Dragon with Benefits (Forgotten Dragons Book 4)

by Terry Bolryder

  He gave Trevor a scowl. “This is where you apologize for being rude.”

  “I don’t,” Trevor said, putting his hand in Petra’s. “I’ll never apologize for protecting my mate.”

  “Ivar.” The fae on the other side of Flint cut in. “He doesn’t owe you an apology.”

  The fae with the formerly long, wavy black hair now had it short like the others. Still striking and glisteningly dark but now the type of hairstyle that would blend in anywhere in the human world.

  The face, however…

  He was the most striking of the fae. His dark eyes were large and luminous, even in human form, and his long nose and the cleft in the center of his chin made him look like a handsome villain.

  The light in the room slowly darkened to black.

  “Stop staring,” the dark-haired fae said from the darkness.

  “Tynan, put your suppressor on,” Xander yelled.

  The light came back into the room as though someone had been withholding it and then let it all out in a breath.

  Tynan kicked back, eyeing Trevor laconically. “My suppressor is on.”

  “Right,” Ivar said. “You don’t know what we can and can’t do with these.” He looked at his wrist, at the elaborate leather braiding on the bracelet. “They only suppress our true form.”

  “And how does that work again?”

  All three fae went rigid, faces pale with offense as the room went quiet.

  “You don’t talk about that,” Chad hissed, coming up to stand beside Trevor. “It’s private.”

  Trevor sighed. “And why didn’t you like me staring?”

  “Tynan is self-conscious of his human form,” Ivar said coolly. “For fae, our hair, our wings, our ears are all signs of our power. Our fighting ability. To suppress them is to make us feel like—”

  “Like children.” Tynan finished, flicking his head so a lock of dark hair moved back from his forehead.

  Trevor took a deep breath. “I’ll do some research. I promise.” He’d always been good at his job, and he didn’t mean to stop now.

  “And I will try to be more patient,” Tynan said. His bearing was still regal and his dark eyes were cool as they appraised Trevor, but he no longer looked ready to fight.

  “Um, maybe this is a stupid question,” Petra said. “But the three of you are princes, right? Doesn’t that mean you just sit around ruling people or something?”

  The fae looked at one another, then broke into laugher.

  “What is it?” Petra asked.

  “Fae aren’t like that,” Xander said, coming over to stand by Tristan’s side of the couch. “The princes are—”

  “Warriors,” Tynan said. “We are the strongest of our kind, and we guard our kingdoms.”

  “Alone?” Petra asked.

  Ivar nodded.

  “Against who?” Petra scratched her head.

  Flint looked at her like she was stupid as an auburn lock fell over his forehead. “Other princes, obviously. Only a prince can fight off a prince.”

  The fae looked at each other in agreement as if all of this were perfectly normal.

  “Why are you fighting?” Trevor asked, curious now.

  Ivar’s icy eyes met his. “Chaos. Obviously.” He leaned back, the muscles in his long arms flexing as he put his hands behind his head. “Didn’t you attend any briefings?”

  “Not really,” Trevor said. “Someone had to hold down the fort.”

  “We’ll get you caught up,” Chad said reassuringly. “Besides, we’re all still learning as we go along.”

  “But it’s fine to just leave Taylor’s fae in his bedroom?” Trevor asked, wondering how that could be safe.

  “Boreas won’t be a problem,” Ivar said. “He’s simply pouting. He didn’t want to come to this world.”

  “Why not?” Tynan asked. “There are no fae princesses in his kingdom.”

  “I think he hates the human world,” Ivar said. “And probably Flint as well.”

  “We’ve had a few run-ins,” Flint said, flicking his eyes to the side sketchily.

  “Anyway, Boreas can take some time to adjust,” Chadwick said. “After all, we needed every prince we could get.”

  “Why?” Petra asked.

  “Because chaos princes have invaded the human world,” Ivar said. “And more may be coming.”

  Petra just looked even more confused, and Ivar continued.

  “There are humans with latent fairy blood, from the first mixing of fairy and human from many years ago before the worlds split. Just like there are dragons, which are descendants of the earliest shifters that mated with fae before the shift.” Ivar blinked those luminescent gray eyes. “All magic in your world is from our world.”

  Trevor blinked. “So what, you’re like my great-great grandpas?”

  Flint and Ivar laughed while Tynan stared straight ahead.

  “No, anyone related to any of you would be long dead, even by fairy lifespans,” Ivar said.

  “It’s a good thing we are getting a human emissary,” Tynan said. “Because our host is fairly ignorant to fae customs.”

