Page 12 of Dragons Of Shadow and Sea

"Brilliant," Jianyu comments, and I'm so damn tempted to punch him, too, but I restrain myself. "He's not fucking her right this instant, you know."

"Yeah, I know."

When Ember chose to be alone with Jianyu, I could feel the mating energy buzzing in our bond. It pissed me off and turned me on in equal measures. If she were getting naked with this new dude? I'd sense it.

Knowing it could happen at any moment still makes me feel like shit, though. Surely even stone-faced, stoic Jianyu can understand that.

I glance his way, and despite his composure, his eyes are haunted.

Yeah. He gets it, all right.

I curl my banged-up hand into a fist again. "I'll kill him if he hurts her."

Jianyu chuckles and closes his eyes again. "Only if I don't kill him first."

Before he has the chance to sink too deeply into his meditation, the elevator on the far wall gives a quiet ding. I'm on my feet in an instant, and Jianyu isn't far behind.

I feel Ember's presence before I see her. Relief washes over me, but it doesn't calm me down at all. As the elevator doors slide open, I'm practically throwing myself at the force field in my mind. I have to get to her. Have to touch her and hold her and reassure myself with every possible sense that she's here, she's all right.

She's still mine.

Pain squeezes my heart, but I school my expression, determined not to let my feelings show.

Especially when the first person to emerge is Prince Malik. His big, burly friend from earlier is with him. I bare my teeth, my dragon breathing fire into my lungs, and I curse the magic preventing me from unleashing my beast.

Malik takes one look at me and Jianyu, who's joined me near the barrier, and disgust and contempt fill his eyes. Bright blue tattoos shine on his umber skin, glowing brighter as he flexes his muscles. His dragon stirs, as eager to drown me as I am to burn him alive.

"Where is she?" I growl.

"Right here." Ember steps out from behind the asshole and his guard dog, rolling her eyes at our macho antics, but she can't fool me. She's as soothed by my and Jianyu's presence as we are by hers.

"Are you all right?" I raise my hands, ready to reach right through the force field, but I stop myself before she has to watch me get zapped like a fucking dog.

A watery laugh escapes her. "Isn't that what I should be asking you?"

"We're fine," Jianyu reassures her.

She rounds on her new mate. "Let me in."

Malik crosses his arms over his chest, showing off his biceps as he does. "That is not a good idea."

"Then let us out," I counter.

Everyone ignores me.

"You promised," Ember reminds him.

I don't miss the way she brushes the back of her hand against his. My dragon roars again, and I can taste the ash and ruin he wants to rain.

The simple touch works, though. Malik's jaw flexes. He keeps his gaze on Ember as he tells one of the guards, "Let her in." Then he looks to me and Jianyu. "One wrong move..."

"And you'll murder us," I finish for him, "we get it."

"You won't," Ember tells him sharply.

He mutters, "All options are on the table."

I hate the way I empathize with him. Jianyu and I have wanted to tear each other limb from limb since the moment we both laid eyes on her. Only Ember's entreaties--only our unwillingness to hurt her in any way--kept us from going for each other's throats.

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