DREW

I'm Drew Tanaka, daughter of Aphrodite, reigning queen of Cabin Ten at Camp Half-Blood, and quite possibly the most fabulous demigod you've ever met. So why was I stuck on a quest with these three disasters?

There was Alice Miyazawa and Julia Feingold, twin terrors of the Hermes cabin who'd made it their life mission to ruin mine. They'd already stolen half my makeup bag and hidden my hairbrush somewhere in the Everglades. And Sam Greenwood, our resident satyr who was so timid he once fainted during capture the flag because someone yelled "Boo!" too loud.

The quest? To find and deal with a Chimera reportedly terrorizing Miami. Miami! My first time in the Magic City, and instead of sipping piña coladas by a pool or meeting gorgeous men, I was following Sam, who was sniffing the ground like a beagle on a leash.

"Remind me why we're chasing a monster Percy Jackson couldn't kill?" I asked, stepping over some sticky gum on the sidewalk. "This is a waste of time. We could be shopping. Or, better yet, shopping. You know, actual important stuff."

Alice glanced back at me, smirking. "You're right, Drew. Monsters? Totally unimportant. Let's hit the mall and leave Miami to burn. Maybe you'll find a guy who's immune to your charmspeak while we're at it."

Julia snickered. "Doubtful."

I glared at them. "I could leave you both here and nobody would notice. Sam and I can handle this."

Sam, to his credit, looked up from his sniffing. "Oh, uh, I don't think—"

"Don't worry, Sam," Alice said, patting his shoulder. "We'll make sure Drew doesn't scare off the Chimera by flirting with it."

"I don't flirt with monsters," I snapped. "Only humans. Well, and occasionally gods. But that's different."

Sam suddenly stopped and pointed at a dingy bar across the street. The neon sign buzzed, reading Mac's Deuce Bar.

"What a stupid name," I muttered. "Sounds like a place where dreams go to die."

"The scent's coming from inside," Sam said, his voice quivering. "It's strong. Like, uh, really strong."

I sighed. "Fine. Let's get this over with." I pushed open the door, the others trailing behind me.

Inside, the bar smelled like stale beer and broken dreams. A few people nursed drinks at the counter. Sam pointed to a man in a leather jacket hunched over a glass.

"That's him," Sam whispered. "He smells like Chimera."

I didn't bother waiting for a plan. If this guy was the Chimera in disguise, I'd handle it my way. I walked up, tapped his shoulder, and prepared to dazzle him.

The man turned around, and for a moment, I forgot how to talk.

He was gorgeous. Dark skin, stormy green eyes that swirled like hurricanes, and a smirk that screamed trouble. He looked like he was in his mid-20s, definitely too old for me, but hey, a girl can appreciate the scenery.

"Hey," I said, batting my eyelashes. "Mind if I join you?"

He took a long sip of his beer, looked me up and down, then turned back to the bar. "Two shots of tequila," he told the bartender.

I stared at him, stunned. Did he just ignore me?

"Excuse me," I said, louder. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

The guy chuckled without looking at me. "Kid, you're about five years too young for me. Definitely nothing but trouble."

Behind me, Alice and Julia burst out laughing.

"Wow, Drew," Alice said. "Did he just shut you down?"

"No," I snapped. "He's playing hard to get."

The man downed both shots in quick succession, which made me gag. Who drinks like that? Then he leaned in, so close I could feel his breath on my ear.

"Stop trying to charmspeak me," he murmured. His voice was low and rough, like gravel mixed with honey. "Go outside. I'll meet you after I pay my tab."

I shivered, equal parts annoyed and intrigued. "This isn't over," I said, flipping my hair. I marched out of the bar, motioning for the others to follow.

As we walked out, I heard the bartender chuckle. "What a spitfire," he said. "You might need another shot to deal with that."

The guy laughed, and for some reason, my cheeks burned.

"What's your plan, Drew?" Alice asked as we waited on the sidewalk. "More batting your eyelashes? Maybe a hair flip or two?"