  “I’ll show you ignorant,” Trevor said, rolling up his shirtsleeves.

  “Trevor…” Petra put a hand on his arm, and Trevor sighed.

  Tynan raised an eyebrow. “As if a dragon could take on a fae prince.”

  “Could we?” Trevor asked Xander, who seemed to know a lot about the fae.

  “Only Taylor,” Xander said. “With his chaos fire.”

  “You have chaos fire?” Ivar asked eagerly, turning to Taylor.

  Taylor nodded nervously. “I don’t like to talk about it.”

  “Anyway…” Xander continued. “I think Taylor’s the only one who could take down a prince.”

  “Nerrenth was taken down by dragons,” Tynan said. “Back when the first portals were breaking into the human world. I believe it was a handful of dragons who did it, though.”

  “Makes sense,” Flint said.

  “If you aren’t from our world, how do you sound human?” Petra asked.

  “We speak English,” Flint said. “We did split off of the same world, you know.” He raised a book in his hand. “And we have studied our guidebook extensively.”

  “This is crazy,” Petra said. “Fairies, in our world.”

  “I know,” Mindy said. “They’re so interesting.”

  Taylor hugged Mindy close.

  “But why are the chaos fae here?” Trevor asked.

  Even Ivar looked impatient with his queries now, but he took a deep breath. “To claim human mates with high resonance.”

  “Resonance?”

  Ivar nodded. “When fae meet other fae, our powers resonate. The magic inside of us, depending on strength and type, calls to the magic in other fae. Or humans with latent fae blood and, thus, magic.”

  “So there are just humans walking around having no idea they are fairies?” Petra asked.

  Ivar nodded. “Or they may be aware something is different about them. They may have small manifestations of their power. Regardless, the chaos fae will find them.”

  Tynan’s jaw tightened. “We will find them first.”

  Ivar smiled politely. “Tynan loves to fight.”

  “I think he’s more excited about beating up chaos fae than finding a mate,” Flint added.

  “How do you know you can beat those chaos fae?” Trevor asked.

  Tynan raised a dark eyebrow. “Do not insult us. We are fae princes. We honor our vows. We are not fallen.” His obsidian eyes gleamed. “We do not lose to chaos.”

  Trevor nodded, liking the resolve he saw in the fae’s eyes. Each of them looked ready to do battle.

  “But why do you care about the human world?” Trevor asked. “Aside from the fact that you might be able to find mates here.”

  Flint cocked his head. “Your world is separated from our world by a misty border, but should chaos reign here, the chance it will flow back into our realm is very high. So we were sent h
ere to make sure that didn’t happen.” He folded his hands. “Charming a human is just a bonus—”

  Whack.

  “Not charming. Wooing. Dating,” Xander said, clutching the magazine he’d just used on Flint’s head again.

  Flint rubbed his auburn hair, looking unbothered. “I meant it metaphorically. After all, we’re still good-looking enough to find mates, even in human form.”

  “I know. I feel tiny,” Ivar said. “I think I lost six inches of height.”

  “Not where it counts,” Tynan said, grinning smugly. “I think human females will still find us more than adequate in the—”

  Whack.

  “We don’t want to hear about that,” Xander said.

  “I’m getting some air,” Trevor said, grabbing Petra’s hand and pulling her up with him. “I’m taking my mate with me.”

  “The balcony’s open,” Xander said. “It’s not too cold tonight.”

  Trevor heard the others break into avid conversation again, this time because they were trying to decide on good human names for the fae.

  “Sorry,” Trevor said as he stepped onto the balcony with Petra and shut the door behind him, letting out a breath. “It’s a lot to take in after it just being us for a few days.”

  “Yeah, but everyone seems amazing,” Petra said, leaning in and putting her arm around his waist as they looked out at the water sparkling beyond the dock. “I’m sure we’ll get used to things. Plus, I really love learning more about your world.”

  “My world is changing,” Trevor said. “I’ve never been good with change.” He looked down into her sparkling eyes. “But I’m glad you’re with me. Everything is better with you around.”

  After only a few days, she felt like home to him. Every day, he was only more sure she was his.

  Every day, his dragon felt grateful.

  He let out a sigh as he savored the moment, holding his mate.

  Then the door to the balcony opened, and Trevor turned to see Chadwick walking out, hands shoved in his crisp slacks.

  “Sorry to bother you, but I did get some information from the oracle while you two were honeymooning that I thought you might like to know.”

  “Should I go?” Petra asked.

