Because of your so-called ‘skills’ in using traitorous fae blood, you’re sadly more equipped than I am to protect a beacon like Jo.
I can’t stop either of you from mating her. Just know that I will hate you from the bottom of my heart if you do.
A fae male will probably be needed, but I’ll be checking in. So if you let some asshole (they are all assholes) near her, I’ll come after you.
If you let anything happen to her, I’ll make both of you wish you had never been saved.
I won’t always have my suppressor on. Remember that.
I’ll be watching.
—Dallin”
“Wow,” Jo said, still shocked as she read it, even if a part of her couldn’t help smiling because it was just so Dallin.
Such a jerk and such a good person just beneath the surface.
But she still hated him for making the decision on his own.
For thinking she’d care more about being safe than being with him. For not even staying to hear her out.
“For what it’s worth, I think he really did believe he was doing the right thing,” Ryder said. “I know it’s wrong. I know he hurt you. But I think it’s worth giving him another chance.”
“He’ll be back,” Landon said helpfully.
“How do you know that?” She sighed.
But before Landon could answer, there was a thump on the ground outside the house, loud enough that it shook the walls and made the light fixtures jingle.
“What was that?” She sat up straight, heart pounding with options. Could Dallin be back? As a dragon?
Her yard wasn’t big enough.
“Stay here,” Ryder said, putting up a hand. “Landon and I will check it out for you.”
Landon was already on his feet, striding through the living room to pull away the curtain covering the glass doors. “Chaos fae,” he said. “Big one.”
“Just one?” Ryder asked, cracking his knuckles and honestly looking a little excited as he walked forward. “Too easy.”
Jo wanted to let the composure of the dragons calm her, but she could feel something she hadn’t felt since that first terrifying day in the alley outside the grocery store.
Something dark and sickly but even stronger than it had been that day.
“Oh, it’s a prince,” Landon said. “That definitely makes things more interesting. Should we try using our fae forms?”
Ryder shook his head. “Not yet. Even a chaos prince shouldn’t be too much trouble with your dragon power. Just don’t transform into your dragon. We don’t want to destroy Jo’s house and yard.”
“You don’t want to take this one?” Landon asked, looking at Ryder like he was offering him one of Jo’s cupcakes.
Ryder ran a hand through his hair. “With my utter lack of control over what I shift into sometimes, I think it’s better if you handle it.”
Landon nodded, and the slight smile on his face said he was looking forward to it.
No matter how different the dragons were, it seemed they all had one thing in common.
Hating fae.
Jo tried to be reassured by the lack of fear shown by her two protectors, but as she followed them to the back door and peeked out to see what was waiting, she couldn’t help shivering slightly in fear.
A tall man with short dark hair stood in the center of her small lawn, making it look even smaller with his presence.
He was so tall he made even Dallin seem average.
At least seven feet.
From the second she saw him, she knew he was fae. There was no mistaking it with this one.
He was lean, his features almost a pretty, exotic exaggeration of a human face. Larger eyes tilted at the corners. Large irises that were dark and flat, like black holes.
He wore black armor made of black leather and matte plating, and his arms were folded.
He was lean. Much leaner than the dragons, though still very muscled.
“Come out here, beacon. I’d like to see you,” he called in a deep, raspy voice.
Landon and Ryder stepped out, shutting the glass door behind them, and Jo stayed at the side of the door where she could watch and hear everything that was happening.
A part of her wanted to call Dallin, but that was silly.
Nothing would happen. And besides, he’d left.
Landon and Ryder would take care of things.
It was dark out, and Jo’s floodlights lit the backyard with a stark glare.
“Beacon? I’m waiting,” the fae said, ignoring the dragons in front of him.
“She’s not here, but we are, asshole,” Landon said, stepping forward. “Prepare to be vanquished.” He raised a hand and snapped his fingers, and Ryder flinched slightly, as if expecting something to happen.
