DREW
As Drew stepped into the closet again, she could feel Ethan's eyes on her. She had his attention, and that's exactly what she wanted. She had worked hard for it. With each outfit she tried on, each look she gave him, she could feel him struggling, trying to maintain his composure. It was fun for her. But she wasn't quite done yet. No, she had one final outfit that would push his buttons even more.
This one was a deep red, tight-fitting mini dress, so revealing it barely covered the top of her thighs. The neckline plunged lower than any of the others, the material clinging to her like a second skin. She couldn't help the satisfied smile on her lips as she stepped back out, hips swaying in the fabric.
Ethan's face immediately flushed, and his eyes shot wide, his body tensing as he looked anywhere but at her.
"Drew, please," he muttered, his voice strained. "I—I can't. I'm too old for you. You're—this is wrong."
Drew's lips quirked into a teasing grin. She could see the conflict swirling inside him, and she loved it. His attraction to her, the way he tried to hold back—it was almost too easy. She didn't let him off the hook that easily though. No, she was going to push him, because that was how she got what she wanted.
"Oh please," she said, rolling her eyes with a laugh. "You seriously think that matters? What's age got to do with anything, huh? You and I both know what we want."
She took a few steps closer to him, watching as he tried to resist her pull. "I'm not a little girl, Ethan," she added, her voice low and seductive. "You can't keep treating me like one."
Ethan's hands clenched at his sides, his jaw tight. "I'm not treating you like anything," he gritted through his teeth. "You just don't get it."
Drew could tell he was spiraling, so she made her move. She stepped right up to him, close enough for him to feel the heat radiating from her. Her voice softened into something huskier, more inviting. "Well, it's our lucky day, because today's my birthday," she purred, watching his face contort in confusion. "So now, I'm 18."
His eyes widened at her words, and for the briefest second, she saw the conflict disappear entirely from his face. She saw the hesitation, the instant denial, and it enthralled her. Drew couldn't stop herself from enjoying this. She loved the power she had over him, the way he was trying—unsuccessfully—to fight what was happening between them.
She took another step closer, and before he could protest, she slid into his lap, straddling him with ease. She watched his eyes go wide, his breath hitching, and she smiled, enjoying the visible struggle he was going through.
Her lips were dangerously close to his. "Are you going to say something again, Ethan?" she whispered, her voice dangerously close to a challenge.
He swallowed hard. "This isn't... right."
Drew smiled, leaning in so that their lips were a mere inch apart. "Less talking, more kissing," she murmured against his lips before closing the gap.
The kiss was electric. Ethan hesitated for a moment before his lips finally responded, and Drew felt a spark shoot through her. The way his hands gripped her waist, the way his body reacted to hers—it was everything. She'd kissed so many guys before, but nothing had ever felt like this. There was a tingling sensation in her chest, a fluttering feeling she couldn't shake. This was... different. She liked it. She wanted more of it.
Drew pulled back for a second, looking at him with a playful glint in her eyes. "See? Not so bad, huh?" she teased, her fingers brushing against his cheek.
But before he could reply, she kissed him again, more urgently this time. She felt him respond, the heat between them building in a way that felt almost too intense. It wasn't enough though. She wasn't done.
And just as she leaned in once more, eager to drown out everything but the connection between them, the door to the cabin swung open, and in stepped Piper. Drew pulled away just in time to see Piper's eyes go wide, her mouth opening in shock.
"What the hell?!" Piper gasped, her voice scandalized. "Who is that, what are you doing?"
Drew didn't even flinch. She shot Piper a wink, a playful smirk on her lips. "Oh, nothing much, just making sure he finally realize that I always get what I want." Drew immediately throws her arms Ethan's neck and nips at his left ear, as he does nothing but grunt with desire.
Piper's face turned bright red, and without a word, she backed out of the cabin, the door slamming shut behind her.
Drew couldn't help the laughter bubbling up inside her. She leaned back against Ethan, her chest shaking with the laughter she couldn't hold in. "That was priceless," she said, barely able to catch her breath. "I love seeing her reactions. I wonder how long it'll take for the whole camp to gossip about that."
Her amusement at the situation only made her feel more powerful, more in control. And as she gazed at Ethan, she could see the war raging inside him. She'd won, for now. And that was enough to make her heart race all over again.
ETHAN
Ethan dragged a hand down his face, feeling the sticky remnants of Drew's lipstick smear across his fingers. He cursed under his breath. Get a grip, Ethan, he thought, the voice in his head as sharp and disapproving as the one he'd used on himself his whole life. He'd faced monsters, gods, and battles that left scars deep in his soul, but somehow Drew Tanaka was the one thing that undid him.
And the worst part? He didn't want it to stop.
As Drew led him out of the Aphrodite cabin, practically skipping with glee, Ethan couldn't help but admire the way she moved. Confident, vibrant, unapologetically her. She was unlike anyone he'd ever met, and every time she turned that playful smile on him, he felt alive in a way he'd never experienced—not even at the bottom of a bottle on the darkest nights.
The realization scared him, but it also thrilled him.
Drew's hand tugged him along until they reached the docks overlooking the lake. The water glistened under the moonlight, its surface calm and inviting. Ethan felt a faint tug in his chest, the sea nymph blood in his veins stirring at the sight. He didn't have to wait long to see why. The lake nymphs began to appear, their shimmering forms rising from the water, waving excitedly toward him. Their laughter rang out, clear and musical, and they motioned for him to join them in the lake.
