Kai studied the rings in the case with a confused expression, wondering which one his mate would like.

This morning, they’d taken the boat back, and he’d tucked his mate into bed in his room, making sure to double-check the deadbolt before he left through the window again.

When he got back, he hoped to be able to make things official. He knew it was fast, but when fate gave you chances like this, you had to take them.

And besides, it was unlike anything he’d ever felt, and he was pretty sure it was like that for her, too.

He pulled out his dragon handbook to look at Amethyst’s advice.

Don’t be afraid to show your mate who you really are. With love, secrets only get in the way. —Amethyst

He really hoped Dom was right. He’d never wanted to keep secrets from Renee, but he had a feeling if he’d just told her the whole dragon thing up front, she’d have run from him on sight.

He closed the small book and set it back in his back pocket for later so he could return to looking at rings.

He’d already been to all the other stores in the hotel, and this one was at the far end, a high-end jeweler with custom designs that were more unique than the others.

At least that’s what it had said on the sign.

He’d asked for the tourmaline jewelry and been pointed to this case. He looked in wonder at all the colors it came in. Pink, green, and, in smaller amounts, sparkling blue.

He looked at one particular ring that had a small blue stone surrounded by sparkling diamonds.

“Ah, good taste,” the jeweler said. “That’s Paraiba.”

The ring was pretty, but not quite right. He felt a buzzing inside him and looked farther to the right to a large, faceted, bluish-green stone that was the color of an ocean storm, complex and deep yet beautiful.

Yes, that ring reminded him more of their relationship.

“Another good choice,” the jeweler said. “Astounding stone. Great size. Do you want to look at it?”

Kai nodded, and the jeweler took it out of the case. The more Kai studied the stone up close, the surer he was that Renee was meant to have it. It reminded him of deep ocean water, and it reminded him of how far his love reached. All the way to the horizon.

“Wrap it up,” he said quietly. Now that he’d found the ring, his mind was buzzing nervously with all the possibilities he now had to face. Would she say yes? Should he tell her everything before or after? They’d already had sex, so when he asked her, would they be mated?

So many questions, yet the dragon inside him simply told him to go back to her. That as long as he was with her, things would work out.

He felt the need to hurry, so he paid for the ring, took the small bag it was in, and walked out of the store with a kind of worried pride.

He felt like a warrior returning after battle and hoped the welcome waiting for him was warm.

He walked out of the lobby and looked around, wondering if anyone would see him if he just jumped back up to the window and got in that way, without having to scare her by melting open the door.

But just as he started that direction, he heard someone hurrying to catch up. He sighed as he saw someone jump ahead of him in a whirl of blue.

Liz. She folded her arms and blocked his path.

He took a startled step back. “How many times do I have to say I’m not interested in you?” he asked tersely. “Get out of my way.”

“So you haven’t told Renee what happened?” Liz asked, blue eyes cool and icy. Nothing like the golden warmth of his mate.

“Of course not,” he said. “She still thinks you’re a good friend, though not for much longer if I have anything to say about it.” He stepped around her and walked past her, still heading for the place he’d jumped down from the window.

“You know, I never could have guessed how hard this would backfire,” she said darkly as Kai suddenly felt all his muscles freeze in place.

What the hell?

He couldn’t even move his eyes to look at her as she came up alongside him and jerked the bag out of his hand. She looked inside and then laughed, tossing it to the ground.

“How pitiful.”

He wanted to shout at her, break free of her, but he couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on. How was she doing this to him?

More importantly, what was she?

She circled him slowly, looking him over. “You’re probably wondering why I’m doing this. You see, you and I are meant to be together. It’s bigger than just us, so I can’t stop it.” She stepped forward, running a hand over his cheek, and he inwardly shuddered.

He worked at his jaw, trying to loosen his muscles. He forced himself to be able to talk. “I don’t want you.”

“But I do want you,” she said. “And it doesn’t matter either way. I’m going to do what my cousin never did. I’m going to mate with a dragon.”