But nothing did.
The fae prince just glared at them, about ten feet away.
Landon snapped again, then looked at Ryder in panic. “It’s not working. What the hell? He’s supposed to turn into—”
But Landon wasn’t able to finish his sentence because the fae had cleared the space between them in an instant and brought his elbow down on Landon’s head, sending him crumpling to the ground as the earth shook all around them.
“Stupid,” the fae said, kicking at an unmoving Landon with his toe. “Your best bet would have been your dragon form, but even that would have been useless. No dragon can defeat me.”
Ryder clenched his hands. “You’re going to pay for that.”
The fae raised his head and appraised Ryder coolly. “I don’t think so, you abomination.”
Ryder growled, and Jo saw green scales form on his exposed hands and neck as he raised his hands in the air.
Giant tree roots erupted, wrapping around the fae’s legs to hold him in place as Ryder built up magic in his hand now, a fiery green ball growing larger and brighter.
But with a crack, the fae broke free of the tree roots, shooting forward to try and strike Ryder like he had Landon.
But Ryder saw it coming and caught his fist, launching his own punch at the fae at the same time.
The two men locked for a minute, grappling for the upper hand, but while Ryder was breaking a sweat, the fae still seemed as calm as if he was eating his morning breakfast and not fighting two dragons.
Perhaps Dallin had a point about fae and how strong they were.
“Simple green powers won’t save you,” the fae said. “You’re only just learning your powers. I’ve had mine my whole life. I’m one of the purest princes of chaos. You could fight me like this or as your dragon or even in the abomination I’m sure would be your fae form, but it wouldn’t matter.”
“We are stronger than other dragons,” Landon said, trying to push to his feet. “You won’t—”
The fae raised his hand and blasted Landon with black energy, knocking him back and sending him rolling against the house, where he landed with a thud and didn’t move.
The fae, who was still locked with Ryder, just grinned. “I’m only here for the beacon. I’m not interested in fighting lesser dragons.”
“I can transform,” Ryder said.
The fae scoffed. “It wouldn’t matter. You’d be a thousand years too late to beat me. There’s a reason dragon scum like you serve the fae. We’re stronger than you the way you’re stronger than humans, so think about how hopeless it is.”
“Why didn’t Landon’s dragon power work?” Ryder asked the fae. “He could have owned you.” Ryder’s face tensed. “I can’t activate mine either, and I—”
The fae jerked his hand back from Ryder and then punched him so quickly he was out on his feet, swaying before Jo’s eyes for a second before falling to a heap on the porch.
The fae looked down for a second, then looked up and locked eyes with her. His mouth curved in a feral grin. “Hello there.”
Jo felt a new kind of fear move through her.
She’d been naive. Dallin was right. Living in her world of cupcakes and sweetness, thinking the world that scared
Dallin would never come in.
The world where fae could beat even the strongest dragons.
But then Ryder and Landon hadn’t been expecting… whatever this man was…
She understood now that Dallin’s world was full of strange and terrifying rules and creatures.
But she also wished, as the fae approached, sliding her door open with a quick movement of his hand, that Dallin was there by her side.
She cringed back, trying to pull out her phone to call someone. Everything had happened so quickly.
Whoever this fae was, he didn’t take time to mess around.
“Don’t worry. You won’t be hurt if you cooperate.” He grinned, and nausea waved through her. Even as he walked, a vague cloud of black mist seemed to emanate from him.
Like he was so evil his body couldn’t fully contain all of it.
Jo tried to run, but the fae caught her, wrapping his arm around her.
“Dallin!” Jo yelled out of pure instinct, pure need for him in her fear. But she immediately felt stupid as the fae pulled her in tight against him. His arm felt like iron, cold and immovable, as the fae dragged her out into the backyard. “Dallin! Help!"
She knew she was hysterical, calling for someone that wasn’t there.
