Destiny of Dragons (8 page)

Sweaty from their lovemaking, Aden collapsed beside Gallen on the mattress. “I think you killed me.”

Gallen laughed. “I think you’ll survive. I doubt after everything you’ve gone through a bit of sex is going to finish you off.”

“You’d be surprised.” Aden cupped Gallen’s cheek.

“Get some rest, I’ll stay here until you wake.”

Aden sighed. “Sounds good.”

Before long Aden’s soft breathing filled the room. Gallen got up long enough to clean them both, then he joined his beloved in slumber.

Liang took another aerial sweep, but didn’t see anything except acres of snow. Nothing popped out screaming
psychotic emperor base here
!

“Maybe Proteus was mistaken?”
Liang sent telepathically to Zhou.

The older dragon swooped down beside him until they were both flying the same pattern together.
“I’m not going back there without news. Find something. I don’t care what it is at this point. Even a psychotic bunny shifter will do.”

Liang snorted, sending a puff of mist into the air before him. He didn’t understand Zhou’s fear of the king. Aden seemed like a reasonable sort, as long as you didn’t look too long at his mate or threaten his child. He was a far cry from a mad emperor who tortured and killed for the satisfaction it gave him to hear them scream.

Taking another leisurely aerial circle Liang tried to focus on the task at hand. He’d rather go back home and cuddle with his mate. Proteus had said he’d be in the tank while Liang was gone. The sea dragon apparently wasn’t comfortable yet with hanging around the non-aquatic shifters. In time Proteus would become used to all the different people, but now, with all the changes in his life, he needed time to adjust.

Liang had introduced Proteus to Kurtis, hoping the two would bond, but other than exchanging wary looks they hadn’t clung to each other like long lost brothers. Maybe being mated with dragons wasn’t enough to connect over.

“I see something.”
Zhou’s voice in his head had Liang gliding closer his leader. He scanned the snow, but nothing caught his attention. Snow, snow, ice and more snow.

“What did you see?”

“I don’t know. A flash of red. There!”

Liang followed Zhou down, flinching as his claws met the frozen earth. Too bad they didn’t make wool socks for dragons. A still lump lay collapsed by the tree. It took him a moment to recognize the shape as a dragon shifter. A fire dragon didn’t belong in this cold. They were desert dwellers. Mexico and the southern parts of the United States used to be heavily populated by red dragons. Liang wondered if red dragons had decreasing numbers over the years like water dragons.

Zhou shifted to human and Liang followed suit, shivering from the cold before his scales transformed into cold weather clothing and covered his feet. The fire dragon shuddered in the cold. Liang could almost hear the beast’s teeth clanking together.

Liang crouched down to see the dragon better. “Hello, what are you doing out here? We’re looking for the emperor.”

“Liang.” Zhou’s warning tone had Liang straightening and stepping back. Maybe he shouldn’t have shared that information, but he doubted the cold, shivering dragon was a plant from the emperor for them to share their story. The emperor was more straightforward than that.

The dragon shifter transformed into a slim human with red hair and gold eyes. He began trembling when his bare flesh touched the snow before his scales covered him again.

“I-I kn-know where he is. Or at least wh-where the facility is.”

It didn’t look like the red dragon’s scales protected him from the cold as well as water dragons’ scales did.

“Facility?” Liang’s heart sped up as the red dragon’s words sank in. They might actually have found a lead. Success!

The redheaded dragon nodded his head. “He traps dragons there and tortures them for information.”

“What kind of information?”

“I-I don’t know. That’s just what I heard. He’s never questioned me. He never seemed to think I had anything worthwhile to say.”

Warning bells rang through Liang’s head. The strong sense of danger intensified until he thought he’d choke on the instinct to run. He sent Zhou a warning through their link. Zhou frowned, but didn’t comment.

“I’m Zhou and this is Liang. What’s your name?”

“Rye. I’m a fire dragon. I’m guessing you two are water ones. The emperor has a real hard on for you water guys. He hasn’t let the two he captured free for more than an hour at a time to shift.”

Liang grinned. Relief surged through him. “So they’re alive.”

Rye shrugged. “They were a few days ago. I haven’t seen them since.”

“How did you escape?” Liang asked.

The emperor wouldn’t just let a dragon free without having a reason behind it.

