The next morning, Jenny woke up first, looking outside to see the rain was still falling steadily, as it had been all night.

She couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. She looked out the window and saw puddles forming in the mud in the backyard and frowned, hoping the rain would stop soon.

Seaton stirred beside her, turning onto his back and flopping one muscular arm over his head, his face innocent in sleep.

Innocent in general.

What was she even doing here? Though he insisted he knew what he was doing, who was he really? She’d gotten the idea lately that the three siblings knew exactly who they were, but just couldn’t talk about it.

She’d told herself she could wait, but she’d never expected things to move so quickly between her and Seaton. She hadn’t expected it to feel like forever in his arms. She hadn’t expected him to look at her with eyes of love.

She’d only known him a number of days, yet she was already feeling closer to him than she’d ever felt in her life, almost as if a part of her heart had been waiting for him.

But that was impossible, right?

If she called her family and told them what had happened, no one would believe her, right? But should that matter? They were living their own lives, busy with the things that made them happy. Shouldn’t she do the same for herself?

She hadn’t had any bad motives when she’d helped Seaton and his siblings, but Seaton seemed to have had his eye on her from almost the moment they met.

That wasn’t her fault, was it?

She rested a hand on his shoulder lightly, gently shaking him. She needed to wake him up. She needed to talk to him before work.

“Seaton?” she asked as he woke up blearily. The beautiful ocean blue of his eyes sparkled even in the dimmed morning light through overcast clouds outside. He looked over at the window, then at her, blinking softly.

“Yes?” He sat up, rubbing his face, and then gave her a wide grin. “Last night was amazing.”

She bit her lip, feeling blood rush into her cheeks, and nodded. “That’s an understatement. But Seaton, we have to talk about what this is.”

He nodded, tucking the covers in around his waist, leaving him shirtless above that. It was hard not to be distracted by his rippling muscles as she talked. Her eyes strayed to his full, bulging pecs, and she had to remind herself to look up at his face.

He seemed amused by her struggle.

“Look, I’m happy you’re here, Seaton. I’m happy with how things are going between us. I just… I’m a planner. I like to know what’s going on. I feel like… I feel like you do know your background, at least some of it. And I mean, I want to just go with this, just fall in with you and enjoy, but I can’t help thinking about what will happen in the future. If you do remember where you’re from, what if you want to go back there?”

“I’m never leaving you,” he said stubbornly. “I told you that.”

“Then what’s going to happen in the future? How are you going to get an ID? How are you going to be legal? How are you going to get a job?”

“Can’t I just help at the bar?” he asked.

She sighed, wrapping her arms around her knees and leaning forward. “I guess so. But what about when you need medical care? What about when we need medical history? What if the cops come due to something Drew does? We need to know who you are.”

He sighed. “I guess so.”

“Why can’t you tell me?”

“I’m not sure you’d believe me,” he said, brows drawn together in consternation. “I’m not sure how to even begin.” His eyes met hers. “You’ve trusted me so far, right? Can’t you trust me a little longer?”

She smiled warily. “How do I know you aren’t just some hot guy seducing me for some unknown reason?”

He raised a dark-blond brow. “Oh, I think you know my reasons.”

“Would you have just done this with anyone who found you?”

He sighed. “No. It’s hard to explain. I just knew when I saw you that I wanted you.”

“That only happens in books,” she said stubbornly.

“No, it doesn’t,” he said, coming closer to her in the bed, making the mattress bounce slightly. His hand cupped her cheek, and she leaned into it, loving the warmth.

Why did it feel so right every time he touched her?

“Is it really that odd that someone could just fall in love with you?” he asked. “You’re hardworking, you’re generous, you’re kind, you’re patient, you’re stunningly beautiful, you’re adventurous and willing to just jump in the ocean with me, and you have a body to die for.”

“You’ve been sounding more normal every day since you’ve been here,” she said.

“I adapt quickly,” he said.

“But from what?” she asked, pulling back. “That’s what bothers me.” Deep down, she couldn’t help the fear that he was just using her. Like Drew and others had wanted to. And maybe her self-esteem just wasn’t good enough to fully believe this man could want her.