"Oh, shut up," I said. "You'll thank me when he tells us what we need to know."

But as we waited for the mystery man to come outside, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd just met someone more dangerous than the Chimera.

DREW

The man strolled out of the bar like he had all the time in the world. The neon from Mac's Deuce Bar cast an ominous green glow on his leather jacket, and his hurricane eyes locked onto us with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

"Why is it always Olympian kids?" he grumbled, raking a hand through his messy dark hair. "Can't you all just… not?"

"Excuse me?" I snapped, crossing my arms. "Who do you think you're talking to?"

Alice and Julia snickered behind me. Sam tried to blend into the shadows like a terrified chameleon.

The man ignored my outrage and jerked his head toward the street. "Come on. I know a better place to talk."

The neon glow ofMac's Deuce Barfaded behind us as we followed Ethan down a dimly lit street. The air was thick with the scent of salt and something else—something metallic, like the tang of blood. I wrinkled my nose and glanced at Sam, who was nervously sniffing the air.

"Uh, guys?" Sam whispered, his voice trembling. "I think we're being followed."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course we are. Because this night wasn't already weird enough."

Ethan didn't even bother to look back. "Relax, satyr. It's just a stray hellhound. Probably smells your fear."

Sam let out a squeak and clutched his reed pipes like a security blanket. Alice and Julia, on the other hand, seemed way too excited.

"A hellhound?" Alice said, her eyes lighting up. "Do you think it's friendly?"

"Friendly?" Julia echoed. "Can we keep it?"

I groaned. "You two are impossible. Hellhounds are not pets. They're murderous, fire-breathing—"

"Overgrown puppies," Ethan interrupted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But if you want to pet it, be my guest. Just don't come crying to me when it bites your hand off."

I shot him a glare. "You're not helping."

He shrugged. "Wasn't trying to."

Before I could retort, a low growl echoed from the shadows. My hand instinctively went to the dagger at my side, but Ethan didn't even flinch. He just kept walking, his posture relaxed, as if he didn't have a care in the world.

The growl grew louder, and a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness. The hellhound stepped into the dim light of a flickering streetlamp, its massive form casting a long shadow. Drool dripped from its razor-sharp teeth, and its fiery breath made the air shimmer.

Sam let out a whimper. "Uh, Ethan? A little help here?"

Ethan finally stopped and turned to face the hellhound. For a moment, he just stared at it, his expression unreadable. Then he sighed and pulled something from his jacket—a small, silver whistle.

"Stay back," he said, his voice calm but firm.

The hellhound lunged, but Ethan blew the whistle, producing a sound so high-pitched it made my ears ring. The hellhound skidded to a halt, its ears flattening against its head. It let out a pained whine and backed away, disappearing into the shadows.

Alice and Julia stared at Ethan with wide eyes. "What was that?" Julia asked.

"Dog whistle," Ethan said, tucking it back into his jacket. "Works on hellhounds too. Now, can we keep moving? Or do you want to wait for its friends to show up?"

I crossed my arms, trying to hide how impressed I was. "You just happened to have a hellhound whistle on you?"

Ethan smirked. "I'm a bounty hunter, princess. I come prepared."

As we continued walking, I couldn't help but glance at him out of the corner of my eye. There was something about the way he handled himself—calm, confident, almost too calm. It made me wonder what else he was hiding.

"Where'd you get that whistle, anyway?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

Ethan's smirk faded, and for a moment, he looked almost... sad. "Let's just say I've had my share of run-ins with monsters. Some of them leave scars. Others leave souvenirs."

His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. I wanted to press him further, but something in his expression stopped me. For the first time, I saw a crack in his armor, a glimpse of the person behind the bounty hunter facade.

Before I could say anything, Alice piped up. "So, Ethan, do you have a cool car? Please tell me you have a cool car."

Ethan chuckled, his usual smirk returning. "Who said anything about a car?"

