Free Matching Dragons Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 6 by Rachael Slate

nostrils as he morphed into dragon form. “Come back for more, have you? Can’t you just die, like your pathetic, heartless den mates?”
    His skin bristled, but his mind snagged on one word: Heartless.
    The one who’d murdered his family had torn out their hearts—which were never recovered.
    Blood trickled down his leg. The gash in his belly was deep, and he’d bleed out soon enough. But not before he faced Xur and heard his confession for himself.
    Lok raised his head and glowered at his enemy. “It was you. ”
    A satisfied gleam crossed Xur’s features. The bastard wanted him to realize this—murdering his den mates and framing Lok had been his true intention all along. Yet it hadn’t been fulfilling until now.
    Until Lok learned the truth.
    Xur snorted. “Took you long enough.”
    “Why, Xur?” The pain of his grief pulsed through him. “Why would you do such a thing?”
    “Why not?” Xur scoffed. “Their hearts have sustained me far beyond my wildest expectations. Made me stronger, faster, fiercer.” He lunged forward, slashing his tail toward Lok.
    Lok lunged backward, dodging the blow. “You’re a fucking cannibal.”
    “And your timing couldn’t be more perfect. Everyone will be quick to blame you for the deaths of another den.” He smirked. “I’ll have the power to sustain me for another century.” His sneer passed to Kadence. “Or longer, since you’ve also brought me such a sweet treat.”
    Fucking hell, no. Fury and vengeance pulsed in his veins. Lok roared, surging forward to slash his claws against Xur’s throat, but he was too fast. Xur cut to the side, and Lok slammed into the cave wall. He slumped to the ground, blood gushing from his wound, weakening him.
    “Pathetic,” Xur snarled. “Our kindred will be here by morning. By then, I’ll have fed off another den, you’ll be to blame, and I will possess the pearl.”
    “The hell you will.” Kadence bolted to Lok’s side and extended a hand toward him, but drew back at the last second. Brows drawn, wariness gleamed in her eyes.
    He yearned to reach out, to stroke her cheek, and reassure her, but his limbs were too heavy, his eyelids sliding shut.
    “No, Lok. You don’t get to leave me.” She pressed her palm against his cheek.
    His instincts surged forward, clawing for that connection. For his pearl. Soothing heat swept over him, sealing his wound like a fire branding the gash shut. Energy zapped through his veins. His eyes shot open and he blinked at Kadence’s lovely, glowing face.
    “Come back to me.”
    “Always,” he murmured, raising his claws gently toward her cheek.
    “No! She’s mine!”
    Kadence jerked into the air, dangling from Xur’s tail. Her glow flickered, then brightened again, this time not a soft golden radiance, but a harsh blinding light.
    “I’ll never be yours.” She pressed her hands together as though molding a ball of light and shot the bolt straight into Xur’s open mouth.
    Spasms rocked his body, jolting his limbs, and his tail, which opened to drop Kadence.
    Lok flew forward and caught her, cradling her against his chest as he backed away and shifted into human form.
    The electric jolts didn’t stop pulsing through Xur, intensifying with each beat, until cracks of light split his hide like protruding veins. Shrieking a heinous roar, Xur cracked into a thousand pieces and vanished in a puff of smoke.
    Kadence shuddered and buried her face against his chest.
    Holy shit.
    Kadence was far more powerful than anyone could have imagined.
    Yet she still would never be his.

Kadence swallowed back a sob, clutching Lok’s chest. Xur was gone. She’d killed him. Somehow, a force inside of her had ignited when she’d touched Lok.
    The match had struck, no longer a dud.
    She shuddered, envisioning Xur’s eyes. Madness had twisted those green depths. An insanity like she’d never witnessed.
    What if Lok hadn’t returned? She squeezed her eyes to block out the horrific image of the