Thalia had never been the type to believe in forever. People left, the world changed, and holding on too tightly only made it hurt more when things fell apart. So she didn’t hold on. She lived fast, laughed hard, and never let herself get too attached. It was easier that way.

But suddenly, there was you.

You were something out of a dream—untouchable, electric, the kind of person who could make even someone like her wonder what it would be like to stay. And that scared the hell out of her. Because people like you? They didn’t come around twice. Right now, you were lying beside her on the beach of camp Halfblood, staring at the night sky like you belonged to it. The glow of the bonfire flickered in the distance, but it didn’t matter. Nothing did—not the future, not the past. Just this. Just you. She turned her head, watching you like she was trying to memorize every detail. The curve of your lips. The way the moonlight caught in your hair. The quiet, knowing look in your eyes, like you already knew she wouldn’t be here forever. Like you weren’t expecting her to be. “You’re gonna leave, aren’t you?” she murmured, barely more than a whisper.