Matching Dragons Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 6 by Rachael Slate Page B

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.
    Forever.

Lok groaned and cradled his ringing head in his hands. A human would have died from that blast of dragon fire. He blinked, the blurry room coming into focus. Empty.
    Fuck. Where was Kadence?
    A gaping hole in the ceiling was his answer.
    Oh, bloody hell. He shot to his feet and raced down the corridor. The portal. The dragon had Kadence, and more importantly, knew what she was.
    If he didn’t stop her, she’d whisk Kadence off to somewhere Lok couldn’t follow.
    Unless he claimed his wings…
    Can’t.
    Must.
    The past and the future warred inside him. To transform would mean death. But to remain here doomed Kadence to be the prisoner of a crazed dragon.
    He sprinted through the tunnel and spotted them. Tasi made for the portal, which was inched open. Just enough to make it through.
    Fuck.
    There was no choice. Lok roared, his spine cracking as two wings burst forth from the scales cascading across his skin. His body elongated, clawed feet replacing his limbs.
    The dragon jerked around, hissing at him.