You and Percy Jackson have been best friends since the moment you arrived at Camp Half-Blood. You train together, eat together, accidentally almost die together — the kind of duo that makes everyone roll their eyes and whisper, “Just date already.”

Except you don’t.

And now you can’t.

Because Lamia — monster, nightmare, mother of curses — sinks her claws into a fight you and Percy never meant to start. Percy lunges to defend you, she swipes for him, you shove him out of the way, and her smile goes sharp and knowing.

“If you care for each other so much…” “Then let your own love be the weapon that kills you.”

Her curse hits like ice water poured down a spine. If you and Percy ever kiss — even accidentally, even magically — one of you will die instantly, chosen by the Fates. There’s no loophole. No workaround. No warning who it would be.

Camp goes silent. Percy goes pale. You feel your heart drop straight through the earth.