The group of men and women didn’t offer them any choice. They didn’t have to raise their weapons to get their point across. Ling’s scales understood well enough, tingling with apprehension.

She glanced at Cao, but he kept his attention trained ahead, determination setting his jaw as he donned his pants. Right. They’d figure this out, one way or another.

Her being stuck in dragon form might work to their advantage.

They trekked through thick jungle to the edge of the floating island. She gazed outward at the dozens of other islands bobbing alongside them.

“Keep going,” one of their male captors barked.

“I would, but the cliff drops off, and…” Swallowing hard, she hoped she wouldn’t have to admit she didn’t know how to fly. She hadn’t even unfurled her wings yet.

“Urgh,” one of the females trudged forward, straight off the side of the cliff.

Except, she didn’t plummet to her death. Nor did she soar away into the sky.

She kept stomping forward.

Huh?

Tentatively, Ling eased one foot off the ledge. It made contact with solid ground, though her eyes detected nothingness. An invisible bridge. Neat. Cautious, she padded across the bridge to the other side. This second floating island was far larger than the first. She couldn’t detect its borders.

The band of warriors directed them along a dense jungle path leading to an enormous cave entrance.

Steeling herself, she ventured inside, where several groupings of men and women steered to gawk at her and Cao. She scanned the chamber for Ry and Taelen, but didn’t spot them. Instead, she discovered quite a few of her own clients.

Faces she recognized peered at her, but not with familiarity. Right. As a dragon, it would be unlikely for anyone to perceive her true identity.

They’d met her as a mortal.

Guess this disguise was coming in handy.

She regarded those whom she’d helped direct here. Since she didn’t deal with any asshole criminals, these people could probably be trusted.

Probably.

Most were fleeing the wrong people. The guy in the corner, with the beard, he’d angered some minor god over a sacrifice he’d refused to make.

The woman with the flowing brown hair had slept with her boyfriend’s brother, both of whom had turned out to be mogwai, harmful demons, intent on breeding with her. Needless to say, she hadn’t been as keen as them.

Every person she’d directed to this place had fled here for sanctuary. Combined with the others, she counted at least three or four dozen beings in this cavern.

Shuffling forward, she noted the entire inside of the hollowed-out cavity glistened like mirrored glass. Smooth and reflective, and flickering with the dozens of fires burning in deep pits about the expanse. Gold and jewels had been stockpiled about the place, a true dragon’s hoard.

They treaded down a central aisle toward the staircase leading to a furnished platform. Upon the massive, marbled blue lapis lazuli throne posed a brawny male, his shoulders enrobed in an animal fur she didn’t recognize. Must be a mythical beast.

He leaned back and observed them with a somber expression.

This man, she didn’t know. Was that a good thing? She had no leverage on him, nor would he detect her identity.

He was handsome, in an, I’ll-kill-you-with-one-wrong-look kind of fashion. His features were heavy and thick, a man in his prime. Those narrowed eyes were dark gray and stormy, in contrast to his red-streaked black hair that curled and flowed, wild and unruly, about his shoulders, giving him a primal countenance. Black leather pants encased his powerful thighs, but his upper chest was bare, revealing large, ropy muscles.

He shifted forward, hands linking on his lap. “What brings you here, Qinglong?”

She jolted. Right, that’s me.

Before she could answer, the man hopped from his throne, his body morphing into a huge dragon. Black-tipped scarlet scales. Long, snake-like body. Eyes the hue of burning coal didn’t blink as he stared at her. His tail ended in a gigantic plume and tuffs of plumage adorned his spine. Two thin, tapered horns protruded from his head, angled backward, almost like fangs. A hazy blur condensed around him, hinting at the heat radiating from his flesh.

Ling gaped at him. Not many of his kind around. None she’d ever met. Some rumors declared they were extinct.

This male was Zhulong. A torch dragon.

And he had the hottest dragon fire on Earth.

* * *

The menacing-looking male dragon sauntered forward, flicking his forked tongue near Ling. Cao fisted his hands and stood firm. He hadn’t decided yet if these people were friends or foe.

Better not to attack without provocation.

Besides, he didn’t know where Ry and Taelen were.

If they were unharmed. Alive.

Gods, he hoped they were.

“Why have you come to my sanctuary?” the dragon inquired, cocking his head at them.

“We, ah, angered the Dragon King of the East Sea.” Ling shuffled her feet. “Forgive us the intrusion.”

“Angered how?” The male morphed into his human form and reclined once more upon the throne. He twisted his fingers through the air and droned in a thick, lilting burr, “Spare no details.”

Ling glanced at Cao, but he nodded. If their story didn’t match whatever Ry and Taelen had spilled, they might be executed.

“He’s my grandfather. He wanted me to stay in his palace, a prisoner. I had a different opinion.”

“I see.” The leader shifted his assessment to Cao. “Why the human?”

