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The first sign something was wrong came at 3:17. School ended at 3:15. Raine knew because he had spent the last eight minutes of chemistry staring at the clock like he could intimidate it into moving faster. The final bell rang. Students poured into the hallway. Raine shoved his notebook into his bag. Maya appeared beside him.

"Ready?"

"No."

"Great."

They started toward the exit. Raine's phone buzzed. He checked. Noah. Of course.

Noah: 'Wait.'

Raine stopped. Maya nearly walked into him.

"What?"

Raine stared at the message. Another appeared.

Noah: 'Don't leave through the front entrance.'

His stomach dropped. Maya leaned closer.

"What did he say?"

Raine showed her. Her expression changed instantly. No teasing. No romance-novel bullshit. Nothing. Just alert. That scared him more than the message.

"What?"

Maya looked toward the doors.

"Stay here."

Raine grabbed her sleeve.

"No."

She looked at him.

"What?"

"Absolutely not."

"Raine—"

"No. You do not get to dramatically tell me to stay put after showing me that face."

"What face?"

"The one where apparently everyone knows something except me."

Maya went still. Raine noticed.

"Oh."

"Raine."

"No."

The hallway around them emptied gradually. Students pushed through doors. Voices faded. Raine looked between Maya and his phone. Then:

"Do you know why Noah said that?"

Maya hesitated. Too long. Raine laughed once. Sharp.

"Fantastic."

"Raine—"

A hand caught his shoulder. Raine nearly swung. Noah ducked.

"Jesus."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"I said wait."

"Through text."

"Yes."

"Like a serial killer."

Noah looked toward the front doors. His face was different. Focused. Raine knew that face now. The stairwell. The weapon. The monster. His irritation disappeared.

"What?"

Noah lowered his voice.

"Something's outside."

Raine's stomach tightened. Maya asked:

"What kind?"

Raine turned toward her. Noah did too. Silence. Maya froze. Fuck. Raine slowly looked between them.

"What kind?"

Neither answered. His heartbeat increased.

"Maya."

She swallowed. Noah's jaw tightened. Raine laughed. There was no humor in it.

"Oh, this is fucking great."

"Raine," Noah said.

"Don't."

"I need you to listen."

"That went really well last time."

Noah flinched. Good. Raine hated that it felt good. Maya touched his arm. He looked at her. Her expression was serious.

"Later."

One word. Not dismissive. A promise. Raine trusted Maya. Always had. So he nodded.

"Fine."

Noah exhaled.

"Back exit."

They moved. The school after dismissal felt wrong. Too empty. Classroom doors closed. Lights shutting off one hallway at a time. The distant squeak of janitorial carts. Nothing else. Raine walked between Maya and Noah. He noticed.

"Why am I in the middle?"

Neither answered.

"Seriously?"

Noah looked at Maya. Maya looked at Noah. Raine stopped.

"What the fuck."

Noah turned.

"Raine."

"No. Explain."

"Something tracked you here."

There it was. Raine's stomach dropped.

"To school?"

"Yes."

"Again?"

Noah nodded. Raine looked at Maya. She had gone pale. Not metaphorically. Actually. Raine's pulse kicked harder.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You're a terrible liar."

"I know."

Noah motioned.

"We need to move."

Raine did. Mostly because his shadow had started feeling cold around his feet. He didn't look down. Not yet. The back doors came into view. Noah stopped. Too fast. Maya almost hit him. Raine frowned.

"What?"

Noah reached beneath his shirt. Metal unfolded. Divine Alloy. Raine still hadn't gotten used to that sentence being real. Maya inhaled.

"Oh, fuck."

Raine looked through the glass. The parking lot looked normal. Nearly empty. A few cars. Trees. The football field beyond. Nothing moving.

"What do you see?"

Noah said:

"Nothing."

"That sounds reassuring."

"It isn't."

Raine's skin prickled. Maya whispered:

"Smell."

Noah looked at her. Raine looked too.

"What?"

Maya's face tightened.

"Sulfur."

Raine stared.

"You can smell sulfur?"

She closed her eyes.

"Raine."

"Why can you—"

The glass shattered. Everything happened at once. Noah shoved Raine sideways. Maya screamed. A body crashed through the doors. Glass exploded across the hallway. Raine hit the floor. His palms scraped tile. Something roared. Not human. Not even pretending. Raine looked up. The creature was enormous. Maybe seven feet. Maybe more. Broad shoulders. Gray skin. Two black horns curling from its skull. Eyes like burning coals. Its mouth opened. Raine saw too many teeth.

"Okay," he whispered.

"Great."

Noah was already moving. Divine Alloy flashed. The creature swung. Noah ducked. Blade against flesh. A scream shook the hallway. Maya grabbed Raine's jacket.

"Move!"

He stumbled upright. Another crash. Raine turned. A second creature climbed through the broken doors. Smaller. Faster. Long arms. Claws scraping tile.

"Oh, come ON."

It charged. Noah was occupied. Maya stepped forward. Raine grabbed her.

"What are you doing?"

"Trust me."

"What?"

"Raine."

