It's Annabeth again, but she's with Thalia!

Percy opens the door and beams at Annabeth with a smile and an upbeat “hello!”

Annabeth does the same, more or less anyway, and steps inside as she shares a toothy grin. Behind her, however, someone tails her. It shouldn’t have surprised Percy, but seeing Thalia act as Annabeth’s shadow made him jump.

If Annabeth hadn’t smiled at Percy, he would have guessed this would be a serious conversation, but the only visitor here who wasn’t smiling was Grace. Instead, she looked nervous—an odd look for a hunter of Artemis.

The girls made a circle in the middle of his cabin, and Percy joined them. “So…?”

Thalia snapped up. “Shut up.”

Percy blinked and opened his mouth, but Annabeth cut in before any rude exchanges could be made. “Thalia was impressed with our performance during the capture the flag, and she’d like to be a part of it.”

A lump formed in Percy’s throat, the size of a small acorn. Whoa. “Is this a joke?”

Annabeth shook her head, making her blonde ponytail away back and forth. Annabeth rarely looked so pleased, but her grin ran ear-to-ear.

Meanwhile, Thalia’s pale face turned red, and her freckles became proudly outlined. “It’s not like I have very many options,” their eyes met. Thalia’s blue eyes were bright in the sea-glow of the cabin. “Plus, you know…if I had to pick anyone to break the rules with…why not my best friends?”

“Percy,” Annabeth chimed in. “I…I know this might seem weird, but before Thalia leaves again, I want to do something special with her.”

“You mean like, skinny dipping?” Percy playfully suggested, Annabeth gave a narrowed stare.

“No, seaweed brain.”

“He isn’t far off,” Thalia laughed.

Annabeth regarded Thalia and placed her hands on her hips. “Don’t encourage him!”

“What?” Thalia’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “We’re all getting naked and getting more or less wet tonight.”

Percy felt a wave of relief go through him. He didn’t want to be the one who confirmed what he thought.

“Well, that’s only if Percy wants to do it.” Annabeth looked back at him and nodded. “We all know the dangers of doing this. Especially you, Thalia.”

Her smile faded, and she shifted her weight. “Whatever. Artemis said so herself. Percy isn’t bad for a man. He’s a hero, and I’m her most trusted hunter. So she’ll understand if I were ever exposed.”

“Aren’t you worried about…you know? Losing everything?” Percy asked.

Thalia shook her head. “I’m sure there’s some kind of prophecy about this somewhere. Three best friends and two lovers, bed each other until the endeavor.”

Annabeth knitted her brows and stared at Thalia, looking a little embarrassed. Thalia worked a smile and shrugged. “I’m not a poet.”

Annabeth took Percy’s hand and held it before she leaned in and kissed him. “Would you do this for her? For… me?”