Dragon Released (Reclaimed Dragons Book 1)

by Terry Bolryder

  “I want whatever power I can get,” Landon said, his usually dreamy ice-blue eyes going intense and focused. “I have something I need to do. Badly.”

  Landon was tall and leaner than Dallin, with a stunningly handsome face and easy, relaxed bearing.

  But there was something about him, some hidden edge that made Jo pity anyone who underestimated him.

  Sometimes the sweetest, most soft-spoken people could be the strongest.

  Ryder was an interesting person, outspoken and harsh at times but immediately apologetic, unlike Dallin. He seemed to really be trying to take in information and cope in the world. His hair was reddish, not as dark as Landon’s, though it was darker at the tips.

  His eyes seemed to change color from green to yellow to almost orange, depending on how you were looking at him.

  He had harder, sharper features than the others, classically masculine.

  All in all, they made quite a sight on her couch, squished together with her on Dallin’s side.

  “Jo,” Brett said, pinching the side of his nose. “Can you contain him?”

  “Come on, Dallin,” she said gently as he spared her an impatient look. “The others want to learn.”

  He nodded. “Fine. Though, they’re traitors.”

  Landon and Ryder ignored him, which surprised her because they didn’t seem like the type to back down from a fight. It was almost like there was an odd amount of deference toward him for some reason.

  Or perhaps they were just used to his outbursts.

  Brett folded his arms. “Ian says you two have been able to take partial fae form.”

  Landon nodded eagerly. “I can take full fae form, but no wings or wand.”

  Brett nodded. “That comes with your soul bond.”

  “Soul bond?” Landon asked.

  “Your fated mate,” Brett says. “That’s how dragons here talk about it. For fairies, we meet someone for whom our magic resonates, letting us know we have found the one. Then we work to strengthen our bond with them so that we know if they are ever in trouble, and we can also share magic with them.”

  “I prefer mates,” Ryder said, running his hand through his hair. “My fae form is all…” He waved his free hand. “Messed up. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to soul bond with it.”

  Landon put a hand on his knee, facing him seriously. “Ryder, someone will see so much more than any one of your forms.”

  Ryder looked like he was almost reluctant to smile at that, but he did, gently removing Landon’s hand from his leg. “Too close, buddy.”

  “Sorry,” Landon said, not bothered at all. “I was alone so long I’m not really sure of social protocol.”

  Ryder slapped him on the back. “We’ll keep helping you, buddy.”

  Dallin just sat there like a rock, and Jo kind of pitied him. How far he was on the outside. How he wouldn’t let anyone in.

  Everyone here seemed to like him, at least enough to put up with his surliness, but he certainly didn’t act around them the way he acted around Jo.

  She didn’t know if she was proud or worried about it. Maybe a mix of both.

  “Look, there are some benefits to forming a soul bond over a mate bond,” Brett says. “But the truth is it’s not really your choice. Since you have both in you, it will depend on who you are paired with and what is dominant in them.”

  Dallin slanted Jo a glance, and she flushed. Then he turned to Brett. “Why does any of this matter? Dragons can mate a non-dragon heart and a dragon heart is often a human with radiant blood anyway, so what is the problem?”

  “A dragon heart has fae blood far enough back that she is still brave and resilient but has no access to her powers. When she mates a dragon, she gains his powers or another dragon power usually. A beacon, or latent radiant fae, can manifest as a full fae and gain access to her fae magic instead.”

  “Manifest?” Jo asked.

  Brett nodded, giving her a kind smile. “When latent powers manifest. Usually when fully bonded.”

  Jo blinked. She’d been so caught up with Dallin that she hadn’t really thought about powers. Especially since, well, she was a beacon. So that made her a latent fae. The thought made her uncomfortable, knowing how much Dallin disliked fae in general.

  He looked over at her. “You aren’t fae,” he said sharply. “You weren’t raised in that world. It doesn’t count.”

  She grinned, leaning into him.