Ethan's lips twitched into a small smile despite himself, but the peaceful moment was shattered when Drew planted her hands on her hips, glaring daggers at the nymphs.
"Oh, no you don't!" she snapped, her voice echoing across the dock. "Back off, water twigs. He's not interested, and even if he was, you're all hideous compared to me!"
The nymphs froze, exchanging looks of confusion before they vanished back into the water with a few indignant splashes.
Ethan raised a brow, biting back a laugh. "Was that really necessary?"
"Absolutely," Drew said with a huff, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I don't share."
Before he could respond, she plopped down onto the dock and tugged him down beside her. Ethan complied with a sigh, settling himself next to her as the wooden planks creaked under his weight. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the soft lapping of the water against the dock.
Eventually, Drew shifted, leaning back until her head rested in his lap. She gazed up at him, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "So," she said, her lips curling into an expectant smirk, "are you still in denial about how much you like me?"
Ethan couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. She always managed to catch him off guard. Instead of answering, he reached out and began to run his fingers through her hair, his rough hand tangling gently in the silky strands. Drew's eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned into his touch with a satisfied sigh.
"Thought so," she murmured, her voice softer now, almost content.
They stayed like that for a while, the tension in Ethan's body gradually draining away. For once, he didn't feel the weight of the past or the constant anger simmering beneath the surface. There was only Drew, her warmth pressed against him, and the quiet rhythm of the lake.
After a long pause, Drew broke the silence, chirping happily, "A princess could really get used to this."
Ethan chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "You're a pain in my ass."
She didn't respond, and when he glanced down, he realized she had fallen asleep. Her features were relaxed, free of the usual slyness and vanity that seemed to define her. In sleep, she looked… angelic.
Carefully, Ethan shifted her around until he was lying flat on the dock, Drew curled up in his arms. The wooden planks dug into his back, but he barely noticed. All he could focus on was the way she nestled against him, her breath soft and steady, her presence anchoring him in a way he didn't understand.
The kiss replayed in his mind, the way Drew's lips had felt against his, the way his body had responded to her touch. It had been electric, overwhelming, and for a moment, he had forgotten everything—his past, his anger, his fear. But now, as he held her in his arms, the reality of what had happened began to sink in.
He had spent so long pushing people away, building walls around his heart to keep himself safe. But Drew had shattered those walls with nothing more than a smile and a kiss. And the worst part? He didn't want to rebuild them.
Ethan sighed, running a hand through Drew's hair as she slept. She was everything he had tried to avoid—bold, confident, unapologetically herself. And yet, she was also everything he needed. She made him feel alive in a way he hadn't in years.
But the thought of letting her in, of opening himself up to the possibility of love, terrified him. He had been hurt before, and the scars ran deep. Could he really risk it?
The thought scared him. But as Drew sighed contentedly in her sleep, he decided it was a fear he could learn to live with.
Yet, the first time in what felt like forever, Ethan felt a sense of peace. Of course it didn't last long.
A faint ripple in the water caught his attention. At first, he thought it was just the lake nymphs returning, but the ripple grew stronger, more deliberate. The surface of the water began to churn, and Ethan's instincts kicked in. He sat up carefully, trying not to wake Drew, his eyes fixed on the water.
The ripple turned into a small whirlpool, and from its center rose a glowing orb of water. It hovered for a moment before taking the shape of a face—a face Ethan recognized all too well. It was his mother, Kymopoleia, her stormy gray eyes piercing through the darkness. But something was different this time. Her expression was colder, more menacing, and the air around her seemed to crackle with an unnatural energy.
"Ethan," her voice echoed, low and venomous, like the rumble of distant thunder. "You cannot hide from what you are."
Ethan's jaw tightened, his body tensing. "What do you want?" he growled, his voice low so as not to wake Drew.
Kymopoleia's lips curled into a cruel smile, her eyes glowing with an eerie light. "The Titans are rising again, and they will help me get my birthright, the seas. You think you can run from your destiny, but I will always claim what is mine."
Ethan's heart pounded, his fists clenching at his sides. "I'm not your pawn," he snapped, his voice sharp. "I've made my choice."
Kymopoleia's laughter was cold and hollow, sending a shiver down Ethan's spine. "Your choice? You think you have a choice? Chaos and destruction is in your blood, Ethan. You cannot deny it. And when the time comes, you will serve the me—or you will be crushed beneath the waves."
The orb of water began to dissolve, Kymopoleia's face fading into the night. But her final words lingered, echoing in Ethan's mind like a curse.
"Prepare yourself, Ethan. The storm is coming. And when it arrives, you better hope you are by my side."
The water stilled, the whirlpool disappearing as if it had never been there. But the air felt heavier now, charged with an ominous energy. Ethan stared at the spot where his mother's face had been, his chest tight with a mix of anger and dread. He had spent so long running from his past, from his mother's influence, but now it seemed there was no escape.
Drew stirred in his arms, her eyes fluttering open. "Ethan?" she murmured, her voice sleepy. "What's wrong?"
Ethan looked down at her, his expression unreadable. "Nothing," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Go back to sleep."
But as Drew nestled back into his arms, Ethan's mind raced. The Titans were rising, and his mother was at the center of it all. He had thought he could leave his past behind, but now it was clear—he couldn't run forever. The storm was coming, and it would destroy everything in its path.
And when it did, he wasn't sure if he could protect Drew from what was coming.