All of us crammed into a small motel room that smelled of mothballs. Solos was standing by the window, forever on lookout. Next to Alex was Aiden, leaning against the faded green wall. He’d taken the SUV and ditched it, returning with a white Yukon he’d said would not, under any circumstances, be reported as missing.

He’d used a compulsion.

Something I had yet to try. Mainly because it still didn’t feel right to mess with someone’s thoughts. I kept that opinion to myself, though, because I was sure that it wouldn’t be welcome. I’d probably be laughed at a little.

Deacon and Luke were sitting on the floor. Brave guys. Seth was lounging in front of the door. Somehow, and no one wanted to look a gift horse in the mouth, Herc was asleep, his snore drowning out conversation every couple of minutes.

Gable sat in a worn chair by a small, scuffed table, and I sat on the edge of the bed. He’d listened to everything we had to say, giving him an introduction to the whole world of pure-bloods and half-bloods. Everyone helped out, touching on the war with Ares and everything that had gone down worldwide because of that. I explained, as best as I could, the whole “you’re a demigod, but your powers are locked and we need to defeat the Titans” thing.

His wide, startled gaze roamed through the room, and when I had a feeling he was starting to not believe us again, everyone in the room who could control the elements gave him a little show.

Hours went by as we answered his questions. Well, as the other people answered his questions, because, unsurprisingly, I didn’t know the answers to some of what he was asking.

Gable seemed to calm down and he was digesting everything. When a lull occurred, broken only by Herc’s snores, I leaned forward. “I know this is overwhelming. I was in your situation not too long ago.”

“Yeah.” He nodded as he scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “It’s . . . God, I don’t even know what to say. You know, my mom never talked about my dad.” He laughed, dropping his hand. “I always thought it was because he was some wild one-night stand or something. I mean, she moved on. Multiple times. Marriage is business for her.”

Seth arched a brow.

“I wasn’t even sure he was alive,” Gable said, slowly shaking his head. “And I’ve got to be honest, a lot of this is hard to believe. I get what you’re saying. I even understand it, but I’m still having trouble processing it.”

“That’s understandable.” Deacon grinned up at him. “We grew up in this world. You didn’t.”

Gable opened his mouth and then closed it. “And you’re a-a pure-blood?”