“She pulled out her wand. Did you see that?” one of the bears muttered.
Another bear nodded, casting a glance at Landon. “Something’s going on here.”
Tyrus shushed them, moving in closer so the group could talk.
Landon didn’t like any of this. The forest felt sickly and dark. The men around Vex weren’t trustworthy.
And Tyrus… he seemed to want to kill Landon where he stood. Which could only mean one thing.
Tyrus wanted Vex.
Well, Landon would be damned if he let the chaos fae take her.
“Hey,” Vex said, drawing his attention back to her. “What’s making you tense up? I told you that dragon is—”
“It’s not that,” he said, turning away from her. “So if we’re done, should we head back now?”
She nodded. “Disappointing, but these expeditions often are. I’m pretty picky about who I choose to work with, given that everyone around here is a criminal of some kind or another.” She waved a hand. “All right, let’s head home, criminals.”
The others grumbled, the bears muttering about not getting enough violence lately, but none were brave enough to challenge Vex.
It seemed she really could send someone to the middle of the ocean.
But would that keep her safe if these so-called criminals turned on her?
Landon frowned, walking behind the group into the portal Vex had conjured.
There was a lot to talk about when they got home.
8
Vex wasn’t sure why Landon seemed so irritated as they reached her fortress and everyone went their separate ways in the castle.
Save for her and Landon, who headed back to her room.
She let him go in first and shut the door, then folded her arms to glare at him. “You aren’t pouting because of some manly pride thing, are you?”
He frowned. “No.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I don’t like that I was useless and, yes, had to be rescued, but that’s not what’s bothering me.”
She walked back and sat down on the bed with a sigh. “So what is?”
He walked to the window and leaned against it, looking out at the Blur. “Your cohorts, are they always like that?”
She blinked. “Like what?”
“Like they’re waiting for a chance to take you down.”
She snickered. “They probably are. That’s the point of the Blur, after all.”
Landon swallowed, his back stiff as he kept staring out the window. “Are you happy here, Vex? Just recruiting monsters for some vague purpose?”
She snorted. “It’s not vague at all. I want to rule the Blur. I think.”
He cast a glance at her, and his icy-blue eyes were judging.
She hated that. “Don’t give me that look. You knew who I was when you agreed to get involved with me.”
“I suppose so,” he said. “But I didn’t know what the Blur was like. And I thought the shifters around you would be like Dallin. Noble, if a little rough around the edges.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. Everyone’s infected with chaos here.”
“Even you?” He turned to stare at her, arms folded as he leaned against the wall.
She nodded. “Probably. A little. Due to my lust for power.” She grinned. “Though, lately, I have a lust for other things.”
He sighed. “Vex. You can’t keep doing this. You’re happy with me, right?”
Her brows drew down. “What does this have to do with anything? We aren’t together, Landon. We’re just… you know.”
“Booty call?” He glared.
She laughed. “Who said that?”
“Dallin,” Landon said. He exhaled roughly. “I didn’t tell them much, but you did drop me through a portal shirtless with my pants unbuttoned.”
She winced. “Oops.” She folded her arms. “Well, you’re not a booty call exactly. I could have had one of those a long time ago.”
“With Tyrus?” Landon’s eyes flashed, looking fiery instead of cold.
She frowned in confusion. “What?”
“He wants you,” Landon said, turning away to look out the window again. “I can tell by the way he hates me. Like he wants to kill me with every breath.”
Vex walked over to join him at the window. Beneath her, everything was gray. Every plant was dark. Every tree almost black.
Everything was empty and atmospheric, and she’d liked it that way. Until she’d met Landon and realized sometimes the light illuminated the darkness and showed you things you didn’t want to see.
After all, she’d been about to recruit a creature who wanted to eat someone just because they were good. A creature that was pure evil.
And if it hadn’t gone after Landon, perhaps she wouldn’t have known.
So in a way, she was grateful for him. But it just made it clearer that he didn’t belong in her world. Or at least on missions.
Landon sighed. “You want to live here forever, Vex? In this darkness?”
“It’s not dark,” she said. “Just… gray.”
Landon nodded. “But you could be happy here? Without me? With Tyrus?”
She turned away from him, arms still folded as she looked down. “These are things I’ve never thought about. I sort of live in the moment ever since my master plan in the light kingdom didn’t work out.” She sighed, slumping in a chair next to the bed. “I honestly don’t know anymore what I’m supposed to do with my life.”
His expression turned hopeful, and she knew she had to kill that quickly.
“But I know it isn’t some life like Dallin has with others like you. I know I don’t belong there. I don’t think I could anymore.”
“You don’t know if you don’t try,” Landon said, looking over eagerly. “I’ve come to your world twice. Next time, why don’t you come to mine? There are beautiful things there. I can show you around—”
She swallowed, unsure about that. “It’s just going to give you ideas, and I told you, Landon—”
“And I told you that I would renegotiate conditions as it suited me. And I want to show you my world. My friends. I want to be with you somewhere there isn’t the constant threat of being eaten or your cohorts breathing down our necks.” He met her gaze firmly. “Even a booty call deserves that.”
