By the time they pulled up in front of her house, Seaton still wasn’t back to normal after what had happened.

He’d never wanted to leave the water with her, but he’d sensed that it was getting cooler, and not wanting to see her shiver (from anything other than intense pleasure), he had helped her out and grabbed their clothing so they could change.

They were still covered in saltwater, but there was nothing to be done for it, and besides, he liked the reminder that he’d had at least a taste of his mate.

A taste that only made him hungry for more.

He was proud of how she’d trusted him in the water, how she’d become more comfortable. It made him happy to make love to the woman he wanted in the place he had long called home.

From here on out, land would be his home, but hopefully sometimes, she would still want to go in the water.

They sat in front of the house in silence for a moment after she turned off the car.

“Thank you,” she said, looking at him and flushing.

“I should be the one thanking you,” he said. “For everything.”

She laughed. “I hope that’s not why that just happened. Some misplaced sense of gratitude.”

Anger ran through him. What made this beautiful woman think that a man would do something like that to thank her?

He reached out and cupped her face with both hands, wanting to be sure she heard him. “No. Never. I don’t know how I got here, but from the moment I saw you, I wanted to stay.”

The warmth in her eyes as he said it seemed to light up the darkness in the car.

Her hand covered his, then gently pulled it down to the seat between them. “I appreciate that,” she said. “I enjoyed it.” She leaned in until her lips were nearly at his. “And as for you staying, I want that, too.” She gave him a quick kiss, lingering light as a feather against his lips before pulling back with a grin. “Now should we see what trouble your siblings have gotten into?”

He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling like the one with the blush now that she’d said such sweet words and taken the initiative to kiss him. “Yes. Please.”

He got out of the car and came around to open her door. He’d seen a man do it for a woman outside the restaurant and liked the way it worked. Jenny seemed surprised but then just smiled at him.

As they walked to the front porch, she stopped abruptly.

“Um, Seaton, we don’t have to tell them, do we?”

“I can try not to, but they may guess,” he said, rubbing his head.

“Okay,” she said. “But let’s just not talk about it.”

“Agreed,” he said. What happened between him and Jenny should stay between them. It was private and sacred and nobody’s business but theirs.

When she opened the front door, Marina and Kai were sitting on the couches in the living room, waiting with expectant eyes. Marina looked them over once and then stood, her expression amused.

Kai, however, seemed dark with anger as he took in the situation from his place on the couch, not eager to get up. His arms were folded, his tone terse. “It’s about time you two got home. We were worried.” He looked at the clock. “Is it usual to work until well after dark? Well after the time most have eaten?”

“No,” Jenny said, and Seaton felt protective and wanted to gather her in. But she’d said not to show anything to Kai or Marina, so he held himself back.

Jenny set down her purse. “I’m sorry. We went for a swim before coming home. Did you both get something to eat?”

“We managed,” Kai said, still looking irritated. “Seaton, can I talk to you?”

Jenny bit her lip and looked over at him. “Don’t you want dinner?”

“It can wait,” Seaton said. “If Kai wants to talk, I’m happy to talk to him.”

“I’ll get dinner with Jenny,” Marina said cheerfully, and Seaton let out an inward groan. He knew the grilling that was about to take place.

“I thought you’d already eaten,” he said.

“I can always eat more,” Marina said, putting an arm around Jenny’s waist and leading her into the kitchen.

“Wait,” Jenny said. “I really need to go shower. We can talk after.”

Marina pouted. “But it’s been so lonely in the house.”

“I promise I’ll be right down,” Jenny said with an encouraging smile.

Marina sat on the couch with a pout. “Okay, then.”

Kai looked at Seaton. “Upstairs. Now.”

Seaton sighed as he followed his brother, who right now was acting more like an angry ship’s captain.

Kai wasn’t in charge, and he’d do well to remember that.

Seaton opened the door to his bedroom and walked straight for the bathroom, knowing Kai would shut the door behind him.

“I’m still taking a shower,” Seaton said, walking to the glass door that separated the shower from the large porcelain basin.

“That is fine,” Kai said. “I have seen your nakedness before, and besides, what I have to say cannot wait.”

Seaton turned on the water and reached for the soap, pouring some onto his hand and lathering it over his hair. “What is it?”

“Did you seduce her?”

Seaton let out a sigh as he let the soap stream down over his back, some gliding along his face. He liked the feeling of standing in a waterfall that came with showering. “How did you know?”

“It’s obvious,” Kai said. “The looks on both of you, as if you were caught in flagrante.”

“We were hardly committing a crime,” Seaton said. “I wanted her, and she wanted me. And after all, she’s my mate, so there’s nothing wrong with it—”

Kai made a choking sound. “Your mate? Seaton, she doesn’t even know dragons exist. The very idea of us might stop her little human heart. Have you thought of that? And what about our mission? You don’t know why we’re here. It could be dangerous. And you’re going to get a human involved in things like this?”

“It’s not like you to worry like this,” Seaton said in a low voice, rinsing off the rest of the bubbles, a darkening feeling coming over him.

“Because you are usually the one worrying like this. The responsible one that keeps everyone in line. You are supposed to be coming up with a plan to get in contact with those like us, not romancing some human who won’t matter in the grand scheme of things.”

Seaton stepped out of the shower and grabbed his brother by the collar, lifting him on his toes. “Do not speak about her like that. She matters.”

“What about us?” Kai asked, jerking Seaton’s hands away and landing back on the tile floor. “Don’t we matter?”

Seaton sighed and grabbed a robe, pulling it around him as he walked into the bedroom. He sat on the bed, overwhelmed, and then looked up at Kai. “Of course you matter.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I am ridiculously protective of her.”

Kai waved a hand. “I should not have shown disrespect to Jenny. She has helped us. But it has been a long day. I am getting impatient.”

“I know,” Seaton said. “And I am sorry we are home so late. Truly, brother, she brings out something in me unlike ever before.”

Kai smiled slightly. “I can’t say I don’t like seeing my overly proper brother losing it over a female for once, but this is different. We could be at war.”

“If there was a war, don’t you think we would know about it? What if we were awakened for a different purpose? What if we were awakened so we could be happy?”

“I do not know,” Kai said, leaning back on his hands. “If that was the case, I’m not sure what I would do.”

“Find someone and be happy?”

Kai grimaced. “I am a warrior. You know this. That life is not for me.”

“That life seems very different when you find the right person,” Seaton said, thinking back to Jenny in his arms, throwing her head back and coming to the rhythm of the sea.

“Gross,” Kai said. “Think your untoward thoughts on your own time.”

“Being obvious again?”

“So obvious that you stink,” Kai said, standing with a huff. “All right, as long as we agree that we should still be trying to get in contact with the oracle and the other dragons, then you can proceed with your mate as you see fit.” He folded his arms and cocked his head to the side. His wavy curls brushed over his forehead. “After all, I do not feel what you feel, so I will have to trust you. But don’t forget about me and Marina. Don’t let us down.” Kai opened the door. “And now we should probably go downstairs and get you dinner before Marina harasses your mate too much.”

Seaton nodded at him, a nervous feeling building in him like the rising tide. There was so much to do, and he felt in control of so little of it. Calm down, Seaton. One thing at a time.

Fate had awakened them, and fate would find a way.