Percy's dreams had never been peaceful, but this one was different. Darker. More unsettling.

He stood in a vast, empty void, the air thick with tension. Two voices echoed through the

darkness. One was familiar—Roman, rude, and whiny. The other was deep, smooth, and

chilling, the kind of voice that made Percy's skin crawl.

"This is ridiculous!" the familiar voice snapped. "I should be leading, not her! She's ruining

everything."

"Patience," the deeper voice soothed. "Her leadership will not last forever. Your time will come."

"It should've come already!" the familiar voice grumbled. "New Rome is weak. The Greeks have

infected it. I should be leading the troops, not playing politics."

The deep voice let out a low chuckle. "All in due time. Trust me. When the time is right, you will

get what you deserve."

Before Percy could make sense of what he was hearing, the dream shifted. The voices faded,

and a sharp knocking pulled him back into reality.

"Percy! Wake up! The Senate meeting is in an hour."

His eyes flew open, and he groaned. Reyna stood over his bed, arms crossed, looking as

put-together as ever.

"You slept through your alarm. Again."

Percy rubbed his face. "Did I mention I hate mornings?"

"Multiple times," Reyna deadpanned. "Now get dressed."

The Senate chamber was grand and intimidating. Marble columns stretched high above, and

the seats were filled with important-looking senators, each ready to judge his every move.

Percy took a deep breath as he stepped forward. This was his first real moment as praetor.

Time to make it count.

"So, Praetor Jackson," one of the senators started, folding his hands in front of him. "You

requested this session to propose a change?"

Percy nodded. "Yeah. I think New Rome should start showing respect to all the gods, not just

the Olympians we've always focused on. We talk a big game about honoring our traditions, but

we barely acknowledge some of the gods. That has to change."

Murmurs spread through the chamber. Some senators glanced at each other, obviously unsure.

"And that includes Neptune?" one senator asked, skeptical.

"Especially Neptune," Percy said. "He's a major god, but for some reason, we've pushed him

aside. That's not right. If we want New Rome to be strong, we need to respect all the gods, not

just the ones we like."

Another senator stood up. "But Neptune is... unpredictable. That's why we've kept our distance.

His power is too chaotic for New Rome's traditions."

Percy shrugged. "No offense, but gods being unpredictable hasn't stopped you from

worshipping Jupiter or Mars."

That earned a few chuckles from the younger senators. Even Reyna smirked. The older

senators exchanged uneasy glances, but the younger generation seemed more open to the

idea.

"But how will you ensure the worship of Neptune won't disrupt our current way of life?" another

senator asked, leaning forward. "What if his followers try to influence our city too much?"

Percy looked around at the assembly. "I'm not suggesting we change everything overnight. I'm

saying we recognize Neptune as a god who deserves respect. We don't have to abandon

Roman tradition—we can just expand our view. Acknowledge the gods for who they are, not

what we fear."

The discussion grew heated as different senators took turns voicing their concerns. Percy

stayed calm, but then, a harsh voice cut through the room.

"You speak as if this is just about the gods," a senator snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"But we all know your real agenda, Jackson. You're just trying to maintain your father's legacy.

You're a son of Poseidon, and that's all you care about. You're here to make sure your dad's

influence stretches all the way to New Rome, aren't you?"

The room fell silent. Percy's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't used to this kind of direct attack.

For a moment, he stood frozen, his thoughts racing. Was this what they really thought? That he

was just trying to build his dad's empire in New Rome?

Reyna stiffened beside him, but Percy raised a hand, signaling her to wait. His eyes locked on

the senator.

"No," Percy said, his voice steady and clear. "You're wrong."

The senator looked surprised. "Oh? Then enlighten us."

"I'm not here to build my dad's legacy," Percy said, his voice growing stronger. "I'm here

because I believe in New Rome. I believe in our future, not just the legacy of any one god. My

father's legacy? That's not mine to carry. The only legacy I'm interested in is the one we create

together, as a united camp—Roman and Greek. I don't want power for the sake of power. I want

respect. I want balance. And if that means challenging tradition to ensure New Rome can thrive,

then I'll do it."

