Prologue
Aria
Two Weeks After Halloween Night
The scent of books and freshly brewed coffee fills the air as I organize the shelves with a fresh batch of titles. I recently stumbled upon this wild series while reading on my Kindle after my Halloween night with Skull and Ghost, and I knew my customers would devour it faster than I did. I had been searching for the perfect why choose romance that would give me the same thrill and unholy joy I had that night. Then… boom…I found Taila Cantrell’s Reclaiming Wonderland Series. Being a lifelong fan of Alice in Wonderland, I was hooked faster than you can say down the rabbit hole. Taila’s take on Wonderland—chef’s kiss—is so rich, so emotionally twisted, and it gave me feelings I didn’t think I would have again.
This right here is my happy place. Discovering authors who haven’t had their “big break” yet and sharing their work. It is undoubtedly my favorite part of owning this store.
As I slot the last copy of Blue Dreams onto the shelf, a chime rings, signaling the entrance of a customer. I turn with a smile, ready to greet whoever walked into my little sanctuary.
As I round the corner to the counter, my eyes immediately lock on two men standing there like they just stepped out of one of these over-the-top romance novels. Both of them have to be over six feet tall, no chance they're under. I can practically feel their presence smothering my tiny little bookstore. The first guy who turns to me is the kind of man you look at and immediately think, he probably listens to music that sounds like a thunderstorm and doesn't get surprised by plot twists. He’s got shaggy black hair that looks like it's been styled with pure attitude, and those eyes, baby blue, are easy to get lost in. His muscular build gives off the vibe that he could lift a car or at least help you move your couch without breaking a sweat. And when he smiles at me, it’s like someone just turned up the heat in the store.
Then there's the other guy, leaning against the counter like he’s too cool to stand up straight. He has long brown hair that flows past his shoulders, he kind of looks like a Viking in some ways. His muscular build screams that he works out every single day, but he carries it with a laid-back confidence that makes me think he’s used to women drooling over him. He’s got that I know I’m trouble vibe, and honestly, I’m not sure if I should be scared or intrigued.
Together, they’re like temptation incarnate. There’s something about them. Something I can’t quite place. It’s the feeling you get when you think you might have been stalked in a past life, but you know… in a sexy way.
“Hey there,” the one with black hair says, voice smooth as honey. “We’re looking for… something really special.” He winks, and I melt. I’m not sure if he’s being serious or if he’s just trying to get me to laugh so he can steal my soul and leave me thanking him for it.
“Welcome in!” I blurt out, mentally kicking myself. “What kind of books are you into?” I step behind the counter. What the hell is happening with me? I need to wrestle back control before I spiral into a fantasy I'll regret later. I think I might be reading too much smut if this is the way I act anytime I am around hot men.
The guy with shaggy black hair, let's call him Mr. Blue Eyes, is still watching me. He's looking at me like he's reading every filthy, unspoken thought before I even have it. Great. I hope I'm not that obvious.
The other guy, Mr. Green Eyes, leans in and tilts his head. Just that simple move makes me feel like he’s studying me under a microscope. “Do you have something with a good mystery?” He asks, placing a hand on his chest, his eyes sparkling. “But only if it comes with a side of adventure. And a splash of danger. Maybe a hint of romance about a hot bookstore ow—”
“And snacks,” the first guy interrupts. “No good mystery is complete without chips or cookies.”
A snort escapes before I can stop it, followed immediately by a mental slap… no way that just happened in front of these two. Familiarity creeps in like a shadow, teasing the edge of recognition. Their faces stir something, though the connection stays frustratingly out of reach.
"That logic's hard to argue with," I say with a nervous laugh. My eyes dart between them, searching for answers. "But… have we met before? There's something about you guys that feels way too familiar."
“So,” Mr. Green Eyes says. His that ridiculously inviting voice causes my stomach to flip. “What do you think of mysterious strangers? The kind who shows up when you least expect them?”
I give a short laugh, trying to keep it cool. “Well, to be honest, I’m usually into mystery, but I also suck at surprises.”
Mr. Green Eyes laughs. “Good answer, Aria. But here’s a question for you. Have you looked at your back since Halloween night?”
I freeze. Did he just say-
“What?” I practically spit the word out before I can stop myself. That night… that Halloween night. It had been one of the most bizarre, mind-blowing evenings of my life, but how do they know that!
“Don’t look so panicked. We’re not here to freak you out… Well, not completely.” Mr. Blue Eyes says, with a knowing smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
I stand taller, trying to shake the creeping feeling that my whole life is about to get a lot weirder. “What the hell does that have to do with anything? And who are you?”
Mr. Green Eyes leans a little closer, his eyes flicking over my face. “The marks, Aria,” he says, his voice low, like we’re in on some secret that only they understand, “The ones you got that night…have you looked at them?”
I swallow hard. Of course I’ve looked at them. How could I not? It’s the only reminder I have that Halloween night actually happened. Every time I shower, every time I look in the mirror…I get a reminder of Skull and Ghost, their initials left on my skin permanently. But still…how do they know about them? How do they know about that night?
A flash of panic creeps up my spine. “Yeah, I’ve looked,” I say, more cruelly than intended. “But what the hell does that have to do with you two?”
Their eyes meet for a moment, and that’s when I realize something. These guys aren’t normal. No, scratch that, these guys are weird as fuck.
“What do they say, Aria?” Mr. Blue Eyes asks, his tone teasing but serious at the same time. “The marks, baby. What do they say?"
I glance at them both, trying to read their expressions, but I’m getting nowhere.
I sigh. “Fine. I’ll tell you.” I pause, looking between them. “The initials. On my back. They say JR and BA.”
