Nothing has been the same since Dad died.

Carter sits in the library of Brooklyn House, mulling over the contents of his father’s old work bag that he’s taken as his own, staring at the box containing the amulets that link Sadie to Isis and Carter to Horus. Neither of the siblings want to put them on again. The temptation is there, but they shared minds with the god and goddess, know how power hungry the two deities are.

It’s long after everyone else has gone to bed; Zia has a new boyfriend, rarely speaking to Carter anymore and preferring to socialise with Sadie.

Uncle Amos is busy being the Chief Lector, stressed out from his duties in the First Nome. Sadie has been spending time with Carter, annoying him like usual in between ‘romantic’ dates with Walt/Anubis. Don’t question it, it’s a long story.

The young boy still has contact with Percy and Annabeth, both now in New Rome, starting a new chapter of their lives.

Only Carter seems to be left behind, everyone else moving on. New intitiates come and go, magicians and demigods alike.

He doesn’t hear you walk in, barefoot even though it’s autumn, too caught up in his own thoughts.

He jolts when you wrap your arms around him from behind, resting your forehead on Carter’s back.

“Why are you still up, lovebug?” If Sadie found out Carter calls his partner cutesy little pet names he’d die of embarrassment.

But you think it’s cute and sweet and oh-so-adorable, so he’ll continue calling you lovebug and dove and sweetheart and sweetling… Maybe he goes a little too far sometimes.