Dragon Released (Reclaimed Dragons Book 1)

by Terry Bolryder

  She sighed. “I should have known. You’re such a straightforward person that this can’t wait.”

  “It can’t,” he said. “Because after this, I just want to take you to one of the hotels around here and just take you with the ocean crashing in the distance.”

  “Oh,” she said, eyes widening excitedly. “Yes. Do that.”

  “But first, I need you to know more about me. You trust me too much, Jo, for knowing nothing.”

  She sighed. “Okay, then. I told you I do want to know.”

  “I don’t talk about this with anyone.” He bit his lower lip. “And I’m still probably not going to say as much as I should. But, Jo, there’s no happy ending for us. I saw the way you looked at me with that boy.”

  She smiled. “You were so sweet. Such a hero—”

  “I’m not,” he said. “I’m not a hero. Listen, the whole reason I’m here is because I screwed up.”

  She took a sip of the water one of the busboys had dropped off and eyed him tentatively. “Dallin, your past doesn’t matter to me. You already told me about your friends…”

  “No,” he said. “You don’t know everything. I wasn’t just going to kill Ian. I was going to kill a lot of people.”

  “Because you had to.”

  “Because I hated them,” he said. “Because I thought they took everything from me and it was too late for me, but I could still help everyone else.”

  She frowned, and her pretty face watching him was almost too much to take. “Everyone else?”

  “The other dragons,” he said. “Or anyone else being experimented on. Ultraviolet and I set up plans to take down the light world and free the dragons. Unfortunately, Ian and his friends didn’t agree with our mass-murdering way of doing it, so here we are.”

  “What happens to the other dragons, then?” Jo asked.

  “They’re being freed by other fae princes,” Dallin said. “I allowed the oracle, the leader of paranormals in this world, to take me into custody because I felt bad about what I’d done.”

  “And now?” Jo asked. “Do you wish you were still out there?

  Her pale, warm-toned skin was glowing in the light from the sunset, little sparkles of ocean mist on her hair.

  “No,” he said. “I don’t wish to be anywhere but with you. But Jo—”

  She put up a hand. “I know the Dallin I’m with.”

  He took her hand, holding it in both of his because he didn’t want to hurt her. He needed her to understand.

  “Jo… I’m not full dragon.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “What?”

  Unfortunately, right at that moment, the waiter came back to take their orders.

  When he was gone, Jo turned back to Dallin, watching him seriously.

  “I have fae blood in me too,” he said. “I was an experiment, made in a lab.” He shook his head. “At least I think so. I suppose I could have been someone’s birthed, mixed-blood child, but I know that ever since I can remember, they were injecting me with dragon blood and testing me for powers.”

  “I see,” she said. “So what are you, then?”

  He shook his head. “That’s the thing. I don’t even know. They did tests to try and make me express both fae and dragon traits, but for a while, neither form showed. They kept injecting both fae and dragon blood to see if it would change me. Eventually, they gave me enough dragon blood that I could use my powers and escape.”

  “And your powers are?”

  “I’m an emerald dragon,” he said, looking down at the ring on his hand. The emerald looked a vivid bluish-green in the candlelight of the table and the glow of the sunset. “That’s why I can tell people what to do. As you saw with the salesman.”

  “Whoa,” she said. “And that’s why they make you wear that bracelet? So you don’t use it on everyone?”

  He frowned. “I’ve always had restraint. You have to with my power. But yes.”

  “That’s a cool ring,” she said. “Where did you get it?”

  “This was given to me along with my bracelet. Symbolic, I think.”

  She nodded. “It’s pretty. Can I see it?”

  Dallin pulled it off, feeling only a little odd about it as he handed it over.

  “Wow,” she said, holding it up. “It’s gorgeous.” She smiled, looking almost reluctant to hand it back as she turned it over carefully. “I’ve never seen such a pretty emerald.”

  He put out a hand for her to give it back, then thought better of it. “You keep it,” he said.

  “I couldn’t,” she said, gaping at him. “Do you know what this would be worth?”

  He shrugged. “The fae princes I work with are big on generosity, so I have more money than I could know what to do with in a lifetime.”

  Her eyes widened, but then her expression softened as she looked down at the ring. “It’s pretty. It reminds me of you. If you’re sure…”

  “Sure,” he said. “It doesn’t matter to me.”

  Though, as he saw her slide his ring on her delicate finger, he couldn’t stop a growl of pride in him, coming from the region of his dragon.

  He was much better able to feel the dragon side of him. Sometimes he felt something cold that let him know the fae blood was still in him, but he wasn’t connected to it at all.

  So he considered himself all dragon.

  But the truth was he was a hodgepodge of things, and Jo deserved more.

  Like a peaceful life with her cupcakes and some kids of her own.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, sticking her finger out. “When you want it back, let me know. I’ll take good care of it.”

  Dallin just nodded because the oracle hadn’t given him any instructions, so he figured he could use the ring as he wanted.

  “So you’re an emerald dragon,” she said, leaning forward with her chin on her hands, grinning at him. Somehow, the mood had only gotten steamier, the last thing Dallin needed at least at the moment.