She’d never been wanted like that before. Yes, Drew was pretty obsessed, but she got the feeling that was because she hadn’t been interested in him and he wasn’t used to that. And he wasn’t a healthy person.

Seaton seemed pretty well-adjusted, if confused at times. But she could just sense an inner goodness about him. Something that always make her feel calm.

“Okay,” she said, leaning against his chest. “I guess I’ll just trust you. Take things day by day.” After all, before meeting Seaton, life had been stressful in different ways. All she could really do was keep taking each moment and doing the best she could within it.

Ever since she’d met Seaton, it had been as though she were caught on a wave, and the best thing she could do was ride it out to the shore, see where it took her.

“Should we take everyone to work again today?” she asked. “I doubt we’ll have a lot of customers. It’s been so rainy. Very weird for this time of year.”

Seaton looked thoughtful as he glanced at the window where rain was steadily falling. “I’ll talk to Kai.”

“About what? Work?”

“Right,” Seaton said, shaking his head as if to snap out of something. “About work. I’ll talk to him when we’re there. And yes, let’s take everyone.” He smiled ruefully. “I think Kai and Marina feel I’m neglecting them.”

“It’s nice that you all are so close.”

“Yes,” he said, mouth flattening in a serious line as he focused on the window again, looking lost in thought.

“Well, I’m going to take a shower, and you’re welcome to join me,” she said teasingly, getting up and wrapping a sheet around her playfully.

He let out a little growl and hopped off the bed. “Now that I’m totally up for.”

She giggled as he chased her into the shower.

* * *

At work, as Jenny had said, things were fairly empty. Probably because it was still storming outside, and though Kai was in the corner looking innocent, watching the TV, which was currently turned to the weather, Seaton knew it was probably his brother’s fault.

What was he trying to do? Punish them with constant rainfall?

Kai often used storms to hide their epic fights with sea monsters so sailors thought the tossing of their boats was simply the wind and rain. But he also used it to indicate his mood, which Seaton found a bit passive-aggressive.

Marina came up to him where he stood behind the counter. Jenny was in the back, cooking them lunch. Marina bumped Seaton in the shoulder. “You have to go talk to Kai.”

“About what?”

Marina looked outside at the rain that was still falling on soaked sand and the storm-tossed ocean in the distance. “That.”

“I know,” he said, leaning his chin in his hand. “But what am I supposed to do about it? He wants me to find the other dragons.” He kept his voice low so Jenny wouldn’t hear them from the back room. “But how am I supposed to do that? Don’t you think I’m doing my best?”

Marina frowned, looking away as if she didn’t want to answer. “You know, Seaton, I’m happy for you that you’ve found your mate and want to stay here. But I don’t know if you understand what it’s like for us. We are trying to learn this world, but we don’t even know how long we are going to stay in it. And we long to see those of our kind, who can talk about our world, who understand what it’s like to be dragons.”

He nodded, heart aching slightly as he empathized with his sister. “I know. I’m sorry. What do you want me to do?”

“Anything,” she said. “I mean, have you even thought of options? You’ve spent all your time with Jenny.” She smiled, softening the accusation slightly. “I mean, I understand. She’s gorgeous. But Seaton, we are dragons. We are sea monsters.”

“I’m no monster,” he said darkly. “And maybe I’m tired of the sea.”

Marina gasped. She had always been the most in love with the ocean. The happiest there. She loved everything about it, the waves, the ocean life, the people she rescued there. She shook her head at Seaton. “I can’t believe you said that.”

“I know,” he said. “I know it may not look like it, but I’m confused, too. I never expected to wake up and see my mate. And I never expected to be awakened in this world without anyone to guide us.”

“Maybe they are out there,” she said.

“Wouldn’t the gem dragons be long dead?” he asked. “Have you thought about that? Maybe that’s why they haven’t found us.”

“No,” she said. “I don’t believe that. I have to think they were rested, like we were.”

“Well, we don’t know,” he said. “What if us waking up was a mistake? What if there is no greater purpose and we are just supposed to find a way to make a life here?”

She sighed, looking over as Kai stood abruptly, gave them an angry glare, and then strode outside onto the beach.

“You should go after him,” Marina said.

“I don’t know what to say,” Seaton said. “I know you both see me as the mature one. The one who helped keep things sane during battles, the one who calmed things after. But right now I’m roiling inside.”