She sighed, then nodded. “I suppose fair is fair. You got me there. You did come to me, after all, and this place is probably far less pleasant than you’re used to.”
Landon gazed out the window again. “Not when I’m with you and we’re in our own little world. But the sadness here, the darkness, I don’t like it.”
“I get it,” she said. “I don’t like your world of truth and light either, but I guess we’ll have to compromise.”
He grinned. “I can cook every meal for you while you’re there.”
She laughed. “I guess I might have to stay a few days, then.” Her eyes widened in shock at her own words. “Just to catch up with Dallin and eat some food, I mean. Don’t get ideas, dragon.”
Landon’s eyes scanned over her. “I’m very much getting ideas. But you can’t control my mind.”
“Much to my chagrin,” she teased. She pushed herself out of the chair and went to him, brushing her hand through his hair and thinking how close she felt to him, though it had only been a few days together.
Before that, just his face haunting her dreams.
But she found herself captivated by the idea of going to his world with him. Being somewhere she didn’t have to watch her back as much at all times.
She kind of liked the human world too. Fun things to do there. Way fewer monsters.
She nodded, releasing his hair and stepping back. “I’ll come. In a week when I’ve worked out some things with Tyrus.”
Landon scowled. “I don’t like it, you working with him.”
“Lucky for me, you don’t get a say in what I do with other people as long as I’m not having sex with them. I agreed to be exclusive with you. You should tru
st that.”
Landon gritted his teeth. “I trust you not to cheat. I don’t trust Tyrus. I think he wants you.”
Vex put a palm over her face. Landon was totally misunderstanding. “He doesn’t want me. He wants my position. He wants to rule the Blur.” She sighed. “Honestly, maybe he’d be a better fit than I am, not that I’m going to let him do it.”
Landon was still scowling and tense, and she shook her head.
“I won’t ever let anyone control me,” she said. “Or tell me what to do or put me in a cage again. I watch out for myself, I make my own decisions, and I can judge my own cohorts.” She waved her hand, making a portal because right now she just wanted to be alone to think.
Landon was overwhelming her. She should have known it would happen when he’d wanted her so much and they were from such different worlds.
The only thing they had in common was spending time in the same torturous dungeon, though they hadn’t been there at the same time until the day she just happened to rescue him.
“When will you come?” Landon asked, moving toward the portal but hesitating. “And what are you doing with Tyrus?”
She scowled, brows furrowing, and shoved him toward the portal. “I told you that’s none of your business. I don’t need you interfering in my life. I don’t need you trying to tell me what to do.”
“I’m just saying—”
“I know what you’re saying, and it’s ludicrous. Me and Tyrus?” She scoffed. “Let go of your ridiculous jealousy, or this isn’t going to work and I won’t come to your world after all.”
Landon nodded, letting out a sigh. “Fine. I’ll drop it. But only because I want to make you pancakes.” He took a step toward the portal. “See you in a week.” Then with a semi-sad smile, he was gone.
And since Vex had told him to go, she didn’t know why she felt emptier than ever before now that he was gone.
9
“So I’m here. Where is everyone?”
Landon stood from the couch to greet Vex, who had just come through the portal wearing human clothes like he’d seen her in before.
Today, she was wearing a purple tank under a black leather jacket with tight blue jeans. Plus gray sneakers.
She cocked her head, her purple pixie stylishly out of her face. “You going to just stare or come kiss me?”
Landon closed the distance between them in an instant, pulling her into his arms and sweeping his mouth over hers. She wound her hands in his hair and he deepened the kiss, and she moaned as they entwined for a few moments.
In these physical moments, these sexual moments, she seemed to be able to feel the closest to him.
But he wanted so much more.
He pulled back, amused at her obvious disappointment. “We’ll get back to that. I have a date planned for us today.”
She put her hands on her hips. “I thought Dallin or his mate might be around.”
Landon shook his head. “I told them I wanted the house to myself for a while.” He knew his cheeks were flaming. “To woo you.”
She frowned. “I said I’d spend time in your world because that’s fair. I didn’t agree to any human-style wooing.”
“I think I have some good things planned.”
She folded her arms, still looking impatient to get back to what they were doing. “Like what?”
Damn, she looked beautiful in human clothing.
“It’s a surprise. At least for today. We’re going out somewhere I think you’ll like. Then we’ll come back and hang out here. Just spend time together.”
“Doing what?”
“Whatever we want.” He grinned. “Plus, with no one around, you can be as loud as you want during sex.”
She smirked. “That’s a deal.”
“Come on. Let me show you around.”
She had a backpack over one shoulder, and when he moved to take it from her, she shrugged him off. “I don’t need you to carry my things, dragon.”
He sighed, then led the way down the hallway. “Do you want to stay in my room or one of your own?”
She thought for a moment. “I want one of my own. But I’ll leave my stuff in your room. Provided you don’t screw up, it’s more convenient to stay there.” She flashed him a wolfish grin. “Easy access.”
