Dragon Reformed (Reclaimed Dragons Book 3)

by Terry Bolryder

But as dire bears sent from the human realm, they were a huge asset when taking on even an enemy as powerful as the light fae.

  The lead bear headed toward the back doors, followed by the others. Toady scuttled up to her side, murmuring about her beauty and power, and Tyrus kicked him away with his boot.

  “Hey,” Vex said, turning to him. “We don’t need infighting. We’re all on the same team.”

  Tyrus just shrugged as he walked forward, to catch up with the bears. He glanced at her over his shoulder. “We’ll see.”

  She hadn’t thought it would be so much trouble to get involved with a hybrid dragon.

  But her body still lit on fire every time she thought of him, and the night with him had been the hottest of her life and she didn’t plan to give him up.

  So her cohorts would just have to deal.

  “You’re daydreaming,” Dallin said, scowling at Landon like he had some odd disease.

  Dallin had been visiting more lately since Ryder’s mate Kira and Jo had become good friends, with Kira showing Jo how to become a full-fledged radiant fae.

  Landon just grinned up at the ever-grumpy dragon, unbothered by him as always.

  Dallin had freed Ryder and many other dragons and helped Landon find a home. Like Vex, a lot of people misunderstood him because of his rough edges.

  But sometimes it took people with rough edges to be strong enough to call out injustice.

  People who had lived through the dark.

  Vex had lived through the dark, and Landon knew that better than most as one who had spent time in the same dungeon.

  “Wow, now you don’t even think I deserve an answer.” Dallin’s mouth quirked up at the corner. “Good for you.”

  Landon eyed him, shocked. “Excuse me?”

  “No one likes a suck-up.”

  Landon snorted. “I’m not a suck-up, Dallin. I know you find this hard to believe, but I genuinely like you. I always have.”

  Dallin frowned. “I don’t know why. I was rude to you.”

  “Vex is rude to him,” Ryder called out, “but he doesn’t mind that.” Ryder’s green-yellow eyes sparkled as he grinned at Landon. “Ask him why he fell into the living room the other day, shirtless.”

  Landon felt blood rush into his cheeks and ducked his head out of pure embarrassment.

  “What’s this? Shyness?” Dallin stared at him. “You’ve been obsessed with Vex ever since you got free. Now you don’t want to talk about it?”

  “Vex values her privacy,” Landon said.

  “You mean she lies about everything?” Ryder asked.

  “Not true,” Dallin said. “Vex is a pretty straight shooter despite her illusions. Yes, she passed as a man for a while, but she never was dishonest about her intentions, no matter who she was making a deal with.”

  “Hm,” Ryder said. “I still don’t trust her, and I should, I know, because I’m the one she helped most.”

  “No,” Dallin said. “She saved me from a lab. I’d be dead if it weren’t for her. Still, it’s up to Vex herself to decide whether she wants to be good or not. The last time we spoke, she made it clear I can’t convince her.”

  “It’s fine,” Landon said. “There isn’t much to tell. I—”

  “She sent you back here shirtless?” Dallin asked, peering at him suspiciously.

  Landon shrugged, hoping to look innocent.

  “His pants weren’t even done up,” Ryder said, leering.

  “Shut up,” Landon said, standing. “If anyone dishonors Vex by talking about this—”

  “She said you couldn’t talk about it?” Dallin asked.

  “Not exactly,” Landon said. “Well, to her friends. I can tell mine.”

  “Tell them what?” Dallin asked, looking more amused now.

  “Are you her dirty little secret?” Ryder’s tone was teasing.

  “It’s not that,” Dallin said. “The creatures she works with… they might see Landon as her weakness and exploit it. In the Blur and the chaos realm, which connects to it, any softness, any love or kindness is weakness. And bound to get you killed.”

  “Vex could be killed because of me?”

  Dallin just shrugged.

  Landon stood up from the table, irritated. They were in the kitchen while Jo and Kira chatted in the living room. “Why does everyone think I’m weak just because I’m not angry all the time? I’m a hybrid dragon like anyone else. Why am I the only one treated like some kind of liability?”

