“Don’t ever do that again.”

“Wasn’t planning on it. Thought it was real sweet of you to defend your sister’s honor. Very brotherly.” Toraf snickers.

“Shut up.”

“I’m just saying.”

Galen runs a hand through his hair. “I only saw Emma. I forgot all about Rayna.”

“I know, idiot. That’s why I let you hit me fifty-eight times. That’s what I would do if someone kissed Rayna.”

“Fifty-nine times.”

“Don’t get carried away, minnow. By the way, was Emma boiling mad or just a little heated? Should I keep my distance for a while?”

Galen snorts. “She laughed so hard I thought she’d pass out. I’m the one in trouble.”

“Shocker. What’d you do?”

“The usual.” Hiding his feelings. Blurting out the wrong thing. Acting like a territorial bull shark.

Toraf shakes his head. “She won’t put up with that forever. She already thinks you only want to change her so she can become another of your royal subjects.”

“She said that?” Galen scowls. “I don’t know what’s worse. Letting her think that, or telling her the truth about why I’m helping her to change.”

“In my opinion, there’s nothing to tell her unless she can actually change. And so far, she can’t.”

“You don’t think she’s one of us?”

Toraf shrugs. “Her skin wrinkles. It’s kind of gross. Maybe she’s some sort of superhuman. You know, like Batman.”

Galen laughs. “How do you know about Batman?”

“I saw him on that black square in your living room. He can do all sorts of things other humans can’t do. Maybe Emma is like him.”

“Batman isn’t real. He’s just a human acting like that so other humans will watch him.”

“Looked real to me.”

“They’re good at making it look real. Some humans spend their whole lives making something that isn’t real look like something that is.”

“Humans are creepier than I thought. Why pretend to be something you’re not?”

Galen nods. To take over a kingdom, maybe? “Actually, that reminds me. Grom needs you.”

Toraf groans. “Can it wait? Rayna’s getting all cozy on our island right about now.”

“Seriously. I don’t want to know.”

Toraf grins. “Right. Sorry. But you can see my point, right? I mean, if Emma were waiting for you—”

“Emma wouldn’t be waiting for me. I wouldn’t have left.”

“Rayna made me. You’ve never hit me that hard before. She wants us to get along. Plus, there’s something I need to tell you, but I didn’t exactly get a chance to.”

“What?”

“Yesterday when we were practicing in front of your house, I sensed someone. Someone I don’t know. I made Emma get out of the water while I went to investigate.”

“And she listened to you?”

Toraf nods. “Turns out, you’re the only one she disobeys. Anyway, I followed the pulse.”

“Who was it?”

“The pulse disappeared before I got there.”

“Got where?”

“Emma’s house, Galen. Fresh footsteps marked the sand from the water to the house. That’s why the pulse disappeared—it left the water.”

“You’re a Tracker. You’ve been introduced to every Syrena from both houses. How can there be someone you can’t identify?”

“Obviously, I haven’t been introduced to everyone. I’m telling you, I’ve never felt that pulse before. Emma didn’t recognize it either. Not that I’d expect her to.”

Galen pinches the bridge of his nose. Emma wouldn’t recognize it because she has held a grudge against water all these years. If there were Syrena living nearby, they wouldn’t have sensed her until now. He shakes his head. “Someone must know about her. I need to go over there right now. She’s alone. Her mom works at night.” The dread he feels all over bottlenecks like a dam in his throat. “Toraf, you need to go to Grom. Tonight. Right now. You need to find Paca before this stranger gets to Emma.”

“Jagen’s daughter? What does she have to do with Emma?”

Galen stands. “Jagen claims Paca has the Gift of Poseidon. If that’s true, I’m going to make sure she’s Grom’s mate, instead of Emma. But that won’t happen if someone—whoever this is—gets to Emma before you get to Paca.”

“Galen—”

“I know, it’s a long shot. But it’s no more unbelievable than Emma having the Gift. And it’s the only hope I have.”

Toraf nods as understanding takes hold. “Okay. If she’s alive, I’ll find her, Galen. I swear I will.”

“If there’s anyone who can do it, it’s you. And send Rayna to me while you’re gone.”

17

BEING A straight-A student doesn’t guarantee anyone common sense. I’m no exception. By the time I figure out the steam in the bathroom means the shower is getting hot—I just can’t feel it because of my Syrena flesh—Mom has called a repairman. Making up a story even a kindergartner wouldn’t believe is my only option. Somehow Mom buys it—along with the service-fee repairmen charge when teenage girls waste their time and gas.