Page 21 of The Dragon Warlord

I scowl. “Can you read my mind too?”

“Thinking about leaving your omega will cause you pain with your bond so young and unsettled. Thinking about leaving your alpha will too—as much as you hate me, we are bonded, and the magic will demand some form of loyalty however fragile.”

Next to me, there’s more pain. “River!”

River falls to his knees. Fuck the dragon lord and his kneeling bullshit. I move to River’s side and slide my hand under his neck, instinctively moving to where my bite sits while my other cradles his torso. I don’t know how, but I did this.

My thumb has a mind of its own as if it knows something I don’t, skating across my bite on his neck and he passes out, limp in my arms. “What’s wrong with him? He’s your son. Shouldn’t you do something?”

Tristan shrugs. “All dragons know what’s involved with bonding. It’s just a little pain. You’re right here so he’ll be fine.”

“What if I wasn’t here?”

“There are too many possibilities to list them all, but the outcomes can be catastrophic. You really shouldn’t fight the bond.”

“How long is this for? Will it go away?”

“It should, but that depends on you. I would work on accepting the bond. That goes a long way to getting it to settle.”

Does he ever give a straight answer? I’m thinking, no.

River is dead weight in my arms, but the extra dragon strength helps. Holding him to me, I approach the dragon lord.

“I’m leaving to take care of my omega, my lord. Do you have a problem with that?” I’m not being respectful, but something feral is thrumming through me. Instinct. It’s more important than whatever the dragon lord will do to me.

In a shocking turn of events, he seems to understand, waving his hand in a “go on” type gesture. “I expect you for your discipline session after dinner. River will show you where to go. Don’t be late.”

Every cell of my body grimaces. I don’t answer, which I’ll probably pay for later, but I stride out, thinking only of River.

We’re a fair enough distance from my rooms that my arms tire long before I reach them, but I refuse to stop. As soon as I’m behind the safety of the large wooden door, I lay him on my bed, and wipe the sweat from my brow. What the fuck am I going to do with him?

He’s breathing and that’s a beautiful sight at the moment, so I sit in a chair beside the bed and stare in contemplation until he wakes. I’m reasonably sure he will. The dragon lord wouldn’t let his son die, would he?

He’s breathing normally, his heartbeat—which I’m acutely aware of—is strong, his complexion is healthy…

My stomach growls to let me know I’ve missed lunch, something I’m supposed to have if I’m abiding by the rules of the gift I gave Alrik, whose face I don’t want to think about right now. I’m horrible. The list of grievances is long. The Gods are punishing me.

River stirs, his lids flutter open, and his deep blue eyes shine at me like I’m his savior. “River. How do you feel?”

“I’m fine, Warlord. Where…?” He surveys the room, memory flashes across his expression, and then he scrambles. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

I stop him with a hand to the bicep. “Do not pass out on me again. Please. I know what I said, but I’d never leave you like this, okay?” It’s not something I can fathom at the moment and when I do get out of here—because I will someday—he might have to come with me.

It’s not good enough. I know as soon as I say it. River’s made it clear he wants to be by my side for all my days. “I can’t say what the future will bring, but you’re going to get your earlier wish. Selfish as it is, there’s no way I can let you out of my sight for an indeterminate amount of time,” I tell him.

The thought alone inspires an ache within me. All my joints burn with the need of him.

A weak smile spreads across his lips. “I’m glad, Warlord, but … do you wish you’d chosen a better omega?” When he blinks, tears drip off his lashes.

That is an arrow through my heart. It’s my turn to keel over when the pain takes me. I brace with my hands on the bed, seeking River out. When my hand finds his torso, he guides it up to the bite, careful not to touch it himself.

A growl pierces the quiet and I realize it’s me. The pain ebbs and I’m over top of River who is stone still under me.

“All of you is mine, River.”

“All of me is yours, Alpha.”

“I may not like how it happened, but it’s a thing that is and I will treasure you for all the days of our lives.”