They spent another day on and in the water, found nothing that pointed them toward the star. But there was gelato on the way home, and Annika considered that the happiest part of the day.

When they reached the house, the men wandered off into the grove. Annika thought nothing of it as she set out another jug of sun tea, but Riley, apparently, thought plenty.

Wearing her orange Chucks, a Grateful Dead T-shirt over baggy cargoes—and a suspicious expression—she stood, hands on hips. “Man talk.”

“I think they went to shoot the targets.”

“I don’t think so.” Riley turned as Sasha stepped out with her sketchbook and a large pitcher of sparkling pink.

“I tried my hand at this juice drink—raspberry and lemon with sparkling water. I think it’s pretty good.”

“We’ll be the judge.”

“Where’s everyone else?” Sasha asked as Riley poured the juice over a tall glass of ice.

“Exactly. The everybody else with a penis went off into the grove. I smell man meeting.”

“They can have it. I’m hot, tired, and parched.” But as she sat under the pergola, Sasha frowned toward the grove. “What could they be meeting about?”

“Strategy. Protecting the womenfolk from the Nerezza-Malmon duo.”

“That’s insulting.”

“You bet. This is pretty good.”

“I like it very much,” Annika added as she sampled her own glass. “We can have a woman meeting. We protect, too.”

“Damn skippy.”

“Who is Skippy? Why are you mad at him?”

“It’s an expression. Like bet your ass.”

“People are always betting their asses. Language is fun.” Because of the shade, Annika took off the glasses that dimmed the glare of the sun. “But I think the men worry because I won’t use the gun, and Sasha has to practice fighting.”

“I call bullshit.” Scowling now, Riley aimed her displeasure toward the grove. “You’ve both proven yourselves, and more than once.”

“I agree with that,” Sasha said, “but Annika’s right, too. I’m not as quick or as strong as the rest of you. I’m better, and I’ll get better yet. And, Annika, you’re plenty quick and strong. The bracelets more than make up for a gun.”

“Damn skippy.” Annika grinned as she tried out the expression. “In the water, I’m the best, and we can use that. Riley shoots the gun very, very well, and she’s fast in a fight. Sasha is better with the crossbow than even Doyle, and she sees so much of what we need to know. We’ve been chosen because of what we are, what we can do. What we will do.”

“We’re not a team if we’re in two camps,” Sasha pointed out. “The men, the women.”

“It’s natural for men to worry about the women in their family. We’re family.”

Riley drummed her fingers on the table. “Go ahead, Anni, be logical.”

“We worry, too,” Annika added. “I would do all I could to protect them, and you, and so I have to hurt you when we practice. When we were attacked in the water in Corfu, the first time, I wasn’t ready. I was too happy to be in the sea. But since I listen, I watch. I protect.”

Sasha reached out, laid a hand on Annika’s. “You saved me.”

“In the last battle, you went to the high cliff with Bran, because you knew he would need you. We all needed you. And in the full moon, when Riley changed, she came to fight with us as the wolf. With no weapons but fang and claw. They know this, all this. But men will worry about their women.”

“You’re more tolerant than me.” But Riley shrugged. “I’ll give them space until they take too much of it.”

“We have more. You’re the smartest.”

“You’re starting to improve my mood, Anni.”

“Sawyer is so clever, and Doyle has lived so long, has much experience. Bran is smart, and he has magick. But your brain is the biggest. You find things out. Dig them out.”

“I haven’t dug up anything on the sighs and songs yet, but I’m working on it.”

“You will find it, or Sasha will dream it. And we’ll know.” It wasn’t simplicity or innocence in Annika’s words, her tone. It was faith.

“Knowledge is a power and a weapon, and you give us knowledge. The men understand all of this. Still . . . Sawyer protected me when I wouldn’t learn how to shoot the gun. Doyle didn’t try to force me, and Bran made me these.”

She lifted her hands so the copper gleamed in the dappled sunlight. “He knew I would fight better, be stronger with these. When you were the wolf, Sawyer made you a fire on a rainy night. This is kindness and care. Doyle knocks Sasha down so she’ll get up again, but he doesn’t knock her down as hard as he knocks Riley. Because Riley’s stronger.”

“And meaner.”

“In a fight?”

Again Riley shrugged, but she grinned with it. “I can be all-around mean when I need to.” Then sat back with her sparkling juice. “I never thought to have a mermaid explain men to me.”

“Is it wrong?”

“No. You hit all the right spots. Like I said, you’re more tolerant, but I can’t argue any of your points. Especially since I have the biggest brain.”