As we continued walking, I found myself drifting closer to him—not because I wanted to (okay, maybe I did) but because someone needed to figure this guy out. And clearly, that someone was me.

"So," I began, casually tossing my hair over my shoulder, "who exactly do you think you are, talking to me like that?"

"Someone smarter than you," he said without looking at me.

I bristled. "You didn't answer the question."

"You'll live."

"Ugh, you're impossible." I huffed, but that didn't stop me. "How old are you, anyway? You look like you're pushing thirty."

He smirked, which only made him more infuriatingly attractive. "I'm twenty-five. Not that it's any of your business."

"And how do you know we're demigods? You just looked at us and guessed?"

"The less you know about me, the better."

That response didn't sit well with me. My life was about being in control—of people, situations, everything. This guy? He was throwing my whole playbook out the window. To make things worse, my brain kept replaying his voice from earlier when he leaned in at the bar. I was starting to wonder if I had a thing for older, dangerous men.

No, Drew. Focus. You're the prize. Not him.

Before I could grill him further, Alice and Julia decided to jump in, bombarding him with rapid-fire questions about the Chimera and Miami.

"Is it true Chimera breath smells like gasoline?"

"Have you ever seen it up close?"

"Why would it come here? Do monsters like margaritas or something?"

To my delight, the man just stared at them in silence, his expression blank.

"Oh my gods," Julia muttered, throwing her hands up. "Is this guy serious?"

Alice groaned. "Say something, dude!"

"I like him," I said smugly. "Finally, someone who knows how to make you two shut up."

Alice glared at me. "Don't get used to it, Princess."

We eventually reached the beach, where the moonlight sparkled on the waves, and the air smelled like salt and sunscreen. As we approached the shoreline, the water started churning, almost violently.

The man stopped and pointed to a patch of sand. "Sit."

Alice and Julia plopped down immediately. Sam hesitated but followed suit. I, however, stood there glaring at him.

"I'm not sitting in the sand," I said. "These are designer pants."

He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching in amusement. "The sand too dirty for the princess?"

My face flushed. Why does him calling me princess make me feel weird?

"Just get on with it," I snapped, flipping my hair over my shoulder.

The moonlight bathed the beach in a silvery glow, and the waves crashed against the shore in a rhythmic lullaby. Ethan leaned back on his hands, his flask dangling loosely from his fingers. The others sat in a semicircle around him, their faces a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Even Drew, who had been glaring at him moments ago, couldn't hide her interest

He chuckled, pulled out a flask, and took a long swig. Then he said, "Name's Ethan. Son of Kymopoleia. I'm a bounty hunter."

Alice and Julia gasped. Sam blinked in disbelief. I just stared at his lips, wondering if he was a good kisser. Drew, focus.

Ethan continued, oblivious to my wandering thoughts. "I take jobs—protection, assassinations, finding lost items, whatever pays. I could tell you were Olympians the second you walked into the bar. You've got that… look."

Sam, still recovering, asked, "Are you, uh, connected to Camp Half-Blood at all?"

That got a real laugh out of him. "Camp Half-Blood? That overgrown children's camp? Hell no. But a few years ago, I got a contract from the Titans to find a weak spot in its defenses."

The words hit me like a slap in the face. Without thinking, I stormed over and actually slapped him.

"What is wrong with you?" I yelled. "You went against your own kind?"

Ethan rubbed his jaw, grinning like I'd just told him a joke. "I like a woman with some fire." He leaned back on his hands. "I told you, it wasn't personal. I take all kinds of jobs. And kids of minor gods like me? We weren't exactly welcome at camp."

I blushed again at the compliment, but I quickly pushed it down. No, Drew. You are not letting this guy flip the game on you.

Sam squeaked. "So did you kill the Chimera? Alone?"

"Yep," Ethan said casually. "Hired earlier today by a client. They wanted it gone, so I got rid of it."

Alice and Julia started gushing. "That's so cool!" "You're like a hero, but cooler!"

Ethan just shrugged and took another swig from his flask.

