Free Destiny of Dragons by Amber Kell Page B

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