There was a heavy silence in the room. The senator looked like he'd been punched in the gut,

the anger draining from his face. The tension that had been building seemed to dissipate, and

several senators exchanged surprised glances.

The head of the council cleared his throat, signaling the end of the confrontation. "Thank you,

Praetor Jackson. Your words have been noted."

The senator who'd challenged Percy scowled but said nothing else. Percy could see a few of

the younger senators nodding at him in approval.

After the meeting, Reyna practically dragged him out of the Senate chamber.

"You did it!" she said, her normally composed demeanor breaking into something close to

excitement.

"Yeah, I guess I did," Percy said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Come on," Reyna said, her eyes gleaming. "We're celebrating. Lunch is on me."

She led him to a quiet spot near the city center, where Frank and Hazel were already waiting.

The little café they'd chosen had a great view of the city, and the food smelled amazing. They all

sat down, and Reyna immediately leaned in, a proud grin on her face.

"You were amazing in there, Percy. Seriously. I thought they were going to chew you up and spit

you out, but you held your ground."

Percy laughed awkwardly. "It wasn't that bad, right?"

"Not at all," Frank said, his eyes sparkling. "You looked like you had a plan for once. That was

impressive."

"Respecting my dad shouldn't be that big of a deal," Percy said, rolling his eyes.

"You'd be surprised," Hazel teased, picking at her salad. "I mean, Minerva doesn't exactly get a

warm welcome here, so Neptune is even more of a hot topic. You've got guts."

Percy just shrugged, trying not to look too pleased with himself.

"Hey," Frank said, narrowing his eyes, "have you noticed something?"

"What's that?" Percy asked, looking between them.

Reyna's eyes widened in horror as she suddenly understood what was happening. "Oh, no.

Don't even start—"

"Reyna," Frank said, clearly enjoying himself, "looks like she's got a soft spot for our new

praetor. Maybe even more than a soft spot."

Reyna shot him a warning glare, but it didn't faze Frank. "Come on, we can all see it. You were

practically glowing after the vote."

"I was not!" Reyna sputtered.

"Oh, you were," Hazel chimed in, grinning. "And you should've seen Percy when Reyna called

him 'praetor' for the first time. He had this dumb smile—"

"I did not!" Percy protested, but the blush creeping up his neck betrayed him.

Reyna gave him a knowing look but couldn't hide her amusement. "You guys are insufferable."

"I'm just saying," Frank continued, "you two are totally oblivious."

Reyna tried to maintain her composure, but it was clear that she was struggling to hide the soft

smile tugging at her lips. "I am not—"

"Sure, sure," Hazel said, her voice teasing. "Keep telling yourself that."

Percy shook his head, trying his best to stay serious. "Okay, enough. We've got more important

things to talk about than my nonexistent 'soft spot.'"

But despite his words, he couldn't help smiling. Maybe, just maybe, he was starting to feel at

home in New Rome.

Reyna's POV

Reyna didn't know why she had offered to walk Percy back to her villa. It wasn't necessary. He

knew his way around by now, and Frank and Hazel could have just as easily taken him. But the

moment he stretched, looking satisfied after their lunch, she found herself saying, "I'll walk with

you."

So here they were, strolling through New Rome as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The streets

were lively, filled with chatter and the scent of fresh bread wafting from the bakeries. The warm

glow of late afternoon made everything feel… peaceful.

"You know," Percy said, breaking the comfortable silence, "I still can't believe the Senate didn't

throw me out today."

Reyna smirked. "You almost got thrown out. That was one of the most aggressive debates I've

seen from them in a while."

"Yeah, yeah." Percy waved a hand dismissively. "But we won them over. Neptune's finally

getting some recognition. That's a win, right?"

"It's definitely a step in the right direction," Reyna admitted. "A big one."