  Chad shook his head. “This concerns you too.”

  Petra nodded. “Okay.”

  Chadwick strode over to the balcony and put his hands on it. “I suppose I should just get to it.” He looked up at Trevor. “You know how you can produce gold?”

  Trevor nodded. It wasn’t something he’d heard of other gold dragons doing, but he’d also never mentioned it to anyone but Chad. All of the double dragons had varying degrees of power, and since Trevor was very strong, he’d assumed he just had one extra power that didn’t manifest in others.

  “That’s a trait from another type of gold dragon,” Chadwick said. “I told the oracle about you taking a single mate, and she asked me about your powers. When I said you could produce gold, hence the mansion, she knew immediately. She said one of those other types of gold dragons must be dominant in your lineage. And they don’t share.”

  Trevor felt a sense of relief, like something was releasing inside him that he’d always had to hold back. “So I’m not a double dragon.”

  “No,” Chad said somewhat sadly. “Not exactly. Though, the lines are blurred. Both silver and gold double dragons can have mixed bloodlines with metallic dragons.”

  It all suddenly made sense. But…

  “Chad,” Trevor said. “I’m still your partner. I still—”

  “I know,” Chad said quickly. “I consider you my partner as well. But the oracle may want me to pair up with another double dragon. Find a mate in a triad. Because I am one of those dragons, Trevor.”

  Trevor sighed. “Wherever life takes you, you’ll be my partner.”

  Chad smiled. “I like to think so.” He turned his warm eyes on Petra. “What do you think of the fae now?”

  Petra flushed. “I mean… How do you mean?”

  “Are they less intimidating? Do you think they’ll be attractive to human women?”

  Petra shrugged. “I mean, I’m only into Trevor.”

  Trevor grinned triumphantly.

  “But… I think most women are going to go crazy for them on sight.” She sighed. “How they’ll feel once the fae open their mouths is another thing.”

  “That reminds me,” Trevor said. “Are we getting a human emissary?”

  Chadwick scratched the back of his head. “I suppose so. The oracle selected her for us. She should be able to make things smoother. After all, we’ll be sending them out in the world. We want to iron out all the wrinkles.”

  “When is she coming?”

  “Soon,” Chadwick said. “While we’re working with her, I’ll suspend the search for a mate or a triad. But after…”

  “I understand,” Trevor said, pulling his friend into a hug. “You supported me through finding my mate, and I’ll be there to support you. Even if it’s just making sure they’re all good enough for you.”

  Chad flushed slightly. “I’m sure I’ll do fine. I’m a very powerful dragon, you know.”

  Trevor laughed. “I know.” He sighed. “So just hook up with a human and stay as my partner.”

  Chad gave him a resigned smile. “We’ll see.” He lifted his hand in a wave. “I’ll see you inside, Petra.” Then he left.

  Trevor let out his breath. “So we’re mated. I knew we were.”

  He’d explained different dragon mating rituals to Petra when he’d told her about feeling they were mated.

  “Me too,” Petra said. “Everything felt different after it happened.” She put her hand over his on the balcony. “And I couldn’t be happier.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in against him, her head to his chest. “You’re still not mad you didn’t get to scoop the sushi story? Or the story unfolding now with the fae? The reporter in you must be going crazy.”

  She arched to look up at him, her eyes glinting mischievously. “The reporter in me is going crazy, but it’s not for any scoop.” She got on her tiptoes, teasing him with their lips close together. “And the real story is this girl loves her dragon.”

  He sucked in his breath, whole body on fire just from her lips grazing his. “And this dragon loves his girl.”

  And then they kissed, and despite the laughter floating from the living room and the challenges ahead of them, everything felt perfect.

  Thanks so much for reading Petra and Trevor’s story! If you liked it, it would help me so much if you would leave a review to help other readers find and enjoy it!

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  Hunter Raines is restless. Now that his friends are mated, the cougar inside him is pacing, ready for the next adventure. But everything changes when curvy, sweet Kelly walks into the bar, hiding secrets and radiating fear. Hunter's cougar is ready to pounce on whatever is threatening her, and Hunter is pretty sure that he just found a reason to stay in Silver Lake forever.

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  Also by Terry Bolryder

  A Note From Terry

  Most of my series go by species. Most of my books are standalone, but if you want to read them in order and see characters reappearing, here is my list of the order for each species. So just choose your favorite shifter!

  Dragon Reading Guide

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  These dragons have things in common with both the metal dragons and the gemstone dragons, and first show up at the very end of the Date-A-Dragon series!