before the labyrinth, they found this out. The rest of us except for Beckendorf are hosts to one primordial god, though both Travis and Connor are host to Chronos, the primordial of time. Not the guy we are facing in this war. We share their powers, and if what Ouranos told me is true, eventually their thoughts."

"Eros didn't tell me that," Silena pouted.

"Would you have agreed if he told you?" Summer asked. Silena shrugged.

"Probably. It's not everyday a primordial wants to be your patron."

"True."

"Does this make sense Lilly?" Michael asked. She nodded hesitantly. "You can't tell anyone okay? It's like the deal with your mother. If the gods found out we were hosting the primordials, they would try and kill us."

"Would they succeed?" She asked quietly.

"Most likely not," Michael said. "The primordials are more powerful than they are. But they would tire both us and themselves out and we have a war to fight. We can't let ourselves be distracted by this. Do you understand?" Lilly nodded. "Great." He faced the rest of us. "When you are ready, approach your patron and ask them about making a creature. They will probably say yes, and make sure they don't die easily. We can use them in wars."

"They are living creatures, Michael," Brooklyn said crossly.

"I know. Believe me, I know. But they will be used to protect us. That's what the serafs are being trained for. To protect the demigods. And any future demigods." He tucked Bianca into his arms, a hand resting on her abdomen.

"She's not pregnant, is she?" Katie asked after a few moments of silence.

"Not as far as we know," Bianca answered. "But it's only a matter of time."

"At any rate, the serafs answer to my call," Michael went on. "I don't know if I will have them fight in the upcoming battle, but I know the older ones will be protecting camp while we are away at battle."

"It sounds like you've thought this through," Ethan commented. Michael shrugged.

"Tartarus and I have talked about it a lot." He lowered his head until it was resting on Bianca's shoulder. Be closed his eyes. "We need to be prepared. For anything."

"And we will be," I said. "In time. Alex turns sixteen at the end of August. That's gives us almost seven months to plan and train. For now, we train with our new powers."

"Sounds like a plan," Connor agreed. He faced Michael and Bianca. "Just so we're clear, you two are trying for another baby, right?"

"Yes," they said in unison.

"And if Bianca gets pregnant before the battle in Manhattan?"

"Then she won't fight," Michael said.

"Like hell I won't," Bianca hissed. "Even if I'm carrying, I will fight with you."

"It's too dangerous, Bianca," Lee told her.

"If she wants to fight, let her fight," Zoe said wisely.

"I agree with Zoe," I said. Multiple people rolled their eyes.

"Of course you do," Travis muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean, Travis?" I growled. Travis and Michael shared a look and came to a silent agreement.

"You're protective of Zoe," Travis explained. "And you think she's always right."

"I am always right," Zoe said matter of factly.

"Not the point I'm trying to make. I think Katie is always right. Beckendorf, who do you think is always right?"

"Silena," he answered immediately.

"Exactly. Michael, who is always right to you?"

"Bianca," he said.

"Nico, does Will always think you are right?"

He shrugged. "For the most part, yeah."

"Are you catching onto the pattern here?" Travis asked me seriously.

"Unfortunately, I am," Zoe said. "You'd better not be suggesting what I think you are suggesting."

"What is he suggesting?" I asked, confused. They ignored me.

"He is suggesting exactly that," Silena said. "Is it the same for you?"

"Put it this way," Katie said as Zoe turned red. "Do you think he's smart?"

"In his own, stupid way, I guess," Zoe stammered. Katie, Silena, and Bianca shared a knowing look. I had a bad feeling that Zoe had just damned us both with whatever they were meaning.

Silena opened her mouth to say something, but froze. "Someone just got their heartbroken." She said. "Eros sensed it just now. Someone in this camp." I guess Eros was using the mental bond that Silena had no idea about a minute before. She seems fine with it.

"Can he tell you who?" Ethan asked. Silena mentally asked the primordial and paled after a moment.

"Michael, Percy," she said nervously. "I think you two already know."