“Cousin?” he grated out. He had no idea what she was talking about.

“Clarissa,” she said. “Ask your friends, the gemstone dragons. Ask Ruby.”

He gritted his teeth. All he wanted was to get back to Renee. Ask her to be his mate. And this harpy was stopping him.

She stepped forward, coming almost nose to nose with him. “I’m surprised you weren’t affected by my alpha wolf pheromones. I find myself very affected by you.”

He wished he could pull back as she came forward to scent him.

“You know, your friend Citrine should have followed the rules. He shouldn’t have mated a shifter, let alone a valuable alpha wolf. Tsk, tsk.” She waved a slender finger. “It upsets all the wrong people.”

He wasn’t aware of any rules. But Citrine had the right to mate whoever he wanted. Whoever fate had aligned with him. No matter what this crazy Liz person thought.

“You see, the Tribunal—that’s the ruling party of the wolves—we’ve had an eye on the dragons a while now, seeing if they threatened our kind. If they are going to take our mates, then I say they do. But then again, there is always tit for tat.”

He tried to scowl at her as panic moved through him. She couldn’t mean what he thought she did.

“This vacation was just a cover. We’ve had someone watching the mansion for any dragon departures. I was sent here because I knew you were coming. Renee was so cute, thinking I’d won the tickets in a contest. But this was all a big trap, laid to catch a dragon, and I did.”

He blinked, eyes watering. What the hell had he gotten himself into? He’d known Liz was into him, but not like this. It had never occurred to him that she’d come here just to meet him, dragging Renee along with her.

Fate worked in weird ways. It had brought him to his mate, but now it was going to tear her away from him.

“What do you want from me?”

She drew a hand down his chest. “Everything. But we’ll start with a child.”

He shuddered again. He didn’t want anyone but Renee. He fought his collar, but there was no way to gain the kind of strength he needed.

Thunder cracked overhead, a useless storm gathering that couldn’t help him but expressed his feelings nonetheless.

“It’s time for the Tribunal to take down the dragons. And we’ve finally found a way to turn the tides. Literally, I suppose,” she said with a laugh. “Isn’t that right, water dragon?”

“What about Renee?” he grated out.

“Oh, she’ll forget soon enough. I’ve stolen enough men from her over the years. In fact, she’s my good luck charm. That’s why I brought her. Could never have believed she would steal you from me. It doesn’t matter. I’m going to win, and I’ll make sure and stop by to deliver a little story. About how you wised up. How you were using her all along.”

“No,” he bit out. “Please.”

“No point in begging, water dragon. You’re going to be mine.”

And then she snapped her fingers, and two men appeared at her sides. Hulking men who smelled like wolves.

Why didn’t she?

“I mask everything but my pheromones, darling,” she said coldly, seeing his disgusted expression. There was a gleam in her eye as the wolves each took one of his arms and started dragging him off the beach. “And my alpha powers, of course. That’s why you’re frozen. I share that with Clarissa, and now I will do what she couldn’t. Claim a dragon.”

And then Kai was dragged away, unable to fight, unable to do anything but let the heavens crack, sending down showers and fierce thunder as he longed for his mate.

* * *

When Marina landed in Hawaii, she exited the airport and shaded her eyes from the sun, already loving the tropical weather. At least, she would love it if she wasn’t here on a rescue mission. As soon as Kai was safe, maybe she could enjoy a little time in the sun.

She walked forward with her bag, looking for the car she’d hired to pick her up and take her to the hotel where he was staying. She’d had all his info from the moment he left.

Her heart was racing as she walked to the driver holding a sign with her name and got into his car.

She wasn’t afraid of him, wasn’t afraid of any human really, despite the fact that she couldn’t take her dragon form.

She was one of the most powerful dragons, though she didn’t really like to fight, and even in human form, she could take on most creatures.

But so could Kai, so she was worried about what had endangered him.

She hadn’t been able to reach him since he’d called her that morning, and she was growing more worried by the hour. But she had to hope she would have a chance to get to him. Otherwise, what was the premonition for?

