Yep, definitely didn’t know that. I’m starting to realize I could fill a black hole with all the things I don’t know. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that a good father knows what his fingerlings are up to. There was a time shortly before she disappeared when my Trackers reported her visiting the same spot each day close to the Arena. Each day, they followed her, but when they arrived, she’d already gone. They never found anything there, couldn’t figure out the purpose for her daily visits. At first, I thought she was entertaining the thought of sifting with other males, since she was so opposed to Grom in the beginning. Yet, all the Trackers reported the absence of another’s pulse. So I decided to investigate this myself. I almost passed by it, I tell you. But somehow, one of her shinier possessions captured one of the few rays of sunlight able to reach bottom. I figured I must have stirred up the murk in just the right place. That’s when I found her cache of human things.”

Ohmysweetgoodness. “My mother collected human things?” And my grandfather never busted her on it? “And you let her? What about the laws? You didn’t care?”

He waves a disdainful hand in the air. “And which law was she breaking? Who could prove she’d had contact with humans? Who was to say that she didn’t find these things on old shipwrecks?”

So he turned a blind eye. He chose not to question her. Somehow this just endears him to me more. “So because of her obsession with human things, you figured out she’d come ashore?”

Antonis shakes his head. “Yes and no. I thought she might have. I searched the coasts and then began to move deeper inland. I never found her, obviously. But I did find something else, Emma. Something I haven’t told anyone.”

And that’s when I realize this is not just an innocent grandfather-granddaughter secret.

4

GALEN LOADS the last of Emma’s luggage into the trunk of his SUV and lifts a brow at the two very different piles of personal effects. He didn’t even fill one whole suitcase, yet Emma managed to fill two big ones and a small one. Not to mention that bulky purse thing she carries. He grins. Either she planned something big or she failed to plan.

Not that he cares. He’s just happy to steal her away.

“What do you suppose that was all about?” Grom says, startling him.

Galen scowls. “Since when did you learn to sneak around on human legs?”

His brother gives him a lazy smile, then shrugs. “I’m a quick study.”

“Obviously,” Galen grumbles.

“Well?”

“Well, what?” Grom has already tried Galen’s patience today. Forcing him to ask permission to take this trip in front of everyone—especially since they’d already discussed it countless times—was unnecessary and humiliating. Was he just showing off his Royal muscle for Nalia? Or does he truly feel I’m taking liberties with my position as human ambassador?

Because if he is, Galen is ready to turn the job back over to His Royal Majesty. Maybe the humans don’t need to be watched. They have a blinking existence on the earth, much shorter than any Syrena, and then they’re gone. Just like Rachel.

Grom crosses his arms, straining the fabric in the borrowed flannel shirt he’s wearing. Emma’s father must have been of slighter build than him. “What do you suppose Antonis had to tell Emma? They were too quiet when they came in from the beach. Antonis’s shorts were dry. They’d obviously been out there a while.”

“What do I care?”

“You’d be a fool not to care. Antonis has always been … secretive.”

Galen leans against the back of the SUV and kicks at the gravel in the driveway. “Sounds like a Poseidon trait.”

Grom nods. “Yes. Exactly. Which is why you need to find out what they’re up to.”

“They’ve missed out on each other’s company for Emma’s entire life. Maybe they’re just catching up.”

“You don’t believe that. And neither do I.”

Grom is right. Galen doesn’t believe it. Sure, they have a lot to talk about. But Antonis rarely comes to shore. He’d have a purpose. A purpose he didn’t want anyone else to know. Still, it’s not worth starting off this trip with a potential argument. “Emma will tell me if she wants to.”

He glances at Grom, daring him to protest. They both know the Triton king wouldn’t try to force it out of his beloved Nalia. And they both know that even if he tried, he wouldn’t succeed.

Grom sighs. “Maybe you could ask her leading questions or something.”

But Galen can tell the subject is all but dropped. Grom hasn’t reached that level of hypocrisy just yet. Which is good, because Emma has grown particularly sneaky on her human feet as well.

“What are you talking about?” she says behind Grom. Galen can tell she doesn’t like the fact that his brother is wearing one of her father’s old shirts. “And more importantly, are we ready to get this party started?”

Nalia brushes past Galen and throws her arms around Emma. “Have a safe trip, sweetie.” Then she leans closer. Galen knows he’s not meant to hear what she says next. But he does. “I’ll have Grom in a new wardrobe by the time you get back. No more wearing Dad’s clothes.”

Galen walks away, giving them a moment. Even though he’s irritated with his brother just now, Galen feels sorry for Grom because he doesn’t even realize he’s being talked about. Or how much he’s imposing on Emma’s patience. Galen lightly punches his brother in the shoulder. “So, about that permission, Highness?”