Dragon Reformed (Reclaimed Dragons Book 3)

by Terry Bolryder

  “I’m never going to tell you where she is,” Tyrus shouted angrily as he pushed himself halfway up, turning away to spit out what looked like teeth. “She deserved to fall, going soft and giving in to something so weak as love. I should be the one ruling this place, not that glamour fae bitc—”

  Tyrus didn’t even get a chance to finish his sentence before Landon’s booted foot slammed into the side of his face, making Tyrus roll backward like an escaped tire.

  Landon hadn’t wanted to end someone so badly in his entire life. After all, he believed in love, believed the best of people. Believed, above all, in Vex and the goodness he’d seen in her.

  But until Tyrus gave up the information that was so desperately needed, Landon wasn’t going to stop.

  Especially because Landon couldn’t feel Vex was here. Or anywhere. Nor could he sense the residual magic of one of her portals, which she might have used to escape.

  Which meant only one person knew where she’d gone.

  “I’ll never tell you, whatever the hell you are.” Tyrus gave him a spiteful grimace.

  Landon picked up the fairy and head-butted him, seeing Tyrus’s dark, soulless eyes roll back for a moment, dazed as he fell limply to the ground.

  “I… I don’t know where she is. You’ll never find her.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? If she’s gone, then you just removed the only reason I was keeping you alive.” Landon picked up Tyrus by his neck, fingers digging into skin as the chaos fae choked for breath.

  But even bruised, bloodied, and beaten, Tyrus mustered a cruel smile. “She’s somewhere no one can ever go because no one knows where it is. And I sold her out to the only people who can access it.”

  “Tell me!” Landon demanded, tired of the games and trickery. And when Tyrus’s hand shot up from the side, aiming for Landon’s gut, Landon caught the fist in his hand and wrenched it to the side, breaking the offending limb.

  Tyrus winced, but his cool reservedness was wearing thin as Landon could see that the chaos energy around him was weakening. And with that, his regeneration was slowing to a crawl as the magic that gave him supernatural strength and healing ran out.

  “Dream fae,” Tyrus finally said weakly. “I didn’t even think they existed until several approached me, saying they would pay me anything if I brought them Vex. Said they were searching for something or someone. Honestly, I didn’t care. But she’s in the dream realm now, so good luck, lover boy.”

  Landon punched Tyrus in the gut, then dropped him to the floor. Using one hand, Tyrus pushed himself backward, eyes wild as he stared up at Landon.

  But Landon’s thoughts were already elsewhere, beyond this room and this place, planning his next move.

  Why would dream fae have come for Vex?

  Unless…

  He was distracted by the sound of growling, and he turned to see the three big bear shifters standing at the hall that led into the room.

  And in front of them, Toady, who looked betrayed and angry. “You sold our beloved Vex to bad people?”

  “What did you expect? I’m a chaos prince, dumbass,” Tyrus replied, trying to stand but not managing to even get onto one knee.

  One of the bears stepped forward, and he clapped a hand over his fist angrily as he glowered. “Vex was our friend. How could you betray her like that?”

  Another of the bears emitted a growl. “In a place like this, it was good to work for someone with a sense of honor. But seeing as you have none…”

  “Oh, spare me the drama,” Tyrus said, annoyed.

  One of the bears shifted, then another, showing just how large and terrifying they were in their dire form with gray and black hair mottled with a dark substance, glowing red eyes, and vicious fangs.

  Behind them, Diffy emerged, looking calmer than Landon had ever seen him.

  Even he looked angry with the chaos fae for what he’d done.

  Then Toady, who stood at the front of them, drew a sharp-looking blade from his cloak and pointed it at Tyrus. “Revenge for our liege!”

  But Landon didn’t even pay attention to the others as he focused inside himself, and he felt bright multicolored energy swirl inside him. Energy he hadn’t accessed since coming to the light kingdom in search of Vex.

  If his mate was in the one place no one dared to go, then he’d just have to follow her there. Even if doing so meant he’d have to break all the rules, even risk death.