When they arrived at the hotel, she got out of the car and looked up at it. She dragged her suitcase behind her but dropped it as she reached the lobby, as echoes of Kai’s despair went through her.

She ran toward the source of them, through a set of sliding glass doors and out onto the beach, where it was raining. It looked so odd, just a small storm just over that section of the beach, no clouds anywhere in any other direction. She walked directly under them and looked up into the stormy gray darkness, letting rain wash over her.

“Kai,” she murmured sadly. “Where are you?” She felt something under her feet and saw the edge of a bag sticking out of the sand. She pulled it up and looked inside, seeing a ring bag covered in sand.

She pulled it out, looked at it, and smiled. This was meant for his mate, and Marina would make sure he got the chance to give it to her. She carefully put it in her pocket

She looked side to side, scenting something odd in the air. She wasn’t sure what.

She had to find Kai’s mate, if she was still around. But where? How? She walked back to the lobby, wondering if there was someone she could ask about Kai. If someone had seen anyone with him.

And then she heard someone shouting over at the front desk. A short, curved woman with dark-blond hair. She was shaking her small fist at the woman behind the counter and looked to be nearly in tears.

Something about her drew Marina forward. Something felt important. Marina wasn’t sure what these new powers were that kept manifesting in her, but she had the faith to keep following them.

She walked up behind the woman and sensed the unmistakable scent of her brother. He’d spent time with this woman.

“Excuse me,” she said, tapping the distraught woman on the shoulder. “But have you seen my brother?”

The woman whipped around, and Marina saw her eyes were tearstained and red. She swiped at them, then looked up at Marina in shock. “Your brother? It can’t be…”

“Kai,” Marina said, looking affectionately at her future sister-in-law. She already liked her. Anyone who could look this distraught over her difficult brother was someone Marina could like. “I’m his sister.”

The woman gave her a long look up and down and sighed. “Yup. That checks out. Do you know where he is?”

“I’m Marina,” she said, extending a hand, wanting to get a feel for this human. Her brothers only knew she liked to flirt, liked to touch. They didn’t know she could also sense feelings and emotions when she did.

“I’m Renee,” the woman said, taking Marina’s hand.

Marina felt worry flood through her, combined with love for Kai and hurt that he was gone.

“Tell me everything you know,” Marina said. “Do you have a room we can talk in?”

The woman nodded hesitantly. “But I’ve already asked everyone. No one saw him go. My friend tried to tell me an odd story about him, but I don’t trust her. I know him. He wouldn’t just go. He’s weird sometimes, and no one else gets him, but he’s a good man. He wouldn’t go.”

“I know,” Marina said. “I agree with you. But there’s a lot to talk about, and I can’t do it here.”

She didn’t get any impression that Renee knew about shifters and dragons, and she didn’t want her fainting right in front of her when told.

Besides, she wasn’t sure how much she should say without Kai there. Wasn’t it his job to explain?

“Okay,” Renee said with a sigh. “Follow me.”

Marina was just glad to be trusted by the curvy little human. Now time to go figure out how to save her brother.

* * *

Renee tried not to be envious as she stared at the beautiful woman in front of her. Beautiful didn’t even describe her. She was curvaceous in all the right ways, with long, naturally light-blond hair, a kind, warm face, and dazzling blue eyes like clear blue skies over ocean water.

A much lighter version of Kai’s.

There were some similarities. The strong jaw, the straight nose, but there was softness to Marina’s features in contrast to Kai’s defined sharpness.

But why was she here, just on the day Kai disappeared? Something wasn’t right, and Renee was going to get to the bottom of it.

She sat on the couch across from Marina, who perched on a chair, and explained what had happened so far.

Kai had left that morning while she was asleep, locking the door and going through the window. Then, according to hotel staff, he’d gone to a jewelry store. Then he’d just disappeared.

Renee had searched the hotel and the beach for hours, finally slumping back to her room to see Liz had left a note, gloating.