  “See? For instance, if Jo was your soul bond, you’d have a wealth of benefits over just being mated. As a dragon mating a dragon heart, she might be able to gain her own power or share your power and share your lifespan, but that’s all.”

  “I wouldn’t say all,” Ryder said, cocking his head.

  “Well, as a soul bond, you can feel where your other half is at any time. Sense their distress and fly to their side in a moment if they need you and are in any part of your world. You also become stronger in a fight. Strong enough to beat anything. Even a fae.”

  Dallin folded his arms. “I don’t need fae powers to beat a fae.”

  Brett sighed. “Yes, I’m aware that because you’re an emerald dragon, you’re kind of an exception because you can just make them kill each other or themselves. But for most dragons, they can’t take on a fae. The last time a dragon other than Dallin took on a fae and won, it was Nerrenth, a ruthless, notorious chaos prince, and it took six dragons to take him down.”

  The dragons murmured in shock at that as Brett let it all sink in.

  “So the good news is you three are special. A link but also, if you work hard enough, stronger than the sum of your parts.”

  “This is bullshit,” Dallin said. “I agreed to come here and protect beacons. And to use my powers. But I’m not here for fae propaganda and promotion of becoming more fae.”

  Brett eyed him for a moment. “Even if it was the best way to protect your partner?”

  Dallin froze at that, though Jo didn’t know why. She was sure Dallin could protect anyone he wanted to. Even the other dragons gave him a wide berth and didn’t feel insulted that Brett said only Dallin could beat a fae.

  “One day, you might meet someone immune to your dragon power, and—”

  “Right, I’m going to meet another emerald dragon,” Dallin said, rolling his eyes. “That’s the only creature immune to my power when I’m not suppressed.”

  “For now,” Brett says. “But as for what you said, that gives me a good chance to bring up the fact that we’ve invited a special guest, and he should be here any moment to see you, Dallin.”

  “What?” Dallin sat up a little straighter. “What do you mean?”

  Brett sighed. “I’m going to take the other two out back to work on fae transformation, but I’m guessing you don’t want to come.”

  Dallin shook his head.

  “I thought so,” said Ian, who had been watching from the kitchen and now walked out to the living room to meet them. “So I called someone over to work with you instead.”

  Dallin went rigid as Ian went to open the front door. Standing in the doorway was a tall man with light-blond hair framing his face, which was so beautiful, almost angelic.

  His eyes were large and slanted and feline and a vivid green like emeralds. He was wearing a forest-green trench coat over some kind of green tracksuit and was muscular and tall like the other dragons.

  Built like Landon but maybe a little shorter.

  “Are you all going to stare or let me in?” The man put a hand on his hip, cocking it. “I have a mate and child to get back to.”

  “Aegis,” Ian said, looking taken aback as he opened the door wider and gestured for Aegis to come in. He extended a hand, but Aegis waved it away.

  “I don’t need formalities. I’m just here because you said there was one of my kind…” His shrewd eyes scanned the room. “Ah, there you are. Knew the moment I saw you.”

  Dallin puffed up with pride.

  “Don’t look that excited. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m
kind of a pill,” Aegis said. “Now come on. Let’s go talk where no one can hear us.”

  The others in the room looked taken aback and confused, but Dallin just stood and followed the man in green.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, the emerald dragon,” Ian said, shutting the door in mild shock. “Damn, I heard a lot about him, but—”

  “I heard he poisoned himself,” Landon said. “Baking cookies.”

  The door opened abruptly, and Aegis poked his head in. “If you talk shit, I’m going to order you to eat your own,” he said. “I can do it.”

  Landon went sort of pale, then nodded. “Got it.”

  Aegis nodded, then closed the door.

  “What a pleasure,” Ian said, frowning at the door.

  “They deserve each other,” Brett said, shaking his head.

  “No,” Ian said. “I don’t think either is bad. They’re just… difficult. Come on, we don’t know what it’s like to be them. Anyway, let’s head out to the yard. Jo, did you want to watch? See how fae transformation works?”

