He faces me forward and tucks me neatly under one arm, which makes me feel like some sort of pet. The moon peers down at us as we ride the swells for a little while. In the distance, we can see the faint glow of occasional lightning, but not land.

When I can’t stand the Chihuahua position anymore, I wriggle loose. He catches me before I go under and pulls me to him so that my nose just grazes his. Above water, it feels like we’re exchanging kilowatts with our touch. Below, all I feel is Galen’s “pulse,” but it feels more like a magnetic force between us. When his fin rubs against my legs, it feels velvety, like the wings of a stingray instead of scaly like a fish.

He lets me squirm some distance between us, but doesn’t let go. “If I’m Syrena, then where did I come from?” I say. “My mom doesn’t have the eyes.”

He nods. “I know. I looked for that.”

“She hates the water, too. The only reason we live on the beach is because Dad loved it.” In fact, Mom talks about moving farther into town all the time now that Dad’s gone. I finally convinced her to wait until I left for college.

“And your father?”

“Blond. Blue eyes. Not as pale as me.”

“Hmm.” But he doesn’t sound surprised. It sounds more like I confirmed what he already knew.

“What?”

“The only thing I can think of is that they’re not your real parents. They can’t be.”

I gasp. “You think I’m adopted ?”

“What does adopted mean again?”

“That they raised me as their child, but I was born to someone else.”

“Obviously.”

I push away from him. The waves are a lot bigger when I try to negotiate them on my own. “Well, that’s real easy for you to say, isn’t it?” I decide to swallow the next wave instead of swim over it. I’m relieved when his arms encircle my waist again.

“Emma, I’m just exploring the options here. You’ve got to acknowledge that someone isn’t telling the truth. And I don’t think you can reasonably say I’m lying.”

I shake my head. “No. You’re not lying. But they are my parents, Galen. I have my dad’s nose. And my mom’s smile.”

“Look, I don’t want to argue with you. We’ll just have to think harder about it, that’s all.”

I nod. “There’s got to be some other explanation.”

He offers a tight-lipped smile, his expression doubtful. In silence, we let the waves drift us toward shore. After a while, he pulls my legs up and lets me lean my head against his chest. We pick up speed as he propels us gently through the swells.

“Galen?”

“Hmm?”

“What happens when we get to shore?”

“Probably you should get some sleep.”

He’s already looking at me when I lift my chin. “You think I can sleep after all this? And anyway, that’s not what I meant.”

He nods. “I know it’s not.” He shrugs, adjusting me in his arms. “I was hoping you’d let me … help you.”

“You want to help me turn into a fish.”

“Something like that.”

“Why?”

“Why? Why not?”

“Stop answering my questions with questions.”

He grins. “It doesn’t work, does it?”

“Stop that!” I give his jaw a little slap.

He laughs. “All right.”

“But what I’m trying to say is, the reason you took such an interest in me since Chloe died … the reason you moved here, enrolled in my school, invited me to the beach … You were just trying to figure out if I’m one of you?”

Of course, stupid. When has anyone like Galen ever paid you any attention? When has there ever been anyone like Galen? Still, I’m surprised how much it hurts when he nods. I’m his little science project. All the time I thought he was flirting with me, he was really just trying to lure me out here to test his theory.

If stupid were a disease, I’d have died from it by now. But at least I know where he really stands—about his feelings for me anyway. But what his intentions for me in general are, I have no idea.

What happens if I can turn into a fish? Does he think I’ll just kiss my mom good-bye, flush all my good grades—all those scholarships—down the toilet so I can go swim with the dolphins? He called himself a Royal. Of course, I don’t know exactly what that means, but I can sure guess—that I’m another subject to him, someone to order around. He did say I had to obey him, after all. But if he’s a Royal, why come out here himself ? Why not send someone less important? I’m betting the U.S. President doesn’t personally go to foreign countries looking for missing Americans who might not even be American.

But can I trust him enough to answer my questions? He already deceived me once, faking interest in me to get me out here. He lied to my face about having a mother. He even lied to my mom. What else would he lie about to get what he wants? No, I can’t trust him.

Still, I want to know the truth, if only for myself. I’m not moving into some big seashell off the Jersey seashore or anything—but I can’t deny that I’m different. What could it hurt to spend a little more time with Galen so he can help me figure this out? So what if he thinks I’m some sort of peasant fish who has to obey him? Why shouldn’t I use him the way he used me—to get what I want?