Dragon Released (Reclaimed Dragons Book 1)

by Terry Bolryder

  Dallin sank to one knee, looking at his hand to see it was normal. No wand, no magic. No sign of anything.

  Not that he needed it. He knew he hadn’t changed.

  He knew it was impossible. The magic in him was lodged in his chest like a rock that would never come out.

  Perhaps it had never been put in right in the first place.

  Perhaps he simply couldn’t face who had put it there. Or perhaps they hadn’t meant for him to ever be able to transform.

  Whatever it was, it was very bad news for Dallin.

  Because up until this moment, he’d never thought that it would actually be impossible for him to be the man, or fae even, that Jo needed.

  His heart sank into darkness as he sat fully on the grass, staring up at the moon.

  Perhaps he had never truly left the lab. Perhaps it would be with him always, embedded under his skin.

  So what was the point?

  Then again, many dragons were in a better place because of him, and maybe that was all that mattered.

  All he’d be able to do.

  And perhaps Aegis’s words about doing what was right for the one you love were even more poignant than Dallin had thought.

  Dallin wanted Jo. He loved her even after only a week together. She was the only person to ever express love to him. She was the light of his life.

  But that didn’t make her his mate.

  And he loved her with everything he had. But that didn’t make him her soul bond.

  His worst fears were true in that the fae who had set out to destroy him had truly accomplished it.

  It was just later than they might have thought.

  Dallin knew he would be broken after this, but there was only one thing to do.

  Set Jo up with a protector that could actually be her soul bond one day. Both Landon and Ryder could transform.

  And as much as it killed Dallin, he had to admit Aegis was right.

  When you loved someone, you had to do what was best for them even if you hated it.

  And she would hate Dallin for this. For not giving her a say in what was going on.

  But she was everything, and he couldn’t let anything happen to her.

  He was half dragon and not enough fae, and she was a beacon.

  It just wasn’t meant to be, and more time together would only further hurt them.

  She would hopefully see that someday. Knowing that she was alive and happy would be enough for him.

  She was a light in the world and the only person to make Dallin feel loved.

  He would take care of her even if it hurt them both.

  Because deep in his heart, he was still a protector, and it seemed to be the only part of him that could never be taken away.

  22

  Jo knew something was wrong the next day when she woke up, even before she looked over to see Dallin wasn’t by her side.

  Fear moved through her as she threw off the covers, looking to the window to see the sun streaming in, as it was still early morning.

  She hadn’t slept in that late. Was he making breakfast?

  For a moment, the thought occurred to her that he could be gone.

  After the cookout, they’d made love, and he’d been as passionate and tender as always. But she’d seen something in his eyes ever since he came back from talking with Aegis.

  She’d tried to get him to tell her about it, to no avail, and she’d learned it was best to just let him sort things out on his own if he didn’t want to talk about something.

  Maybe he was feeling pressured by what was going on between them after the seminar had communicated so much about mates and pressure.

  Regardless, something had changed, so it was hard not to panic as she threw on a bra, tee shirt, and yoga pants and ran down the stairs to see where Dallin was.

  Already, she couldn’t imagine a life without him by her side.

  “Dallin?” She turned the corner to the living room and sighed in relief when she saw his big back in the kitchen.

  But then she saw him turning to leave, a note and a box in his hand.

  “I made breakfast,” he said softly, looking at her with a determined teal gaze.

  “Thank you,” she said, eyeing the kitchen where she could smell pancakes.

  “Jo,” he said, looking more apologetic by the second as she looked him over, noting the large duffel he had over his shoulder, plus bags of his other things. “We need to talk.”

  She looked at him warily. “It looks like you weren’t even planning to talk.”

  “I was,” he said. “I was just taking my things out. I’m a lot of things, Jo, but not a coward.” His eyes shuttered, looking like a storm over the ocean. He set down his things. “We can talk now. I’ll take my stuff out in a second.”

  “A second?” Jo felt all the blood run out of her face. She’d told him and herself that it didn’t matter what the future held. That she was just happy being with him.

  But she hadn’t thought it would lead to this moment, watching him walk away without even asking what she thought.

  “I’ve had the best time of my life with you,” Dallin said, taking advantage of her silence to get out whatever he needed to say. “But, Jo, we always knew this… might not work out long term.”

  She nodded. Her throat felt tight enough that if she spoke, she thought she might start crying.

  And she couldn’t understand it.

  She wasn’t an emotional person.

  He hadn’t made any promises. Or even said he loved her, though he showed it in his actions.

  But still, she hadn’t seen this coming.

  “Why?”

  He closed his eyes for a moment, then took in a deep breath, relaxing it as his gaze met hers and his big chest sank. “We’re too different. You’re a fairy. I’m a dragon. It’s probably why you haven’t even started to manifest. We don’t match.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve been trying to ignore that from the start. Trying not to even think of it, because from a selfish point of view, you’re the best thing to ever happen to me.”

  “How are you going to say that when you’re leaving?”

  He sucked in his cheek. “These things are complicated in the supernatural world. I always knew we didn’t belong together, Jo. This is my fault. I’m sorry.”

