Jenny didn’t know what to make of the visitor who’d walked angrily into her bar, sat down on one of the stools, still in a wet, green rain jacket, and ordered a beer in terse voice.

Something about him vaguely reminded her of Seaton and his siblings, but she couldn’t put a finger on what it was.

Perhaps it was his beauty. He was nearly as tall as Seaton and Kai, and he had a sharply handsome face that was a little more refined. His hair was a light, almost-white blond that made a contrast to his vibrant green eyes.

And he wore entirely too much green altogether.

“Um, can I help you with anything?” she said after she’d served him his beer.

Just before he’d entered, Marina had let out a little gasp and disappeared into the back room. Jenny hadn’t seen her since.

“I’m looking for someone,” he said.

“Ah, rough day for it, huh?” she said. “Just trying to get out of the rain?”

He looked irritably at his wet sleeves. “Yes, I suppose.”

“Can I take your coat?”

He shook his head. “I’m not staying.”

Well, what had crawled up his butt and stayed there? She went behind the bar and started cleaning, deciding to ignore him. She looked out to the beach and saw Seaton and Kai still talking and let out a sigh.

Hopefully they would come back soon, because while the visitor didn’t seem dangerous in any way, this situation was a little awkward.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “My wife is pregnant, and I’m eager to get back to her.”

“I see,” she said. “Congratulations. How far along is she?”

The man’s eyes beamed with pride for a moment. “Ready to go any day now.” He sighed and looked out at the beach. “Which is why I have to get things done.”

A prickle of fear went through her. He wasn’t here for Kai or Seaton, was he?

“Who’s out there?” he asked.

“Oh, just my employees,” she said. “I mean. Taking a break.”

“It’s pretty empty here today,” he said, looking around the restaurant.

She swallowed. “I mean… yeah. But they have bills to pay, and there are always things to do around here.”

The man squinted out at Kai and Seaton. “I think I know them.” Wind blew through the restaurant, and she saw Seaton turn toward her and then break into a jog, Kai following. As their faces came into clearer view, the stranger straightened and a smile lit his face. It was slightly predatory. She wasn’t sure she liked it.

“Oh, yes,” he said, cracking his knuckles. “I know them.”

She stood, wanting to run forward and warn Seaton and Kai, but the stranger was faster, striding out the door toward the beach to meet the men who were running toward him.

“Wait,” she called out, chasing him.

Marina appeared in front of her suddenly, almost out of nowhere, catching her by the arms. “No,” she said. “Don’t go out there. Let us handle it. Stay here. Do you promise?”

Jenny sighed. “I don’t want him to hurt any of you.”

Marina frowned. “There is nothing you can do about it. And I don’t think he intends to hurt us.” Her expression grew slightly cold. “But this is something that is outside your world, and you need to stay clear of it.” Her eyes softened. “Please? It’s what Seaton would want from you.”

Jenny nodded. She already sensed she was in over her head, but she hated feeling outside the whole situation. She’d seen the panic on Seaton’s face as he was running.

Marina left her standing there and walked out the back door, slamming it behind her.

Jenny ran to the window, watching the four of them gather on the beach. She heard voices raise as Kai, Marina, and Seaton surrounded the newcomer. Wind whipped past the window, rattling the tables outside, and the rain seemed to get harder.

She pressed her hand to the glass, watching the group talk, as things began to intensify. Could she really just stay inside? What if it was a long-lost relative, coming to take Seaton away?

She could no longer just believe in amnesia. Whoever this newcomer was, it was undeniable that all of Seaton’s family seemed to know him.

And they weren’t happy he was there at all.

She sighed and rested her forehead against the glass, remembering Marina’s intense words, nearly begging her not to get involved. She would try, but when it came to Seaton, it was hard for her to stand back.

* * *

“It was smart of you to manipulate the weather to get our attention,” Aegis said quietly, cocking his head as he studied Seaton and his brother.

“It wasn’t to get your attention,” Kai said, folding his arms stubbornly, trying to look unaffected.

“Well, too bad.” Aegis looked bored. “But I’m here now, and you’re coming with me.”

Marina was slightly nervous and shifted side to side as she came up behind them.

Truthfully, there wasn’t a dragon on Earth who was stupid enough to not fear the emerald dragon. Treacherous and eager to trick people, with powerful abilities involving mind control, one would have to be stupid to take him lightly.

Especially when they didn’t have access to their dragon forms.

“You can’t shift?” Aegis asked, raising an eyebrow. Oh, yes, and he could read minds as well, like most land gem dragons.

Seaton just stared at him.

“Well, that’s interesting.” Aegis folded his arms, a mockery of how Kai was standing. “It’s kind of a good thing I’m here, because your little signal is sure to summon others, and without your dragon forms, I’m not sure how you’d protect yourselves.”

“So what, now you’re going to make us go with you?” Seaton asked.