Rye frowned, his eyes flashing an apologetic message. “I’m bait.”

Liang’s claws came out, but not before they were surrounded. Soldiers appeared out of the air and darts coated Liang with tiny pinpricks. “May your soul go to the Chamber of Mirrors so you can see your true shape,” Liang cursed.

“I am already in a hell of my own making,” Rye whispered. “I’ll get word to your people. Where are you from?”

“Seattle. Go to Seattle and seek the dragon king,” Liang managed to say as his body slowly gave into paralysis and he toppled to the snow. Fuck he hated the cold.

Out of the corner of his eye Liang saw Rye slink away while the ambush soldiers wrapped them in ropes. Maybe that had been the fire dragon’s entire intent, but Liang knew if he saw him again he’d rip the bastard’s head off. Even if he managed to reach Aden, who knew what the sick psychopath could do to Liang and Zhou before they were rescued.

Fuck, he’d just told him where to find their people. If he weren’t already paralyzed he would’ve thrown himself on a sword for his betrayal of the other shifters.

* * * *

Proteus floated around his tank thinking over his relationship with Liang. He and his mate were beginning to bond but for the past few hours tension had been strumming through him. Maybe knowing Liang had gone to scout out the emperor had him on edge. He hoped it wasn’t anything more. He watched the babies flit around each other and smiled.

His smile vanished when Kurtis ran into the room and tapped on the tank. “We need you.”

“It’ll be okay,” Proteus muttered to himself. “It’ll be fine.”

But the fact they said they needed him and his mate wasn’t there sent alarm bells ringing through his head. He made his way to the top of the tank and Kurtis scooped him up and set him on the ground.

Proteus transformed then stood and accepted the towel Kurtis handed out.

“I brought you some clothes.” Kurtis pointed to the pile on the bench.

“What happened?”

“Liang and Zhou have been captured.”

Proteus quickly dressed. His emotions numb, Proteus followed Kurtis to where he guessed the others were meeting. His stomach twisted and turned, looping over and over like a slinky. He could no longer fool himself. It wouldn’t be okay.

He entered the living room to find a redheaded man kneeling before Aden. The dragon king’s eyes glowed a bright gold, a sign of his agitation. His mate stood on one side of the room, Aden’s son on the other. None of the men had happy expressions.

“Proteus. I—” Aden began.

“He’s gone isn’t he?” Proteus cut off the king, too upset to care. Tears formed in his eyes and he couldn’t stop the sob yanked from his chest.

“No, he’s been captured, but he’s not dead. If he were dead you’d know.” Aden walked over and wrapped his muscled arms around Proteus. He rested his head on the dragon king’s chest taking comfort from his strength.

“What do we do?” Proteus had to take action. Someone had captured his mate.

“I’m going to have Gallen send me and a few others through a portal to get your mate.” Aden’s tone indicated he doubted anyone could stop him.

“I should go with you.” Proteus stepped out of the king’s embrace and flushed. “I can help.”

“No offense, little one, but you aren’t exactly a warrior,” Aden said, his tone gentle.

Proteus wiped away his tears with the back of his hands. “No, but I can blend in and check out the area without being caught.”

“There is snow. They will see your footprint,” Aden argued.

“No. It is part of my blending. My footprints will match my environment. They’ll never see me coming.”

“He could pull it off,” the man on the floor said. “The guards aren’t super-vigilant. They might overlook your friend. Even if they hear him they won’t investigate if it means leaving their post and having to explain their absence to the emperor if no one is there.”

The redhead stood up, but kept his head down and his shoulders slumped as if bracing himself for Aden’s punch. Since Proteus hadn’t seen the king be violent against his own people the dragon’s fear surprised him.

“Proteus, this is Rye. He was there when Zhou and Liang were captured.”

“And what were you doing while they were taken?” The story didn’t strike him as complete.

“Yes, Rye, please explain to Proteus why his children don’t have their father.” Aden’s voice roughened as if he had to push his inner beast back down.

Rye’s entire body shook and his face paled even further a neat trick with his alabaster skin. He avoided Proteus’s eyes while he talked “I was the bait. While they were securing your dragons I snuck away. Liang told me to come to Seattle. I want to help get them back. I’m willing to do whatever necessary to make amends. I couldn’t go against the emperor’s wishes, he was going to kill me.”

