Page 54 of Warrior's Reign
Reign spit blood in the sand. “I’m not broken, asshole. I’ll take a rematch any time you want one.”
“Obe’shan.”
Her spine snapped straight. She recognized the voice now that her ears weren’t ringing, and met Vykhan’s cold, furious gaze. His expression was as impassive as always, but she knew that glint in his eyes.
“Sir.”
He studied her for another second, then turned to Yilsa. “If you have no more instruction to impart, I will take theAdejahnanow.”
Reign almost whistled. The icy, polite words were daggers. Yilsa was on Vykhan’s shit list now. Her grin wilted. With the shit performance she’d just given, she was probably on his shit list too. She sighed.
Vykhan glanced at her. “Come.”
Reign followed, but Yilsa called after them. “Tell yourBdakhunthat she should take better care of her pets.”
TheAdekhanat her side tensed, but continued walking. She felt his quiet seething and wondered if it was because he was truly rattled, or because he lowered his guard with her now due to their change in. . .status.
“You aren’t wearing your dagger,” Vykhan said when they’d left the arena and reentered the airy white palace halls.
She eyed him sideways. “Am I supposed to?”
“Yes.” He bit the word off. “Yilsa would have taken more care if he knew to whom he would answer—and not just myself. No one wise makes an enemy of Aanyah and Dozian.”
Reign began to veer off toward the lounge, but Vykhan grabbed her wrist and shook his head. “You will see Eagan.”
She grimaced. “I don’t need a medic.” Her cheek ached with each movement, mocking her.
“I am not asking you, Reign.”
Reign stopped, forcing him to either halt or drag her. He halted, and turned to face her.
“So how does this work?” she demanded. “You’re my whatever when we’re off duty, but on the clock you get to order me around?”
Vykhan nodded. “Precisely.”
He was serious, too. She stared at him. “You know that’s not going to work, right?”
His lips thinned. “It is not complicated. You are under my command no matter what our personal relationship. I issue an order, you obey.”
Reign took a step towards him, looking up into his tilted azure eyes. “That’s not going to work, Vickie. If we’re going to do this, the only time you get to boss me around is in bed.”
She’d said it to push him off balance. Those eyes flared into twin flames, then banked as he controlled his reaction. “My mother is SecondAdekhanto the Heir, and my father First. She obeys him.”
“Right. I’d like to talk to your mother about that.”
“That is wise. She will be able to instruct you from a feminine point of view. I cannot.”
Reign rolled her eyes. Was she really going to get together with someone with no sense of humor or irony? Vykhan took her hand and tugged her along. She didn’t resist this time, though she grumbled. Eagan wasn’t a bad sort. Just brusque, but she didn’t mind.
Eagan looked up when they entered. “You again. This is becoming a habit.”
Reign grinned at the medic, then winced as her injured cheek protested. “I thought injury in the line of duty was considered honorable.”
“It’s considered sloppy. Sit down.”
Vykhan left and returned with a clear pouch. He handed it to her. “Drink.”
She took the pouch and uncapped the lid, downing the electrolyte water. Her breathing evened and she settled on a bed, dangling her legs. Vykhan stepped behind her, one hand resting near her thigh. She leaned back against his chest and closed her eyes, tired.
