Matching Dragons Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 6 (7 page)

Her shoulders tensed but she faced away from him, so he couldn’t detect how bad the damage was.

“Want to tell me why you seek dragon blood? You’re risking an awful lot for such a valuable item.” He inclined his head, studying her reactions. “Maybe someone you care for is sick?” Her lungs skipped an inhalation as though she held her breath. Bingo. Dragon blood could counter just about any enchantment. “Your lover, perhaps?” Though he’d meant the question as a jest, his chest tightened. He simply…refused to share her.

“No.”

Her denial should have elated him, except pain permeated her voice. “Who then?”

A long exhale, her shoulders slumping. “My sister, Melody. She’s sick. I slept with the Monkey King and—”

“Really?” Lok wiped the grimace from his face. “Ah, sorry.”

“I didn’t know it was him at the time.” She wrinkled her nose. “He tricked me, then cursed my sister because I wouldn’t let him have her too.”

“Well, the good news for you is rumors claim he’s been given quite the slap on the wrist. He won’t be hurting anyone for a few centuries, at least.”

She nodded. “That would explain why I couldn’t track him down, but it doesn’t help my sister. I need dragon blood to cure her.”

He dropped his head into his hands, bracing his elbows on his knees. Fuck. He’d hoped to convince her to ditch this crazy-ass plan. But not if it was to save her sister. There was no backing out. “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks.” She twisted around. “Really, I mean it. I know I don’t act grateful, but I can’t fail here. Not when it’s my sister’s life in the balance.”

He lifted his head. Her features were tight, as though she held back tears. The beast in him would use this to his advantage. Clearly, she was desperate. One might conclude she’d be willing to offer anything to ensure her sister’s survival…

Even herself.

Fuck. Lok tore his gaze off her, hopping off the chair to stride toward the railing. Any other dragon would do precisely that. Notions of morality or empathy weren’t in his nature. Those were human sentiments. Hell, had he spent too long amongst them? Were they rubbing off on him?

Or perhaps, it was just Kadence.

Yet if he didn’t claim her, another dragon would. She was a flaming pearl. A treasure. Her fate had already been sealed. Would it be so bad to claim her? He would worship her. She would never wish for anything under his care.

Except perhaps, her freedom.

His shoulders slumped, his focus dropping to peruse the turquoise waters. Was there any way to protect Kadence and preserve her free will? He wracked his mind for a solution, diving through every tidbit of dragon lore.

Any tale of a human flaming pearl had always resulted in the same—possession. Likewise, the pearl couldn’t be removed from her. She
was
the pearl. It would be like tearing out her soul.

A bloody miracle no dragon had encountered her yet. She was fortunate he was the first she’d come across. But they were about to head straight into dragon territory. The chances of her coming out unclaimed were slim.

Unless… He fingered the dragon chain around his wrist. He would just have to keep her far enough away from any dragon that they wouldn’t sense her nature.

No way around it. He was going down there with her. Straight into dragon territory. Where one misstep would mean his death.

And Kadence’s imprisonment.

***

“We’re here.” Lok stalked toward her. Ever since she’d disclosed the truth about her mission, he’d leaned over the railing, staring out at the ocean.

Ignoring her.

But whatever. He strode toward her, determination etched into his steely features.
Exactly what I need.

She didn’t seek Lok’s sympathy or compassion. She required a badass warrior who was going to help her free a dragon princess.

And save her sister.

Kadence nodded. Lok unsnapped the chain from their wrists and crooked his fingers for her to follow him toward the diving suits. “Is it really that deep?”

“Yep.”

Okay. She rubbed her hands together and wiggled into the enormous puffy suit, transforming her into a gigantic marshmallow. Lok did the same and waved for her to jump in after him.

She squeezed her eyes shut, the water enveloping her while she floated downward.

“Don’t forget to breathe.” Lok’s voice droned over the intercom.

Yeah, she’d rather not have her head explode today.

Her skin chilled as they sank deeper, toward the ocean floor. Lifting her eyes open, she spotted Lok. Rather than head for the sandy bottom, he swam toward a shimmering doorway. A portal? Yep, right where Han had said it would be.

Kicking her legs, she swam up beside Lok. “Ready? Remember, once we’re through—”

“They’ll know we’re there.” Sneaking into dragon territory didn’t faze her as much as maybe it should have. All of her cards rested on the princess. Hopefully, she’d want to be rescued and reunited with Han.

