Of Neptune (The Syrena Legacy) by Anna Banks Read Free Book Online Page B

the lack of salt in the water changed the way we sense each other. That somehow our bodies adapted to being in freshwater.” He studies Emma more closely, if that were possible. “But my question is, Why have you come? And how can I get you to stay?”
    Galen nearly fails to brake for the car slowing in front of them. “We’re not staying.” He doesn’t miss Emma’s frown.
    “It’s a long story,” Emma says, melting into a smile for Reed. “My mother is Syrena; my father was human. I grew up on land. My grandfather visited your town once, I think. He’s the one who sent us here.”
    Antonis must have visited Neptune. That’s how Reed already knew that we sense each other differently in freshwater. What else did Antonis share with these strangers?
    “Sent you here?”
    “Well, it was actually more of a scavenger hunt, I guess,” Emma says quickly. “He pointed us in your general direction but didn’t tell us what we would find in Neptune.”
    “Why would he do that?” Reed looks Galen square in the eyes.
    Galen decides Reed has a gift for discernment.“We were wondering the same thing,” he mutters.
    Emma laughs. “It’s obvious he wanted us to find you. Oh, um, no, Neptune,” she stutters. “I meant he wanted us to find Neptune.”
    Reed shifts his attention back to Emma. “I’m glad he did.”
    Galen is quite certain Reed is not under any false impressions about his relationship with Emma. And he’s just as sure Reed doesn’t care. Reed is thoroughly enchanted by Emma, and Galen can’t blame him.
    But I can knock his teeth out.…
    Reed continues to ask questions, and Emma continues to offer vague but truthful answers: Her mother has lived on land all of her life. Her father was a human doctor, who knew her mother was Syrena. She met Galen off the coast of Florida. The kingdoms are aware of her existence, and for the time being are okay with it.
    To Galen’s relief, Emma doesn’t offer any information about their Royal heritage or the recent events that led to her discovery. He knows she feels a connection with this new stranger, and while he doesn’t like it, he at least understands it. Reed is a Half-Breed like her. With that carries novelty and curiosity, and for Emma, a certain sense of belonging. Especially if they’re approaching a town full of Half-Breeds.
    But Galen’s not about to trust this blond boy who oozes charm. Galen has been fooled by a good-natured smile before. It won’t happen again.

 
    9
    IT’S LIKE Galen’s not even in the car with us. Reed and I converse while Galen broods over the steering wheel. At Reed’s direction, he pulls us onto a winding gravel road, leading us farther and farther into the woods, closer and closer to the cleavage of two nearby mountains.
    To the town of Neptune.
    There is a wooden sign at the edge of town with the words WELCOME TO NEPTUNE carved in big letters at the top and TOWN OF MEMORIES at the bottom in smaller, more elegant letters. The sign stands in a flower bed lined with white-painted rocks. Galen’s gaze seems to linger on the bottom words as we pass. I want to ask him about it, but I know better than to do so in front of Reed.
    Galen’s quiet saturates the air between us, a silent disapproval of my immediate acceptance of Reed. It occurs to me that Galen could be jealous, too, which is moderately insane. Especially given our afternoon make-out session just hours before. So I decide to give him the benefit of the doubt and treat his withdrawal from the conversation as caution. Actually, I’m kind of hoping this is about Reed in some way and not about the existence of Neptune, or my excitement about it. Because of course I’m excited. What’s not intriguing about a town of Half-Breeds? Surely Galen can understand why I’m so interested. And if not, he should make more of an effort here.
    The SUV pulls onto what looks like the main street of Neptune. A row of small, endearing stores and offices line both sides of the