“I’m going to take you to the oracle,” Aegis said.

“How do we know that’s what you’re doing?”

“I guess you don’t,” Aegis said. “But what choice do you have?”

“Still using mind tricks, just like the old days,” Kai muttered.

“We all have our powers,” Aegis said sardonically. “What about you, Marina? Not happy to see me?”

“No,” Marina said. “I wish you would go.”

“Tsk-tsk,” Aegis said. “So judgmental.”

Kai snarled, stepping forward. “You shut your mouth about my sister.”

Seaton put up a hand, stepping between Aegis and his brother. “Let’s talk. Just us.”

“Whatever we say, I think your siblings should hear it.”

“Why don’t you just read our minds?” Marina asked. “Just get it over with, you snake.”

Aegis smiled slightly, but the look in his eyes was cold. “Believe it or not, I am here to help you. I’m on the good side now.”

“Like I’d believe that,” she said. “Where’s Opal?”

Aegis smiled proudly. “We’re mated.”

Marina took a step back. “Like I’d believe that. She ran from you. I remember that well.”

Aegis’s expression darkened. “I might not be perfect. But I do have a responsibility to take you back to the oracle.”

“Like we’d just go.”

“As we discussed, I can make you,” Aegis said darkly with a small shrug.

“Wait,” Seaton said. “If what you’re saying is true, and the signal could draw others, then Jenny will be in danger.”

“Maybe,” Aegis said. “Does she mean something to you?”

Seaton just formed his lips into a hard line. He didn’t want to tell this toxic dragon anything about Jenny. Not until he trusted him.

Aegis took a step closer, rain bouncing off his ridiculous green rain jacket. “Are you sure?”

Seaton carefully controlled his thoughts, keeping them blank. “No. She’s just someone we’ve been staying with until someone could find us. Rest assured she knows nothing.”

Everything had been different before Aegis had been the one to find them.

“Then why do you care?” Aegis asked, testing him.

Seated folded his arms and lifted his chin stubbornly. “She helped us. I hardly want to repay that with harm.”

“One of you may stay,” Aegis said. “You may decide between you.”

“I will go,” Seaton said quickly. He had always been the leader of their group, the responsible one, and he wasn’t going to stop now.

“I see,” Aegis said.

“No,” Kai said. “You should stay here with—”

Seaton sent him a harsh look. “I do not want to stay here. There is no need.”

Aegis watched the interaction with interest but was clearly willing to let them work it out. “Well, you all may decide. One of you may stay here with the human temporarily while the other two come and make a full report. Depending on what we hear, we may come back sooner rather than later. If we learn that the human knows something, we may have to do something about that as well.”

Seaton resisted the urge to crack his hands into fists. “You wouldn’t hurt someone who helped us. Not if you’re truly on the good side.”

“Of course not,” Aegis said with a cold smile. “Who said anything about hurting someone?”

All three dragons just stared at him.

“Now, I have a pregnant mate to get back to, so you work it out, and I’ll be waiting on the road, okay? I even rented a car so as not to scare the local humans. How thoughtful of me.” He threw his head back in a laugh and began striding over the sand back to the road.

Marina pursed her lips. “Do you think he really mated Opal? And she’s pregnant?” She clasped her hands together. “I want to see her.”

“You should be the one to stay, Seaton,” Kai said. “What if it’s a trap? This is my fault. I never thought Aegis would be the one to respond.”

“It’s not your fault,” Seaton said. “You were just trying what you thought would work. It’s not your fault he showed up.” He looked down at the sand. “You’ll protect Jenny?”

Kai nodded.

“She won’t understand why I’m leaving and you’re staying. Can you keep yourself cloaked, just until I get back?”

Kai frowned. “If you really think that will help.”

Seaton did. It would be weird for her if he and Marina just left Kai there. He still didn’t even know what he was going to say. But at least with Kai there, he would know she was safe.

“Besides,” he said, putting a hand on Kai’s shoulder. “You’re our fighter. If anyone can protect her, it’s you.”

“Still, I don’t like letting my siblings head into a trap,” Kai said darkly.

“I think we’ll be fine,” Seaton said. “I have the same feeling about this as I had when meeting Jenny. That things will just work out somehow.”

“You have too much faith, Seaton,” Kai said, shaking his head, sending droplets flying everywhere. The rain had finally stopped.

Seaton threw his arm around his brother. “And I have the utmost faith in you.” He looked in the direction of Aegis. “I can’t let him know Jenny means anything to me. Not until I know his intentions. As the leader, if I stay here, he’ll know something is up. I can’t take even the smallest risk. But once I know if it’s safe, I promise I’ll be back. You just have to keep her away from Drew until then.”

Kai wrinkled his nose. “Not a problem.”

“Thank you,” Seaton said.

“What are you going to tell her?” Marina asked. She bit her lip. “I can’t say good-bye to her. I don’t want her to cry. Not when I know we’re coming back here.”

