The Animal Within

Chapter 12 - Home

Percy's gaze flickered to Kronos, lips quirking up slightly as he did so.

The Titan had blue cookie crumbs on his chin. "Kronos," he said, gesturing to his own chin, because as amusing as it was, he figured the Titan wouldn't appreciate him forgetting to mention it. Kronos swiped at his chin, removing the blue crumbs.

"It's good," Kronos gravely informed Sally. "Very good."

"Thank you," Sally said stiffly. Of course, just because she was being somewhat polite – Kronos could just snap his fingers and turn her to ash on the spot – did not mean that she was suddenly fine with having the Titan in her house.

Paul, Percy's step-father, sat stiffly next to Sally looking like he'd rather return to wherever he'd been in the day. "I'm sorry," Paul said, "but this is a little confusing to me. I'm still new to this whole new... world."

Kronos quirked an eyebrow. "New world? We were around before mortals were an idea. Your world is the new one."

That seemed to make Paul look like he was rethinking his entire life-choice as he stared at Kronos. He muttered something under his breath before getting up and retreating to the kitchen. Kronos seemed particularly pleased with his reaction, lounging back against the back of the couch he was sprawled across.

Percy nudged him. "Be nice."

Kronos cackled. "What? Me. But I'm always nice, Jackson."

"You're a foul liar."

"True," Kronos conceded, looking rather amused.

Paul returned with a beer in hand. "Right," he said, "would you mind repeating the explanation?"

Kronos muttered something extremely rude under his breath in Greek. Percy kicked him. "Hey – rude." He turned back to face his mother and step-father. "So I presented as an alpha and decided that Kronos was going to be mine-" his eyes flicked over to the omega's scowling face. "- not, of course, that Kronos belongs to anyone – but I mated with him. He then handed himself over 'cus his army was being massacred – sorry – and he didn't want them to die so they got to go free if he did so. The gods say he's got to stay with me, so... I mean, it sorta makes sense, right? We're mated."

Sally's eyes narrowed at Percy. "And when did the mating take place?"

"Uh..."

"Percy, you're not eighteen yet," Sally said sharply.

"Yeah – I know."

"Technically," Kronos said, "the general age for adulthood for our... family is fifteen."

"It's not in ours," Sally said flatly.

"Mom," Percy groaned. He figured it was a good thing that he'd left out Kronos' manipulations and his heat. His mother would not be impressed with him then. "Please – I love him." Kronos jerked next to him, eyes flicking searchingly in the alpha's direction, his surprise evident. "Sure, he's an asshole sometimes. But still."

Sally frowned as she observed Percy, so Percy tried to make himself look pleading, begging her to allow Kronos to stay. Finally, Sally switched her gaze to Kronos. "How do I know you won't murder us in our sleep?"

Kronos shrugged. "You don't," he easily replied. "But the lives of my siblings may very well depend on me. I don't know how closely the gods are watching them, if they've managed to slip beneath the radar yet or not. I kill you, our bargain will be broken, and they'll be hunted down and killed. I suppose you'll just have to trust that I care for my siblings."