Toraf kicks Galen’s legs out from under him, and the scuffle is taken to the floor. Just when I wonder how long this can really go on, the older Syrena steps into the dining room and confirms his identity with the authority in his voice. “That’s enough. Get up.”

Toraf scrambles to his feet and steps away from Galen, who reluctantly complies. “Yes, Highness. Sorry, Highness,” Toraf says, breathless. There is not a small amount of shame on Toraf’s face.

In fact, even Galen looks conscience stricken. “Apologies, King Antonis,” he says quickly. “I didn’t see you there.”

King Antonis. Mom’s dad. My grandfather. Holy!

Antonis lifts his chin, satisfied. “I didn’t think so.”

Mom steps over the dish debris and embraces her dad. “Thank you for interrupting. It was getting a tad boring. It was obvious no one would win.”

Mom is such a dude sometimes. Grom winks at Galen, who shrugs.

“What brings you inland, Father?” Mom asks. “Besides the entertainment, of course.”

“I’ve brought news,” he says. “Toraf was kind enough to escort me here.”

“What news?” Galen and Grom ask at the same time.

That Galen is interested in any kind of news from the Syrena world is a good sign. He’s not as ready to give up on them as he thinks.

Antonis motions toward the living room. That’s when I realize he’s wearing a pair of Galen’s swim trunks—and they’re in danger of slinking to his ankles. “I assume these structures are made for sitting?”

We follow him and seat ourselves on the sectional. Rayna seats herself on Toraf’s lap. We all lean in toward my grandfather. It’s so weird to think of him in those terms.

“Much has happened,” Antonis begins. “The commotion caused by the Gifts of Triton and the Gift of Poseidon attracted some human attention.”

“Gifts?” Galen interjects. “You mean my sister’s Gift of Triton. The power in her voice.”

Ah. So her insane screaming fit did create the waves. It wasn’t just my imagination. But if that wasn’t my imagination, then Galen’s fin—

“It is rude to interrupt a king,” Antonis says sternly. Then his face softens. “It has come to our attention, young prince, that you, too, possess the Gift of Triton. We believe that since you are twins, the Gift was split between you. To our knowledge, this has never happened before.”

Galen shakes his head. “But I don’t—”

“It’s your speed, squid breath,” Rayna says, rolling her eyes. “Have you seen your fin lately?”

Galen mulls over this. “I’ve always been fast. It was never called ‘the Gift’ before. What’s the difference now?”

“You’ve never been that fast, minnow,” Toraf says. “You divided the water like a shaker divides land.”

“It was most impressive,” Antonis says. “As was my granddaughter.” He gives me a smile bursting with pride and approval. Apparently my grandfather is no longer prejudiced against Half-Breeds, if he ever was. I wonder if this is one of those defining moments in life where a relationship starts.

And I hope it is.

“And it all makes sense, of course,” Mom says.

Everyone nods knowingly. Which drives me mental. “What makes sense?” I decide they’re just going to have to make concessions for me; I didn’t have the luxury of growing up to Syrena fairy tales.

Grom is the first to answer. “It is thought that the Gifts only occur when there is a need. With everything going on, and the stress my brother and sister were under, the Gifts made an appearance. Rayna used it to save you. Then Galen used it to save you. The same way you used it to save them. The purpose of the Gifts is survival, after all.”

It feels like the world suddenly got bigger. Awareness of things greater than me and Galen and everyone in this room settles on me like a coating of insight dust. The Gifts appear when needed. The first time it appeared for me was when I was drowning in my grammy’s backyard pond. I used the Gift to talk to the catfish, who pushed me to the surface. It was life or death. Just like it was life or death back at the Arena.

“Does that … Does that answer your question?” Galen says softly.

I nod. The room is quiet, in a sort of collective reflection. Then Grom reminds us all why my grandfather is here.

“You said humans came?” Grom says.

Antonis nods grimly. “They’ve captured two Syrena. The humans are holding them on the inhabited island closest to the Arena.”

“Who did they take?” Grom asks.

“Jagen and a Triton Tracker, Musa. The council of Archives is requesting the help of the Gifts,” Antonis says solemnly. “They recognize now that they have been gravely mistaken to doubt the Royals.”

Galen scoffs. “It’s a little late, don’t you think? They were ready to throw us in the Ice Caverns two days ago.”

“Besides that, what can we do anyway?” Rayna says. “There are only three of us with Gifts. And our Gifts don’t work on land, remember? Humans have all sorts of stuff they could use on us.”

“That’s not true,” Grom says. “Remember the story of the generals? Triton sent the big waves to land. He destroyed humans with it, drowned them all on their own ground.”

“That was a long time ago,” Mom argues. “They were practically defenseless. Humans have much more advanced methods of protecting themselves now.”