“But she knew that going ashore with the humans was against the law. She should have known you’d be upset.”

Grom raises a brow, taking care to scrutinize his surroundings, starting from the clothes on his own body, to the window and everything outside it, and finally resting his gaze on Galen’s hands clutching the steering wheel. “Tell me, brother, how concerned were you about the law when you were so busy amassing such an extensive collection of human things?”

Galen grimaces. “Good point. But you should know that I was always concerned about the law, even if I was breaking it. I still am concerned about the law.” Especially about certain aspects of it.

His brother does not miss his meaning. “The law regarding Half-Breeds has been in place for many centuries, Galen. It is deeply entrenched into the hearts of our kind.”

“That’s not the answer I was looking for.”

“I know.”

“I won’t be without her.”

“I know.”

By the look on his face, Grom does know. But what can be done? If there was a way around the Half-Breed law, wouldn’t Grom ease his mind by offering the solution? So even though the law is what it is, is Grom giving his unspoken consent for Galen to be with Emma regardless? Or is he given an unspoken command that Galen end his relationship with her?

Galen wants to ask, wants to settle things now before they get any more complicated—and while Grom is in a vulnerable, divulging mood. But Galen hasn’t been responsible in looking for road signs since this conversation first started. Even now, another exit—maybe theirs—zooms by them. He’s in a bit of awe of human drivers who seem to be able to conduct all sorts of business while driving. Apparently, Galen isn’t capable of carrying on a simple conversation while watching for road signs. The worst part is, they should be reaching their exit any time now. But then again, Galen hasn’t been able to drive the speed limit. Every time he gets up to speed, Grom tenses up and scowls at him until he slows down. Old people.

Abruptly, Galen sees their exit and takes it. He slows down to a crawl around the curve, which appears to irritate the driver behind him. But the driver behind him doesn’t have hundreds of years left to put up with Grom.

Galen scans the main road for a sign with directions to the Budget Motel; Rachel said Nalia used her credit card to check in there earlier. A wave of excitement courses through Galen when he sees the dilapidated sign. The lights are burnt out behind the g and an m, and to Galen, it looks like a smile missing some important teeth. The hotel is one story, L-shaped. It looks even more neglected than the sign. Some of the windows have masking tape across them. Other windows have blankets instead of curtains hanging in them. Galen wonders why Nalia would choose such a place.

As they near the entrance, it occurs to him just how crestfallen he was not to find Emma at her house where he’d left her. The churning disappointment of not seeing her when he’d expected to, of not wrapping her in his arms the way he’d planned. He glances at his brother, trying to imagine what exactly it was like for him to lose Nalia all those years ago. If Grom felt for Nalia the way Galen does for Emma, then it must have felt like a living death. Every single day.

He should know that I can’t allow a tiny law to separate me from her.

Galen pulls into the dark parking lot of the motel as Toraf and Rayna wake up like twin monsters. “Are we there yet?” Rayna says around a yawn, her words almost indiscernible because of her cracked voice.

Galen nods. He creeps the vehicle past room after room, holding his breath, paranoid that Nalia could somehow identify the sound of the SUV by the way it crunches gravel beneath the tires. But he could be beeping his horn to the tune of the radio and Nalia couldn’t care less. Because Nalia’s car isn’t here.

Where are they? He grabs his cell and dials Rachel, then waits for her to call back. When she does, Galen tries to extract the frantic out of his voice. “They’re not here.”

“Oh, she’s good,” Rachel says. “Hold on, sweet pea. Let me look at something and I’ll call you back.”

Ten minutes later, she does. “Okay,” she says, all business. “She took out some cash at an ATM in Chesterfield about half an hour ago. She definitely knows you’re looking for her.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because she’s using cash now, sweet pea. She might have even checked into the hotel to throw you off. Cash is harder to trace, and she took out enough to get by for a couple of days if she’s careful. If she’s smart, she’ll get off the interstate, too, and take the back roads to wherever she’s going. That’s what I would do. Your best bet is to get off the interstate when you get to Chesterfield. Then keep your eyes peeled.”

“Peeled?”

Rachel laughs. “Peeled, as in everybody needs to be looking for that car. Gas stations, restaurants, rest stops. She has to stop sometime, and she won’t stray too far from the main road, not if she’s as smart as I think she is. Still, if she’s stupid enough to use her credit cards, or make another withdrawal, I’ll let you know.”

“We’re never going to find them.” Galen leans his forehead against the steering wheel. Grom stiffens beside him.

“Sure you will,” Rachel says. “Tell you what. I’ll fly to Kansas, rent a car, and start working my way back toward you. We’ll ferret her out that way.”

Galen grins. He’s not exactly sure what “ferret” means, but he’s seen dolphins use Rachel’s technique sometimes to trap fish. They come at them from all sides. “Okay. Thanks.”