“I know,” Marina said. “I can be patient with you. But try to be patient with Kai. He’s suffering, too. He isn’t like you. He needs a purpose.”

“I do, too,” he said, thinking of Jenny.

“No,” she said. “He needs to be a tool. That’s all he sees himself as. He’s never been the hero, like you.”

“He fought many evil creatures,” Seaton said. “If you ask me, he’s the hero.”

“In secret,” she said. “Yes. But that’s why he needs his work. If there’s a chance of hooking him up with the other dragons out there, we have to take it.”

“Okay,” Seaton said. “I’ll put some real thought into it. Can you keep an eye on things while I go talk to him?” He didn’t want to not be there if Drew came in.

Marina saluted. “You got it.”

“Thanks,” Seaton said. “Look at us. Sounding like normal people.”

She nodded with a smile. “Yup. Whichever way things work out, I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

But Seaton wasn’t so sure. He wondered if the reason he hadn’t put his formidable intellect one hundred percent toward finding other dragons or the oracle was because he was worried deep down that he was wrong. That somehow being with Jenny would be incompatible with whatever the oracle wanted him to do.

He saw Kai standing near the ocean, looking out on it. The open button-up shirt he was wearing over his tee shirt was flapping in the wind, slowly getting soaked by rain and sea spray.

Despite all that, when Seaton stood alongside his brother and saw his expression, he knew Kai was yearning to return to the sea.

“You miss it?” he asked quietly.

“Of course I do,” Kai said. “I miss my power. I miss being a dragon. I miss lashing through the water, knowing nothing can stand in my way.” He sighed. “I miss being useful.”

“Is that why there’s all that rain?”

“Well, that and I’m hoping it will draw attention,” Kai said.

“What do you mean?”

“Humans watch news,” Kai said. “They always watch the weather, always expect it to be a certain way. I figured they would put on the news if anything was different, and if anyone out there was searching for us, they could use that to find us.”

“That’s smart,” Seaton said, nervousness moving through him. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it.”

Kai looked over at him and gave him an unamused snort. “Yeah, you do.”

“I know,” Seaton said. “I guess you’re right. I’m afraid if someone does come that they’ll pull me away from Jenny. Or tell me it’s not safe to be with her.”

“Or tell us we aren’t ever getting our dragon forms back,” Kai said sourly.

Seaton looked at his brother. “Is that what you’re worried about?”

Kai nodded. “Deep down, yes. We were never unable to take our forms before. It scares me, not knowing what’s out there. Or if I’ll ever be myself again.”

“This is you, too,” Seaton said.

“No,” Kai said, looking at his hands. “This is a container. It’s not who I am.”

It wasn’t how Seaton felt. Not now that his human body had allowed him to bond with his mate. Hopefully, Kai would be able to appreciate that side of himself one day.

Seaton didn’t know what their point in this new world was, but he had to think that learning to deal with humans on land was part of it.

“I think your plan is good,” Seaton said finally.

Kai raised a dark eyebrow. One difference between them had always been that Kai’s lashes and brows were much darker than Seaton’s, making a contrast with this blond, wavy hair. “Really? You aren’t angry?”

Seaton shook his head, folding his arms and letting the rain fall over him as he looked out at the sea. “If it works, then fate meant it to be that way. Who am I to tell you to stop doing something that will lead to what you want? We both are chasing our rainbows.”

“Yes,” Kai said. “Yours is Jenny.”

“Mine is Jenny,” Seaton said. He held out a hand for Kai to shake it. “Brothers?”

Kai grabbed Seaton’s hand and shook it roughly. “Brothers.”

They stood there for a moment, just watching the sea, which was oddly calming even with its swelling waves, and then Seaton became aware of an odd feeling that caused a prickle up his back.

“You smell that?”

“Familiar,” Kai said. “You don’t think—”

“I think you’ve gotten your wish, brother,” Seaton said, turning on his heel to run back to the restaurant. “I think a dragon has found us.”

“If it’s who I think it is, the worst possible one,” Kai said, narrowing his eyes.

Seaton dashed as quick as he could to get back to his mate. He wasn’t sure what he would tell the person who might be there with her, but all he knew was he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.