Percy nudged her playfully. "That almost sounded like a compliment."

"Don't let it go to your head, Jackson," she said, but there was no real edge to her words.

As they reached her villa, Percy turned to face her. "So… Frank mentioned something about a

party?"

Reyna almost tripped over her own feet. She had been hoping to bring it up

naturally—casually—but of course, Percy would ask about it first.

"Oh. That," she said, folding her arms. "It's a traditional Roman celebration. When a new praetor

is officially confirmed, the city hosts a gathering to recognize their leadership."

"A party," Percy clarified.

"An official ceremony," she corrected.

Percy raised an eyebrow. "With food?"

"Yes."

"And music?"

"Yes."

"And people celebrating?"

Reyna exhaled. "Fine. It's a party."

Percy grinned. "And you're coming, right?"

"Of course I am," she said quickly. "It's my responsibility as praetor to oversee these kinds of

events."

Percy's grin widened. "You could just say you want to be there."

She looked away, hoping he wouldn't notice the warmth rising to her cheeks. "You should get

some rest before tonight, Jackson. It's going to be a long evening."

Percy chuckled but didn't push. "Got it. See you later, praetor."

She turned to head inside before he could see the flustered expression she was desperately

trying to hide.

Later - Reyna's Villa

"You want me to what?"

Hazel crossed her arms, smirking. "Admit it."

Reyna scowled. "This is ridiculous."

"You need help getting ready for tonight," Gwen said, lounging on Reyna's bed with a knowing

smile. "Hazel and I are happy to help. On one condition."

Reyna glared at both of them. "You're enjoying this too much."

Hazel twirled a strand of her curly hair. "Oh, absolutely."

Reyna huffed and turned to her mirror. She wasn't sure why she was even making a big deal out

of this. It was just a party. Just a formal event she had been to a dozen times before. But for

some reason, her hands were shaking as she tried to pin her hair up, and she was pretty sure it

had something to do with a certain son of Poseidon.

Hazel and Gwen exchanged glances before Hazel leaned in. "Come on, Reyna. Just say it."

Reyna clenched her jaw. She was a praetor of Rome. She had faced wars, monsters, and

political turmoil. Admitting something as simple as a crush shouldn't be this hard.

"Fine," she muttered. "I might—possibly—have some feelings for Percy."

Gwen sat up. "Not convincing enough."

Hazel grinned. "Try again."

Reyna inhaled sharply through her nose. "I like Percy," she said quickly, then looked away.

"There. Happy?"

Hazel and Gwen beamed.

"Ecstatic," Hazel said.

"Now, let's get you looking perfect for tonight," Gwen added, already sorting through Reyna's

wardrobe.

As they worked, Reyna stared at her reflection, heart pounding. Maybe tonight wouldn't just be

about celebrating a new praetor.

Maybe it would be the start of something else entirely.

As the night wound down, the energy in the forum shifted. The lively music softened, replaced

by something gentler—stringed instruments playing a slow, graceful melody. Couples started to

pair off, moving toward the center of the plaza as the festival's celebratory cheers melted into

something quieter, more intimate.

Reyna wasn't planning on joining in. She told herself she was content watching from the side,

sipping her drink as she ignored Hazel's knowing glances.

And then Percy Jackson held out his hand.

"Come on, praetor," he said, grinning. "One dance won't kill you."

Reyna hesitated. Her heart definitely did not stutter. "Percy, I don't—"

"Afraid I'll step on your feet?" he teased.

Reyna rolled her eyes. "You stepping on my feet is the least of my concerns, Jackson."

"Then prove it," he challenged.

Reyna sighed, but she didn't fight when he took her hand.

As they moved to the center of the plaza, everything else faded. The crowd, the festival, even

the murmurs of people watching them—none of it mattered. It was just them, two praetors in the

quiet embrace of a slow dance.

Percy held her hand gently, his other resting carefully against her waist as they swayed in sync.

He was surprisingly good at this—not perfect, but enough that Reyna didn't have to guide him

much.