  “No one doubts your power,” Ryder said, standing up to put a hand on Landon’s shoulder, pushing him back down into the chair. “They doubt your meanness.”

  Dallin nodded. “In the Blur, it’s not so much about strength as ruthlessness. There’s no loyalty. It’s bear eat bear or dragon eat wolf or fae eat dragon. Relationships are not a thing.”

  “Vex might be in trouble, then,” Landon said. “Because I don’t see her as ruthless at all. She helped too many of my friends.”

  “She can still spin that as gaining allies,” Dallin said. “No way to spin you.” He blinked. “How is she going to explain you?”

  Landon hadn’t thought about that. “I don’t know.”

  “They’ll smell you,” Dallin said. “A pure creature in the Blur is like a rose amongst ashes.”

  “She’ll probably tell them she asked me to join because of my powers,” Landon said, deciding he was going to ask her next time.

  “Does she know about your powers?” Dallin asked.

  Landon shook his head.

  “Hm,” Dallin said.

  “So you think she might be in trouble?” Landon asked.

  “Nothing she can’t handle. And obviously, she thought it was worth it to have you around.”

  “Then why did she kick him out through a portal?” Ryder asked.

  “With Vex, you gotta take baby steps,” Dallin said. Then his turquoise eyes narrowed. “Wait. Why was your shirt off, then?”

  Ryder laughed. “Do you need the sex talk, Dallin?”

  Landon sighed. “It’s nothing serious. She wants it to be casual.”

  Both of his friends gave him blank stares.

  “And you agreed to that?” Ryder asked.

  Dallin glared. “Is she using you?”

  Landon shrugged. “I don’t really care if she is if it brings me closer to her.” He looked to the side. “Life isn’t worth it without her.”

  “Is she your mate?” Ryder asked. “Can she be?”

  Landon shot him a look. “I think so. She probably doesn’t. But I’m planning to change that.”

  “Careful,” Dallin said. “Vex was forged in pure pain. People like that… they aren’t easy to change.”

  “Jo changed you,” Landon said.

  “I’m not crazy,” Dallin said. “Vex can be. If she loses hold of her glamour or runs out of strength.”

  “Hm,” Dallin said. “Then I’ll have to watch out for her, make sure and be her strength so she doesn’t run out of it.”

  “They did experiments on me,” Dallin said. “But they did unspeakable things to her. She won’t talk about it. I don’t think she needs to. But you should know there’s a shell around her about a mile thick. It won’t be easy even if you can get close to her.”

  “I know,” Landon said. “And I know I sound like a lovesick idiot. But I’m not as stupid as people think I am. I’m not just swooning because she saved me in the dungeon.” He looked at the living room. “Now that you have your mates, wouldn’t you do anything to be with them, even if you had to start over again? Even if it was difficult?”

  Dallin and Ryder instantly nodded.

  “That’s where I’m at,” Landon said. “Because I knew from the moment I saw her. We’re each other’s destiny. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

  Dallin and Ryder shared an unconvinced look.

  “What? I can’t struggle a bit for my mate?”

  “Your mate is a violent revolutionary who is holed up in the Blur with bad elements,” Ryder said. �
��It’s a bit different.”

  “Love is love,” Landon said, standing again and shrugging off Ryder when he tried to placate him. “Vex deserves love as much as anyone. Maybe more after what she’s been through.”

  “We just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “I’m tough,” Landon said. “And I’m not worried about it. It would hurt more to live an eternity without her, knowing I couldn’t save her.”

  “Save her?” Dallin cocked his head, eyes widening.

  “Nothing,” Landon said, turning his back on them to leave the room. “I’m going to see her later today. Please don’t tell anyone, including the oracle.”

  “You know what you’re doing is dangerous, right?” Dallin asked.

  “And you know we can’t just find you easily without the oracle,” Ryder said. “So if you don’t come back on time, we’ll have no choice. Only the oracle can make portals.”

