They’d finally stopped running.

Not because the threat was gone — but because it had vanished so completely that even the gods’ trails had gone cold. Weeks of searching, tracking, almost-catching nothing at all. The decision to go to Olympus felt like defeat, heavy and bitter.

New Rome’s streets are quiet at night. Too clean. Too empty. They’re halfway down a dim block when flashing blue lights paint the buildings in pulses of electric color. A police car. Pulled over. Two officers questioning someone on the sidewalk.

They would have passed it. They almost do. Then Percy slows. Annabeth’s hand tightens on her dagger without her realizing it. Jason’s breath catches. Piper’s charm sense spikes so hard it makes her dizzy. Leo stops walking entirely.

Because standing under the streetlight, hands loosely folded, expression calm and exhausted —Is you.

No monster aura. No divine glow. No weapon drawn. Just a dangerous demigod the gods can’t track… answering questions like a normal person.