“I’m Cao Guojiu. Eight Immortal.” He dipped his head.

“He’s my guardian,” Ling bleated, “and my mate. What about you? I thought this place was a sanctuary for all, not under the rule of a dictator’s thumb.”

Instead of scorching them with his dragon fire at her insolence, the male chuckled. “I’m not a dictator. Ask anyone.” He swept his arm toward the throng of residents. “But I do demand a background check on anyone who ventures here, wishing to join us.”

“Join you? No, ah, we just needed someplace to regroup. The Floating Islands are supposed to be a safe zone for any who can reach it.” Ling tilted her chin.

“The Floating Islands?” The man scoffed. “Is that where you fancy you are?” He slapped the armrest of his throne in amusement. “I’m afraid you’re a little lost. These aren’t the Floating Islands.”

“They’re not?” Ling recoiled a few feet.

Cao patted her side, reassuring her. “Then where the hell are we?”

The man’s curved lips took on a wicked slant. “Welcome to the Den of Dragons.”

* * *

Tiny jolts tingled along Ling’s scales. Den of Dragons? She’d only ever heard of the place in whispered rumors. Some claimed it was a sanctuary for lost dragons, those without den mates. Or those exiled. Or, it could be a haven for the most brutal ruffians.

“I don’t understand.” She faced the torch dragon. “These are floating islands.”

“So they are. But they’re not the Floating Islands, which aren’t even in the air. Those are on water.”

How in the hell had she sent people to the wrong place? At least, they didn’t appear harmed. A good thing, right?

“What’s your name, youngling, daughter of the Dragon King of the East Sea?” He perused her with a twinkle in his eyes.

It didn’t matter now. “Ling Tse.” She lifted her head, straight and tall.

A dozen beings focused on her.

Awkwardly, she raised a clawed foot and murmured, “Hi.”

“Ling?” The man squinted harder at her. “You’re famous in these parts. A friend, so I’m told.”

Whew. She inclined her head. “I’m kind of new to this dragon stuff.”

“I can tell.” The man quirked his lips. “I’m Genghis of the Zhulong, but my friends call me Gen.” He pronounced it like “gem,” but with an “n.” Clever for a dragon. “I trust I can count you among them?”

She swallowed the thickness in her throat. “I hope so. First, where are my friends?”

He waved toward the woman at his side and she dashed away, into the interior of the cavern. A moment later, three figures entered the expanse.

In their human forms, Ry and Taelen followed the woman.

Ling’s heart clenched and she scanned them for any signs of harm. But they laughed and strode forward, both unscathed.

“Ling?” Ry’s eyes grew wide and round as she whistled low. “Holy fuck, you’re gorgeous, hon.”

Good thing dragons didn’t blush. Heat still flamed her cheeks, though.

She met Taelen’s gaze and the shimmer of pride in his eyes warmed her in a much more comforting manner.

“Hi guys.” She lowered her head closer to them. Please don’t snort dragon fire. She struggled to control this lumbering body.

“Lookin’ good, sis.” Taelen grinned broadly at her.

“Thanks Tae, Ry.” She beamed at them both. “Are you okay? We were worried.”

“We’re fine.” Ry brushed off her concern with a wave of her hand. “We’re better than fine. This place is awesome.”

“Next time, we’re not asking you for directions, though.” Taelen’s eyes crinkled.

She squirmed a little, but at least things had turned out all right.

“You must be tired and hungry. Feast with us, and then retire to our guest quarters, if you like.” Gen snapped his fingers, and his attendants hopped down from the platform to lead them toward a massive buffet. The enormous table running the length of the wall seemed to groan beneath the weight of the dishes atop it.

Ling’s stomach rumbled, which, unfortunately, in her dragon form was as loud as thunder. She flinched in embarrassment, but no one commented.

Cao patted her side and handed her a leg of roasted meat, glistening and dripping with juices.

Oh, yum.

Taelen shoveled a pastry into his mouth, swallowed, and frowned at the food. An instant later, he’d transformed into his dragon shape, mumbling, “Can eat more this way.”

Ling tossed her head and laughed. She clutched the leg bone in her right front clawed foot and sauntered toward an empty hollow by a fire pit to devour the meat.

Cao hopped in beside her, Ry and Tae joining them.

“I guess this means you two are an item now, huh?” Ry glanced between her and Cao. “Does he at least make your pussy wet?”

Again, grateful she couldn’t blush.

“Drop it, Ry.” Taelen smacked her arm with a flick of his claw, before twisting his large, feline-esque head to face off with Cao. “Just because I’m new to this sibling thing doesn’t mean I won’t pummel your ass if you hurt her, got it?”

The warmth and protectiveness in his tone squeezed her heart.

“I would expect nothing less,” Cao pronounced nobly, hand over heart.

