“Good,” she said. “What’s going on? Why are you waiting outside?”
Ian’s expression turned slightly nervous. “There’s been a small complication. Nothing we can’t work out.”
“What?” Liz asked.
Ian rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, this dragon comes from the fae world. I’m guessing you know what that means, Kira.”
Kira nodded. “I’m used to it.”
Any dragon from the fae world hated fae. They deserved to after the enslavement of an entire species.
Even before the labs, dragons had been seen as a lesser class, bullied by the fae.
“Good,” Ian said, looking relieved. “I think we can win him over. He’s just being a bit… difficult.”
Kira raised an eyebrow, looking at Liz, who seemed equally confused.
“All right, let’s go meet him,” Ian said, jogging ahead of them to go up the steps and knock on the door. Kira followed, looking around her at the small windows overlooking the porch.
Ian knocked, then tried the handle, then swore and stepped back, showing Kira the problem. Thick tree roots were wrapping around the doorway, sealing it shut.
Green fae powers.
Kira’s heart stuttered for a second, and she turned to look again at the window closest to the front porch because she had the odd feeling she was being watched.
Sure enough, the shadow of a face was there. It disappeared in a blur as if whoever it was had moved out of sight as fast as possible.
But even in only a split second, she’d know those features anywhere.
Her heart began pounding, her brain swirling with the pull to the past… But what if…? How could it really be possible?
Kira vaguely became aware of Ian banging on the door, his yelling bringing her back to reality and far from that lab so long ago. She shook her head, blinking her eyes as she looked straight ahead at the door again where the vines were holding firm.
“Ryder, you know I’ll put you on garden duty again!” Ian yelled.
“Fine! I love growing things!” Ryder retorted.
His voice was like music. Like a song she’d never expected to hear again.
“You said you were bored!” Ian retorted. “You said you were ready for an adventure! Dammit, Ryder, you’re better than this. I know you are…” Ian slumped, slightly defeated, but straightened with a smile once he noticed the tree roots were disappearing into tiny cracks around the door. He gave Kira a reassuring look. “See? I think he’s fine with it.”
Ian stepped aside as the door slowly opened, and Kira had nowhere to go, forced to look up into a face from her dreams and her nightmares.
DFH 2.0. Or D because real names weren’t allowed in the lab.
Kira felt like she could faint just looking at him.
But as she stared into those swirling hazel depths she knew so well, which were a mix of yellow and green and orange at the center, something unexpected happened.
He simply blinked and continued to glare at her, showing absolutely no sign of recognition.
He didn’t seem to know or care who she was.
Then he turned his wide back to her and walked away, leaving the door open.
Kira’s heart pounded as she forced herself to take one step inside, then another, and before long, in a scene that felt totally surreal, she realized she was sitting on a couch across from the man she’d once been in love with.
The man who had once meant everything.
And he didn’t remember her at all.
3
Ryder had no idea what he’d done to put the shock and horror on the face of the little fae Ian and Liz had brought to work with him.
He’d been angry that anyone, let alone his friends, would actually ask him to work with a fae who’d worked in the labs, but he hadn’t thought tree roots would be that intimidating.
It was part of his power, to grow plant extensions of his magic and use them how he liked, but as a green fae, he had yet to make someone truly cower.
Not when everything else inside him was more dangerous.
Still, aside from being recommended by his friends, there was something in her face when he’d seen her from the window that made him want to open the door.
He hoped she didn’t make him regret it.
Even now, she was glancing at him nervously, full lips pouting, wide eyes with long lashes sneaking little looks.
Ryder was surprised to see that at the center of her dark-brown eyes, there was a ring of pink. Like the ring of yellow a human with green eyes might have. Gorgeous eyes.
Her hair was chin-length in big, wild curls that reminded him of old movies and made her rich-brown skin glow. She was wearing normal human clothes, a dark-pink hooded jacket that brought out her eyes and black jeans and sneakers.
He guessed she liked to blend in as much as possible, as no one in the human world was supposed to know about fae.
Still, as much as he might like working alongside such a gorgeous, curvy woman, he knew it wasn’t going to happen.
He just couldn’t leave anyone standing on the porch.
“Assign me to someone else,” Ryder said, interrupting Ian, who had been pontificating on the strength of the pairing. “This isn’t going to work.”
“That’s the thing,” Ian said, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not that simple.”
“Why not?” Ryder raised an eyebrow in consternation. “Surely, there’s someone else who could protect her.”
“Right, but she’s also been assigned to you,” Ian said.
“Why?”
“I’m a radiant fae.” Kira, as she’d been introduced, had finally found her voice. And dammit, Ryder found the sound of it oddly pleasing. “They said you were injected with chaos… that you might need cleansing.”
Ryder instantly felt his whole body tense up the way it did when anyone brought up the subject. The chaos that had been injected into him made him abnormal amongst the other hybrids, unable to make full transformations. And he had absolutely no control over it.
He sighed, sitting up and paying more attention. “I suppose that could be useful, having a radiant fae around.” He pinned her with a look again, curious as to why a shockwave seemed to go through her every time he did. “You can disinfect me?”
