Matching Dragons Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 6 by Rachael Slate

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