  “And Vex.” Landon grinned. “Another good reason to have her on our side.”

  “Damn,” Dallin said, slumping. “I never thought we’d win her over with dragon sex.”

  “I guess we really are irresistible,” Ryder said, grinning.

  “Make sure she sends you back fully clothed next time,” Dallin said.

  Landon laughed. “I’ll do my best.”

  “So when should we look for you? A day? Two days?”

  “Two days,” Landon said. “Though, if it’s like last time, I might be home in a night.”

  “Well, it’s up to you,” Ryder said. “When it comes to mates, pretty much anything is worth it.”

  “Even being a booty call for an evil fairy?” Dallin asked.

  “Not all the way evil,” Landon said. “And yes, if she calls, my booty will answer.”

  Ryder laughed, and Dallin snorted, shaking his head.

  “Then you really might be crazy enough to get through to her,” Dallin said, but his gaze was slightly warm. “I hope you do.”

  Landon nodded. It didn’t really matter if his friends approved, but it was good to know they did.

  He stood, heading over to the counter and opening up the recipe book where he stored successful baking exploits. Jo’s tutorials online had only made it easier to get good at making tasty treats.

  “Cupcakes today, I think,” he said.

  “She does love treats,” Dallin said, eyes sparkling with mirth.

  “That she does,” Landon agreed. “I’m not above finding the way to her heart through her stomach.”

  “Or through your booty,” Dallin said, drawing raucous laughter from Ryder.

  Landon just shook his head, pulling out ingredients and trying not to get to distracted by the hope of seeing Vex’s face again.

  He couldn’t wait for her to taste what he made, and then maybe he’d get to taste her.

  “Okay, that’s my exit,” Dallin said, standing abruptly. “I’m so not hearing those thoughts about my friend. You need to control your thought volume.”

  “Right,” Ryder said, standing with him. “Let’s let him get to cooking. He has a fairy to satisfy later, after all.”

  And satisfy her Landon would.

  5

  Vex was tired.

  Not from fighting and subduing the light fae, though all four had needed to be killed, as they weren’t up for any kind of surrender.

  And she wasn’t letting any of the monsters associated with the experiments done on her or Dallin go free.

  No, she was tired from having to subdue Diffy, listen to Tyrus’s doubts about her leadership because of Landon, and keeping the bears in line once bloodlust took over.

  Sometimes she had to admit a quieter life might be nice. Like the one Dallin had with his friends and mate.

  Something with a little less revenge and bloodshed.

  But she knew that kind of a life wasn’t for her.

  Any happiness would only be temporary. And in the meantime, tracking down and bringing light fae to justice (or killing them) was enough for her.

  That and knowing that Landon was due for a visit.

  She walked into her bedroom and set up sound seals around it so no one would hear what went on. Then she tiredly raised a hand and made a portal with basically the last of her strength.

  She hadn’t even finished changing out of her burned robes before she felt him step into the room, his presence like icy mist, so clear and clean.

  She turned, and her heart skipped a beat as it always did when she saw or heard of him.

  She could still hardly believe he’d agreed to this, he was such a clean little goody two shoes.

  Well, not in bed.

  In bed, he’d been a sexual storm, and all boundaries between them, of being fae or dragon, good or bad, had dissipated in the face of pure pleasure so blindingly hot that she’d never imagined anything could be so good.

  And afterward, when she’d stroked him, seen those pretty blue eyes roll back, his powerful body tensing, the word “mine” had pulsed through her mind and heart.

  Yes, he was an admirable animal, she thought as she turned to face him. Strong. Clean. Kind.

  And only for her to borrow for a while.

  She truly did hope he could be happy with only this.

  “What happened to you?” Landon looked crisp in a blue short-sleeved shirt with buttons down the front and slim light jeans. His lean, hard muscles and tall frame perfectly suited the human clothing, and Vex had to turn back around to distract herself from wanting to push him down there and then.

  “Mission went fine. We just had some trouble with Diffy,” she said, throwing her robes off over her shoulders and grabbing new clothing, then not caring that she was naked as she walked past him to the bathroom to take a shower.

