The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5)

by Rick Riordan

It was kind of intimidating. I mean, sure, she’d always been cute, but she was starting to be seriously beautiful.

Mrs. O’Leary saw me before I saw her, which was a pretty good trick considering she’s the size of a garbage truck.

“We need music,” Nico said. “How’s your singing?” “Um, no.

My name was Percy Jackson. I reached up and took Annabeth’s hand.

Before I could lose my courage, I said, “Don’t I get a kiss for luck? It’s kind of a tradition, right?” I figured she would punch me. Instead, she drew her knife and stared at the army marching toward us. “Come back alive, Seaweed Brain. Then we’ll see.”

“Get back!” I slashed the air in a wide arc, driving the rest of the demigods away from Annabeth. “No one touches her!”

I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone. But this was Annabeth. If I couldn’t trust her, I couldn’t trust anyone.

“The small of my back.” She lifted her hand. “Where? Here?” She put her hand on my spine, and my skin tingled. I moved her fingers to the one spot that grounded me to my mortal life. A thousand volts of electricity seemed to arc through my body.

SMUT

I winced, remembering how old and decrepit my father looked.

ouch

“I feel so wanted. Thanks.”

me

“Um, thanks,” she muttered. I tried to say Don’t mention it, but it came out as, “Uh duh.”

My only thought was to keep him away from Annabeth.