But as the fae sprouted ominous, tall wings of black flame, ready to take off with her, Jo just called Dallin’s name again and again.
If only he could hear.
24
Dallin ignored the tiny shocks moving through him, causing severe pain as his suppressor attempted to remind him he was out of line in his mission.
He didn’t care. He’d eventually get it off, and besides, he knew what he was doing was right.
Jo needed a fae.
Probably not anytime soon, but eventually, and he refused to let either of them fall more in love just to get hurt later.
At least that’s what he kept telling himself, but the longer he was away from Jo, the less it felt like he had done the right thing.
Especially after he’d watched her live video earlier that day and felt a longing so deep it felt like it could kill him.
But he knew he was just being weak. He would always miss her, but Jo was better off without him.
Dallin jerked as another shock went through him, thinking of Jo’s face when he’d left and deciding he deserved whatever pain he got.
He should have done things better, but he’d never been good at dealing with emotion.
The only person he’d trusted up until Jo was another half-twisted psychopath who didn’t trust anyone either.
Maybe he should have gone with Ultraviolet from the start.
But then he would never have known the peace he felt with Jo. Never been able to taste her cupcakes or see her gorgeous face or hold her in his arms.
So precious.
He felt something suspiciously like water in one eye and practically slapped it away.
Dragons did not cry.
“Weak.”
Dallin sat up immediately because the voice was familiar, and he knew exactly who was about to appear in the room.
He looked over to see a swirling purple portal and Ultraviolet, also known as Vex, stepping out.
Dallin cocked his head, thinking she looked a little… healthier.
Not so gaunt.
Vex flushed. “Keep your eyes to yourself. I like treats. Only thing that makes the human world bearable.”
Dallin sighed, ignoring another shock to his suppressor. “Why are you here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be off seeking vengeance?”
“I went by that human’s house to try and change your mind again, and when I saw you weren’t there, I just followed your truck here. I am bonded to you, you know.”
“We’re friends,” Dallin said, shrugging one shoulder.
Ultraviolet took a step forward. She was wearing a loose, zip-up black hoodie and tight black jeans.
Her purple-gray hair had grown to pixie length, just falling around her ears.
Her eyes, slightly darker than her hair, met his.
“So… how has it been going?”
“I thought you hated me,” Dallin said. “I thought I was a ‘traitor.’”
Vexxus, as Dallin usually called her, sat on the edge of the bed, sending him a look that was almost apologetic. “Yeah, well, I was pissed. Can you blame me? But anyway, now you’re free and we can get going.”
He held up his wrist. “Still suppressed.”
She eyed it. “Ah. Forgot they made you a dog.”
He sighed. “Can you remove it?”
Vexxus hesitated, then shook her head. “I don’t think so. Not tech from our world.”
“Thought not,” Dallin said, lying back.
“So you don’t want to come with me?”
“I don’t know.” He felt dull and dead inside. He should have been happy that Jo could have better protection, but he only felt like he’d walked away from her and stepped into his own grave.
Because what was life without her?
“What else would you do? You can’t just sit around and mope all day, getting zapped by that thing.”
Dallin just stared at the ceiling. “Still better than the lab.”
“You really cared about her, huh?” Vex’s voice was softer than he’d ever heard it. “But she’s fae.”
Dallin nodded. “At least partly. That’s why I left. It was never going to work.”
Vexxus was quiet for a moment, then looked his way. She’d always been the only one never afraid to face him or give back any of his BS.
Until Jo that was.
“You know, I don’t point this out a lot because you hate it, but you are part fae.”
Dallin just shrugged.
“I can’t stand it when you act like that,” Vexxus said. “Like nothing bothers you and you’re fine when, clearly, nothing could be further from the truth.”
Dallin sent her a glare. “Why do you care? Shouldn’t you be off getting revenge or something? Working with whoever your new cohorts are?”
