He started to turn again, but I shot forward, grabbing his arm. His head whipped around, and I decided showing worked better than telling. I lifted my right hand and summoned the element of fire. Energy coursed through me and, in a heartbeat, flames danced over my knuckles.

“Look down,” I ordered quietly.

He hesitated a moment and then his chin dipped. He jerked back, but I kept hold of his arm. “Holy shit, your hand is on fire!”

Several people nearing us slowed, and Seth moved closer, blocking their view. “I’d put that out before I have to put everyone under a compulsion.”

Nodding, I shook my hand, dispersing the flames. “As a demigod, you can control fire.”

“Holy shit,” he repeated, staring at my unblemished skin.

“But that’s not it,” Alex added. “You’ll be able to control wind and earth, and I bet you already are super-familiar with water, all things considered.”

Blood drained from his face as he lifted his gaze to mine. “Your hand was on fire. Like, legit fire.”

“Not really, but kind of.” I glanced over at Seth. “We can explain it all to you. I promise.”

“That’s not normal,” he reasoned. “That is some serious, not-normal shit right there.”

His pupils were dilating, swallowing the bluish-green hue, and that couldn’t be a good sign. Nope. Not at all.

“A minute is up,” Hercules said, crossing his arms. “Do I still need to stay quiet?”

“Yes,” Seth and Alex replied at the same time.

Hercules sighed. “You guys suck.”

“We would like to talk more with you.” I kept my voice low and level. “Is that okay? Because we really need to explain . . .” I trailed off. A weird scent tickled my nose, one that did not belong oceanside.

The scent was dank and musky, rich as fresh soil after a heavy rain. Tiny hairs rose over my skin.

Seth cursed, hands flexing at his sides. “We’ve got shades.”

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Seth

We didn’t have the greatest plan when it came to how we were going to break the news to Poseidon’s son, but seriously? Just blurting out what was going on? Hercules was a fucking giant pain in the ass, but right now he wasn’t our biggest problem.

The scent of the Underworld surrounded us.

Adrenaline spiked through me as I scanned the beach, not seeing anything out of the norm. Surfers were crowded nearby. Girls in bikinis walked, but a shade could be in any one of them. I wasn’t surprised. Things had gone way too smoothly on this trip. This was the risk I knew we faced, because if there were shades, there were Titans.

“We need to go,” I said, grabbing the guy’s arm as my gaze met Josie’s. “Right now.”

He dug his feet in. “I’m not going anywhere with you—with any of you.”