Or else they were screwed.

Lok pushed through first, disappearing into the iridescent liquid. Steeling herself, Kadence swam after him. The portal sucked her in, whipping her around like a washing machine on spin cycle, and spewed her out on the other side. She smacked into hard stone. A second later, her helmet clicked and cool air whooshed over her as it lifted off her head.

“Let’s go.” Lok set aside her helmet and shrugged out of his diving suit. She copied him, stealing glimpses of the darkened cavern.

If she hadn’t sunk through hundreds of feet of deep water to get here, she’d swear they were still on land. A crisp breeze fluttered through her hair, cooling her skin. Han had said not to expect guards, and she didn’t spot any. The dragon princess had been down here so long, most had forgotten about her. Han had certainly given up on reaching her. Kind of pathetic for an Immortal.

Rumors claimed he’d rather sprinkle his gardens with flowers and play his flute than rescue his one true love.

Maybe there was more to the story. There usually was.

Kadence trailed behind Lok, who seemed to have greater knowledge of this place than she’d expected him to. Weird. Still, he was being exceptionally helpful.

They paused at a stone archway leading into a darkened tunnel. “She should be right through here.” He turned to her. “Why don’t you let me fetch her?”

Alarms screeched in her brain. Of course he was being helpful. He had an ulterior motive. The jackass.

“No way.” She folded her arms, glaring at him.

“Okay, fine, but you’re going to regret making me do this.”

As she opened her mouth to ask what, Lok snapped the chain around her wrist. “Hey!”

He tugged her close, bringing his face to hers. “Please trust me.”

Trusting Lok was the last thing she wanted to do, but he hadn’t left her any choice. “If you screw me over—”

“Darling, I don’t plan to do that until later.”

She huffed at his sexual innuendo, but her muscles eased. If Lok teased her, it meant he probably was being sincere. Hopefully.

He headed into the tunnel and she treaded behind him, grateful she didn’t have to enter this creepy hole by herself. Illumination brightened the tunnel ahead. As she stepped out behind Lok, a waterfall of glowing lights flowed around her. Water trilled from somewhere on her right, accompanied by the singsongy melodies of…birds?

Lok glanced over his shoulder to quirk his eyebrow at her. She shrugged, as confused as he appeared to be.

The glowing lights were flowers, hundreds of them cascading down the stone walls with their eerie illumination. Despite there being no sunlight, this was a cheerful cavern. Not the gloomy prison she’d envisioned.

The birds quietened, their hushing unveiling the soft chiming of feminine laughter. Lok slid his hand backward to grasp hers, his broad shoulders blocking her view.

“Well, well,” a clear-pitched voice hummed. “Welcome, indeed.”

Kadence tugged against Lok’s tight grip, struggling to peek around him for a glimpse, but he was like a concrete wall.

“Thank you, my lady Tasi, Princess of the Qinglong Dragons.” The Qinglong were sapphire-scaled dragons of the East, or so the legends she’d researched claimed.

“I have been long without visitors. Will you not come in and tell me your name?” The female’s voice was smooth as silk. Sweet and high. Something about her tone clawed at the back of Kadence’s brain.

“I’ve actually come to rescue you, my lady.” Lok inclined his head. “And bring you to Han Xiangzi.”

“Han?” Her voice pitched high. “How wonderful.”

Maybe dragons weren’t that excitable by nature, but Kadence had expected more enthusiasm from someone about to be reunited with her long-lost love.

“Who have you brought with you?”

“Only my partner, my lady.” Lok’s voice was rough, his muscles rigid against her palms. “Come with me.”

“Oh, not so quickly. I must gather my things.” Soft padding footsteps echoed away from them.

“Dammit.” Lok twisted toward her. “So much for princesses, eh.”

“Yeah, apparently.”

“Why don’t you head back to the suits? I’ll bring her after she’s packed.” He released the chain around her wrist.

Again with trying to get rid of her.
Hmm.
“Fine.” She played along, treading halfway through the tunnel. Lok stood guard on the opposite end, but strode toward the garden after a few minutes.

Kadence seized the chance to sneak back toward the garden. There was more to the princess’s reluctance…but what?

