𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗘 ━━ l. valdez

xix ━━ i choose you and me... (religiously)

04. chapter nineteen

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WHEN REYNA APPROACHED ME, she was in full armor with a pack over her shoulder. She looked grim, but ready for combat.

I was standing alone in the grass next to the port side of the ship, trying to clear my head. I could see Percy, Nico, and Annabeth on top of the hill with the Athena Parthenos. Nico seemed to be strapping it to himself like a backpack.

When Reyna came up to me, I managed a smile.

"Camille," she said. "I've been meaning to talk to you."

I tensed slightly. The idea of Reyna wanting to talk to me about something was intimidating.

"I could say the same thing about you," I went for. In all realness, I had been wanting to talk to Reyna.

Her eyes were focused and intense when they met mine. She was half a foot taller than me too, which made me feel small and runty. "I wanted to warn you about—"

"Octavian," I finished.

She raised her eyebrows. "How did you...?"

"Leo had a dream," I told her.

Her gaze dropped momentarily and her expression turned cloudy. "That makes sense."

I took a step forward. "I've actually been wanting to talk to you about that."

She tilted her head at me.

"I wanted to thank you," I said. "You stuck up for me to Octavian. Not a lot of people have done something that nice for me. Especially people who have no reason to stick up for me."

She shook her head. "You're a good person, Camille. You matter a lot to your friends on this quest."

"Thanks," I said shyly. "It was really good of you to come all the way here and risk your praetorship just to help us."

"It's for the good of the world," she said casually.

"That makes it even better." I smiled.

Reyna's mouth played at a hint of a smile. "Don't worry about Octavian. He isn't brave enough to come to the ancient lands even if he really was set on recruiting you. Also, I've seen you in battle. You've beat him and the centurions before, I have confidence in you."

I couldn't help but smile at that. I was never exactly confident in my fighting abilities, but hearing somebody else compliment me, especially someone like Reyna, it was an ego boost.

"Can I ask you something?" I requested.

She nodded, her dark flowing ponytail swishing.

I moved a little closer to her to ensure nobody on the top of the hill would hear what I was about to say.

I whispered, "Please protect Nico for me."

Reyna looked surprised by what I said, yet she gathered herself and nodded. But she added, "I don't think he needs any protecting."

I shook my head. "He doesn't, but please."

All I could think about was the last time I let Nico go off on a mission I knew was dangerous. He went to look for the Doors of Death, and ended up kidnapped by two giants in Tartarus and kept in a bronze jar living off of pomegranate seeds.

"Of course." Reyna grabbed my hand.

My eyes widened, but I didn't pull away.

"If we both survive this," Reyna began, "and both camps are standing, just know you'll always have a home at Camp Jupiter. I heard you never had a cabin at Camp Half-Blood. It wouldn't be like that at Camp Jupiter."