  She did. She was curious. But she was more worried about Dallin. “I’ll wait here for when he’s back.”

  Ian gave her a knowing smile, then led the others out to the back yard, and Jo let out a sigh of relief just to be alone in her house.

  Already, she couldn’t wait to be with Dallin. To talk, be in his arms, and let everything be normal again.

  20

  “So another emerald dragon,” Aegis said, staring at Dallin with those perfectly green eyes that made the difference between them clear.

  Seeing another emerald dragon was kind of shaking Dallin because while he’d defied the idea of being fae all his life, he’d taken deep pride in being a dragon.

  Especially such a powerful and rare one.

  But now he was faced with the purer version of what he was, and he wasn’t sure he measured up.

  The man in front of him didn’t seem to care, though.

  Aegis folded his arms as he paced. “Not sure how they got the blood. Interesting, though, this whole hybrid concept.” He sighed. “Do you know, I didn’t think there would ever be another like me?”

  “I’m not exactly like you,” Dallin said.

  “I can see that,” Aegis said, peering at him with that face that was almost pretty rather than handsome. But the sharpness of his expression countered it. “Your eyes. The blue…”

  “My fae blood,” Dallin said, hating even the word coming out of him.

  He felt particularly raw after they had outright implied that he wouldn’t be able to protect Jo as well as a fae.

  Fuck that. Fuck that to hell.

  Except… they were talking about protecting mates and soul bonds, and Jo was neither.

  She was just… everything.

  And the last few days had been absolute heaven, working on podcasts, being beside her, holding her in his arms…

  For once, more than dragon or fae, he almost wished he were simply human.

  “Listen,” Aegis said. “You’ve lived this long with our power, so I’m not sure what you could learn from me. I’m more interested to hear what it’s been like.”

  Dallin cocked his head. “Did you really poison yourself?”

  “Blunt. I like it,” Aegis said. “Right to my face. In that case, yes, I did poison myself on accident, trying to make cookies for my mate.”

  Dallin snorted as he tried to suppress a laugh. “What?”

  “I’m highly toxic,” Aegis said. “Are you not?”

  “No,” Dallin said. “At least I don’t think so.”

  “Hm,” Aegis said. “Could be something unique to me. But if I’m not careful, my poison… Anyway, it isn’t relevant. Good for you for not having to deal with that.” He preened slightly. “I suppose I’m the only true emerald dragon after all.”

  Dallin sagged slightly, and Aegis’s tone softened.

  “Though, it’s very cool to be part emerald dragon, and hey, you’re unique too and part fae.” Aegis shrugged a shoulder. “They all seem like insane people to me, but I wouldn’t mind having some of that power—”

  “I would,” Dallin said.

  “What?” Aegis looked at him like he’d just said water was pink. “Why?”

  “On principle.”

  “Principles are stupid in our world,” Aegis said. “They get people killed.”

  “Principles make us different.”

  “Morals do,” Aegis said. “And most will tell you I’m a bit muddy on that line as well. But when you say principle, you really mean you are being stubborn for some reason that has nothing to do with the matter at hand.”

  “Which is?”

  “Having more power.”

  Dallin shrugged a shoulder. “I have enough.”

  Aegis got a far-off look in his eyes as a smile curved one side of his lips. “When you love someone and you want to protect them, no power ever seems enough.”

  Dallin nodded, feeling his chest tighten up.

  He’d been trying not to think of the future, of the implications of what he was when it came to Jo.

  But it felt like everyone was forcing the walls to cave in on him.

  “I’m a monster,” he said softly, causing Aegis to jerk back, slightly shocked.

  “You are not,” Aegis said. “Dragons are a noble—”

  “But I’m not a dragon or a fae, am I?” He felt stricken as he looked up at Aegis.

  “I have a mate to get back to,” Aegis said. “I just came here to talk about my power. I’m the last to deal with emotional…” He paused, let out his breath, and sighed in resignation. “All right.” He motioned for Dallin to sit next to him on the stairs.

  Dallin did. The last thing he wanted was another emerald dragon using his powers on him while he was suppressed.