  The only place Landon thought he’d never see again in his lifetime.

  He closed his eyes, and everything went blindingly bright around him.

  17

  Vex had never seen anything like the place where she’d been brought to.

  All around her, rolling, thunderous black and purple and white clouds formed some kind of ground beneath them, so solid she didn’t sink through yet so ephemeral it looked like she could put her hand through them.

  If her hands weren’t tied that was.

  She needed to get out of there. Help her crew against Tyrus and find Landon, who she realized would be hurt if she was killed somehow.

  But the men facing her were like none she’d ever met.

  She focused, trying to create an illusion that might give her an opening to distract them, but the men, who were huddled in a group, merely sent her a scowl.

  The one with hair that was like a dark blue-purple-black oil slick and eyes that were filled with hate stepped forward. From his armor to his bearing, he appeared to be the leader.

  His armor was similar to classic fae armor, but the way he carried himself, the aura around him, the sense that he could kill her as though she were a bug, wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met.

  Then again, she could sense that he wasn’t going to tell her anything he didn’t have to.

  Vex focused again, trying to create an illusion, but the rumble of clouds and the crackle of sparks only made her sink back in defeat. Nothing happened, and perhaps it had to do with the odd blue and purple plasma bonds binding her hands behind her and then wrapping her body so tight that all she could do was kneel.

  “Save your strength,” the leader said, finally approaching her. “The powers you deign to dabble in are ours by nature. You corrupt them with your impudent use.”

  He reminded her of a warlord, or maybe a king, in the way he carried himself.

  But there was something oddly familiar about him. That look in his eyes. She’d met someone like him before. But where? She gritted her teeth, trying to remember who she might have wronged.

  Then again, she couldn’t even figure out what kind of fae they were or where they’d taken her.

  Every time she talked, they merely sent her a glare.

  “All right,” the man in front said. “I’m Lorien, king of the eighth dream realm. And you’re going to answer my questions or die.”

  She raised an eyebrow, glancing around her. “Dream realm?”

  Lorien nodded. “That’s the last question of yours I’m going to answer. You’re going to answer me, and if you don’t, you aren’t going to like what happens.” He reached into his armor and pulled out a piece of parchment, then held it in front of her eyes. “You will tell us the location of this person.”

  Her eyes widened as she looked at a drawing of Landon, lovingly sketched to make him look even more beautiful. His eyes twinkled, making him appear younger than he was.

  Vex swallowed, carefully schooling her expression so as not to give away that she even recognized him.

  If these guys were willing to work with Tyrus, they weren’t anyone she wanted around Landon.

  “Don’t know him,” she said with a shrug.

  Her bonds tightened, and she grimaced. Her glamour on her own form was still intact because she’d be damned if she showed her captors any weakness or garnered their pity.

  But if she lost much more strength, she wouldn’t be able to keep up the illusion.

  The bonds continued to tighten, making it harder to take in a deep breath. But Vex remained
impassive, staring stubbornly back into Lorien’s face.

  “Sorry, can’t help you,” she drawled. “Never seen that guy before in my life.”

  Lorien’s eyes darkened, and when she looked up into them, they appeared like little galaxies swirling with sparks of blue and purple. “So you’re just as everyone said. Worthless. A liar.”

  She fought back a flinch because she’d recently been a little better. But when it came to Landon, yeah, she’d lie until her pants caught on fire. Until everyone’s did if she had to.

  She loved him. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have left him. And she didn’t intend to get him in trouble now.

  “Sorry I can’t help.” She made a dramatic sigh, slumping as low as she could. “If you’re going to execute me, you might as well get it over with.”

  Lorien raised to full height, utterly furious, and was reaching behind his back, probably to pull out a wand, when one of his compatriots came up, pulling him back. This one had hair in a dark teal-black, and his eyes were a green galaxy. His face was calmer.

  “Stop, do not lose yourself, majesty.”

