Page 128 of The Dragon Warlord

“Who?”

“I don’t know, but he was a beautiful man. Like—”

“Don’t say it,” Tristan interrupts when Leif glances at me.

“Right. Well, it was a beautiful man and I think they are mine or I guess that would be they were mine. They’ve got to be dead.” Leif stares at the floor.

His? As in an omega his? Or a family member his? I feel sorry for him, but maybe not remembering is a blessing. Remembering might fill him with more regrets.

Tristan’s not ready to jump into that little adventure just yet. “But your noggin, it’s okay?”

“Far as the healers can tell.”

“Good. Your punishment is that you’re banished from my field for the foreseeable future. I don’t care what the dragon lord says. Unless he wants a dead ice dragon, he won’t push it.”

Ah, so the invitation that came this morning from Tristan was Father’s doing.

“I understand, Warlord. I’ll do better and earn your favor once more.”

“Maybe you will and maybe you won’t, now get the fuck out of my war room.”

Tristan catches me by the shirt before I can get too far. Not that I had intended on leaving, but I was going to sit on the map table. My legs are wobbly.

Leif doesn’t wait around to be told twice and leaves, while Tristan removes my shirt so that our naked torsos can press together. “You were merciful, Warlord.”

“I wanted to have him executed. It’s no joke, River.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I didn’t.” He inhales my scent, resting his chin on my crown. “Did you like that? I hope you’re not disappointed that I didn’t toss you around.”

“It was oddly sweet for exhibitionism, but I’m not disappointed. It was perfect. You were still plenty savage, my romantic savage.”

He brightens and runs a thumb over new markings on my collarbone. “That part was fun. You were nibbling on me, and it was fucking adorable.” He rubs a hand over the small prick marks from my teeth.

“I wanted to sink my teeth into you,” I admit.

“So, do it next time.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He places my hand over his Warlord’s tattoo. “You’re mine, but I’m yours too, Riv.” He plants a kiss on my lips, sliding his tongue in and tangling with it until I’ve lost my breath again.

“C’mon, we’d better clean up before we’re late for dinner again. My back can’t take any more of that evil fucking whip.”

22

Tristan

In a shocking turn of events, the dragon lord doesn’t contest what I did with Leif. His family therapy works, and River and I can once again live our lives without being consumed by sex. I am left questioning why I thought that was a bad thing, but I suppose I get more work done. The craving for him remains persistent, but there’s room in my head for other things.

I’m still not sure how spending time with the dragon lord helped the bond with River, but it’s better now and we got to return to my quarters so I’m just going to take the win.

It’s not long before we’re sent on yet another hunt for the dragon lord. This time for sarsen stone. The mission has been shite from the start. Riv and I are caked with mud. Neither of us has slept in days. I want to call it off, but someone won’t let me.

“This is the definition of a wild goose chase. We don’t need more sarsen stone, my lord.”

Lucky me, the dragon lord can appear to me like this even at a distance. We’re not anywhere really. I think we’re in my head, but I don’t know. It’s just a white space. I am knelt before him and he is scowling over top of me.