But as much as he loved doing sexual things with his mate, he knew that almost provided an excuse for her to never get closer to him.
Hopefully, his plans would help things work out.
“Nice room,” she said as he led her into his bedroom.
“Thanks. It was like this when we bought the house, but I chose it.” The carpet was gray, the walls white, but there was a beautiful ocean painting hanging on the wall across from the bed, and Landon found it peaceful to stare into it.
Vex set her things down on the bed, then turned to look at the painting as well. “Interesting. The human world has some beautiful features.”
“True,” he said. “I think I could be happy here the rest of my life.”
She was quiet at that, walking over to the door that led to the bathroom and checking things out while there. “This is nice too. All in all, it should do while I’m not at my fortress.” She shook her head. “But I don’t know if I could ever stay somewhere like this long term.”
“Why not?”
She shot him a look. “Don’t do this, Landon. Don’t get ideas, please.”
“Why not?” He came closer. “We’re perfect together. In only a few days, you already know, don’t you? You’ve never felt like this about anyone else. Admit it. We’re—”
Her stern glare silenced him. “Say any more on that, and I’ll be headed back to the chaos realm.” Vex sighed. “You don’t understand. In my world, in my life, there’s no room for softness. It would only lead to death.”
“Not anymore,” he said. “You don’t always have to be a fighter.”
“I like fighting,” she said quickly. “Don’t try to fix me, Landon. It’s far too late for that.”
“I don’t want to fix you,” he said, fighting back frustration. He took a calming breath. He’d always known it wouldn’t be easy to win Vex over. He’d always known that despite how much he knew she was the one for him, it would be much harder for her to see the same thing.
So he just had to be a little more patient.
“All right,” he said. “Have you eaten?”
She shook her head.
“Then come on. I’ll make you lunch, and we’ll head out.”
She reached out to catch him by the sleeve as he turned to go, looking bashful.
“What?”
“Landon, I don’t want you to misunderstand. It’s nothing to do with you. You’re a good person. Anyone would—”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to hear it. You know what I want, though I understand you don’t want to give it. So in the meantime, I just want to enjoy my time with you as much as I can for as long as I can. I don’t want to think more about the future.”
She sighed. “I don’t want to set you up for heartbreak. Landon, if I could, I would warn you away from ever falling in love with someone like me. I know you’re infatuated. I know you’ve been slightly obsessed since I saved you—”
“If you want to talk about my feelings, I’ll tell you my feelings,” he said. “But I don’t want you to tell me how I feel. Not when I know how I feel, but you just don’t want to hear it.”
She blinked, then nodded, understanding. “As you say.”
He sighed, trying to calm himself once again. She was here in this world, looking gorgeous. And he had all the time in the world to spend with her and so many fun things to do.
Surely, she’d see the light at the end of this.
If not, he didn’t know what he’d do.
Because there was no point telling him not to fall in love with her. He already had long ago.
“Come on. Let’s get you a sandwich.” He led the way to the kitchen.
“Now you’re talking,” she said, ru
bbing her hands together as she walked alongside him.
He smiled. Every minute with her would be worth it regardless of what came next.
10
From the get-go, Vex had been doubtful about Landon’s idea of them going on a “date.”
But this “laser tag” thing where everyone had guns and tried to shoot each other to take over a base?
She was having an absolute blast.
It was crazy to her that she and Landon were the only adults there, considering how fun it was.
“Okay, troops, listen up,” she commanded, standing in front of her allies on the green side of the dark, blacklight-lit arena.
Five kids looked up at her curiously, ages ranging from twelve at the oldest to maybe seven or eight at the youngest judging from their haphazard line. The odd, plastic chest pieces they wore hung loosely on some of them, each of them gripping their black hunk of plastic that was their “gun.”
“Billy, Timmy?” she asked, and the two oldest boys nodded at her. Already, she’d memorized the names of her allies in the battle to defeat Landon and his team of boisterous children. “You two take your positions at the top of the ramp. Heather, you watch out for your brother and protect our base.”
Heather, a blond-haired girl, held her brother’s hand, and they both smiled up at her. “Okay, Vex.”
“That’s Commander Vex to you,” she said, trying to sound leader-like but not able to suppress a smile. Above them, a timer started to go off, signaling the start of the next game. “Everyone else, focus on the enemy base.”
“What about the funny man on the other team? What will we do about him?” Joey, a precocious ten-year-old, asked.
Vex raised her gun, peering out over the dark building full of ramps and tunnels and stacked barrels painted in glow-in-the-dark neon colors. “Leave him to me. The dragon is mine.”
The timer ended, and with shouts of glee, the kids took off in every direction around her. And for a moment, she just enjoyed watching their exuberant cheering as the game began.
For once, it was nice to not have to worry about the power struggle between her and the rest of the fae world. To just enjoy doing something fun and diverting without the weight of the future and the pain of the past heaping on her like so much rubble.
Dragon Reformed (Reclaimed Dragons Book 3) Page 7
