“And maybe I was wrong,” Sasha considered. “Maybe it’s good to separate now and then. We get the female perspective, they get the male. Then we bring both to the team.”

“Can I ask a question about men, but not about battle?”

“Of course.”

“How did you get Bran to kiss you, the first time?”

“Unintentionally, I guess. We were both a little angry.”

“So to get Sawyer to kiss me, we should be angry.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Sasha saw Riley’s eyebrows lift into her long fringe of bangs. “Not necessarily. Everyone’s different. You have feelings for Sawyer.”

“He fills me with feelings.”

“So make your move,” Riley said. “Can’t the female make the first move in your world? Kiss first?” she added for clarity.

“Oh, yes. It would be silly not to be able to kiss the male you want, if he’s willing.”

“If I’m any judge, Sawyer would be willing.”

“But I can’t. I’m not permitted to kiss a land person the first time. He must want me, show me. He must choose.”

“Why is that?”

“Our females have the power to lure men—humans. To seduce so the choice isn’t a choice for them. Long ago, and not so long ago, some of my kind lured men, sailors and explorers.”

“Sirens.”

“Yes. The song of the siren is beautiful and powerful, but it can be dangerous to the human she calls. We take an oath not to use the song, and never to first kiss a man if we’re granted legs. An oath is sacred. I wouldn’t be worthy of this quest if I broke the quest because I want to kiss Sawyer.”

With her heart in her eyes, she looked toward the lemon grove. “But I do, very much.”

“Hamstrung.” Riley looked at Sasha. “Personally I don’t think he’s going to be able to hold out for much longer.”

“I think it’s honor holding him back. He doesn’t want to take advantage of you, Annika.”

“How could he take advantage? If I didn’t want him to kiss me, I would say no.”

“It’s not always that black-and-white for . . . land people,” Sasha told her. “It doesn’t take a seer to know he’d very much like to kiss you.”

“You believe that?” Annika’s eyes sparkled like the drink as she looked at Riley. “Do you?”

“Damn skippy.”

On a laugh, Annika pressed her hands together. “I’m so happy I talked to you. This is hopeful.”

“You can’t ask him to kiss you?” Riley said.

“No. It’s forbidden until after the first time. After the choice.”

“Can you ask why he doesn’t kiss you?”

Annika started to speak, then frowned. “It’s different to ask why not. It’s . . . conversation, and seeking answers. Not asking for an act. No one told me it’s not permitted to ask a human why not. Only not to ask them to.”

Laughing again, she grabbed Riley’s hands. “This is so smart!”

“Big brain, and some experience with human males.”

“I should go ask right now.”

“I wouldn’t.” Quickly Sasha reached over, joined her hands with Annika’s and Riley’s. “I think it’s best to wait until it’s just the two of you. Until you’re alone. Asking him in front of the men? He’d feel awkward.”

“Oh. I’ll do as you say. You’ve helped so much.”

“Girl power. The other part of that,” Riley continued, “is you tell us what happens after you ask why not.”

“It’s good to talk to females. Males must feel it’s good to talk to males.”

“You won that argument. And here they come now.”

Riley thought Sasha had been right. You didn’t need the sight to know Sawyer had a case for their mermaid. Sunglasses didn’t disguise the fact that his gaze went straight to Annika, lingered there before he put on his affable smile, sauntered across the lawn to the table.

“That looks good.”

“Then it’s lucky I made a large pitcher—and brought enough glasses out for everyone. Before I knew you three were having a summit in the grove.”

Bran walked behind Sasha’s chair, ran a hand down her hair. “We did some calculations on the best positions for the light potion when it’s fully cured. The first of it should be ready after sundown.”

He sat beside her, lifted the pitcher. “What have we here?”

“A kind of raspberry lemonade.”

“I’ll get a beer.” Noting the glint in Sasha’s eyes, Doyle hesitated. “Or not. You pissed, Blondie?”

“I might have been. Riley would have been. But fortunately all around Annika made some salient points about the male of this species and many others—and their instincts to protect their women. Even when the women are capable. And that men sometimes require or desire the company of men. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be in such amiable moods.”

“Appreciate it, Gorgeous.” Doyle dumped some of the sparkling juice into a glass.

“I said what I did because I believe you respect us. If I believed you didn’t respect us, I would be angry.”