Matching Dragons Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 6 Read Online Free Page A

not?
    “If you give me your word you won’t backstab me, I’ll gladly release you.” He softened his tone, murmuring, but silence was her answer. Yeah. She had no intention of not betraying him again, so only this option remained.
    The Matchmaker was right. In the wrong hands, Kadence would suffer. He had to protect her from that. Even if she didn’t choose him…
    No.
    It wouldn’t come to that.
    “Tell me, what are you scheming, little one?”
    “First off,” she scoffed, “I’m not your little one . Ugh. Second, I don’t need your interference. Just let me be.”
    Aha, so she did plan something. “You intended to fail the test, didn’t you.” It wasn’t a question. “Do you feel any guilt about ruining my chances?” Humans often suffered from remorse. Perhaps he could manipulate the emotion in her to coax her to his side.
    “No, I don’t.” She lifted her chin, glaring at him. “You’re an asshole and you deserve what you got.”
    He frowned. “You don’t even know me.”
    She blinked, surprise gleaming from her eyes as though she hadn’t expected his answer. “I don’t have to know you to recognize your type. You’re full of games, aren’t you?”
    She wrenched backward and he permitted her. After stuffing her free hand through the other sleeve of her dress, she buttoned the bodice, concealing her plump breasts.
    He hadn’t made the best first impression. Staring at her chest now certainly wasn’t helping. “Because I was attracted to you? Is that such a crime?” He lifted one brow.
    Instead of answering him, her lips parted and she sighed, shuffling backward. Huh, so she didn’t have a sassy retort for that. Maybe she wasn’t as crazy as he’d deemed her.
    “I didn’t ask you to hit on me, okay?” Her lips pressed thin and she swallowed thickly. “I have other things I need to think about right now.”
    He eased onto his elbows, enjoying watching her emotions unfold. What a bizarre female. She claimed she didn’t want him to seduce her, yet her sweet arousal enticed him. “I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t been interested.”
    “Me?” Her eyes flashed a bright, pearly silver. “You—”
    “I scented how much you desired me.” He grinned at her darkening blush. Her brows drew together slightly as though she studied him, trying to determine just what he was.
    Good luck with that. A bell rang, its chiming echoing in the distance. He jumped to his feet. Must be the call to work. “Well, come on, partner.” Tugging on the chain, he strode through the door, Kadence trailing behind him.

“Cocky bastard,” Kadence hissed under her breath. Lok glanced to the side and she caught a hint of a smile on his lips.
    Damn. Guess she could add heightened hearing to the list of his inhuman senses. What was he? Her experience with the supernatural beings of the Jade Emperor’s world was limited, so she had no clue where to even begin guessing. The only thing she was certain of was that his pretense of weakness was just that—an act.
    Lok was something powerful, all right. So why had he joined the Lotus League? What was his deal?
    Don’t care . Her wrist tugged forward as the chain reached the end of its length. Kadence groaned and hurried to match her strides to his insanely long ones. Hopefully, the housekeeper would put an end to this nonsense.
    They entered what appeared to be a dining room. A dozen other beings sat at a large wooden table. They were dressed in the same plain gray uniforms, likely servants too. Lok pulled out a chair and swept his hand for her to sit. Whatever. She strolled to a seat several chairs away and plunked her ass down there. Just because she was chained to him didn’t mean she had to spend a second longer in his presence than was necessary.
    The housekeeper marched into the room, announcing in a no-nonsense voice, “Good morning, staff. Your assignments are on the board.” She pointed to the wall behind her. A handwritten list had been scrawled in chalk