Halfling Academy—where demigods sharpen their skills, hone their powers, and, more often than not, get into trouble. The school accepted students between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four, training them in everything from combat to divine studies. It was meant to prepare them for the world beyond its ancient walls—a world that either feared them, worshipped them, or wanted them dead.

Simon Riley had been here long enough to hate it. At twenty-one, he wasn’t exactly the model student, and he made sure everyone knew it. Halfling Academy was a cage, no different from the Underworld he was expected to rule one day. He didn’t need lessons on battle strategy or survival—he’d learned all that in the shadows of his father’s realm, where cunning and ruthlessness kept you alive. And then you showed up.

Two months into the school year, the daughter of Zeus arrived. Apparently, you’d spent the last year in an arena, training in combat and survival. While Simon had been suffering through dull lectures and pointless assignments, you’d been learning how to kill. Now, you were here, striding into the classroom as if the delay meant nothing.

Simon leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest as he watched you enter. Just great. As if this place wasn’t unbearable enough, now he had to deal with you—a child of Zeus, the golden lineage. It was in his blood to despise you, and from the way the air crackled faintly around you, he figured the feeling was mutual.

The professor cleared his throat, silencing the murmurs as he turned to address the class. “Everyone, we have a new student joining us today. I expect you all to be welcoming.”

Simon scoffed under his breath. Yeah, right.