  He just stared at her, and she glared at him.

  “Nothing you haven’t seen, dragon,” she muttered. “Come on. We can talk while I shower.”

  Landon swallowed, and Vex grinned, liking that she had an effect on him.

  “Hard to focus?” She looked down to his jeans, which were tight, and laughed at her own joke.

  He merely glared at her. “Of course it is. You know I want you. But right now, I’m more worried about this.” He crossed the room in a blink and caressed her cheek, touching a bruise there. “You should let me come on your missions.”

  She scoffed, shaking her head as she pulled away from him. “I don’t need your protection, dragon. There’s only one thing from you that I want.” Her eyes trailed down him suggestively.

  Though it was a bit of a lie, things were better this way. If he knew she had ever thought of more, he’d never let go of hope.

  And Vex was nothing if not honest about her intentions with those she made deals with.

  He followed her into the bathroom, leaning his tall frame against the counter as she turned on the steaming water and stepped in.

  She sighed, lathering up soap and moving it over her body, washing away the burn marks, soot, and debris. It wasn’t even that bad of a fight. And it wasn’t like she cared about battle scars.

  They were nothing compared to the scars she already had.

  “Look,” Landon called from outside the shower, looking disturbed as he rubbed his temple. “I want to respect your need for independence, but you know I’m only here because I care about you. And as someone who cares about you, why won’t you let me help?”

  Vex shook her head, continuing to lather her body. “This isn’t your world. You’d be over your head here.” She paused. “Speaking of which, where did you come from? Before the dungeon I mean.”

  His eyes were cagey, dodging hers for a second before he gave her a look of guilt.

  Ah, so the dragon had secrets.

  Interesting.

  “That’s not what we’re talking about,” he said. “But I was in the labs before the dungeon. That’s all I’m going to say.”

  “Oh come on, really?”

  Landon stared at her, raising an eyebrow. “Unless you’re trying to be my mate, th
at’s not really your business.”

  She frowned. “Okay, I get it. No more questions. But you shouldn’t ask anything of me either. Like coming on missions.”

  He folded his arms, and Vex gulped at the incredible muscle there. The definition, the size…

  “I’m the one doing you a favor,” he said. “I can set more terms.”

  “Nope,” she said. “We already agreed. And don’t act like this isn’t working out for you. Don’t you want to come in here?” She wiggled suggestively, and his cheeks took on a light flush.

  “I’m not in the mood,” he said, killing her mood instantly.

  “What?” She rinsed and got out of the shower, wrapping herself in a towel. Damn, it always felt good to be squeaky clean. Something denied to her for many years. Even access to her own body felt like a luxury still.

  Landon looked away from her, seeming put out. “I can’t when you’re like that.”

  “Like what?” Vex asked, heart dropping for a moment. Had she lost her glamour? Were her scars showing? She looked down, and no, they were still hidden.

  “I mean hurt and clearly tired,” he said, gesturing to her face again. “Who did that?”

  She flushed. “What do you mean?”

  “Am I correct in assuming they’re dead? Or do I need to go kill them?”

  “As if you could,” Vex muttered, not knowing how to feel about his protectiveness.

  She didn’t need him. She didn’t need anyone.

  But it felt kind of warm inside all the same.

  Dammit, she wasn’t going to fall for him. That would only spell disaster.

  “Well, do you want me to send you home, then?” She pulled on silky black lounge pants and a purple tank that slid over her curves. Her next thought was about getting some food if she couldn’t have Landon.

  Speaking of which, something smelled odd.

  Landon reached behind him, and she realized she hadn’t even seen him put a box on the counter while she was showering. He must have hidden it behind his back when he came through the portal.

  “Here,” he said. “Made these for you. And no, I don’t want to go. Not until we work some things out.”

  Her cheeks flushed as she reached for the box. “That wasn’t necessary.” She opened it, eyes widening at the various colored cakes inside. Frosting. Cupcakes.