Page 11 of The Dragon Warlord

All of that was a lot. Why was it so much? It wasn’t yesterday. Given, River was able to go to the kitchens for me, something I’m not sure can happen for a while. I’m more inclined to hoard him. He shouldn’t be serving me anyway. It’s not right.

Placing a hand on River’s neck, I let my thumb graze my bite, allowing the calm it brings to blanket me so that I don’t maul anyone and then I lead us out of the kitchens, back the way we came.

“There. I was short and sweet,” I tell River. It’s fine that I struggle on the inside so long as I’m poise and relatively casual on the outside.

I was casual. Totally casual.

“You were magnificent, Warlord.”

Dear, Gods. I think he believes that.

We’re halfway to my chambers when the slick wetness pools under my fingertips.Blood. When the scent hits the air, I know, without knowing how I know, that it’s River’s blood. If I thought I’d been wild with rage all morning, it’s nothing to what fire sparks inside me at the scent of his blood.

Pulling my sword, I swing it around, ready to take out whatever invisible threat has come to harm my omega. Baring my teeth, I growl and my jacket spins around me. There’s nothing as far as I can tell. No one. It’s just an empty hallway with my snarls echoing off the walls.

Instinctively, I turn to River, trapping him against the wall, gripping under his jaw with my free hand. “Who hurt you? Why are you bleeding?”

He strains under my bruising grip; his expression is twisted into a wince that says he really doesn’t want to answer that.

“You will answer, Omega.”

He licks his lips, taking a slow breath. “You … your fingernails merely laid claim to what is already yours, Alpha.”

That’s River’s way of saying that it was me. Gently, I release him. For a moment, I don’t know what to do with myself or all the rage blustering inside me. Spinning, I release the rage in one hefty toss of my sword, clear across the empty passageway and I turn to punch the wall until I’m bleeding and at least one of my knuckles is broken. The pearly wall remains intact.

We appear to have a double problem because River scents my blood and his gorgeous exotic eyes fuel with his version of hostility. Until now, I didn’t think he was capable even knowing that he’s a warrior. There’s something else there too.

Concern.

Yeah. Concern. I felt that and a morsel of delight cuts through bitterness. I’m finally beginning to feel him like he feels me.

“Why are you concerned, Omega?” I ask, barely above a breath.

He doesn’t catch on to what I’ve just done—what I’ve just felt—and his concern remains. “We need to get your hand cleaned up. I don’t know how his lordship will respond. Bonded pairs are particularly sensitive to the other’s blood.”

“I gathered that,” I say. His neck is still bleeding, and I can’t think. All I want to do is lick it. Or touch him. Or—

Fuck it.

I scoop him up and he curls into me, slotting his head against my neck like he belongs there. When we sigh together, he brightens. “You’re picking up on my vibration, Warlord.”

Happiness might burst him apart and having pleased him vanquishes the anger that ignited a full-fledged tantrum. The blood isn’t gone, but with him this close, I’m soothed. Balanced. Opting to keep him in my arms, I stride toward my sword and halt before it. “If you don’t mind picking that up for me?”

“Of course, Warlord.”

I crouch so that he can snatch it up and then he slots it into the baldric that holds it onto my back. He resumes inhaling my scent in the crook of my neck. Such an animalistic behavior—thank the Gods no one was hurt—and it makes me think.

“We aren’t human, are we?” We might resemble them. We might even share some characteristics. When push comes to shove, we’re dragons with all that entails.

“No, Warlord.”

“You’ve said so before and that we are always dragons, but I think I’m only just now understanding what you mean.”

“Yes, Warlord.”

This means … only so much of what the dragon lord wants me to know can be gleaned from books.

“I am different inside. A new part of me has been unleashed and unlocked. I am an animal, and I don’t know that I’m a safe one.” Maybe there’s something to these collars, but if so, it’s not doing a good job.