  She quickly brushed at the angry tears threatening her eyes. She was not going to cry over this. “I’m the one who said not to think of the future.” She gulped. “But… this…”

  “You won’t be alone,” he said, walking forward to put a hand on her arm. “Ryder and Landon will be here soon to protect you.”

  She took a step back, removing her touch from him. “So you’ve taken care of everything, haven’t you, Dallin?”

  He waited, then nodded.

  She let out a hiss of pain, then turned her back. “Fine. Don’t let me keep you.”

  Dallin set the ring box and note on the shelf next to him. “That’s for Landon and Ryder. And the box is for the ring if you want to take it off and store it.”

  Her hand moved to the ring, but for some reason, she didn’t take it off. She wasn’t letting him off that easily.

  Walking away like there was nothing between them.

  “I don’t care that you’re a dragon and I’m fae, Dallin,” she said. “I love you.”

  He flinched, but his eyes were hard as he turned back to her, and she could tell that no matter what, he’d put up some kind of wall.

  He’d decided this on his own, and nothing she could say would change it.

  “Why won’t you tell me what happened?” She tried to stay calm, but it was difficult. “Last night we went to bed and yes, you were quiet, but I didn’t think there was something wrong.”

  “I’m not fae, Jo,” he said. “I can’t be.”

  “You won’t try,” she accused.

  He just stared at her. “You really think that? You think I would do all of this with you and not even try to be what you needed me to be?” He stalke
d forward, catching her hands and pulling her in. “Jo, I’m a monster, and I realized it last night. You and I have been speeding toward disaster, falling for each other—”

  “Have you fallen for me?” She glared up at him.

  “Of course,” he said.

  “Then you couldn’t leave my side,” she said brokenly. “You promised to protect me.”

  He released her and stepped back, resolve tightening his hands into fists. “I did. That’s why I’m doing this. Landon and Ryder—”

  “I don’t want—”

  There was a knock on the door, and Jo’s gaze snapped to Dallin’s. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you? Had them show up so we couldn’t talk? So I couldn’t yell at you.”

  He was just quiet. “I don’t know what else there is to talk about. And you should be protected by a better dragon as soon as possible.”

  “There is no better dragon,” she said. “Not for me. It’s going to hurt me when you leave. Don’t you get that? Don’t you care?”

  Dallin stared down at her, and she saw a flicker of something before he suppressed it and his expression hardened again. “I’m doing the only thing I see as right here. I don’t know what else you want me to say.”

  “Do you love me?” She felt like she knew the answer even if he hadn’t ever said it in words.

  He looked to the side, guilt tinging his expression. “I don’t know if a monster like me can fall in love.”

  Jo’s hands clenched as rage moved through her. “Don’t you dare call yourself a monster! I can’t stand it. And you know what we have is love. You—”

  “You don’t know who or what I am deep down,” Dallin said, looking haunted. “You never will.” He seemed partly relieved by that, and Jo hated that this self-hating part of him was too powerful for her to beat.

  She wanted to fight for him, but she sensed any pushback was pointless.

  “I wish you could stay, and I could show you I would accept any part of you,” she said softly. “Anyway… I guess… there’s nothing I can say, right?”

  He looked pained then, tempted, and his whole body tensed as his eyes locked with hers, then moved down her body as if he was trying to memorize this moment, everything about her.

  There was such longing in his gaze for those few seconds that it almost took her breath away.

  “I’m going now,” he said, finally meeting her eyes again. “The note should explain things to Landon and Ryder.”

  “So I’m just never going to see you again?” Jo’s heart was racing, and the world still felt upside down and backward. “I knew we hadn’t made forever plans, but this is so sudden—”

  “So we should stay together longer until we’re even more bonded before we figure out I can never be what you need?” Dallin asked.

  Jo’s hands tightened into fists now. “I’m the one who decides what I need. And if you’re not a fairy, I don’t need a fairy.”

  Dallin eyed her. “I wish that were true.”

  Her chest depressed. “I’ll hate you for this, Dallin. I won’t be grateful. I wanted to take this at least to the end of the natural road.” To be honest, she’d never thought that end would come.

  To be honest, she’d always thought he’d come to the same conclusion she had.

  That they were meant to be together as mates, soul bond, or whatever you called it.

  No one had ever made her feel like he did, and she was sure she did the same for him.

  “I hate fairies,” Dallin said. “They tortured me. Hurt me. If I’m with you… if I stay with you, I’ll only be more immersed in the fae world. And the only thing in me is hatred for them. Fae is what you are, even if you can’t feel it yet. And dragon is what I am, and—”

  “You don’t know what you are,” she said. “You haven’t given yourself time to find out yet.”

  “I’ve lived with myself for years, locked in a lab with no clock, only torture. Watching dragons die. Killed by fae. I tried to mass murder them. You were my redemption, Jo, but… it’s not that simple. And I’d be a monster again if I stayed.”

  “You’re a coward for leaving,” she said, folding her arms. “You just aren’t willing to face things and work them out.”

  “I’m not willing to see you die by a fae’s hand because I was selfish enough to mate you.”

