A 1

The Argo II raced east, cruising several hundred feet above the ground. Below them small towns
passed by like lit-up islands in a dark sea of prairie.
Piper remembered last winter, flying Festus the dragon over the city of Quebec. She had never
seen anything so beautiful, or felt so happy to have Jason’s arms around her—but this was even better.
The night was warm. The ship sailed along more smoothly than a dragon. Best of all, they were
flying away from Camp Jupiter as fast as they possibly could. No matter how dangerous the ancient
lands were, Piper couldn’t wait to get there. She hoped Jason was right that the Romans wouldn’t
follow them across the Atlantic.
Jason stopped amidships and leaned against the rail. The moonlight turned his blond hair silver.
“Thanks, Pipes,” he said. “You saved me again.”
He put his arm around her waist. She thought about the day they’d fallen into the Grand
Canyon—the first time she’d learned that Jason could control the air. He’d held her so tightly, she
could feel his heartbeat. Then they’d stopped falling and floated in midair. Best. Boyfriend. Ever.
She wanted to kiss him now, but something held her back.
“I don’t know if Percy will trust me anymore,” she said. “Not after I let his horse knock him out.”
Jason laughed. “Don’t worry about that. Percy’s a nice guy, but I get the feeling he needs a knock
on the head every once in a while.”
“You could have killed him.”
Jason’s smile faded. “That wasn’t me.”
“But I almost let you,” Piper said. “When Gaea said I had to choose, I hesitated and…”
She blinked, cursing herself for crying.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Jason said. “You saved us both.”