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What I really wanted to do was tell them to get the heck out of my store and to take their crazy asses back to the loony bin where they'd clearly escaped from.

"He's not explaining this right," Trenton interjected, his eyes pleading for me to understand.

There would be no understanding on my part. This shit was crazy.

"I'm not sure any explanation would really work for me at this point," I retorted and was horrified when their faces crumbled. They looked crushed.

"We've been searching for you for years," Simon pleaded with me with his eyes. "The magic recognized you. It's destiny."

I shook my head, destiny be damned.

"About that magic..." I began curiously. "I'm assuming you're talking about the silver light your tattoos gave off... What exactly did that mean?"

And did I really,honestlywant to know?

"It means," Trenton said, "that the magic we had inked into our skin that would allow us to recognize our female has finally done its job. That light was the magic blinking out and leaving our skin for good. You only get one shot at this and it's for life. You're our female, we'd lay down our lives for you, gladly, because to lose you we'd lose ourselves."

I took another involuntary step back, away from them.

"Our kind usually fade not long after our females," Simon shared unhelpfully.

That female business was really starting to bug the crap out of me. I had to put a stop to it.

"Look," I said in my best no-nonsense voice, "I don't know what you think is going on here, but I'm really not looking for another boyfriend or two. My dance card is already full. You're going to want to look for a different female to do, ya know, whatever it is that you do with."

Silence filled the shop as I looked everywhere but at the people standing before me. I didn't want to see anymore possessiveness or crushed hopes and dreams.

Out of the front window of the store I saw a big, silver SUV come to a screeching halt in the parking lot.

I sighed in relief, feeling tension leave my shoulders that I hadn't realized had been there since Adrian first walked through the door.

Thank goodness.

My boys were finally here.

Chapter Nine

Adrian stood with his arms crossed over his chest beside Simon, who was standing next to Trenton. They stood like an unmovable wall, facing off against a pissed off looking Damien, Julian, and Quinton.

Rain had come through for me and called Quinton. I needed to give him a hug later for having my back.

"Young Alexander," Adrian drawled in a pleasant voice. "It's so good to see you again."

Adrian was having the time of his life here, it seemed. Good for him, at least somebody was enjoying themselves.

"As head of the—" Quinton started in an angry voice, but stopped when Adrian waved his hand at him.

"Do not even start that with me." Adrian smirked at him. "I came here to see Ariel, not you. She can see whomever she wants and I really don't think you want to tell me I cannot come and visit her. It won't end well for you and we both know it."

It was so ballsy for him to come here and threaten Quinton like that, especially in front of witnesses.

Quinton's face started to turn an alarming shade of red. He looked like he was on the verge of exploding. Not good.

Quickly, I rounded the counter and moved toward him. The overhead lights flickered dangerously and I knew I was running out of time to control this situation.

I stopped in front of Quinton, ready to tell him to calm down, but he didn't let me get a word out. Reaching out, he wrapped his arm around my back and dragged me forward until my front crashed into his. Without looking at me, he gave me a slight squeeze with his arm before turning to the side and gently pushing me behind him. He let me go and turned back to face off against Adrian's crew.

Both Simon and Trenton tensed, their fists clenched tightly at their thighs. Their heated silver eyes were latched onto Quinton, the air around them positively electric.