Grom. Toraf also betrayed Grom. Technically, he could have just kissed his future queen. When Toraf said he wanted to get on her good side, Galen had no idea he would take it this far. But Toraf can’t expect to mate with Emma. She’s already spoken for—one way or the other.

Out of the corner of his eye, he shifts his gaze to her. Arms crossed, eyes wide. Lips and cheeks as red as a cooked lobster. He clears his throat. “How … how long has this been going on?” he asks softly.

She turns to him. “How long has what been going on?”

“You and Toraf. Kissing.”

“Oh. About ten minutes.”

Better than he’d hoped for. Relief hits him like a tsunami. If it happened the entire time he was gone … he can’t even think about it. Toraf broke Syrena law when he kissed Emma. To kiss someone other than your mate gets you ten cycles of the moon in the ice caverns. It’s considered one of the most serious offenses. If he’d kissed her all weekend, each kiss could count as an individual violation.

Still, Toraf thought Rayna unsealed them. He thought he was free to kiss anyone he wanted. But why did it have to be Emma? She’s the worst possible choice for him for more reasons than Galen can name.

As if I didn’t have enough to worry about. My kingdom is threatened by war, extinction, or both, and the only way to solve it is to give up the only thing I’ve ever really wanted. Then Toraf pulls something like this. Betrays me and my sister. Galen can’t imagine how things could get worse. So he’s not expecting it when Emma giggles.

He turns on her. “What could be funny?”

She laughs so hard she has to lean into him for support. He stiffens against the urge to wrap his arms around her. Wiping tears from her eyes, she says, “He kissed me!” The confession makes her crack up all over again.

“And you think that’s funny?”

“You don’t understand, Galen,” she says, the beginnings of hiccups robbing her of breath.

“Obviously.”

“Don’t you see? It worked!”

“All I saw was Toraf, my sister’s mate, my best friend, kissing my … my…”

“Your what?”

“Student.” Obsession.

“Your student. Wow.” Emma shakes her head then hiccups. “Well, I know you’re mad about what he did to Rayna, but he did it to make her jealous.”

Galen tries to let that sink in, but it stays on the surface like a bobber. “You’re saying he kissed you to make Rayna jealous?”

She nods, laughter bubbling up again. “And it worked! Did you see her face?”

“You’re saying he set Rayna up.” Instead of me? Galen shakes his head. “Where would he get an idea like that?”

“I told him to do it.”

Galen’s fists ball against his will. “You told him to kiss you?”

“No! Sort of. Not really though.”

“Emma—”

“I told him to play hard to get. You know, act uninterested. He came up with kissing me all on his own. I’m so proud of him!”

She thinks Toraf is a genius for kissing her. Great. “Did … did you like it?”

“I just told you I did, Galen.”

“Not his plan. The kiss.”

The delight leaves her face like a receding tide. “That’s none of your business, Highness.”

He runs a hand through his hair to keep from shaking her. And kissing her.

“Triton’s trident, Emma. Did you like it or not?”

Taking several steps back, she throws her hands on her hips. “Do you remember Mr. Pinner, Galen? World history?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Tomorrow is Monday. When I walk into Mr. Pinner’s class, he won’t ask me how I liked Toraf’s kiss. In fact, he won’t care what I did for the entire weekend. Because I’m his student. Just like I’m your student, remember?” Her hair whips to the side as she turns and walks away with that intoxicating saunter of hers. She picks up her towel and steps into her flip-flops before heading up the hill to the house.

“Emma, wait.”

“I’m tired of waiting, Galen. Good night.”

*   *   *

The beach used to soothe him. Like the minefields soothe Grom. Now, the moon reminds Galen of the color of Emma’s hair. The sand, of how she likes to anchor her feet into the ocean floor. Even the dune grass imitates the sway of her hips. Tonight, the beach tortures him. Like the minefields must torture Grom. And just like Grom, he can’t bring himself to leave it.

Toraf emerges from the shallow water, wearing a pair of Galen’s shorts. Galen doesn’t get up. Toraf sits beside him. Just out of reach. “You should get some sleep, minnow. Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

Galen nods without looking at him. “In about three hours. Where’s my sister?”

“She’s setting up the island we found tonight.”

Galen shakes his head. “You slithering eel. You might have told me what you were up to.”

Toraf laughs. “Oh sure. ‘Hey, Galen, I need to borrow Emma for a few minutes so I can kiss her, okay?’ Didn’t see that going over very well.”

“You think your surprise attack went over better?”

Toraf shrugs. “I’m satisfied.”

“I could have killed you today.”

“Yeah.”