Saw Kai checking out this morning. Told you he was a jerk. I saw him, but he wouldn’t even talk to me, just ran off like he was avoiding something. Sorry, honey, but you can’t say I didn’t warn you!

XOX,

Liz

PS: I’m headed back to the mainland early. It’s boring here. Good luck on your flight home.

Renee walked to the note on the counter and handed it to Marina. “This was Liz’s explanation.”

Marina scanned it quickly. “That’s bullshit. What a jerk.”

“I know,” Renee said, shame welling in her. “I feel so stupid.”

“I just mean, what kind of friend gloats over something like that?” Marina said. “Or tells her friend something heartbreaking? Especially when I know it’s not true. Kai would never do that.” Marina folded her arms over her lush bosom. “One thing about my brother, he doesn’t run away from a problem. If anything, he’s more prone to running straight in.”

“I know,” Renee said. “It’s hard for me to not be insecure because he’s so beautiful, but I know he wouldn’t do that. He’s not that kind of man.”

“No, he isn’t,” Marina said. “And don’t put yourself down. You’re beautiful, too.”

“Thank you,” Renee said because she was learning to take compliments rather than fight them and because Kai always saying it to her was making her sort of believe it. “But yeah. I mean, he puts his foot in his mouth all the time, and he often says the wrong thing, and he does silly things on impulse sometimes, but after last night, I don’t believe he would leave me.”

“Me neither,” Marina said.

Renee raised an eyebrow at her, wondering what she knew.

“He called me last night. He told me things had gotten serious.”

“Like it was a good thing?” Renee asked.

“A very good thing,” Marina said. “But there’s something you should know. My brother—”

She was interrupted by a beep on Renee’s phone, and Renee pulled it out, realizing she had a voicemail. She hadn’t even heard a call.

She unlocked it and played the voicemail, putting it on speaker. It was Liz. She’d called right after finding the note, but Liz hadn’t picked up.

“Hi, Renee,” Liz said cheerfully. “Anyway, I know you called, but I’m like super busy at the moment. Don’t worry about that Kai guy. He’s too good for you—I mean, you’re too good for him, obviously. It’s early. Anyway…”

The message was still rambling off as Marina stood straight up, eyes narrowing dangerously. “I know that voice. I’ve heard it before…”

Renee raised an eyebrow. Kai’s sister might just be as odd as Kai. She already liked her, too.

Then Marina fell to the floor on her knees, hands on the carpet as her head fell forward and she shook. When she looked up, her blue eyes were blazing with an almost otherworldly glow.

“I know where he is. That bitch has him.”

“What?” Renee asked, confused, as Marina stood and grabbed her hand, jerking her along and out the door, not taking time to shut it behind them. “How?”

“Kidnapped, apparently.”

As much as the thought made Renee angry, she just couldn’t picture it. “How could any woman just kidnap a huge guy like Kai?”

“She had help, and she’s not what she appears to be,” Marina said, keeping Renee’s hand as they ran through the lobby, darting around surprised guests. “But come on. We need to hurry. Time is of the essence if you want to save your mate.”

“How is someone like me supposed to save someone like him?” Renee asked helplessly. She would do anything for Kai. Anything. She’d woken up today knowing she loved him, no matter how odd it was that it had happened so quickly.

She’d meant it last night when she told him she wanted everything. And somehow, there on that boat, it had seemed possible.

Then he’d just disappeared.

“Just trust me. You can help,” Marina said. “Even if it’s not in the way you think.”

“Okay,” Renee said, nodding. “Whatever I can do, I’ll do it.”

“Remember you said that,” Marina said cryptically. “Because I expect you to keep that promise.”

A shudder of fear went through Renee at those words, but she was far more worried about Kai and anything happening to him.

Once, she’d been a shy, tentative woman who didn’t hope for anything and clung to other people’s shadows. Now she was a woman in love heading into danger to fight for something she wanted.

The world had turned upside down, but she didn’t even mind it.

As long as they could get Kai back okay.