"You've done this before," she muttered.

"Maybe once or twice," Percy admitted. "Mostly at camp dances. Though those were a little

more… chaotic."

Reyna smirked. "I can imagine."

For a while, they just danced. The music swirled around them, the stars above twinkling over

the rooftops of New Rome. It felt peaceful. Warm.

Dangerous.

Because when Percy looked at her like that—when his sea-green eyes softened, and his grip

was steady, like he never wanted to let go—Reyna felt like she was treading dangerous waters.

And she wasn't sure she ever wanted to get out.

After the dance, the festival finally began to wind down. People left in pairs or groups, full from

the feast and content with the night's festivities.

Percy walked Reyna back to her villa.

They took their time, neither of them eager for the night to end just yet. The streets of New

Rome were quieter now, the distant sound of laughter and music still lingering in the air.

"So," Reyna said, glancing at him. "What was your toughest battle?"

Percy didn't answer right away. He looked up at the sky, hands in his pockets. "That's a hard

one," he admitted. "I mean, I've fought a lot of monsters. But if I had to pick…"

Reyna waited, intrigued.

"Probably Kronos," Percy said finally. "That fight in Manhattan—yeah, definitely him."

Reyna had heard about it, of course. The Titan of Time himself, wielding a scythe that could cut

through reality. A battle waged atop Mount Olympus, with Percy leading the last stand of the

demigods.

"Was it because he was that strong?" she asked.

"Not just that," Percy admitted. "It was because… I knew him. Or, at least, part of him. He was

using Luke Castellan's body, and Luke was—he wasn't all bad. It was complicated."

Reyna nodded, understanding. She knew what it was like to fight someone you respected,

someone who wasn't entirely lost but still had to be stopped.

"It wasn't just about winning," Percy continued. "It was about making sure we didn't lose

ourselves in the fight."

"It worked," Reyna pointed out. "You won."

Percy hesitated, then shook his head. "Not really," he said. "Luke did. He—" Percy exhaled, like

it was still difficult to put into words. "He got through, just enough to fight Kronos off. He

sacrificed himself to stop him. I was just… there."

Reyna studied him, her brow furrowing slightly. "That's a very you answer."

Percy blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She smirked. "Any other Roman would've taken the credit. You led the fight, you made the

decisions, and in the end, you stopped Kronos. And yet, you pass it off like you were just a

bystander."

Percy rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. "It's just the truth."

Reyna shook her head slightly, amused. She knew she should be frustrated by his

humility—maybe even lecture him on how leadership meant standing firm in your victories. But

instead, she just felt… awe.

Because he was right. Any other Roman would have taken the credit.

But Percy wasn't any other Roman at all.

They kept walking, talking about battles, victories, and even a few embarrassing moments from

their pasts.

By the time they reached Reyna's villa, she felt lighter. Happier.

Neither of them moved to say goodnight just yet.

For a second—just a second—Reyna thought maybe, maybe something would happen.

Percy was looking at her, not quite smiling, but not looking away either. He stepped a little

closer. Her heart pounded, and she wondered if he could hear it.

Then—

A sudden whoosh overhead made Percy flinch. A bird—a perfectly normal bird—flapped past,

its wings beating the air loudly.

Percy, startled, jumped back a step.

Reyna blinked. Then she snorted.

"Seriously?" she deadpanned.

Percy ran a hand through his hair, looking both embarrassed and exasperated. "I thought it was

a harpy or something!"

Reyna shook her head. "Sure you did, Jackson."

He sighed. "Guess that's my cue to head out."

Reyna smirked. "Probably for the best. Tomorrow's a big day."

Percy nodded, still looking like he was second-guessing something. But finally, he turned.

"Goodnight, Reyna," he said, voice softer now.

"Goodnight, Percy."

And with that, he walked off toward his own villa, leaving Reyna standing there, staring after

him, wondering just how long she could keep pretending she wasn't falling for him.