Ling smiled at Cao, who grinned at her in approval. She just might learn how to do this family thing. Her parents were a loss, but Taelen was a good start. She shifted toward him. “I’m not connected to the Hive Mind. Is that normal?”

He chewed off a chunk of rib meat and swallowed, assessing her. “Yeah, I think so. No one here is in the Hive. They’ve severed their connections. It’s like they put up a shield to block the waves. I can’t enter it, either.”

She nodded. “Right. For protection. Everyone I sent here, when I assumed it was the other place, was trying to escape, to get off the grid.”

That answered one of her questions. Now, for the other. “Do you have any idea how I might switch back into a human? Because I am sorely stumped.”

* * *

While Ling and Taelen took a walk to discuss the process of transformation, Cao searched the cavern. Though most of the beings were dragons, he spotted a few mortals and other creatures, too. No one he recognized, though. Which made it harder to tell if they were safe here.

The occupants left them alone. In pairs of twos and threes, several of them departed the cavern. Others stayed, huddled about their fire pits.

Their leader, Gen, reposed upon the throne, surrounded by half a dozen creatures who dined with him. No doubt the male was dangerous. Trustworthy? Who the hell knew. In this moment, he had to be.

Until they resolved the bounty on their heads, this was the only safe spot in the entire world. He’d keep Ling here as long as he had to, but it wasn’t ideal, not for either of them.

“New friend,” Gen pronounced, his glare cutting to Cao as he swept out his hand. “Entertain us.”

“Entertain?” He raised a brow, those hairs on the back of his neck pricking.

“Yes.” Gen scratched his jaw thoughtfully. “Your immortality intrigues me, human. I can’t say I’ve ever met one of your kind.”

Great. Hitting a dragon’s curiosity list was usually a bad thing. They had a nasty habit of coveting. The last thing he needed was to be added to this dragon’s hoarding pile.

“Well, there are eight of us.” He shrugged, hoping to appear like less of a singularity.

Gen leaned forward, baring his teeth in a half-grin. “But only one in my presence.” Relaxing his features, he reclined. “There must be a reason the Qinglong female keeps you around. Show us what you can do.”

“Yeah, Immortal. Show him.” Ry jabbed his side with her elbow.

Fine. He scowled at Ry, but gave in. Show-and-tell it was. Cao scanned the cavern, spotting a dagger jutting from a pile of coins. “May I?” After Gen inclined his head, he snatched the knife and sliced the blade across his forearm, blood welling from the wound. A moment later, the flesh stitched itself back together.

Several murmurs chimed from around the cavern. His trick had drawn an audience.

“Impressive.” Gen drummed his fingers on his armrest. “Can you be killed?”

When most people asked this question, he answered that he could not. However, the tone of Gen’s inquiry sounded more like a dare. How many times did he feel like being battered tonight?

Instead of replying, he returned the male’s brash stare.

“Ah, indeed.” The torch dragon slapped the armrests of his chair and chuckled. “Join me in the arena. I would see for myself what you have to offer.”

Not a request, but if Cao submitted, he’d be forever at this dragon’s mercy. “I’d rather not.”

“Did you presume to stay and enjoy my hospitality without any form of recompense?” The male snorted. “Join me or leave my den. How about that?”

Fuck. This was the sole sanctuary for Ling and he’d been an idiot to assume there wasn’t a price. He rolled his shoulders in defeat.

As though placated, Gen leapt from his platform, changing in mid-air into his formidable beast.

Cao marched behind him, into the gladiatorial ring. Massive stone walls surrounded the oval and fine sand coated the surface. Following their leader, dozens of dragons swooped to the walls, perching atop them, the other beings joining them in the seated section. Hell of an audience.

“Your choice, Immortal.” His opponent pointed a claw toward the variety of weapons piled in the center.

He eyed the assortment. Guns. Knives. Spears. While the rifle appeared tempting, only a fool would assume a bullet could pierce dragon hide. He studied the collection, less than comforted. None of those would work.

“What’ll it be?” The torch dragon circled him, tail flicking in impatience.

“We both know those are useless.” He spun to regard the dragon, his gaze landing on the beast’s claw. “I choose…one of your talons.”

The dragon stiffened, those molten eyes burning with perception. “Long life has made you wise, Immortal.”

“Living is different than surviving.”

“True enough.”

He jerked his chin at the dragon’s front right foot. “Can I have it or are you afraid it won’t grow back like mine will?” he taunted, unsure whether the dragon’s talon would regenerate.

But hell, at least he’d get some satisfaction out of this.

Without hesitation, Gen lifted his foot to his mouth and clamped those razor teeth around one of his talons, biting it clean off. He handed Cao the talon, then spewed dragon fire over the stump, cauterizing the wound.

Gen lowered his feline-esque head, nostrils flaring as he pawed the ground. “You’d better make this worth it, Immortal.”

Cao slipped into a defensive stance, ready for the dragon’s charge. “Oh, trust me, I will.”