Dr. Milligan is quiet for a few seconds. “What else?”

Galen gives me a quizzical look. I return a shrug. “What do you mean?” he says.

“I mean, my boy, what other evidence do you have to go on? The man you just described could be me. I used to have blond hair before the gray took over. I wear contacts. I happen to love seafood and the beach, if where I live is any indication. I also know about Emma’s physical issues. Emma could be my daughter then. Is that what you’re saying? If that’s all you’re basing it on, Emma could be almost any man’s daughter in the Panhandle here. Not very scientific.”

Galen frowns.

“You there, Galen?” Dr. Milligan says. I sit beside Galen on the bed, not liking the turn of the conversation.

“I’m still here.”

“Good. There’s something else to consider. If Emma’s father was a descendant of the Half-Breeds, like you say, then he wouldn’t really be a Half-Breed anymore, would he? He’d be more like a quarter-breed, or who-knows-how-many-fractions-of-a-breed? Which would dilute Emma’s blood even more. Really, how likely is it that Emma’s father was an actual Half-Breed? There’d have to be some naughty Syrena out there to produce a full-blooded Half-Breed, don’t you think? And if Emma is just a descendant from these long-ago half-humans, well, then she’d mostly be human. But that’s not what my test results show, my boy. She’s exactly half.”

“What are you saying Dr. Milligan?” Galen says, flustered.

“I’m saying, Galen, that I don’t think you’ve found the answer. I think you need to keep looking. I do wish you would have called me. I could have helped you reason it out and saved you some time. But there is one more thing I wanted to mention before we disconnect.”

“What’s that?” Galen says, almost in a daze.

“Didn’t you tell me once that Syrena young develop into full maturity at nine years old?”

“Yes. Nine or ten. Some even earlier than that.”

“And that includes the ability to sense?”

“Yes. And their bones are matured already. They don’t grow anymore.”

“But you see, my boy, since Emma is half human, she matured at a slower pace. Precisely half the pace, I’d say. Which, if I’m correct, means she wouldn’t hit maturity until age eighteen.”

My mouth drops open. Hitting my head had nothing to do with my Syrena abilities. I had just finished maturing. Right before Chloe died.

“I see,” Galen says, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me to him. “Well, thank you, Dr. Milligan. I’m sorry we didn’t call you before. You have no idea how sorry.”

“Yes, well, I’m just trying to help.” But he sounds upset. As if he was left out of the loop. Technically, he was.

But I’m betting my bikini bottoms he never will be again.

26

CAREFUL NOT to wake her, Galen brushes Emma’s hair from her face, her cheeks pink from the glow of sunrise. Her sundress is ruined, the Atlantic leaving stains on it resembling a mountain range. She managed to tear the hem of it while hunting for her other shoe in the moonlight. Then she spread her dress out like a fan for him to lay on instead of the sand. And that’s where he stayed all night. This is why I never sifted. No one else could fit as perfectly in my arms as she does. Leaning down, he grazes her lips with his. She sighs, as if she felt it.

Gulls squawk in the distance, eager for breakfast. Morning tide sloshes against the shore. The wind laces through the dune grass, like it’s whispering a secret he’s not meant to hear. And Emma sleeps. This is the definition of peace.

The definition is interrupted by Toraf’s ringtone. Why did Rachel get Toraf a phone? Does she hate me? Fumbling behind him in the sand, Galen puts a hand on it right before it stops ringing. He waits five seconds and … Yep, he’s calling again.

“Hello?” he whispers.

“Galen, it’s Toraf.”

Galen snorts. “You think?”

“Rayna’s ready to leave. Where are you?”

Galen sighs. “We’re on the beach. Emma’s still sleeping. We’ll walk back in a few minutes.” Emma braved her mom’s wrath by skipping curfew again last night to be with him. Grom’s mating ceremony is tomorrow, and Galen and Rayna’s attendance is required. He’ll have to leave her in Toraf’s care until he gets back.

“Sorry, Highness. I told you, Rayna’s ready to go. You have about two minutes of privacy. She’s heading your way.” The phone disconnects.

Galen leans down and sweeps his lips over her sweet neck. “Emma,” he whispers.

She sighs. “I heard him,” she groans drowsily. “You should tell Toraf that he doesn’t have to yell into the phone. And if he keeps doing it, I’m going to accidentally break it.”

Galen grins. “He’ll get the hang of it soon. He’s not a complete idiot.”

At this, Emma opens one eye.

He shrugs. “Well, three quarters maybe. But not a complete one.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” she says, sitting up and stretching.

“You know I do. But I think this mating ceremony will be interesting enough without introducing my Half-Breed girlfriend, don’t you think?”

Emma laughs and pulls her hair to one side, draping it over her shoulder. “This is our first time away from each other. You know, as a couple. We’ve only been really dating for two weeks now. What will I do without you?”