  “Release me, Reve. This criminal isn’t going to help us. And she’s a corruption of our very elements, using such tainted power.”

  Vex shrugged one shoulder. “I mean, I like my powers. I don’t think I’m tainting them too much.”

  “One more chance,” Lorien said, holding out the parchment again. “I saw recognition flicker in your eyes. You know him. You are the only one who escaped the same dungeon. You must know who he is.”

  She swallowed, staring up at him. If she didn’t answer, she was probably about to die horribly. But if she did… “Nope.”

  Lorien started forward violently, grabbed by a man on his other side with dark hair that shimmered red or black. His face was more expressive, his bearing haughty, but he wasn’t all serious and stuck-up, like Lorien.

  “Restrain yourself,” the man said, brushing back his long hair and smoothing his hands over his armor. “I’ll handle this.” He moved forward, cracking his knuckles. “It will be an honor to do it, for Oleander.”

  “He is mine to avenge, Jerrek,” Lorien said, trying to escape Reve, who was once again pulling him back.

  “Stop,” Reve said, his voice calm and soothing despite the situation. “He is dead. There is nothing you can do about it. And the last thing he would want is for you to become a killer.”

  Lorien’s head fell, and he nodded, looking up at Jerrek. “You do it, then.” He turned away from her to his friend, who led him away from them as Jerrek stepped forward, holding out his hands as a ball of sparkling energy crackled between them.

  “I’m going to make this slow,” Jerrek said. “For Oleander.”

  “I do not wish to see a woman harmed,” Reve said, turning away. “Not even one so evil as this. One who could hurt an innocent like Oleander.”

  “My brother,” Lorien murmured, the soft sound carried to her on the wind.

  As Jerrek walked closer, the energy swirling in a ball in his hands grew brighter, and he hefted it in one palm and held it aloft. “Last chance, you hateful creature. If Oleander is not dead—”

  “I’m not dead,” a voice echoed, at first from nowhere, then from the direction of a swirling ball of white light, growing larger and taller to form a portal made of pure rainbow energy in all colors.

  Through it emerged Landon, looking as she’d never seen him before.

  White hair that shone like mother of pearl, reflecting all colors. But those eyes still incredibly blue. He was tall, even taller than usual.

  His fae form, she supposed.

  Maybe that was why he wasn’t so cool with being called a dragon.

  Vex thought for a moment. Then confusion filled her. “Landon?”

  His eyes met hers, narrowing instantly with anger as he ran forward, kneeling in front of her as the others just stared in shock.

  He raised his hands and murmured something, and the bonds holding her fell away, and he gathered her in his arms. “I thought you were hurt.” He brushed back her hair while she still tried to take in the shock of everything. “Are you okay? I kicked Tyrus’s ass for you.”

  Vex was just staring at him, mouth hanging open, brain caught off guard for once and desperately trying to catch up.

  Landon made to pull her to her feet, but she shook her head, sitting back on her heels.

  “I need a minute,” she said, waving a hand as she felt clouds hit her butt.

  “Good. I’ll deal with this.” Landon whirled on her captors, his broad shoulders angry and tense. His eyes went to Jerrek, who looked at the magic ball he was holding guilty and quickly tried to hide it behind his back.

  “You would hurt her, Jerrek?” Landon said, his voice grim. “How could you do such a thing?”

  “Oleander,” a broken voice said, and Lorien took one step forward, then another. “You’re back. You’re alive.” The galaxies in his eyes came alive with tears, and he rushed forward, embracing his brother and pulling him close.

  “Of course I am,” Landon said, sounding slightly disturbed. “How could I not be?”

  Reve came forward as Lorien released Landon and stepped back so Reve could embrace him as well.

  When Jerrek came forward, Landon merely glared at him.

  “This isn’t a happy reunion. You were trying to take my mate.” Landon narrowed his eyes. “I knew you were controlling, Lor, but this has gone too far.”

