Matching Dragons Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 6 by Rachael Slate

yours.”
    “Mine?” A puff of disbelief escaped her. “What do you mean?” She stared at her sister, stroking her forehead.
    “She’s…”
    “She’s what?” Why was Lok acting so weird?
    “Like you. A flaming pearl, too.”

Fucking hell. What was this? He’d come here, expecting to save Kadence’s sister, but the creature lying in the bed didn’t require his blood. She needed Kadence’s. A transfusion from another flaming pearl would heal her far quicker than any dragon blood.
    One human pearl was rare enough, but two? Sisters, at that.
    He flinched, bracing for his dragon nature to swoop forward and covet the sister as well.
    Only imagine, possessing both. How revered and omnipotent he would be…
    The yearning didn’t come. No burning covetousness fired through his veins. He didn’t want her.
    Only Kadence.
    That shouldn’t be, but even as he stepped toward the women, he was drawn to Kadence. Not her sister. Not even a little bit.
    Lok cocked his head, studying them. “Take the needle, draw your blood, and give it to her. You’ll see what I mean.” He nodded at Kadence’s parted lips. The questions in her eyes would be answered soon enough.
    She did as he instructed, and while her blood filtered through Melody’s body, a vivid glow illuminated the other woman. Her sickly pallor and dull, glazed eyes brightened. Flushing skin and sparkling green depths peered at both him and Kadence. “About time.” A laugh chimed from her lips. “I’ve been waiting, like, forever.”
    “You knew?” Kadence gasped, then frowned playfully at her sister. “Why didn’t you tell me? All this time, you’ve been so sick.”
    “I was going to, but... Never mind.” She smiled and patted Kadence’s hand. “It worked out. And I see you’ve found yourself a hunky dragon.” Melody laughed at Kadence’s blush and extended her hand toward him.
    Tentatively, he grasped her hand, bracing for the searing desire of possession to flame through him, but none came. Yet he also didn’t sense another dragon’s stamp on her. “How?”
    A smile curved her lips. “Don’t worry about me. I know what I’m doing.” Hmm. She must have discovered some method of masking her scent.
    Intriguing. Kadence’s sister was cunning. But why endure such torment when she could have been cured by Kadence’s blood? Why send her sister off on the chase. Unless…
    Who set her up to this? The second he formed the question in his mind, he had his answer. The Matchmaker. That wily female, meddling in everyone’s affairs.
    Kadence had sacrificed everything for her sister, but he wouldn’t let her do the same for him.
    She embraced Melody, laughing and smiling through her tears.
    Slowly, he backed away, slipping into the next room. It would be better this way. He couldn’t leave her if she formed tears to plead for him.
    As he entered the foyer, he froze. Eight dragons blocked his exit. Yellow dragons. Huanglong dragons. The Jade Emperor’s enforcers.
    They’ve come for me.
    Not here. Not here.
    “Lok?” Kadence’s padding footsteps echoed toward him.
    He looked over his shoulder. “You need to go. Now.”
    Her brows drew together as she peered past him, and gasped. Then she swallowed hard and bowed her head. “Thank you for coming.”
    What the fuck? Kadence had invited his executioners.
    “No. I won’t let you do this.” He clenched his fists at his sides. If he fought the Huanglong, they wouldn’t care to listen to any of Kadence’s arguments. He could still save her.
    “Oh, no, you don’t.” Kadence rushed to his side and cool metal snapped around his wrist. He glanced down. The dragon chain. Bloody hell.
    “Kadence.” He glared at her, hard.
    She returned his glower with equal ferocity. “Your siblings are dead, but you don’t have to punish yourself for their deaths. You deserve to live the happy life they were denied.” She stroked her finger down his cheek.
    His eyes stung, so he squeezed them shut. She