  But he couldn’t help it. There was something so primal and possessive about seeing her wearing his ring.

  “Dallin?” She cocked her head.

  “Right,” he said. “Sorry. You look good in my ring.”

  She flushed. “Thank you. So… your powers—”

  “I shouldn’t say more,” he said. “I’ve heard the pure-blood dragons in the human world only discuss their powers once they are mated.”

  “Mated?”

  “A lifetime bond for a dragon. Like a soul bond for a fae.” He sighed. “Jo, if I could make one of those bonds with you, you know I would. If I could give you the life you deserve…”

  “But?”

  “But I’m a monster,” he said, putting a hand on his chest. “Even I don’t know what I’m made of. And I don’t want it to end up hurting you.”

  “Dallin, I don’t care what you’re made of. I care who you are.”

  “That’s just it,” he said. “I’m a jerk. A fraud. I was horrible even when I first met you. After only a few days, I feel like a different person, but I know that’s not true. How can everything just change—”

  She leaned over the table and kissed him, the warmth of her lips instantly stopping his speech and calming him down.

  He sank into her kiss for a moment. Then she pulled back, sitting in her seat and blushing.

  “People change, Dallin,” she said. “I don’t care about anything except who you are now.”

  “But kids,” Dallin said, looking to the side and feeling deep pain in him. “I saw the way you looked at me when I was with them. You must want some of your own, and—”

  “You don’t know what my plans are, so why don’t you ask me?” Jo asked.

  “What are they?” He looked up bashfully.

  “I was just planning to do my cooking show,” she said. “And live a quiet life alone. Things have been so fun with you around. I couldn’t imagine life without you. You aren’t a jerk, and you aren’t a monster. I’ve been around you long enough to know that—”

 
“But you deserve a bond, a family, a—”

  She shook her head. “You can’t tell me what I deserve. And as for the future, I’m not even thinking about it. Dallin, I’m not a kid. I’ve been an adult woman for some time, and I know how life is with and without you.” She took a deep breath. “I like it better with you. It’s that simple. As for those other things, like a family or kids, I kind of think that the relationship comes first.”

  “But I couldn’t—”

  “There are a lot of ways to make a family,” she said. “If we want to do that.”

  “But what if there’s something bad in me?” He shook his head. “What if I’m not enough of anything to form a bond with you? What if I’m a creature that—”

  She stood up abruptly, letting out a sigh of frustration as she walked around the table to grab his hand, trying to pull him out of the chair.

  Dallin was amused for a moment at her tiny attempts to budge him. Then he allowed her to pull him up so she could drag him down to the end of the dock where there were a little railing and an area for watching the ocean.

  She put her arms around his waist and looked up at him as they both leaned against the railing somewhat.

  Dallin looked down at it and was relieved to see it looked stable. But no matter what, he’d protect his—

  “Dallin, look at me,” she said, reaching up to grab his face and force him to look at her. “Just… look in my eyes for once.”

  “I do look in your eyes,” he said. “All the time.”

  “Not in moments like this.” She used her thumb to stroke over his cheek and brush his hair back. “Not when you’re afraid I’m going to hurt you.”

  He made a sound of disbelief. “You couldn’t hurt me.”

  She looked into his eyes, pinning his gaze with hers. “You know what I mean.”

  He did. He didn’t want her to say the things he heard himself say deep inside.

  That he was a monster. That he was more than she could handle. That she deserved someone better who wasn’t a mix of—

  “Dallin, I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I really like you.”

  His heart warmed, but he still wondered what else she wanted to say.

  She released his face with one hand and gestured to the ocean. “What do you see?”

  “Is this a trick question?” Dallin asked, frowning.

  “No,” she said. “Just answer.”

  He sighed. “I… I see waves.”

  “And?”

  “And the sunset. Gulls. Clouds.”

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” She turned to face it with a sigh, releasing Dallin fully to put her hands on the railing as a gust of sea breeze hit her, ruffling her hair.

  He stepped up closer just in case she lost balance.

  She turned back to face him again, her eyes glowing. “I see the same thing, Dallin. I see the ocean and the clouds. And I see you looking at me with the kindness I see every day from you. I don’t care what you’re made of or what was done to you, except that I feel terrible you were hurt.”

  He stayed silent, unable to speak.

  She sucked in a breath. “Dallin, you think we’re so different. Human. Dragon. Part fae. Chef or bodyguard. But you know what I see?”

  He shook his head.

  “Just the man I love and the ocean,” she said. “If we can be together, do all the things we both love, and see the same ocean, are we really so different?”

  He looked out at the sea and understood, at least for a moment.

  As always, Jo helped make the past disappear and the future fade from his worries.

  Perhaps this was why he had decided to take the oracle’s offer.

  To one day find a way to move on and have peace.

  “You love me?” He tilted his head.

  She nodded. “And I don’t mean in the way like I expect you to marry me after only a few days. But what we did together…” She flushed. “I couldn’t have done that if I didn’t have feelings.”

  “But love—”

  “I love my friends too,” she said. “I do love easily. I have heard that. But I love you too, Dallin. I really do feel it. I don’t feel you’re a monster, and I think every day you’re with me, you get a little better.”

