Galen nods. Tyrden readily gives him another two swallows of water. Galen’s not sure why he’s being rewarded for obvious answers. If Tyrden knows about Jagen, he knows about Grom.

“So he wouldn’t like it if he knew you were in so much trouble. Surely, he would come fetch his Royal brother if he knew he was being held prisoner somewhere. He would be angry with whoever did this to you.”

There is no question here—and no need for one—but nonetheless Tyrden peers at Galen expectantly. It’s not difficult to follow Tyrden’s line of thought. “No,” Galen says flatly. “He would be thrilled.” They both know if Grom were aware that Galen were in such danger, he would come immediately. He would play right into Tyrden’s hands.

Tyrden seems to appreciate sarcasm; he gives Galen another drink, tilting the flask up so that he gets several swallows. “This is a mercy drink, Highness. From now on, dishonest answers get punishment instead of reward. You’re lucky that I need you alive for now.”

Galen feels the water seeping down into his stomach. He imagines his bloodstream absorbing it, hydrating him. He sits up straighter. “Grom…” Galen says, then clears his throat. “Grom won’t risk the kingdoms. Not even for me.”

Tyrden puts the toothpick back in his mouth, rolling his eyes. “Of course he wouldn’t. And I asked for honest answers, not your opinion.” He reaches around to his back pocket and produces Galen’s cell phone. “Grom have one of these?”

Until now, the idea of Grom coming here was just theoretical. A phone changes everything. “I won’t call him.” Galen hates himself for flinching when Tyrden jumps to his feet. He reminds himself that Tyrden is unpredictable.

“No?” Tyrden barks. He holds the flask in front of Galen’s face and starts pouring the contents out slowly onto Galen’s lap, giving him a chance to recant.

But he won’t. Can’t. He closes his eyes, unable to watch the rest of his lifeline soak into his jeans.

Tyrden grabs a handful of Galen’s wet hair and puts his face directly over Galen’s. “You will call him, I swear it.” He tightens his grip. “It means your life. Think about that, boy.” He shoves Galen away then, so forcefully that the chair almost tips backward.

Tyrden throws the flask to the floor, onto the pieces of broken plate by the wall, and stalks toward the door. He pauses when he reaches it, giving Galen a knowing smirk. He glances up at the tarp overhead. “You feel like stretching yet, Highness?”

Galen can’t help but scowl.

Tyrden’s grin widens. “I’ve always wanted to see the fin of a Triton Royal.” Then he slams the door behind him.

Galen feels a new rage surge through him like a tsunami. Shaping a fin would shred his jeans, leaving him completely naked—no doubt Tyrden’s idea of ultimate humiliation. It would be one thing if Tyrden had removed all his clothes in the beginning to shame him or deter him from escaping. It would be quite another if Galen couldn’t control his need to shape a fin amid the saltwater saturating him and accidentally destroyed his own clothing—and maybe even injured his fin in the process. The ropes are new and thick and strong; either they’ll break or they won’t, and then where will he be?

Another drop plummets to the tip of his nose and Galen lets it slither down over his lips, licking it defiantly.

Tyrden wants to see the fin of a Triton Royal? I’ll show him one.

19

MOM CALLS me right as I’m about to walk out of my room and meet Reed in the lobby.

“Hey, sweetie, you called? Everything okay?”

My lip almost quivers at the concern in her voice. I sit on the bed and get comfortable. You’ll-never-believe-what-has-happened kind of comfortable. Reed will just have to wait. “Did Galen tell you we were fighting?”

“Galen? What do you mean? Galen is with you. Right?”

“He left, actually.” I don’t skip a beat. This isn’t the hard part of the conversation. Not yet. “A few days ago. He said he was going back to talk to Grom.” Okay, so maybe it is a little hard. “Wait, you haven’t seen him?”

So he hasn’t made it to Grom yet? Why is he taking his time? Hope cartwheels through me. Maybe he’s coming back. He has to be. He got all my messages, and we’re going to work things out. I don’t know why I feel so relieved, but I do. Maybe he’ll even make it back in time to go to the Huddle. I’ll have to get Sylvia to give him directions. I take out the hotel stationery and start scrawling my request for her.

Suddenly, I regret calling Mom, getting her involved in my relationship issues. I’m an adult now, right? Shouldn’t I be dealing with this on my own?

“He left you? You’re alone?” The outrage in her voice is unmistakable. I hear Grom mumbling something in the background, and then the phone goes all white noise dissention among the married ranks. Mom must be covering it with her hand. Then she says, “Grom says he hasn’t seen Galen. Why on earth would Galen leave you all alone? What are you fighting about?”

I bite my lip. If Galen hasn’t told Grom about Neptune, then maybe I shouldn’t either. After all, the Triton king couldn’t in good conscience keep this from the kingdoms. It’s his Royal obligation to confront the leaders of this Neptune. I get that now.

Also, Galen is the fastest of his kind. If he was swimming with any sort of purpose, he would have reached Grom long ago. Maybe he’s just taking some time to clear his head. If anyone can understand that, it’s me.