Up ahead, Lok shuffled his boots in the dirt, facing the doorway the princess had gone through. Tip-toeing, Kadence snuck in the opposite direction, toward a smaller archway. She slipped inside and faced a stone-walled corridor. Choosing right, she followed the passageway. Han had given up on the princess far too easily, and she, well, why wouldn’t she be more excited about leaving this place?

The corridor grew warmer, a sweltering humidity moistening the air. Kadence wiped her damp forehead and hastened her steps. A high-pitched singing carried from further in. She slowed, treading toward the noise with caution.

“Come now, my lovelies. It is time for us to go, my darlings!” The bizarre, off-tone melody haunted Kadence’s ears. She peered around a corner, and smothered her gasp with her hand.

The princess danced around the room like a young girl, whirling with her partner. Only, her partner was a skeleton.

Shoot. Apparently, centuries of imprisonment had made her go batshit crazy. With dark locks reaching her knees and her pale skin accentuated by an emerald silk dress, she was beautiful. Crazy, and beautiful. It was easy to see why Han had fallen for her. She probably hadn’t been psycho back then.

She definitely was now, humming the off-key tune and bowing to her partner, then stuffing him inside an open suitcase on her bed. “What’s that?” She bent her ear toward the skull. “We have a visitor?”

Before Kadence could whip behind the door, the princess cast her silver gaze in Kadence’s direction. “How lovely to meet you. Do come in.”

Kadence straightened her shoulders and stepped inside. How bad could this be?

“Seral, say hello.” She lifted the skeleton’s arm to wave.

Uh-huh. Bad.

“My lady, we’re ready to take you to Han. You can leave, um, Seral, here, and come back for him later, okay?”

“Why would I ever want to…” Tasi flashed across the room. “Leave?” Her hand shot out to grasp Kadence’s wrist, claws digging into her skin. “When he has sent me another lovely gift?” She giggled, almost shrieking. “You’re just what I’ve always wanted.”

Hell no. This was some kind of twisted game. Han sent rescuers to liberate the princess, but instead of letting them free her, she killed them.

Whether Han was in on this madness didn’t really matter.

Sighing, the princess inhaled against Kadence’s skin. “So pretty.”

Okay, that was just weird. She shuddered, trying to squirm away. Maybe she should have listened to Lok, after all. Damn him for being right. And for not warning her. Did he know the princess had gone cuckoo?

“Mine. My flaming pearl. So lovely.” The princess stroked Kadence’s head, fingering her locks in those black-tipped claws.

Flaming pearl? What the hell? She wasn’t wearing any jewelry. The princess really had gone off the deep end.

“Come. Come and sit with me.” She dragged Kadence toward the large four-poster bed. Sheets of flowing silk were draped across the columns, bright colorful hues. “Which one do you like? Red? Gold?” Tasi giggled, dancing around and plucking the scarves.

Kadence inched backward. If she distracted the woman, she might be able to make it back to Lok. “Silver.” She jerked her chin toward the silk on the furthest post, sliding her foot backward again.

“Oh, me too!” The princess clapped her hands and skipped toward the scarf.

Kadence spun, sprinting for the door. The moment she reached it, a sapphire-scaled body blocked the archway.

Crap.

“I didn’t give you permission to leave.” The lightness had been cut from her voice, now dripping with menace. Growling, the dragon curled toward her, its feline-like head batting fluttering lashes at Kadence. “Please do have a seat and stay.” That creepy friendly tone crept back in.

“Kadence!” Lok’s voice boomed from the opposite doorway. He rushed into the room.

The princess snarled, lashing out her spiked tail at Lok.

He lunged backward, evading the blow. His wide gaze met hers. “Run!”

“No, she’s mine!” A blast of white flames shot from the dragon’s mouth, slamming into Lok and thrusting him backward.

Kadence snatched a jeweled dagger from the floor and stabbed the dragon’s tail.

Tasi howled, the flaming bolt snuffed out as she twisted toward Kadence.

Lok lunged forward, but the dragon snared Kadence’s waist and unfurled its wings, flapping them and crashing them through the ceiling. Kadence squirmed and slashed her nails across the dragon’s densely scaled tail, but the princess zoomed onward, through the tunnel, toward the portal.

Hell, no.

The portal only opened one way, but Lok had pried it to remain open…until they passed through again.

Kadence twisted around, searching for Lok pursuing them. Was he okay? Had the bolt hurt him? If the princess got to the portal before he did, he’d be stuck inside here.