“We aren’t sure exactly what she can do,” Ian says. “But she should be more able to help you than anyone else. Plus, she worked with the light fae in some of their labs, so she has intimate knowledge of their systems, where their labs are located, things like that.”
“Hm,” Ryder said.
Ian nodded. “So we need someone on the inside who can help us track and find their other operations in the human world. There might still be data or experiments left behind, and we need all the info we can get before they fully resume their operations here. Kira is an insider, the only one who was willing to help and turn to our side.”
Ryder had to begrudgingly respect that any fae from the labs had been willing to take the right path eventually.
And it would be useful to be able to find more labs and more info in those labs. Especially info on himself and how to dispel the chaos swirling inside him.
Ian grinned as if he knew he’d won already. “So you can back her up if anyone comes for her, and she can help us save other dragons while helping you keep your chaos in check. Sound good?”
Ryder rubbed the center of his chest, still unsure. “Doesn’t anyone think this might be a bad idea? I barely have control over my forms.”
“I trust you,” Ian said. “Even though you did try to kill me once.”
“I was insane,” Ryder said. “I’d just escaped, and—”
“As I said, I trust you now,” Ian said with a reassuring smile. “I’m just saying I know what you’re capable of, and I still gave my word that you can do this. Liz spoke up for you as well.”
Liz nodded. “Yup. You have better self-control than you give yourself credit for. After all, you yourself said you don’t hurt
humans or women.”
“True,” Ryder said.
“Maybe this is a bad idea,” Kira said softly, sitting up with her hands in her lap. “Maybe we should figure out another partner.”
Ryder sat back with a huff. “Finally, someone agrees with me.”
Ian sucked in a breath, drawing to full height as Ryder realized playtime was over. “Ryder, it’s this or nothing. If you want to sit on your ass, waiting for the next beacon, then fine. We can’t and won’t force you. Just know you’ll have disappointed a lot of people who believe in you.”
That made Ryder sit up in shame. “Right. I’ll do it.” Of course he would do it, for Dallin and the fae that had helped save and rehabilitate him. “But I won’t be happy about it.” He glared at Kira. “And don’t expect me to do anything but my job, fae.”
“Fine,” she said curtly, her backbone finally showing up as she glared back at him. “I can take care of myself.”
Ryder merely scowled at her for that, then stood to leave the room. If he stayed, he might be ruder than he wanted to be.
So he’d go, but only to calm down and gather his thoughts, not because he was weirdly intrigued by the little fairy.
Not at all.
As Kira got dressed the next morning, she still felt her whole situation was surreal.
She hadn’t even seen Ryder since they’d been introduced—well, reintroduced. He hadn’t emerged from his room.
The man she’d fallen for in the lab, the one she’d talked with about running away… was running away from her, apparently.
And she would just have to deal with it because that was his choice.
She supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised that he didn’t remember her. Of course he would have wanted his memory wiped upon rescue.
Most shifters from the labs did when they arrived at the SRP (Shifter Reclamation Project).
And Ryder had been through so much torture and pain, of course he would want to. Even if it meant removing memories of her from his heart as well.
She couldn’t blame him. Perhaps after they’d been separated, he hadn’t seen any point in holding on to a painful past.
But it was so hard, looking at him and knowing he didn’t really see her. Not the way he had.
But at least he wasn’t dead, as she’d once thought.
So if Ryder had moved on from the past and who he was in the lab, she would just have to do the same as well and try to get to know this new Ryder in the life he’d chosen for himself.
Wearing a black tee over skinny jeans, Kira walked down to the kitchen, her heart pounding as she wondered if Ryder would be there.
The smell of something sweet, like vanilla and flour, drew her into the kitchen, making her salivate. She poked her head inside and let out a sigh of relief when she saw Landon.
“Phew,” she said, slumping in a chair at the table at the side of the kitchen. Landon had been friendly ever since she arrived, and he seemed to enjoy her company. The calm, serene, slightly out-of-it dragon was unlike anyone she’d ever met, but not in a bad way.
He was just… unique.
“Rough night?” Landon turned to face her, a red apron outlining his powerful shoulders and trim hips, his handsome face glowing with a smile. With his dark hair and icy-blue eyes, he was stunning, as expected for any dragon…
But he wasn’t Ryder.
Landon’s eyes flickered in recognition, and his smile tightened as he set down the plate. “Did Ryder do something?”
“Oh, no, of course not,” she said, waving a hand. “And don’t read my thoughts. It’s so unnerving when dragons do that.”
“I’m the worst about it,” Landon said bashfully, grabbing a fork and setting it next to her.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” she said as he went to the fridge to pull out juice. But before she could really protest, everything was set in front of her and Landon was seated across from her, a plate and glass in front of him as well.
“I’m sorry for reading your thoughts, though. I can try—”
“It’s okay,” she said, waving a hand. “I take it back. Read my thoughts if you want to. In exchange for breakfast like this.”
Landon’s eyes twinkled, and she was glad it seemed he could relax around her. Not all dragons were willing to be so calm and trusting. “It’s no trouble. Fresh-baked scones with crème fraîche and strawberries from the garden. Plus fresh-squeezed orange juice.” He smiled enticingly, pushing her plate toward her as if encouraging her to take a bite.