  “Too far?” Purple flames erupted as Lorien stepped forward, hands in fists. “I’ve been chasing you since you disappeared. I thought you were dead! Do you know what you—” Lorien cut himself off with a harsh breath, turning away. “No, of course you don’t. You were never responsible that way.”

  There was a stalemate as all the men looked at each other, no one wanting to speak.

  But Vex could see Lorien still looking at Landon with only a thin layer of anger veiling his intense love.

  “Hey, let’s look on the bright side. He’s alive?” She pushed herself up to a standing position, brushing off her pants, which were covered with ash from her fight.

  Lorien glared at her. “Silence, vigilante. I still haven’t decided what to do with you—”

  Landon reached behind him, pulling out a wand made of pure sparkling crystal, a shining, long staff with a large, thin diamond at the end. He pointed it at Lorien. “You’ll have to duel me.”

  Lorien’s brows fell. “You would betray us for a criminal. She has killed many. If you spent a life with her, she would—”

  “That’s always your problem,” Landon said. “All you think about is honor and glory and logic, but this has always been about my heart.”

  “So she is the one you went searching for?”

  Landon nodded.

  Lorien’s expression went dark. “Of course. And our pain doesn’t matter. The entire kingdom in turmoil.”

  “I feel like you’re being a little dramatic,” Landon said. “As a second son, I was hardly relevant. No one in the kingdom cared what I did, and—”

  “You were relevant to me!” Lorien burst out, hands in fists, purple energy still emanating from him as if he were feeling so much his soul was trying to leave his body. “I loved you, and—”

  Landon turned to him, and his entire posture softened. He went to his brother and gathered him in his arms and just held him while Lorien’s head dropped, and he hugged Landon tight.

  So Landon was a dream fae. He belonged with all of these creatures. Vex made a scoot backward, looking around for an exit because it seemed like Landon had found a place where he could belong. A place that was safe.

  “I’m just gonna… you know…” She tried to summon a portal, feeling some energy build now that the bonds were gone. The problem was she had no idea where she was or how to set up a portal.

  “Oh no you don’t,” Landon said, turning to face her as Lorien let him go and stepped back. “You wait right there.”

  Vex grinned up at him guilti
ly. “Yes?”

  Landon’s armor was shining like the inside of an oyster. But despite all of the ways he looked different, he still felt the same to her.

  And deep inside, she longed to touch him. To pull him close and tell him she wanted to be with him.

  Even if she wasn’t sure she would ever be anything but a vigilante.

  Landon came over to her, putting his arms under hers so her hands were braced on his forearms. “There’s so much I need to tell you. I should have told you before, but I thought you would run.”

  Vex looked around her at the dream fae. Yeah, this was weird. But not the weirdest thing she would have imagined. “Nah. Not about this.”

  “That’s not everything,” Landon said. He cast a glance back at Lorien. “I promise, brother, to deal with you when this is over. But I must fix things with my mate.”

  “A criminal,” Lorien said, putting his face in his hands as his friends moved at his sides to comfort him. “My baby brother’s in love with a criminal.”

  Vex grinned, but Landon ignored everything around them.

  When she looked into his eyes, it felt as if they were the only two people in the world.

  “It’s not about me being a dream fae, though I’m sure I’ll have a lot to tell you about that. It’s about us.” He sighed. “Even now, I’m afraid to tell you. You ran when I said you were my mate. If you know the whole truth…”

  Jerrek folded his arms. “Get on with it. This criminal can’t possibly deserve you.”

  Landon, who was still holding his wand, pointed it back at Jerrek, who found himself encased in a large sparkling crystal.

  “Damn you, Leander! We’re not kids anymore! When I get out of here—”

  Landon turned back to her, smiling gently. “I did kick Tyrus’s ass for you.”

  “How did you get here?”

  “Dream portal,” he said. “Tyrus told me where you were.”

  “Right.” She swallowed. “Well, I left you to keep you out of danger, and you went and followed me anyway, so you might as well tell me what you want.”

  He sighed. “Dream fae, we find our mate differently than others. We see them in our dreams from the time we are young.”