“Wait," I call to him. He stops. " I just wanted to say, I like your big fin. I think it's very sexy.” — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“And then Grom says: "I'm already mated to Paca." The realization slaps us each in a different way. Me, with elation Galen,… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“What about me?" I whisper. "Where do I belong?" "With me," my mother and Galen say in unison. They exchange hard glares.… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“I'm not sure if all Syrena have bulletproof endurance or if Galen is particularly blessed with it. Even now, as I lock… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Everyone is wondering where the Royal twins are, since they happened to miss Grom's kingship ceremony. At least I had the good… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Toraf nudges him from his thoughts. "You know whose advice I need?" He nods toward the gigantic house behind them. "Rachel's." "Actually,… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Satisfied with my plan, I wrap a towel around my head genie-style, then wrap another one around my body. I open the… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“But Emma's just as naïve as Rachel. They both maintain that the more you know about humans, the more you'll like them.… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“How about a rain check?' She smiles, but I know it's not real because it doesn't crinkle her eyes. 'Sure. Some other… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Galen, he recognized her immediately." "Emma?" Galen breathes. This can't be happening. "No. The stalker." "Wait," Rayna says. " Her? Her who?"… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Nice shack," I tell him. "Trade you." "Any day." "Really? You like it?" He seems genuinely pleased. "What's not to like?" He… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“But Emma resists all of Galen's reasonings, based on the fact that it doesn't "feel right." Speaking of things that don't feel… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Short of dragging her to the water kicking and screaming-and destroying Emma’s trust in him-Galen made the snap decision to leave them… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“As soon as she releases me, Galen grabs my hand and I don't even have time to gasp before he snatches me… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“I'm so excited to meet you, Emma," she says. "Now I know why Galen won't shut up about you." Her smile seems… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“The two-man crew of the patrol boat does not speak English. Rachel exploits this as best she can, while still dumping life… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“I won't meet his glare. "I guess I didn't care." Telling him I meant to murder his sister probably wouldn't go over… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Getting tired already, minnow?” Toraf taunts as he wraps strong arms around Galen’s neck in a choke hold. Galen promptly flips him… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Oh, you're right. I'm just a human with thick skin, purple eyes, and hard bones. Which means you can go home. Tell… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“There's a million dark little corners in Baytowne for you two to snuggle-" "Ohmysweetgoodness, Chloe, stop!" I giggle and shiver at the… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Footsteps from the stairwell startle him out of the past. He turns around as Emma's mother takes the last step into the… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“You’re sure you want to do this,” Galen says, eyeing me like I’ve grown a tiara of snakes on my head. “Absolutely.”… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Grom, I need to ask you something." Hesitant, Grom tears his gaze from the abyss and settles it on his brother, but… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Even if these two didn't share the same short dark hair, the same violet eyes, and the same flawless olive skin, I'd… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“I turn on my heel, which is no easy feat in a gravel parking lot. Not losing eye contact with Galen, I… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“When he can't take anymore, Galen plucks his phone from his pocket and dials, then hangs up. When the call is returned,… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Galen places a hand on my thigh under the table and gives it a gentle squeeze. It’s not meant to be sensual… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“And I’m not sure how much time has passed since Galen and his best friend, Toraf, left my house to retrieve Grom.… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Galen sprints to the back sliding-glass door and bangs on it. There's no time for etiquette. He motions for Rayna and Toraf… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“There’s something else,” Grom blurts. He rakes his hand through his hair, something Galen does when he’s particularly frustrated. I find my… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Finally, Grom shakes his head. "She's a Half-Breed, Galen." Mom's head snaps toward him. "She's my daughter," she says slowly. She pulls… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“On her way to the sink, she says, "Where's Toraf and Rayna? Oh!" She gasps. "Did they find an island?" Galen shakes… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“She turns in the doorway. “Oh, and Galen?” “Yes, ma’am?” “Have your mother call me so I can get her number programmed… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“ Triton’s trident, they put the Royals on trial! But as much as Galen would love to throw that in their faces,… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“You could me practice. They wouldn't have to know." I don't even feel like practicing. I just seems I should get in… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Having a few half fish in my family tree keeps my vision from blurring through the pudgy tears-I can perfectly see the… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“I decide that if I ever get to come back here under different, nonstressful circumstances, I will stay at this hotel and… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Sweet pea, what did you expect?" "Something other than that." "Well, you shouldn't have. We human girls are a bit feistier than… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“You know what my favorite part was?" he says, stepping closer. "Hmm?" "We didn't fight. Not once. I hate fighting with you."… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“Where do I belong?” “With me,” my mother and Galen say in unison. They exchange hard glares. Galen locks his jaw. “I’m… — Anna Banks Copy Share Image
“I won't meet his glare. "I guess I didn't care." Telling him I meant to murder his sister probably wouldn't go over very well.… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“He'd live on land and eat cheesecake for the rest of his life before that happened.” — Anna Banks Copy Share
“The two-man crew of the patrol boat does not speak English. Rachel exploits this as best she can, while still dumping life jackets in… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“When it passes us, the driver tips his cap our way, eying us as if he thinks we're up to no good-the kind of… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“Taking both of my hands, he pulls me into the tide. Salt water deepens the lavender satin of my gown to almost black. The… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“But I'm pretty sure Mom won't consent to a field trip across the country with my hot boyfriend. Especially not back to Florida." I… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“Nice shack," I tell him. "Trade you." "Any day." "Really? You like it?" He seems genuinely pleased. "What's not to like?" He stands back… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“And then what?” she says, pulling her hand from Grom’s grasp. “Then Grom will mate with Mom and live happily ever after twenty thousand… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“She needs to think you're still a couple. And you'll need to be convincing about it, too. Lots of kissing and stuff in case… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“As soon as she releases me, Galen grabs my hand and I don’t even have time to gasp before he snatches me to the… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“I’ve never skydived, bungee-jumped, or parasailed. As I remove the headset, I try to calculate the fall and can’t. Maybe my brain is protecting… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“Mark swings his own door open and meets us by the tailgate. "Why don't we ask Emma who she's coming with? I mean, it's… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“And I’m not sure how much time has passed since Galen and his best friend, Toraf, left my house to retrieve Grom. Grom, the… — Anna Banks Copy Share
“Uh, we didn't get your name. Did you get his name, Emma?" she asks, as if on cue. "I tried, Chloe. But he wouldn't… — Anna Banks Copy Share
