Swimming? No thanks

Chapter 41

When we got back, there were several men sitting in my dad's living room, waiting on us so the meeting could start.

"Hello, gentlemen. I hope all of you had good days, and I apologize for being late. This evening my son, Dalton, will be joining us as part of his king training." My dad took a seat in the last empty chair in the room, gesturing for me to pull one from the kitchen. I did so, putting my seat next to his.

"Will he have a say in our decisions?" One man asked.

"No, not yet anyway. He is just here to observe and learn how this works." All of the men nodded before my dad spoke again. "Why don't we get this started?"

"What is our plan to take back the sea now that the trident is gone?" Chandler asked.

"Well, we are just as powerful as the mermaids. We could take them head on," Another one of the mermen suggested.

"They have Hadley and the rest of her bloodline, now including her daughter."

"If we try to fight them without a secret weapon, we will lose. They have Hadley and her daughter to protect them."

"Wait, isn't Dalton Hadley's son? If he's part of their bloodline, he has their powers."

Do they not know that my powers are tied to Alyssa's and without each other, our special powers don't work? I mind messaged my dad.

Nope, and us being the only ones who know that very important fact will probably come in handy, so I'm not going to tell them, he replied.

So, we're just going to lie?

Not lie, just withold the truth. There's a difference.

Got it.

"Even with Dalton's powers, we only have one secret weapon, they have two. We need something more."

"Dalton, what's that around your neck?" One of the mermen reached toward my necklace that I kept hidden under my shirt.

I leaned away, instinctively grabbing the crystal under my shirt. "Nothing, just a necklace my adoptive parents gave me after they told me I was adopted. It's supposed to symbolize that they still love me even though I'm not biological theirs."

"If it's nothing, why don't you show us?"

"Because it's personal and private. You don't need to know everything about my life. What goes on with my adoptive family is separate from what I do here."

"It looks like it's the shape of a crystal."

"It is. It's my birthstone."

Dad, help.

I can't, Dalton. You need to learn how to defend yourself. What is on the end of that necklace?

A moonstone. The girls and I all have them. Mine is just longer so I can stick it under my shirt. I always keep it on me just in case I need it.

Well, you need to explain it away because if they see that stone, they'll recognize it instantly.

I know that, Dad. Thanks.

"What stone is it? What's the name of your birthstone?"

"It's a blue sapphire." Lucky I have that memorized. They weren't going to catch me off guard that easily.

"What month is that for?"

"September. If you want to check, go ahead, look it up." I stared the mermen interogating me down.