"So," Alice began, "you're a bounty hunter. How does that even work? Do you, like, have a monster-hunting license or something?"

Ethan chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down Drew's spine. "No license. Just skills, connections, and a knack for survival."

Julia leaned forward, her eyes wide. "But why? I mean, you're a demigod. Shouldn't you be, I don't know, fighting for the gods or something?"

Ethan's expression darkened, and for a moment, Drew thought he might shut down completely. But then he sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "It's not that simple. Not all of us get the hero treatment. Some of us are just... leftovers."

"Leftovers?" Sam squeaked, his voice barely audible over the sound of the waves.

"Yeah," Ethan said, his tone bitter. "Kids of minor gods don't exactly get invited to the cool kids' table. At Camp Half-Blood, it's all about the big names—Zeus, Poseidon, Athena. But Kymopoleia? She's a footnote. A minor sea goddess who doesn't even have a cabin. So, when I showed up at camp, they didn't know what to do with me. I was an outsider from day one."

Drew frowned, her earlier annoyance fading as she listened. She'd always taken her place in Cabin Ten for granted, but now she wondered what it would be like to feel invisible in your own home.

"So, what happened?" she asked, her voice softer than she intended.

Ethan took a swig from his flask before answering. "I left. Couldn't stand the pitying looks or the way they treated me like I didn't belong. I figured if the gods didn't care about me, I didn't owe them anything. So, I started taking jobs—protection, assassinations, whatever paid. Turns out, being a demigod has its perks in the mortal world."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Assassinations? Like, you kill people?"

"Monsters, mostly," Ethan said, his tone casual. "But yeah, sometimes people. When the money's right."

Julia gasped, and Sam looked like he might faint. Drew, however, was intrigued. There was something raw and honest about Ethan's story, something that made her want to know more.

"And the Titans?" she asked, her voice steady. "You said you worked for them. How does that fit into your whole 'I don't owe the gods anything' thing?"

Ethan's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Drew thought he might not answer. But then he looked at her, his stormy green eyes locking onto hers. "The Titans offered me something the gods never did: a chance to prove myself. They didn't care who my mom was or how powerful I wasn't. They just wanted results. So, I gave them results."

"And now?" Drew pressed, her heart pounding. "Do you still work for them?"

Ethan shook his head. "That ship sailed a long time ago. The Titans lost, and I moved on. But I learned one thing from that war: loyalty is overrated. The only person you can count on is yourself."

The group fell silent, the weight of Ethan's words settling over them like a heavy blanket. Even Alice and Julia, who were usually quick with a sarcastic comment, seemed at a loss for words.

Finally, Sam spoke up, his voice trembling. "But... don't you ever miss it? Camp, I mean. Being around people who understand what you are?"

Ethan's expression softened, just for a moment. "Sometimes. But it's not my world anymore. I've made my peace with that."

Drew studied him, her mind racing. There was more to Ethan than he was letting on—she could feel it. And despite herself, she wanted to know what it was.

"Well," she said, breaking the silence, "you're here now. And whether you like it or not, you're stuck with us. So, you might as well make the best of it."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Is that your way of saying you're not going to leave me alone?"

"Pretty much," Drew said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Get used to it."

Ethan chuckled, and for the first time, it sounded genuine. "You're a piece of work, Tanaka."

"And you're not as mysterious as you think you are," Drew shot back, though there was no bite in her tone.

Ethan muttered, "I'm going to regret this." Then he said louder, "Since you wasted your time coming all the way here, the least I can do is escort you back up north."

"To camp?" Sam asked hopefully.

"Yep."

"Appreciate it!" Sam said quickly, before I could protest.

I glared at him. "We don't need his—"

"Oh, come on, Drew!" Julia said. "Don't you want to know what kind of car he has?"

Ethan smirked. "Who said anything about a car?"

And just like that, I knew this would be the most exciting—and infuriating—game I'd ever played. But one thing was for sure: I always win. Well, except when Piper cheats.