Page 39 of The Dragon Warlord

“I wasn’t aware that it was a transgression, Alpha.” The temperature of my hot blood shifts, its temperature declining.

“Why wouldn’t it be? Weren’t you instructed to show the best face of your lord, your alpha, and your position as dragon Warlord at all times?”

“I was on leave.”

“I’m the only one who can give you leave, and I don’t recall doing that. You are my Warlord from the time you wake up in the morning until the moment you go to sleep unless I say otherwise.”

Gritting my jaw, it takes effort to hold back all the indignation I want to spew at him.

“Now that we’ve cleared that up, answer me. Were you instructed to show the best face of your lord, your alpha, and your position as dragon Warlord at all times?”

A huff escapes my lips. This is ridiculous and unfair. “Yes, Alpha.”

“And did you?”

“No, Alpha.”

“Then you broke the rules and shall receive your first punishment.”

He’s way too fucking giddy about that, but now I see why he brought different husbands. I think Rayne was starting to like me. He might have talked him down from whatever he has planned. These guys, yeah, they don’t like me yet. They’ll go along with it. Even the sexy farmer wizard.

A chill of fear shudders through me, but thy name is Tristan Kanes, stubborn fool. I won’t let him see it on my face even if he can feel it through our bond. “Beat me then. Go for it. I’m done doing your bidding.” I can take a lot of pain. It’ll take a lot to break me. A lot of things wouldn’t be worth what I know he’ll put me through, but this one is—the hill I’m willing to die on and just might by the looks of things. I’ll be a Warlord on my terms or not at all.

“She said you’d say that. She tried to convince me to skip what she feels is an unpleasant way to gain your compliance. Unfortunately, for you, I like the unpleasant way.”

I glance at River. “You can rise, Riv. We’re getting the fuck out of here.”

He stands, unsure of what to do and what I mean. I reach for my sword, the one that isn’t there. Fuck. Okay, I can admit that leaving my sword behind wasn’t one of my better ideas.

His pet wizards surround me.

“Tristan,” the dragon lord says, using my name, maybe to appeal to me, but I’m beyond that. “You know I can take you to your knees with that collar, but I’d like to avoid that. Obey me nicely and remove your shirt.”

“Like hell, I will.”

“You’re going to submit willingly for your punishment, pet. I can make you.”

“Try.”

“Okay, then.”

My muscles lock rigid when the pain from the collar hits me. White-hot agony sizzles through my limbs over and over. There’s no escape from it and I’m on my knees again, dropping like a rock in the ocean. Only sheer bullheadedness prevents me from begging him to stop, but I cry out even though that wasn’t my intention.

When he releases me, I’m a panting heap on the cold floor still feeling the aftershocks.

“Are you ready for your punishment?”

“Go fuck yourself.”

He laughs, refusing to be insulted. “With six husbands? That’s not a problem I have. Now, I don’t mind a bit of that naughty language between us, but you can’t speak to me like that in front of my husbands or others. You know this.”

Shite.

The pain takes me down and I’m clawing at the ground already praying he’ll make it stop, in desperate need of relief. Just before I think I can’t take anymore, my limbs splay out, twitching, and I try to roll to one side.

“Still, no?” he says.

“Still … no.”