Do you have any idea how long I've worked on remodeling this palace? The game

room alone took six hundred years.

 

"Dad—"

 

Very well! It shall be as you say. But my son, pray this works.

 

"I am praying. I'm talking to you, right?"

 

Oh .. . yes. Good point. Amphitrite — incoming!

 

The sound of a large explosion shattered our connection.

 

I slipped down from the throne.

 

Grover studied me nervously. "Are you okay? You turned pale and . . . you

started smoking."

 

"I did not!" Then I looked at my arms. Steam was curling off my shirtsleeves.

The hair on my arms was singed.

 

"If you'd sat there any longer," Annabeth said, "you would've spontaneously

combusted. I hope the conversation was worth it?"