They reached the edge of Camp Half-Blood just as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
The air felt different here—charged, ancient. Hana and Luna quietly slipped on their bracelets, their true forms fading as they shifted back into their younger, human appearances.
Luna took a steady breath.
"So… ready to try?"
Hana nodded. Max did the same.
The girls stepped forward first.
The invisible boundary rippled like water as they passed through without resistance. No shock. No pain. Just a soft hum that faded behind them.
Max followed.
The moment he touched the barrier, agony exploded through his body.
Electricity surged violently, throwing sparks across his skin as the shield tried to reject him. His vision blurred, muscles locking up as if every nerve in his body had been lit on fire.
If he hadn't had Cole McGrath's powers, he would have been dead—or at least hurled backward into the forest.
Gritting his teeth, Max forced electricity into his veins, overriding the barrier's feedback loop. The shield screamed in protest, light flaring as he pushed through.
Then—silence.
Max stumbled onto the other side, breathing hard.
"Okay," he muttered. "That… sucked."
He glanced around quickly, hoping the light show hadn't alerted half the camp.
Apparently not.
The three of them wandered further in, taking it all in.
Cabins arranged in a wide arc. Training fields stretching farther than the books ever described. Campfires, archery ranges, pegasi circling overhead.
"Wow," Hana said quietly, awe slipping through before she caught herself. "This place is way bigger than the books made it seem."
Luna nodded. "It's amazing."
Max crossed his arms.
"It is. But stay sharp. Once you two get claimed, I probably won't see you for a while—especially if people figure out you're with me."
He sighed.
"Aphrodite kids love a juicy romance story. Doesn't matter which universe we're in."
Hana and Luna froze.
Then Hana cursed under her breath.
"Damn it. We were supposed to celebrate after Luna's birthday date. Finally lose our V-card—"
"Hana," Max said quickly, lowering his voice, "I appreciate the gesture, but maybe don't say that out loud?"
She blinked.
"I'm serious," Max continued. "Right now you're seventeen. I'm nineteen. Just pretend we started dating recently. Which… technically we did, since I was held back a year."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Just—please don't say anything like that around campers."
Hana smirked. "Noted."
Before Luna could comment, Max stiffened.
A man in his late twenties—or maybe early thirties—staggered out of a small cabin nearby. He wore a loud Hawaiian shirt, looked like he'd passed out at a beach party, and held a can of Diet Coke like it was sacred.
"Great," Max muttered. "Mr. D."
Hana squinted. "That's Dionysus?"
"Yeah. Chiron's probably off babysitting Percy or something," Max said. "Or at least I hope so."
Hana grinned.
"Think we can get on his good side? Maybe he'll even remember your name."
"Unlikely."
They approached carefully.
Mr. D took a long sip of his drink, then frowned.
"Who are you three? I don't remember any of you."
He shrugged.
"Then again, I don't remember half the camp."
Hana stepped forward smoothly.
"Sorry, sir. We were… lured here by dreams. Something about being children of gods."
Mr. D sighed.
"Figures. New demigods."
He waved them inside.
"Come on. Gotta pretend I care and do my job."
The cabin smelled strongly of fermented grapes and Diet Coke. Luna noticed an entire bin overflowing with empty cans.
"Welcome to Camp Half-Blood," Mr. D droned.
"You're all probably illegitimate children of gods, blah blah blah, training, survival, blah blah—"
He paused, eyeing them.
"None of you like throwing parties, right?"
They shook their heads quickly.
"Good. None of you are mine." He relaxed slightly. "So. Any idea who your divine parents are?"
Luna lifted her chin.
"Hana and I are daughters of Aphrodite."
Mr. D went pale.
"Bastard—" He cleared his throat. "I mean… wonderful children."
He glanced nervously around the cabin.
"Let's keep that quiet, shall we?"
"Noted," Hana said. "Everyone's scared of Aphrodite. Good to know."
"You should be—" Mr. D stopped himself, visibly calming down. "And you."
He turned to Max.
"What are you supposed to be?"
Max shrugged.
"That's… complicated. I know I'm not a demigod."
Mr. D's eyes narrowed.
"Then how did you get past the barrier?"
Max glanced at a nearby radio speaker.
"Well," he said calmly, "I don't know many demigods who can do this."
His voice suddenly echoed from the speaker, distorted with static.
Mr. D flinched.
Max grabbed a knife from the desk and stabbed himself in the arm.
"HOLY—!" Luna shouted.
Electricity surged from the speaker into Max's body, sealing the wound instantly. Not even a scar remained.
Mr. D stared.
"So that's how," the god muttered. "Then why should I let you stay?"
Max didn't hesitate.
"Because these two are my girlfriends."
Luna and Hana both took his hands.
"And," Max continued, "we can make a deal."
Mr. D scoffed.
"Risky enough dating one daughter of Aphrodite. Two is asking for divine heartbreak."
He leaned forward.
"And what deal do you think you can offer a god like me?"
Max met his gaze evenly.
"Dionysus. I stay here. You keep my powers hidden."
He paused.
"And I don't say a word about the Great Prophecy."
Silence.
Dionysus's smile vanished.
Max knew too much.
His power was unknown.
And two daughters of Aphrodite were standing firmly at his side.
Finally, Mr. D exhaled.
"Fine," he said. "I swear on the River Styx."
They shook hands.
Power surged through Max, sealing the oath. Dionysus frowned, unsettled.
"Strange," he muttered. "Very strange."
He straightened.
"You follow camp rules. You will learn them."
Max nodded. "Deal."
They were dismissed soon after, stepping back into the open camp.
Different dangers.
Different gods.
But they were together.
And for now, that was enough.