Page 100 of The Dragon Warlord

“And by the time we leave here, I vow that I will have discovered once and for all that it’s not just our bond making us this way.”

I sigh, but internally only. The assurance he’s looking for is the most obvious thing and right before his eyes. He’s one of the most intelligent people I know and yet he misses the mark on the obvious when it’s to do with him.

I suppose we’re all like this.

But I leave it be. He’s got to learn it for himself, or the knowledge won’t be as solid within him. I can be patient. I’ve waited centuries for him, what’s a few more decades? “I’m sure you’ll figure it out, Warlord. I have every faith in you.”

“That’s cheeky. Is that all I had to do to pull that lovely brat from you? Kiss you?’

I smile into his shoulder.

“And you already know, don’t you?”

“I know.”

“But you’re not going to tell me.” He groans.

“I’m not … unless you order me to, but Warlord, I think it will have more impact if you discover the truth on your own.”

“Thank you. Boner gone. You’ve succeeded in reminding me of your father.”

And my father ishisalpha. Whom he is not attracted to whatsoever other than finding him attractive, which is not the same. I think their bond is something else, but even if it changed to something along the lines of sexual attraction, it isn’t for the moment, proving a bond shifts and changes based on the alpha and omega.

“But we get to go to bed together?”

Instead of answering, he scoops me up like he used to in the early days when our bond was so unstable, he had to be near me or combust. Succinctly, he places me on the bed. “Get comfortable, Riv. I’ll get you one of my nightshirts.”

I consider complaining that I’m supposed to wait on him, but I don’t want to ruin the magic. I remove the shirt I was wearing and strip down to my underthings, which consist of a pair of white cotton shorts. He returns in a long nightshirt with another in his hand that he tosses to me, demanding that I put it on before he gets in. “Later, I’m making a no-clothes-on-in-bed rule, but until I defile you, we’ll have some rules of decorum.”

I don’t care for having rules of decorum, but if it’s what my alpha needs then he’ll get it and I won’t complain.

“We’ll visit some of the Markaytian rules I grew up with. It’ll be fun and new and exciting. Yeah. H-How’s that sound?”

He’s rambling. I think he’s nervous, which is funny, considering some of the things I know he’s done. Sleeping in a bed with me,clothed, is low on his list of deviance. I put the shirt on. It smells like him. Climbing under the covers, he pulls me to him, and I latch around him. His body is hard under that shirt, even his cock, which I dutifully ignore.

The night could be considered anticlimactic, but I’m in dragon heaven. He kisses my head. “Go to sleep, Riv.”

I want to obey him. I want to sleep. But sleep comes hard. I’m too fucking excited.

* * *

It’s late when I open my eyes. Shivering, I notice the doors to the veranda are open. My blood is cool. If I leave the bed, I’ll freeze, but I know Tristan’s out there. I can feel him. I could call him through our bond, but if he’s out there, he’s avoiding coming in here and probably regrets telling me to climb into his bed.

I slink out from under the warm covers. I don’t plan on being out there long. I’ll give him an out and then head to my room. Softly, I patter to the open doors crossing my arms over myself to fend off the cold.

He’s put a pair of pants on with his long nightshirt tucked in and he sits in a chair leaning back, gazing at the stars over the expanse of mountain, and the plummeting drop. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be shifted and dive that drop, allowing the air to press against my wings.

“River, your teeth are chattering. Go back inside.”

I take a breath and have to exhale slowly to push forward. I obey him. I just do. Is there an element of “because he’s my alpha”? Yes, but the greater reason is the deep seeded need I have to please him. I love pleasing him. It feels better. It’s soothing.

But if I don’t prove to him that I can make choices beyond what he says, we’re going to continue to live in turmoil. We won’t survive it. Even though I would rather go inside because he told me to, I make myself stay.

“Y-You c-c-could warm me up.”

He turns his striking sapphire gaze on me and inhales as slowly as I had to. “That’s a bad idea. The scent of you on me has been driving me to distraction all night. I couldn’t think.”

“I’ll go b-b-back to m-my room, sir. You sh-should sleep.”