He didn’t have to ask twice. She’d need her strength, after all, for dealing with Ryder.
She took a bite of the strawberry-covered pastry and groaned. It was one of the best things she’d ever tasted. “So amazing,” she said to Landon, who was watching intently.
His answering smile was mild, mysterious. “I’m glad it had the intended effect.” He took a bite of his own, chewing thoughtfully. “I’ve been practicing.”
“Practicing? Why?” She took another bite and had to stop herself from moaning. She didn’t want Ryder walking in here and getting the wrong idea.
Then again, it shouldn’t matter anymore what he thought.
But it did.
“My mate, my soul bond, whatever she may be, has a sweet tooth,” Landon said fondly. “Ultraviolet will enjoy these, I think.”
Kira set down her fork, dotting her mouth with her napkin. “Wait. Ultraviolet? You’re cooking for Ultraviolet?” That was the glamour fae who had teamed up with a dragon, impersonated a male fae, and wreaked havoc in the fae world. “Um, revolutionary psychopath? That Ultraviolet?”
“No one knows her like I do,” Landon said dreamily, and Kira resisted the urge to think anything unkind about her new friend… like that he might be off his rocker.
He slanted a look at her. “I’m not crazy.” He took another bite, staring straight ahead as if at a future only he could see. “One day, everyone will get it.”
“I’m sure they will,” Kira said, reaching out to put a hand over his, the knee-jerk response to comfort still within her from the lab. Every time she saw someone suffering, she felt the need to soothe them.
Landon just smiled at her, gave her hand a squeeze, and released it as he turned to look at the entrance to the kitchen where a surly Ryder was standing.
Kira gulped. “I didn’t see you sneak up on us.”
“I’m not sneaking,” Ryder retorted, his eyes like green fire in the morning light. “This is my own damn house.”
“Language in front of ladies,” Landon said.
“She’s a fairy,” Ryder said, folding his arms and glaring.
“And she’s helping us,” Landon said. “So stop being a pill. Or get out of here and let me protect Kira. Because I’d love the job, and I find her delightful.”
“It’s my assignment,” Ryder said, oddly possessive, as he stomped over to the table, grabbed his plate, and dragged a chair to the corner of the kitchen farthest from her as possible.
He set his plate in his lap and began to eat the scone, trying to glare at her ominously even while eating whipped cream.
“Also, make sure not to read her thoughts,” Landon says. “She doesn’t like it.”
“I never read thoughts unless it’s an emergency,” Ryder muttered. “You know that.” His green eyes locked on Kira. “Why are you staring at me like that? Do you know me or something?”
Landon shot a look at her, then shook his head as if warning her away.
Kira frowned. If Ryder had his memory wiped, it would be wrong for her to bring up things he wouldn’t remember.
It might stir up things so painful he’d wanted to forget.
It wasn’t her choice to bring that all back to him, so she swallowed back all her love, her hopes, and promised to just be professional and help him the best she could.
“No,” she said, hating herself for the lie.
Ryder nodded to himself as if satisfied with her answer. “Then I’ll try to just treat this as
a job.”
“Give her a chance,” Landon said. “I’ve only known her half a day, and we’re already good friends.”
“Great, now you can stalk Ultraviolet together,” Ryder said sarcastically, causing Landon to frown.
He folded his muscled arms. “Don’t force me to revoke your pastry privileges.”
Ryder crowded around his plate. “No! No. I’ll be nice. Well, not nice, since anything nice in me died in that hellhole she worked in.” He shot her a glare, and she grimaced, steeling herself.
“I’m sorry,” Landon said, looking at Kira with exasperation. “He’s not usually like this.”
“No, no,” Kira said. “It’s all right. He’s entitled to his feelings. We were monsters.”
“We?” Ryder asked, looking dubious.
“My employers. Well, me for not doing anything—”
“You did things,” Landon said. “I know you helped—”
“I didn’t do enough,” Kira insisted, ending the argument. “So yes, I understand your feelings, Ryder, and I accept that we’ll both do our best to make this a professional relationship.”
Ryder froze, and when he looked up at her, his handsome face was flushed, making the dark stubble on his hard jaw stand out. The way he rubbed it, abashed, was adorable. “Hey, don’t go apologizing and making me feel like the asshole.” He grinned slightly. “I never met a fae who could apologize. It’s refreshing.”
“I am sorry,” she said, looking into his eyes. “And I’m committed to our mission of gathering info to help as many as possible to make up for my past.”
Ryder stood, finishing the pastry, and nodded. “Well, then I guess I can do the same. Truce? So we can have peace around here?”
But his eyes lingered on hers, and the way tension crackled between them made it clear things were anything but peaceful.
“Truce,” she said, finally breaking eye contact just as he did.
“So what are we doing today?” Ryder asked as Landon got up to take the dishes to the sink. “They said you had all the info.”
She took a deep breath, trying not to stutter. “There’s a small fae satellite office a half day from here. We’re going to check it out, make sure it’s shut down for good.”
Dragon Redeemed (Reclaimed Dragons Book 2) Page 2