Despite his wish to hold a grudge Proteus found he couldn’t. After all, if it had been his life against someone he’d never met he might have made the same decision.

A loud bell echoed through the room. Proteus flinched at the sound.

“Zhou’s mate has arrived.” Aden winced.

“I’ll go let him in,” Carey said, leaving the room.

“What is he?” Rye asked.

“A powerful sorcerer. He won’t take the news well,” Aden said. “Maybe you’d better wait in the kitchen.”

Rye shook his head. “No, I will face the people I’ve wronged.”

Proteus examined the dragon shifter with new interest. He was either a brave man or the stupidest creature Proteus had ever met. Even he could feel the magic crackling through the air. Whoever Zhou’s mate was he could annihilate them all.

“What happened to my mate?” A slim Chinese man marched into the room, the fury etched on his features highlighted the scar on his cheek.

“I’m sorry, Laozi, but he was captured by the emperor’s soldiers during a scouting expedition.” Aden stepped between the sorcerer and Rye.

Proteus smiled over the protective gesture. Aden cared for his subjects no matter how wrong they’d acted. The worshipful expression crossing Rye’s face told Proteus he wasn’t the only one feeling admiration.

“Where is he?” Laozi asked.

“A compound in Alaska,” Aden answered. “I thought it was a scouting mission, I should’ve sent more people. It’s my fault.”

Laozi visibly deflated. “No. It isn’t your fault. He’s willful. He would’ve gone with or without your people if he could get to the emperor.” The sorcerer ran his fingers through his hair. “What’s the plan?”

“I’m going to go scout,” Proteus said. He trembled when Aden and Laozi turned their powerful gazes in his direction. He straightened his spine and met their eyes one by one. “He’s my mate. I get to help with his rescue.”

“Wow, the little guy has spunk. What can you do?” Laozi asked. “What are you?”

“I’m a sea dragon shifter. As for what I can do.” Proteus focused his energy and vanished.

“That is excellent. I don’t even get a magic fluctuation in the room. What an amazing ability.” Laozi’s praise warmed Proteus.

He reappeared.

“I’m not a fighter, but I can get close enough to see what’s going on.” Proteus wouldn’t be left out.

“What happens to your kids if you get killed?” Aden asked.

“The same thing that happens if my mate is murdered. I die.” Proteus scowled at the dragon king. He was right in this. He wouldn’t back down.

After a long moment where he thought he might have overstepped enough to get into real trouble with the dragon king, Aden nodded. “If this is what you want to do, I won’t stop you. Gallen can transport you there. They must’ve dropped their phones because their coordinates haven’t changed.”

“He can send me, too.” Laozi said.

“You can’t transport yourself?” Proteus asked, and then blushed when Laozi stared at him. “Sorry, that was rude.”

Laozi patted him on the shoulder. “No. It’s all right. We don’t know much about each other’s abilities. I’m very powerful, but every sorcerer has different spells. I’ve never had the ability to teleport. My magic is a bit different,” Laozi said almost apologetically.

“Oh. All sea dragons have the same powers. I didn’t realize the same wasn’t true of other kinds of magic users or shifters.” Proteus wondered how many variations of magic were truly out there. Sea dragons weren’t known for their introspection they were more active than magical. When your sole ability involved hiding it didn’t make you a magical powerhouse.

“Interesting.” Laozi sounded sincere and offered Proteus a friendly smile. “If you can sneak inside and let me know the situation. I can gather my sorcerers to mount an attack.”

“Do you think they’ll follow you?” Aden asked. “They haven’t exactly been known for their loyalty.”

“They can help or they can get their asses off my property. I refuse to house cowards. If they won’t battle for my mate they are useless to me.” Laozi had no remorse in his tone.

“How many soldiers are there?” Aden asked Rye.

Rye shrugged. “I didn’t get to see them all. I was only allowed at certain levels. I know of twenty for certain. Sorry, I wish I had more I could share. I’m a horrible spy. I’m sure the emperor sent me because if I were captured I wouldn’t be able to help much.”

“Why don’t you come with me and we’ll get you some food,” Carey offered. “My dad and Laozi can make plans and if they need you they can come get you.”