  He smiled. “You’re probably right about that. You have a way of taming my rudeness.”

  She laughed. “I like your rudeness. I’m too nice a lot of the time.”

  He cocked his head. “Are you being nice right now?”

  “No,” she said, stepping closer and putting her arm up around his neck to try and pull him down.

  He came on his own, bringing his head closer to hers so she could stand up on her toes and reach his lips.

  She kissed him again, more deeply, her tongue sweeping inside. It made him let out a little growl and step in closer, putting his hands on her hips possessively as his tongue swept toward hers to deepen the kiss.

  “No,” she said, gasping and pulling back. “Not yet. I mean, soon, but I just…”

  He stared at her, wondering what she was trying to say.

  She took a deep breath. “I’m not being ‘nice.’ I kissed you to show it’s so much more than that for me. I think you’re wonderful, though not perfect. No one is. I think you’re sexy and funny, and I always feel safe when you’re around.”

  Dallin flushed, unsure if any other word could ever make him as happy as the ones she’d just said.

  “You’re not a monster,” Jo insisted. “I can’t ever see you that way, no matter what you’re made of. Because right now, you’re here with me, and I don’t see any difference between us.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

  She nodded. “Not in the ways that matter. Our hearts. Our souls. We can watch a sunset together, eat dinner, make love. Everything we are doing right now we can do together. The future… Well, that can wait. But who you are right now is perfect for me. You don’t need to tell me dark secrets, and you don’t need to change.”

  He felt relief wave over him, though he knew uncertainty would come back another day.

  He wanted to tell her he loved her back, but he needed time to think. He hadn’t expected to hear her say it.

  But it all made sense. Jo was just wonderful that way. Kind and bold and sensitive.

  “Thank you, Jo,” he said, brushing her hair back where it had begun to blow over her face. He leaned down to place a slow kiss to her forehead, holding it for a few seconds while she let out a sweet sigh. “Thank you for everything.”

  She grinned. “It’s nothing.” She was still flushed from the kiss, and she rubbed her arms over her. “Now we should go back and eat so we can get to that hotel room before I die of tension.”

  He laughed. “Wouldn’t want you to die.”

  He extended an arm to lead her back to the table.

  “And don’t get me wrong,” she said. “You can tell me about your past or not. But just know it doesn’t change anything, and I don’t want to hear that you’re a monster. Because you’re not. You’re just Dallin, eating dinner with Jo, who loves him.”

  He swallowed.

  He’d been prepared for a lot of adventures in the human world. He hadn’t planned on something as elusive or dangerous as love.

  “Thank you, Jo,” he said, sitting back as the waiter came out to set their plates in front of him.

  She just smiled at him and dug in, and Dallin felt peace settle over him that things were fine now.

  He really shouldn’t have freaked out.

  Bullies always reminded him of fae, and children always reminded him of the child he’d been, alone and tortured.

  But then he looked out at the ocean, saw the waves toss with crests of silvery blue, and realized Jo was right.

  He didn’t know what he was, but at this moment, he was enough like her that they could be together.

  And he could take her somewhere beautiful and make love to her, no matter what he was.

  And she loved him.

 
Surely, everything would be all right.

  18

  Jo had chosen the restaurant, but Dallin wanted to choose the hotel, and since they’d had a wonderful dinner after she’d reassured him and shared her feelings, she was just excited no matter where they went.

  She truly didn’t care about the future or what he was. She just wanted to enjoy every moment with him.

  And she couldn’t ever imagine him being a monster. Not the wonderful man with teal eyes who protected Puggles at the dog park and gave gummies to bullied children.

  Dallin even paid when they went to the front desk and bought a nice enough room that they had to show their key to even access the proper elevator.

  By the time the elevator dinged for the top floor, Jo’s heart was practically racing.

  Dallin held her hand, walking forward as they reached a door at the end of the hall, which was clearly a penthouse suite. He inserted the card key to let them in, and while Jo was excited about the room, all she could really think about was continuing the kiss from earlier.

  Getting her hands all over that incredible body. A body she was even more attracted to now that she knew more about the man inside it.

  With a click, Dallin opened the door. But no sooner had she walked in, getting a glimpse of white and gray lines and recessed lighting and high-end furniture, than Dallin’s hands were at her sides, gently pushing her up against the back of the shut door, surrounding and trapping her.

  In an instant, he reached a hand up to cup the back of her neck as his lips crashed over hers, hot and fast and greedy. And when his tongue slipped past the seam of her lips, delving and stroking with deft precision, Jo’s entire body went alight with sheer want.

  When she started to slip slightly down the door because standing was too hard, he held her tighter, not letting her escape from his pleasure as his rock-hard body pressed against hers.

  She began to moan, unable to help it as he licked along the roof of her mouth, not stopping to even let them breathe for a second. The hand cradling the back of her head reached deeper into the strands of her brown hair, gripping just tight enough to cause strong sensations along her scalp and down her spine from the contact as he plundered her as effortlessly as he did hungrily.

  All she could do was wrap her arms around his midsection, fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as he moved from her mouth to her ear, not stopping once until he’d marked every sensual spot he could with his tongue and teeth.