“Reed, I—”

He holds up a quiet-child hand, startling some minnows around us. “Besides, he really does love to tell the story. And everyone loves to hear him tell it. It will be great—you’ll see. Worth not getting rid of me. And then you can meet even more Neptune citizens. You’re going to have a long list of people to e-mail when you leave.”

When I don’t appear convinced, he crosses his arms. “If you promise to come, I’ll show you a secret about yourself. One that I’m pretty sure you haven’t figured out.”

Crap, crap, crap. “What is it?” I blurt, sealing the deal. Well, what did I expect? I’m sure Grandfather sent me here to learn about Half-Breeds. If I didn’t agree, then I’d be wasting this informative—and very weird—trip.

“That’s what I like to hear.” He pulls me to one side of the cave, where the light fades into shadows.

Reed holds up his hand, ceremoniously turning it side to side like a magician does when he’s about to produce something from thin air. “You see these are my real hands right? Would you like to touch them?”

“I trust you didn’t pack any extra hands with you, thanks.”

I’m not sure if he’s conscious of it or not, but Reed slightly sticks his chest out. The only reason I notice is because I’m a bit compelled to float away. Confidence like that is dangerous, especially after the talk we just had. “I’m going to start from the beginning,” he says, “because I’m not sure how much you already know.”

I nod. Even if I already know it, getting a mini refresher course couldn’t hurt. Of course, I don’t know what we’re talking about yet, so that helps the surprise factor.

“Okay,” he says, almost preening. “So. Syrena can Blend when they feel the need to, and it works from the inside out. Say they need to Blend because they’re afraid or whatever. Their skin reacts to what their brain tells them, so the stimulation to change comes from within. In our bodies, we still have the same pigmentation points as a full-blood Syrena, but ours responds to outside stimulants. Watch.”

He holds out his arm against the cave wall beside us, then starts rubbing it furiously with his other hand for what seems like for-freaking-ever. If we were on land, he’d be giving himself one heck of a friction burn. Minute after minute drags by. I realize this is why I never figured this out on my own. I would have quit after the first forty-five seconds.

Finally, something happens. The middle of his forearm seems to be disappearing. There is a hand and then cave wall and then an elbow. After a few more seconds, the middle of his arm becomes altogether invisible. Reed has just Blended in front of me. With my eyes, I trace where his forearm should be between his hand and elbow. Only a vague outline shows, kind of like looking at a hidden 3-D puzzle. “Cool, huh?” he says, still rubbing madly. “You have to get through a few layers of human skin before you hit the Blending skin cells. That’s why it takes so long.”

“Holy crap,” is what I think I say. Half-Breeds can Blend. If we don’t mind being refurbished one patch of skin at a time.

When Reed stops scouring, his Blended state quickly materializes into a now-red forearm.

He shrugs. “So obviously it’s too much trouble to try to use as protection, but it’s still pretty impressive. Ready to try yours?” He takes my hand and puts it against the wall, which puts us in a more intimate position.

I pull away. “I’m more than capable of rubbing myself.” Then I blush at how that sounds. I want to squeeze Reed’s lips together, to discontinue the knowing smile sweeping across his face. Without giving myself further opportunity for embarrassment, I start rubbing my own arm. Ferociously. It’s exhausting. The water resistance hinders my efforts a little, so I have to work harder and faster to get the job done. Suddenly, I wish for Reed’s muscular biceps. No, Galen’s. I wish for Galen’s arms, and not just rubbing me mindlessly, but I wish for them to be wrapped around me.

It takes me much longer to produce the same result. But I do. When it starts to fade, I can still feel that it’s there, but my eyes refuse to see “arm” instead of “cave wall.” It’s kind of like the sensation when your foot falls asleep and you can touch it with your hand, but it doesn’t feel like it’s attached to your body. Your hand doesn’t register what it’s touching and your foot doesn’t register that it’s being touched.

A big part of my arm has disappeared now, and for once it’s not my pale skin camouflaged by white beach sand. “Whoa,” I say, more to myself than to him. “That’s crazy.” It doesn’t feel any different, except maybe for a warm sensation creeping up my arm. Other than that, I’d never know I was Blending.

And if I can’t feel it, I definitely can’t initiate it with feelings, like an octopus does when it’s afraid or nervous. Which might be a good thing. If my whole body turned invisible instead of blushing, I’d never need a mirror.

“So I did teach you something new.” Reed beams. And at that moment, he’s all child-like wonder and adorable and harmless. Until he comes to his senses. “If you want to make your whole body disappear, you’ll clearly need my help. And for the record, I’m in.”

This time I shove him. Hard. “Sounds like you need my help with a concussion.”

And I’m not even joking.

18

GALEN AWAKENS with a groan. No part of his face was left untouched by Tyrden. His lips are crusted with dried blood and dehydration. His nose carries the steady thrum of his heart in it, beat for beat. His left ear rings, and he can hear the muffled sound of his own breath from the inside out.