  Then he grabbed his stuff, turned, and shut the door behind him, not even leaving her with a kiss or a hug.

  Even now, she longed to run after him, throw her arms around him, try to keep him with her if only by sheer will.

  But she stood there frozen because in the end, if Dallin’s mind was made up, there was nothing she could do.

  Her heart pounded in pain, and she tried to push away the urge to cry as she looked up at Landon and Ryder, who were watching with shocked faces as Dallin pushed past them and went to his truck.

  He hopped inside, started the engine, and was gone.

  Landon stared, his mouth slowly closing. “Is his suppressor going to go off? Can he just leave like that?”

  “I have no idea,” Ryder said. “Come on. Let’s get Jo inside.” Ryder put an arm gently around Jo’s shoulder, helping her into the house. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. We know Dallin. Everything isn’t over yet. Let’s just talk, and we’ll all figure this out.”

  She’d never thought gruff, blunt Ryder would be the one to comfort her, but as he brought her inside and held her while she cried, while Landon shut and locked the door, she felt like he was doing a pretty good job.

  Even if nothing he could do could bring back her dragon.

  23

  That evening, Jo was finally feeling better.

  It had taken a long bath, a lot of ranting to the surprisingly understanding dragons, and a video where she made cupcakes for her fans in the shape of dragon heads.

  Those were fun to chomp on.

  It helped that Landon and Ryder refused to give up hope on Dallin coming to his senses, though Jo wasn’t sure.

  She sighed, biting into a cupcake, remembering how Dallin had fed her one, his eyes burning with fire as he watched her enjoyment.

  She couldn’t imagine not doing that again.

  Landon, who was spectacularly bad at not reading thoughts, perked up. “Really? He fed you a cupcake? I can’t picture Dallin doing that.” Landon was wearing a white tee shirt and jeans that hugged the muscles of his long, lean body. His ice-blue eyes were, as always, calm but slightly unnerving.

  From the moment the three of them had met at the seminar, Jo had felt they could all be quick friends, and it was proving to be easily true.

  “Can’t believe he would leave,” Ryder said, finishing his third cupcake. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt and jeans and looked oddly casual, only his yellow-green eyes giving him away as supernatural.

  And his huge build.

  But after being with Dallin so long, Ryder and Landon looked almost… normal to her.

  “I kind of get it,” Landon says. “It’s misguided, but he does care.”

  Jo let out a hmph. “If he cared, he would have stayed.” It was odd that she had fought against having Dallin with her in the first place, and now she’d do anything to have him back.

  Landon shared a look with Ryder. “She doesn’t get it, does she?”

  Ryder shook his head. “Not at all.”

  “Get what?” She stared at both of them. “By the way, why are the two of you always willing to give him a pass? He’s kind of a jerk to you also.”

  “He saved us,” Ryder said. “Did he tell you that?”

  Jo rubbed her neck because she honestly couldn’t remember. “I know he was focused on saving a lot of dragons.”

  “To us,” Landon said, “dragons from the fae world, he is our leader. Our liberator. Every one of us knows his name and what he can do. The emerald dragon hybrid. The one dragon fae made that could actually take down fae.”

  “Can’t you two do that as well?” Jo asked.

  Ryder nodded. “Yes. We just weren
’t freed until after Dallin. He was the first of our kind to escape, the first imprisoned dragon to defeat a fairy. Though, I think he had help to escape. Some fairy who was also being tortured. The one he worked with when seeking revenge.”

  “Ultraviolet,” Jo said. Jealousy ripped through her as, for just a second, she wondered if Dallin would be with the fairy now since she was his only other friend.

  “Yes,” Landon said, sitting up. “I met her when she came to rescue me.”

  Ryder raised a dark eyebrow. “You mean when she was trying to kill Liz?”

  “She wouldn’t have killed her,” Landon said. “I saw her thoughts. She was blind with rage and without purpose, having been robbed of everything she’d been working on, but if she’d wanted Liz dead, Liz would have been dead, with or without Dallin’s order.”

  “Is she so powerful?” Jo asked.

  Landon stopped, slightly nervous, then gave Jo an innocent look that wasn’t even slightly convincing. “Who knows? We shouldn’t be talking about her right now. We should be talking about Dallin.”

  “Landon’s obsessed with her,” Ryder says. “Of course he knows.”

  “I can’t tell her secrets,” Landon said with a shrug. “Anyway, the point is a lot of us see Dallin as a hero, as difficult as he may be. He never hesitates to fight for whoever needs him. He feels no fear in the face of danger.”

  “He was afraid today,” she said bitterly.

  “Yes,” Landon said. “Because, as we said, you don’t get it.”

  “Get what?” She was beginning to lose her patience, and she had a lot of it. Dallin had hurt her, and—

  “How powerful the urge is to protect a mate,” Ryder said, exhaling. “Whether Dallin knows it or not, he was having mate feelings. Being willing to leave when it must have been very painful for him is actually honorable.”

  “Then he should have left sooner,” she said, though she knew that would have been even more painful.

  Ryder sighed, pulling something out from his pocket. “This is his note to us. You should read it. Maybe it would help you understand better.”

  “Dear Inferior Dragons,