Page 120 of The Dragon Warlord

That has him sitting up. It’s so rare that I come to him for anything, I’ve piqued his interest.

“What has you so distraught, pet?”

“I thought our bond—the one between River and I—would have settled by now. It seems to have gotten worse. My craving for him has become dysfunctional.” This is the first time in weeks I’ve been able to part myself from his person and I was only able to do it because I needed to do this just a sliver more.

He nods. “That’s because you’ve performed the actions, but there’s still doubt in your heart. Your heart will have the most influence on the bond.”

I don’t know what’s more shocking, the bullshite he just said or that he gave it up easily. “Why did you … how …? I’m so confused, my lord.”

“I know. I feel your distress, Omega. The information is your reward for coming to me. See? I can be kind.”

Yay. Once every four decades is better than nothing, I guess. “How can the bond think I’m confused about River? My love for him isn’t a question.”

“Isn’t it? If even a grain of doubt remains the bond will fight you.”

The bond is needy. It seems to like to know that we’ll be together and do what it wants us to do. “I wouldn’t doubt a thing if it wasn’t for the bond in the first place.”

“That is a pickle, but it’s one I’ve grown bored of. We’ve all grown bored of it. Get over it.”

“That’s your grand advice? Get over it?”

“I have tried everything else. You’re fucking impossible sometimes.”

That’s a little funny, actually. I’ve managed to exhaust the dragon lord.

“Come here,” he says.

I step closer and he stands, putting a hand to my forehead like my mother used to when she thought I might be coming down with something. He digs into me with magic, twisting his lips as he feels around inside of me. He laughs. “Of course.”

“Do you plan on sharing with the class, Alpha?”

“This time it’s us.”

“What do you mean us? There is no us.”

He rolls his eyes. “I don’t mean like that.”

“You do. You’ve wanted a piece of this since I got here.” I gesture toward my body.

“I won’t deny finding you attractive enough to take to bed, but you aren’t interested. I accepted that many years ago. You do yearn to be closer to me.” He cups my cheek.

My face heats and the embarrassment burns, so hot I might combust. “I do not. Why is this messing with me and Riv?”

He shrugs like it’s no big deal. Like if it rained tomorrow or not, it wouldn’t make any difference as to whether he went outdoors. “You know that magic is conscious. Our bond has decided to fuck with you a bit.”

“Figures that even the bond we share has a brat-like personality.” Curse all the bratty things. He laughs. “This isn’t funny!”

“It’s a little funny. You’re spending so much time with River—in River—that our bond wants to make sure it’s still important to you.”

I am not speaking to him about my sex life. Again. “Our bond is achieving this end by making me spend more time with River?”

“You’re here, aren’t you? I’d say it knew exactly what it was doing. Anyway, do you want my help or not?”

“Not.”

“Too bad. You’re getting it anyway. You and River will move into our side of The Tower for the next month. I’m a very busy dragon lord, but if we visit in the evenings that should go a long way to achieving the balance we need.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Why can’t I just visit for dinner or something?”