The creature lunged. Maya dropped the glamour. Raine's brain stopped. Her legs changed. Not changed. Revealed. Human skin shimmered away below her knees. Dark brown fur. Cloven hooves. Her loafers vanished with the illusion.

Maya moved. Fast. Much faster than Raine had ever seen. She pivoted, kicked, and connected one hoof directly with the creature's chest. The impact cracked through the hallway. The monster flew backward into a locker. Metal dented. Raine stared. Maya looked over.

"Later."

Raine pointed.

"YOU HAVE FUCKING HOOVES."

"I SAID LATER."

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN LATER?"

Something grabbed him. Raine screamed. Claws closed around the back of his jacket. He was lifted off the ground.Literally. His feet left the floor.

"MAYA?"

"RAINE!" Noah turned. 

Too late. The creature threw him. Raine hit the floor hard. Air left his lungs. Pain exploded through his shoulder. For a second he couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Then he heard Noah scream his name. Raine looked up. The first monster had Noah pinned against the wall. One arm across his throat. Noah's weapon clattered across the floor. No. Raine pushed himself upright. The creature's claws lifted. Straight toward Noah's chest. Something inside Raine snapped.

"No!"

The hallway went black. Not dark. Black. Every light blew at once. The shadows moved. All of them. Beneath lockers. Under doors. From inside classrooms. Around shoes. Between cracks. They surged toward Noah. Toward the creature. 

Black tendrils wrapped around its arm. Stopped the claws inches from Noah. The monster roared. Raine stared. His heartbeat slowed. Cold flooded his chest. The shadows tightened. One around the wrist. Another around the throat. Two around its legs. The monster struggled.

Noah fell free. Raine's hand lifted. He didn't know why. The darkness responded. The creature slammed into the wall. Once. Twice. Again. The concrete cracked. Maya stared at Raine. Noah did too. Raine couldn't hear either of them. The darkness whispered. Not words. Something deeper. Pressure. Instinct.

The monster screamed. Raine's fingers curled. The shadows tightened around its throat. Noah shouted:

"Raine!"

Nothing.

"RAINE!"

He blinked. Noah stood several feet away. Breathing hard. His face had gone pale. Not scared of the monster. Raine realized. Scared of— No. The shadows released. Instantly. The creature collapsed. Noah lunged. Divine Alloy flashed. Gold-white light. Dust. Silence. 

Raine stared. His hand was still raised. Slowly, he lowered it. The darkness retreated. Every shadow returned to where it belonged. The hallway lights flickered. One. Two. Then came back. 

Raine looked at Maya. Hooves. Definitely. He looked at Noah. Sword. Definitely. Then down at himself. Normal. Apparently. He laughed. It sounded wrong. Maya walked toward him.

"Raine."

He stepped backward.

"No."

Her expression hurt.

"Raine—"

"No."

He looked at her legs again. Then at her hair. Something shifted between the curls near the top of her head. Raine narrowed his eyes. Maya winced.

"No."

He stepped closer.

"Maya."

"Please don't."

Raine reached up. She slapped his hand away.

"OW."

"Boundaries."

"You have HORNS?"

Maya covered her face. Noah coughed. Raine spun.

"YOU KNEW?"

Noah froze. Maya lowered her hands.

"About what part?"

Raine stared.

"THERE ARE PARTS?"

Noah opened his mouth. Raine pointed at him.

"Don't."

He pointed at Maya.

"You."

Maya sighed.

"Yeah."

"What are you?"

She hesitated.

"Satyr."

Raine stared. Nothing. No thoughts. His brain had simply evacuated.

"A what?"

"A satyr."

"You're a fucking goat?"

Maya's mouth fell open. Noah snorted. Maya spun toward him.

"Don't you dare."

Raine stared at her.

"I have known you for FOUR YEARS."

"Three and a half."

"NOT HELPING."

"I wasn't sure if we were being exact."

"You have HOOVES."

"Yes."

"HORNS."

"Yes."

"Does your dad—"

"Yes."

"Your mom?"

"Yes."

"YOUR WHOLE FAMILY IS GOATS?"

Maya looked offended.

"No."

"THANK GOD."

"My mom's a nymph. She chooses to look like a Satyr."

Raine stopped. Noah turned away. His shoulders shook. Raine pointed at Maya.

"I'm going to pass out."

"You're already pale."

"I'm always pale!"

"More pale."

"I LOOK LIKE THIS."

Noah laughed. Actually laughed. Raine turned slowly.

"I will kill you."

"Good," Noah said.

Raine blinked. Noah's smile disappeared.

"Good."

That landed differently. Raine looked away. The monster dust still covered the floor. Broken glass everywhere. A dented locker. Cracked wall. Maya's hooves. Noah's weapon. His shadows. All real. He swallowed.

"Okay."

Maya stepped closer. Raine didn't move away this time.

"I need you to tell me the truth."

She nodded.

"All of it?"

"Yes."

Maya looked at Noah. Noah folded the weapon. Raine noticed. Everything about this day was completely fucking insane. Maya took a breath.

"Greek gods are real."

Raine stared.

"I know how that sounds."

