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She had worked up an image <strong>of</strong> Orion as a towering ugly demon, even worse than Polybotes, <strong>the</strong><br />
giant who had attacked Camp Jupiter.<br />
Instead, Orion could have passed for human – a tall, muscular, handsome human. His skin was <strong>the</strong><br />
colour <strong>of</strong> wheat toast. His dark hair was undercut, swept into spikes on top. With his black lea<strong>the</strong>r<br />
breeches and jerkin, his hunting knife and his bow and quiver, he might have been Robin Hood’s evil,<br />
better-looking bro<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
Only his eyes ruined <strong>the</strong> image. At first glance, he appeared to be wearing military night-vision<br />
goggles. Then Reyna realized <strong>the</strong>y weren’t goggles. They were <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> Hephaestus – bronze<br />
mechanical eyes embedded in <strong>the</strong> giant’s sockets. Focusing rings spun and clicked as he regarded<br />
Reyna. Targeting lasers flashed red to green. Reyna got <strong>the</strong> uncomfortable impression he was seeing<br />
much more than her form – her heat signature, her heart rate, her level <strong>of</strong> fear.<br />
At his side he held a black composite bow almost as fancy as his eyes. Multiple strings ran through<br />
a series <strong>of</strong> pulleys that looked like miniature steam-train wheels. The grip was polished bronze,<br />
studded with dials and buttons.<br />
He had no arrow nocked. He made no threatening moves. He smiled so dazzlingly it was hard to<br />
remember he was an enemy – someone who’d killed at least half a dozen Hunters and Amazons to get<br />
here.<br />
Hylla drew her knives. ‘Reyna, go. I will deal with this monster.’<br />
Orion chuckled. ‘Hylla Twice-Kill, you have courage. So did your lieutenants. They are dead.’<br />
Hylla took a step forward.<br />
Reyna grabbed her arm. ‘Orion!’ she said. ‘You have enough Amazon <strong>blood</strong> on your hands.<br />
Perhaps it’s time you try a Roman.’<br />
The giant’s eyes clicked and dilated. Red laser dots floated across Reyna’s breastplate. ‘Ah, <strong>the</strong><br />
young praetor. I admit, I’ve been curious. Before I slay you, perhaps you’ll enlighten me. Why would<br />
a child <strong>of</strong> Rome go to such lengths to help <strong>the</strong> Greeks? You have forfeited your rank, abandoned your<br />
legion, made yourself an outlaw – and for what? Jason Grace scorned you. Percy Jackson refused<br />
you. Haven’t you been … what’s <strong>the</strong> word … dumped enough?’<br />
Reyna’s ears buzzed. She recalled Aphrodite’s warning, two years ago in Charleston: You will not<br />
find love where you wish or where you hope. No demigod shall heal your heart.<br />
She forced herself to meet <strong>the</strong> giant’s gaze. ‘I don’t define myself by <strong>the</strong> boys who may or may not<br />
like me.’<br />
‘Brave words.’ The giant’s smile was infuriating. ‘But you are no different from <strong>the</strong> Amazons, or<br />
<strong>the</strong> Hunters, or Artemis herself. You speak <strong>of</strong> strength and independence. As soon as you face a man<br />
<strong>of</strong> true prowess, your confidence crumbles. You feel threatened by my dominance and how it attracts<br />
you. So you run, or you surrender, or you die.’<br />
Hylla shrugged <strong>of</strong>f Reyna’s hand. ‘I will kill you, giant. I will chop you into pieces so small –’<br />
‘Hylla,’ Reyna interrupted. Whatever else happened here, she could not watch her sister die.<br />
Reyna had to keep <strong>the</strong> giant focused on her. ‘Orion, you claim to be strong. Yet you couldn’t keep <strong>the</strong><br />
vows <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hunt. You died rejected. And now you’re running errands for your mo<strong>the</strong>r. So tell me<br />
again, how exactly are you threatening?’