  “You don’t trust anyone, do you?” Aegis asked, peering at him with those too-clear green eyes.

  Dallin shook his head.

  “Not even yourself.”

  Dallin didn’t say anything, but the answer was clear enough. How could he trust himself when he was a monster? A mix-up. Something not quite right.

  He’d tried not to think about it. To feel whole. He didn’t want to feel like a victim. To accept that what was done to him would materially change his life.

  It had been easier to put out of his mind when he was on his mad quest for vengeance.

  But it was true and staring him in the face, and he wouldn’t let Jo suffer for it.

  “Oh no,” Aegis said. “Don’t get thoughts like that.”

  “Why not?” Dallin asked. “I know I’m living in a fairy tale. I’m with a gorgeous, sweet, kind woman who has never hurt anyone in her life, and I’m a cold misfit from a lab who was tortured into something unrecognizable and—”

  “Stop with the self-pity,” Aegis said. “I was sold by my parents, chained in a cellar, and then only gained my powers to stop my best friend from being raped and murdered. Then I protected her for years, only to have her leave and be captured, making me think the only person I loved was dead. Then, when I woke up after hundreds of years, I found out she was alive and on the opposite side of which I was fighting.”

  “Oh,” Dallin said, taken aback.

  Aegis sighed. “Look, I get that sometimes you don’t feel you have the best to offer. I was a villain when I decided to change sides to win my mate. She’s the only one I ever wanted.”

  “I’m glad it worked out for you,” Dallin said. “And I’m sorry things were hard.”

  “I’m not asking for pity, and I’m not saying you don’t deserve it. I’m saying if I had spent all my time moping about my mistakes or trauma, I wouldn’t have been able to take care of my mate and be the man, or dragon, I needed to be for her.”

  “It’s different,” Dallin said. “If I could change for her, I would…”

  “I hear you won’t even train your fae form,” Aegis said.

  Dallin shook his head. “There is no point. I have tried before.”

>   Aegis’s eyes widened like he was surprised by that. “Really?”

  “Only at the lab, but yes.” He sighed. “I’m not sure if I have the blood or am suppressing it. To be honest, I can’t imagine what bringing out that filthy blood would do to help Jo, or—”

  “You have to stop calling yourself filthy or things like that,” Aegis said. “It’s not befitting of a dragon of our stature.”

  Dallin nodded, slightly pleased to be addressed as a dragon like Aegis.

  For some reason, this blunt jerk of a dragon was easier for him to bond with than anyone who had tried to treat him with kid gloves.

  “Look, my mate and kid are waiting, and I’m eager to get back to them. But I did want to answer any questions you have about your powers.”

  Dallin nodded. “What’s the worst and best thing you’ve ever done with yours?”

  Being able to command anyone to your will was a power that was almost too easy to misuse.

  Aegis thought for a moment. “Best thing? Probably when I ordered someone who had forced a mating to remove the offending object they had used to trap their prey.”

  Dallin’s eyes widened. “What?”

  “Long story,” Aegis said, waving his hand. “Worst thing I ever did?” He thought for a moment. “Probably when I ordered the ruby dragon to pants the onyx dragon.” He grinned. “That didn’t go over too well, but it was worth it.”

  Dallin raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

  “I hated the onyx dragon,” Aegis said. “We have a tenuous relationship, but that doesn’t mean he can let his guard down. He did try to steal my mate, after all.”

  Dallin was tempted to laugh at this interesting person, but he was a little afraid of what he would be ordered to do.

  “I don’t use my powers often,” Aegis said, looking up at him. “I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility. I’m sure you do too.”

  “Sort of,” Dallin said. “Not always. Not when it comes to fae or rescuing other dragons.”

  “Ah yes, I heard you’re kind of a savior in that world, aren’t you? Some liberator of dragons.”

  “A failed liberator,” Dallin said. “But I did set things in motion.”

  Aegis leaned back, one arm on the step above him. “So your turn to answer the same question.”