Seeing Marina believe the same thing helped his mood slightly. No matter what happened with Aegis, he would make it back to Jenny. He’d travelled through time and countless ocean waves to be with her. This was just one small storm left to get through before she could be his.

“I’ll do it alone,” Seaton said. “You wait here, and then when you see me come out, join me and Aegis.”

Marina nodded. “What are you going to tell her?”

“I’m not sure,” Seaton said. “I’m just going to do my best not to hurt her, if I can.”

“I don’t envy you,” Kai said, staring at the sand and shaking his head.

“Well, you should,” Seaton said, taking a deep breath as he headed back to the restaurant. “Because regardless of anything else, anyone who finds a mate like Jenny is lucky.”

“He’s such a sap now,” Kai said to Marina.

She sighed melodramatically. “I know.”

Seaton ignored them and focused on putting one foot in front of the other, wondering how he was going to handle the difficult task ahead.

* * *

Jenny was so relieved to see Seaton come back into the restaurant that it took her a moment to register what he was saying.

“You’re what?” she asked, taking a step back and wiping her hands on her apron.

“I’m leaving,” he said. “Just for a bit.”

“With the man that was just here?” she asked, feeling her heart drop like a bottle sinking in the ocean.

“Yes,” he said.

“What happened to this morning?” she asked, undoing her apron and laying it on the counter. She sat on a stool, suddenly feeling like it was hard to breathe. “What happened to never leaving?”

At that moment, the front door burst open and the angry stranger poked his head in. “What’s taking so long?”

“Aegis, I’m coming,” Seaton said impatiently.

Aegis narrowed his eyes at the two of them. “You said she didn’t mean anything.”

Jenny stared at Seaton, waiting for him to say something, to deny what this “Aegis” person had said.

But he simply took in and released a long, tense breath and gave her a pained look before turning to Aegis. “She doesn’t. But she helped us, and I’m trying to let her down easy.”

She felt her heart shatter like a glass dropped on the floor, but there was no way to pick up the pieces. She got off the stool and headed for the back room.

She turned back angrily. “So you’re all just leaving? Someone shows up that knows you, and you’re gone, just like that?”

“I’ll be back,” Seaton said. “To thank you for everything you’ve done. We aren’t just going to forget you.”

“Please,” she said. “I get how this works. You say all these pretty words to my face and then, behind my back, tell people you know that I mean nothing.”

Seaton shot a look of panic at her and then Aegis, and she wondered if she was embarrassing him, exposing the fact that there really was something between them.

“Anyway, just go,” Jenny said. “I always knew you would anyway.”

“And you’re sure she’s just someone who helped you?” Aegis asked, folding his arms. “She sure seems mad.”

Seaton took a deep breath and seemed to grow visibly angrier. But his demeanor toward her was cold. “You know women. They get ideas. Make things more than they are.”

She gasped and ran for the back room, not able to stand looking at him for even another second.

Maybe on some level, she’d always suspected things were too good to be true, that Seaton and his friends had just been using her until they had a better option, but she never thought they could be so cruel to her.

“Now look what you’ve done,” she heard Seaton hiss at Aegis. Weird names, all of them. Stupid people who trampled on people’s hearts. She was the stupid one for trusting them when nothing had ever made sense.

That was the last time she trusted her instincts over her brain.

She locked the deadbolt on the back room and sat on her office chair, trying to control her breath. She heard the front door open and close as someone left.

A moment later, she heard a quiet knock.

“I’ll be back. I promise,” Seaton said against the door. “Trust me.”

“No, Seaton. Not this time. Now that I know I don’t mean anything. Now that I know how you can lie.”

She heard his forehead hit the door and felt sorry for him, but only for a split second.

“Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?” she asked. “I would have helped you anyway. You didn’t have to pretend to be in love with me.”

She heard him sigh. “I told you the truth,” he said. “I never lied, until now. Make of that what you want, but I’ll be back. And when I do, I’m going to claim you and tell you everything. So be ready for me, Jenny. Because you’re mine.”

She covered her mouth as she gasped, but before she could open the door to question him, he had already charged out and shut the door behind him.

What did he mean she was his? What did he mean he had just lied? She ran to the front door and opened it to see a car pulling away on the wet road. She could make out blond heads in the backseat, and her heart sank.

He was leaving. She had no idea when he’d be back. And somehow, despite what she’d just heard him tell Aegis, her heart was trying to hope.

She walked back into the bar and sat in a chair in the corner, wondering what she was supposed to do now. What was going on that she didn’t understand? And if he was coming back, how long was she supposed to wait for him?

And what did he mean that he only lied now?

Did he possibly mean that he had lied to Aegis? Was she really stupid enough to believe that he cared but didn’t want to tell his friend to know for some reason?

Was she really supposed to let one moment throw off days of being in his arms?

As she sat there alone in the restaurant, she really didn’t know.