“You will already be sending Tyrden with us as a token of goodwill, for him to be punished according to our laws,” Grom says. “That will not be viewed as a small thing. And by sending Reed with us, they will have a chance to see that he, too, has the Gift of Poseidon. I think they can be persuaded in time that an alliance with an entire town who possesses this Gift could prove beneficial to them.”

Reder takes in a deep breath, massaging his temples with shaky fingertips. “And if they decide that he’s an abomination under the law? If they decide my son should be put to death?”

“They accepted Emma,” Antonis says. “They would have to explain why one Half-Breed is acceptable and not the other. The Archives are not unreasonable, Reder.”

Reder nods, lifting his head higher. “You forget the other advantages we can offer the ocean dwellers.”

“Such as?” Nalia says, surprised.

“We have eyes and ears on land,” Reder says. “We can watch the human world for you. Galen has done a good job as ambassador to humans, I’m sure. But we have more connections. Better capability. It’s a full-time job, one that Galen shouldn’t have to shoulder alone.”

“This is true,” Grom says.

The whole room is silent then, heavy with contemplation. There are life-changing—world-changing—decisions being discussed over this glossy wood table. Any compromise reached here will carry with it a ripple effect for years to come. It will span generations on land and in the sea.

“If Reed is agreeable to it,” Reder says finally, “I’ll let him go. But it’s his choice.”

“I’m ready to go right now,” Reed says. “Let’s do this.”

Galen’s stomach tightens. Reed will be coming with them. Which means he’ll have more access to Emma. He glances at her sideways. Oblivious to his jealousy, she gives him an enthusiastic smile. Which he can’t help but return.

“Baby steps,” she whispers to him.

Galen nods. Baby food, he thinks to himself. Which is what Reed will be eating if he comes near you again.

Reder holds up his hand. “It’s inevitable that others of our kind will hear of this truce. What if they step forward?”

“We will put that worry off for another day, my friend,” Grom says. “I believe it sensible to meet again, within one cycle of the moon. This is not a decision the Archives will make in haste. Of course, if you need to send word to us before then, you may have our phone numbers. And if Reed is truly ready, we will take him now and be on our way.”

“There is one more thing,” Galen says to Reder. “Tyrden wasn’t working alone. There were other men who helped him take me. I would appreciate if you found out who.”

Reder nods. “I still haven’t formerly apologized for what happened to you both. I truly am sorry that these things took place on my shift, while I was in charge.” He looks to Grom. “You’re leaving already? What of Kennedy?” Reder says. “What if Dr. Milligan can’t help us?”

“I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve experienced human discovery,” Antonis says, standing. “Even if it is, you can always resort to what you do best.”

“What’s that?” Reder asks.

“Adapt.”

47

I DIAL Dr. Milligan’s number. When he answers, I put him on speaker and set the phone in the cup holder of the console between us in Galen’s rental car. It has been a long drive home in this cramped little compact, but it was all the airport had left. The rest of the Royal party is somewhere behind us on the interstate. They had to make a pit stop in Neptune in order to collect a few personal things for Reed, which Galen generously offered to keep at his house.

“Hello?” Dr. Milligan says. It sounds windy in the background. Or it could just be the suckiness of speakerphone.

“Dr. Milligan, it’s Galen. Can you talk?”

“Indeed I can, my boy. I’ve just left Neptune. Interesting place, that.”

“And Kennedy?”

Dr. Milligan sighs into the phone. “To be quite honest, I hardly helped at all. Sadly, Greg’s mental health has deteriorated since last I saw him. The NOAA agent was hard-pressed to get anything out of him at all. What he did get were fragments of what sounded like a fairy tale. The NOAA doesn’t put much stock in magic.”

“Magic?”

“Like people disappearing before your very eyes.”

“Oh. Blending.”

“That’s what I figured.”

“So where is he now?”

“From what I hear, Reed is pressing charges for a gunshot wound. I think Greg might be headed to jail.”

“Do you think he’ll be back?”

There’s a long pause. “If not him, then someone else. Times are changing, Galen.”

Galen glances at me and nods. “Then we’ll just have to change with them.”

Epilogue

ONE YEAR LATER

IT FEELS weird to latch on to Grandfather’s shoulders and press my stomach into his back. It seems too intimate, too familiar. We never do things like hug, or even pat each other on the back, so to hitch a piggyback ride is just a tad awkward.

But how could I refuse? He was just too excited. He practically wouldn’t take no for an answer. Not that I would deny him this one thing.

Especially this one thing.

Grandfather has become special to me in a short amount of time. A couple of nights each week, he sits with me on the beach after dinner, telling me stories of his childhood, of being groomed for kingship, of the times he spent with my grandmother before she died. Of how much my mother is just like me—even if we can’t see it. He’s teaching me how to make Syrena nets and how to make a squid ink itself without much effort.