She pulled out a bag of candy and munched on it as she thought for a moment. “I have new cohorts, yes.” She grinned at him. “But no one compares to you in pure willingness to deal cold, hard death at a moment’s—”
“Don’t remind me,” Dallin said. “I’m not good for anything but killing.” His hand tightened.
“So what happened, then?” Vexxus asked, offering him some of the colorful candies from her bag.
He shook his head.
“You were supposed to be protecting her, right?” Vex looked confused. “Why aren’t you there? I mean, don’t get me wrong. I think you’re a stupid traitor, but—”
It was odd hearing Dallin’s words repeated to himself. He called the other dragons traitors just for trying to adjust to a new world and new powers.
Hearing himself called that made him realize that the black and white thinking he’d always used, along with Vexxus, probably wasn’t serving him.
“I’m not a traitor, Vexxus,” he said. “I’m just trying to live a life outside that lab.” He felt sadness move through him. “But what’s the point? I’m not normal. I never will be. Am I supposed to just disappear?”
“You could go with me,” Vex said quietly, putting away her bag of treats. “The guys I’m working with aren’t really fond of dragons, but they’d be cool, knowing what you’re capable of.”
“I won’t be able to use my emerald powers until this is off,” Dallin said, raising his wrist.
“We’ll figure it out,” Vexxus said.
It seemed tempting for a moment, going back to the fae world and continuing everything.
But Jo…
Even if it pained him, he wanted to stay here in the human world, just to make sure she was safe.
Watch her videos, see if someone else protected her….
Damn, he was being stupid.
He needed to move on and stop seeing her beautiful face in his mind.
“You sure she’
s not your soul bond?” Vexxus asked. “I mean—”
“Don’t say that,” Dallin said. “You know I’m not enough fae to—”
“Does anyone know that? Including you?” Vex asked, cocking her head at him and looking somewhat like a bird. “Don’t get me wrong. I want you to see reason and come fight with me. But you’ll be useless if you’re moping like this.”
Dallin sighed. “It’s fine. I’ve made my decision.”
Vex looked like she didn’t know what to say or do. She’d never been good with emotion.
But she climbed fully onto the bed and lay on the other side of it, a few feet between her and Dallin since he was in the huge suite he’d rented with Jo.
If he had to be heartbroken, he might as well do it somewhere plush.
Vex watched the pug video Dallin had on his phone with him for a moment. Then he felt her staring and finally turned to glare.
“What is it? Out with it.”
“I just… If you like her, why aren’t you there? I never knew a Dallin who could take no for an answer.”
“It’s not going to work,” he said. “She’s a fairy. I’m a dragon. And you know I hate fairies.”
“Not me,” Vexxus said. “Or that stupid light fae you helped.” She grinned. “You know, Dallin, you aren’t as hard as you think.”
He chuckled. “Neither are you.”
She was immediately prickly at that, sitting up and heading back toward her portal. “No, I’ll never go soft like you. I have a world to get back to, things to do—”
“That dragon you rescued still thinks about you,” Dallin said.
Vex scoffed, but Dallin thought he saw a tinge to her cheeks. “That’s just ridiculous. I’m not—”
“If I have to accept I’m part fae, you have to accept that you’re a woman, and—”
“No.” She glared fiercely, rising to her full height, which still wasn’t very tall for a fae. “You can’t tell me what to do, Dallin. Not when you left me alone in our cause. I came here out of friendship, but—”
“Just go,” Dallin said. “Maybe when this is over, when I know Jo is safe—”
“So you’re just going to stalk her forever, insisting you could never be together?”
When she said it that way, it did sound stupid.
“If you set others to protect her who can do it better, leave them to it,” Vex said, walking back over to him. She reached for his wrist, pulling him off the bed with her almost insane strength. When he was standing, she gave him a little shove. “Come on. Let’s get the fight back in you. I can take you to the people I’m working with. Take your mind off everything here.”
Dragon Released (Reclaimed Dragons Book 1) Page 18
