Page 94 of The Dragon Warlord

“You’re supposed to prevent me from taking on more lovers.”

He smiles against my neck. “I am learning that’s like trying to stop the tide rising. Anyway, consider it. You two will be away for a long while together. You have my blessing. I don’t want you to be alone.”

Truthfully, I knew Alrik would give his blessing and that he wouldn’t want me to be alone because he’s done that before. He told me to be with Bayaden for the same reasons prior to when he left on his mission to the Underworld. Now, here River and I are, away together in Dragon Land for perhaps another ten years. We’ve been here less than a week and I’m already breaking every vow I’ve made to myself.

Corrik wasn’t any help either. He caught me staring at River like the feral animal I’ve become. I was distracted when we were home with dark wyverns and closing the veil—basically completing the dragon lord’s laundry list as usual—and didn’t have a lot of time for staring at River like the prey my inner dragon considers him to be. Things had calmed down though and I had more time available to trace my omega’s every move like I might pounce him at any second.

Just because he’s mine.

“You get it now,” Corrik had said like it was a secret and a taunt.

Leave it to Corrik to recognize the kind of possession I’d had in my stare—it’s the same way he looks at me.

“Y-Y-You don’t think it’s weird that I … that I think he’s mine?”

He raised a brow.

“Yeah, okay. You decided I was yours when you first set eyes on me in a vision …”

And so began history.

“The upside is that I live and breathe you, darling,” Corrik added. It’s the unexpected perk of someone like Corrik.

I know River would like me to live and breathe him.

I’d approached Baya too, knowing what he was going to say before I said anything. I barely got the word River out and he laughed at me, slapping his thick thigh.“If you don’t fuck him soon, the unresolved sexual tension between the two of you will kill me. Please do us all a favor and claim your man properly while you’re gone.”

Well then.

With all that encouragement, you’d think things would be easy. They’re not. They’re hard and awkward because I don’t know how to act around him.

“Warlord—”

“Would you mind fetching me some tea? I could use some tea.”

He eyes me warily from where he’s pretending to polish the war table and keep his distance from me at the same time. I can’t hide from River, but I need a break from his scent. It’s making it hard to think. I want to … want to lick him.Fuck.

“Of course, Warlord. I’ll get your tea.”

“And then take the night off,” I add as he’s about to head for the door.

He turns and what I said to him a few nights ago echoes in my head.

“I want to fucking shatter you with my cock. Every cell in my body craves you, every moment of every Gods’ damn day. I can’t even stay away from you as I should. The best I can do is draw a line in the sand I never cross.”

“I w-want you to do that,” he’d said. “More than anything.”

Why, oh why, did I say what I said?

“I don’t want the night off, Warlord.”

I love that he’s fighting me. I want to see more of it. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop feeling the guilt of wondering how much his feelings are because of the bond and how much is genuine. Especially when I struggle with this same dilemma between me and my alpha.

Does it matter? They exist.

“Unfortunately, for you, I make the rules.” C’mon. Fight me, Omega.

“I … Yes, Warlord.” He bows his head and his boots click with purpose as he stalks across the pearlescent floor, leaving a storm of frustrated air in his wake.