"No, I'm actually past caring how things sound."

"Okay."

She continued.

"Monsters are real."

"Clearly."

"Demigods are real."

Raine's stomach tightened.

"What's a demigod?"

Noah answered quietly.

"A child of a god and a mortal."

Raine looked at him. Then:

"No."

Neither spoke. Raine laughed.

"No."

Maya's expression softened.

"Raine—"

"No."

He backed away.

"Absolutely fucking not."

His shadow flickered beneath him. Maya noticed. So did Noah. Raine looked down. It stopped.

"No."

Noah stepped closer.

"You're not imagining anything."

"That does not help."

"I know."

"What are you?"

Noah hesitated. Raine's eyes narrowed.

"Tell me."

"Demigod."

Of course. Raine laughed.

"Of course you fucking are."

Noah looked down.

"Who?"

"What?"

"Your...god."

Noah swallowed.

"Apollo."

Silence. Raine stared at him. Apollo. Sun. Music. Light. The music room. Sunlight behind him. He shines. His mother's voice. Raine's skin went cold.

"He shines."

Noah frowned.

"What?"

"My mom."

Raine looked at him.

"She said you shine."

Maya and Noah exchanged a look. Raine saw it.

"Don't do that."

"What?"

"That."

He pointed between them.

"The fucking silent mythology conversation."

Maya sighed.

"Sorry."

Raine rubbed his face.

"Okay."

His voice shook. He hated that.

"So you're Apollo's son."

"Yes."

"And Maya's a satyr."

"Yes."

"And monsters are trying to kill me."

"Yes."

Raine looked at the dust.

"Why?"

Silence. He laughed.

"Right."

Noah looked guilty. Maya looked angry. Not at him. At herself. Raine turned toward her.

"How long have you known?"

Maya swallowed.

"About you?"

"Yes."

"Yesterday."

Raine stared.

"You swear?"

"Yes."

No hesitation. Raine believed her. He always did.

"And everything else?"

Maya's eyes lowered.

"My whole life."

That hurt. A little. Less than he expected. Raine looked at her horns. At the hooves. At the girl who had sat beside him through every awful day of high school. Who had stolen fries. Read terrible romance books. Made him laugh when he wanted to disappear. He understood before she explained.

"You wanted to be normal."

Maya looked up. Her eyes widened slightly.

"Yeah."

Raine nodded.

"That's why."

"Yes."

He swallowed.

"Okay."

Maya blinked.

"Okay?"

"Yeah."

"You're not mad?"

"I'm processing the fact that your feet have been fake for three years."

"Three and a half."

"Maya."

"Sorry."

Raine almost smiled. Then:

"You didn't know about me."

"No."

"You weren't friends with me because of...this."

Maya's expression changed. Almost offended.

"Raine."

He knew. Stupid question. Still. He needed the answer.

"No."

Maya stepped closer.

"You were just some annoying little goth kid who insulted my sweater freshmen year."

"It was ugly."

"It was vintage."

"It was brown."

"You own exclusively black."

"That's different."

"There."

She pointed at him.

"That."

"What?"

"That is why I became friends with you."

Raine stared. His throat tightened. Maya reached for his hand. He let her take it.

"You're my brother."

Raine looked at her. Not biologically. They both knew. Didn't matter. Maya squeezed his hand.

"I would've told you eventually."

"I know."

"I just..."

"Wanted this."

Raine looked around the destroyed school hallway.

"Normal."

Maya's mouth twisted.

"Yeah."

Raine looked down.

"I did too."

Nobody said anything for a moment. Then Noah stepped closer.

"We need to go."

Raine looked at him. His anger resurfaced. Not all of it. Enough.

"To where?"

Noah hesitated. Maya answered.

"Soteria Hall."

Raine frowned.

"What?"

"It's a school."

"For goats?"

Maya stared.

"Demigods."

"Right."

"And other mythological people."

Raine looked at Noah.

"You go there?"

"Yes."

"So that's your real school."

"Basically."

"You were sent here."

Noah froze. Raine watched his face. Oh. There it was. The thing he hadn't wanted to see.

"You were."

Noah looked down. Raine's chest tightened.

"Why?"

"Raine—"

"Why?"

Noah swallowed.

"Soteria detected monster activity."

Raine stared.

"And?"

"They thought there was an undiscovered demigod in the area."

Raine laughed. Sharp.

"And they sent you to find them."

"Yes."

"Me."

"We didn't know it was you."

"But you figured it out."

Noah said nothing.

"Yesterday."

Still nothing. Raine stepped backward.

"Before you kissed me?"

Noah flinched. Maya closed her eyes. Fuck.

"Noah."

"I wasn't sure."

"Before?"

"Yes."

Raine laughed. His eyes burned. He hated that more than anything.

"So what was that?"

"What?"

"The music room?"

"Raine—"

"The texting?"

"It was real."

"The apartment?"

"Yes."

"The kisses?"

Noah stepped closer.

"Those were real."

"How am I supposed to know that?"

Noah stopped. That hit. Good. Raine hated that it hit. Maya squeezed his hand.

"Raine."