Volos walked into the training room, pausing for a few beats as he looked around to see the faces of all his brothers waiting. Attor was standing in the middle of the training ring, his eyes locked on V as soon as he entered.

“You sure you want an audience, Attor?” V asked.

Attor snorted. “I want them all to see you when I’m the victor.”

“I’m just here for the popcorn.” Jo laughed as he opened a bag of lightly salted Pop’n’Fresh, and leaned against the wall.

V laughed. “Always a support, Jo.” V used his teeth to pull on the strapping tape, as he placed his knuckles against the sticky surface and started to wrap. He walked around the ring slowly, his eyes going back and forth between his hand strapping and the brother in the ring hell-bent on taking his leadership title. “You sure this is what you want, Attor?” V’s voice was smooth and controlled, the words clear, concise, and fearless.

V saw a moment of regret flash across Attor’s face. “I will give you one chance. One chance to walk away with your pride intact. One chance to walk away while your brothers still respect you.” V flicked a look up at his brother. “If I come into that ring at your request… I. Will. Not. Lose.”

Wyvern stood up. “Attor, don’t be a dick, just fucking walk out,” he pleaded. “V is the leader, accept it.”

Attor looked at his youngest brother, the pleading in his voice made him stop. Turning to his other brothers to look for guidance.

“Attor, this won’t end well. You have to see that,” Ladon said with a dismissive shake of his head.

Jo was grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Just fucking hurry up. Shiiit! Do I have brothers or cockless, panty-wearing sissy girls,” Jo goaded his brothers on, he didn’t care who won, he disliked both of them equally.

“Let’s end this,” Attor said.

“Finally, he has a smart—” V began to say.

Attor interrupted his cocky brother. “In the fucking ring.”

V shrugged. “Spoke to soon. Okie dokie,” he said as he slipped in between the second and third rope. “No weapons. First to say…” He looked at his brothers and asked, “What should the yield word be?

“Uncle,” said Wyvern.

“Cream-puff,” Ladon chimed in.

“Spank me, Daddy.” Jo roared with laughter at his own suggestion.

V chuckled. “Spank me, Daddy, it is.”

“I’m not fucking saying that,” Attor spat.

“Then I suggest you don’t lose, brother,” V stated as he threw the tape over toward his gym bag and took his stand. Feet slightly apart, balancing his weight perfectly, and waited for his younger brother to launch an attack. He wouldn’t hit first, but V would make sure he hit last.

Attor looked at his brother, fueled on by the smug look of superiority currently dancing across V’s face. The rage took control as Attor stormed toward his brother, he lowered his body position and tilted, so the full impact of his shoulder hit hard into Volos’ chest. Attor pushed V back a few feet before he lost traction and was forced to release.

Attor bounced on the balls of his feet before taking a step forward and battering his brother’s rib cage with a flurry of unanswered punches. Taking a quick step back he looked at his brother. “I thought you wanted to fight?”

“Attor, this is your choice. You want to be the dragon leader? Then pick up your game.” V dropped to one knee, and spun, swiping his foot out and taking out Attor’s feet from under him. V stood up as he watched the shocked look on his brother’s face as his ass hit the training mat. Hard. “Your rib ticklers won’t make me yield. Got anything else?”

Leaping back to his feet, Attor ran at his brother once more, his brain fueled by rage and humiliation. At the last moment, V stepped to the side, placing a hand under the warrior’s hip, and lifting him slightly. Using his brother’s own momentum, V watched Attor clear the top rope and soar off into the gym mats stacked up against the wall.

“Are we done yet? Can we just spank and move on?” V taunted him. He hated humiliating his brother like this, but if the boy wasn’t prepared to listen, then he had little option. Discord on the battlefield often led directly to the grave. He would have preferred it done privately, but Attor was hell-bent of broadcasting his desperation.

Attor leaped from the mats and ran for the ring, he dove under the bottom rope and rolled. Springing upright under V’s shadow as he lifted his closed fist as hard and fast as he could. The moment it connected with V’s chin he felt the jolt through his shoulder as he sent V stumbling backward. “Is that better, brother?” Attor spat the words as he stalked forward, his rage wholly in control of his movements now. The ordinarily rational and balanced brother was no longer present in the room.

V rubbed his chin, he knew that would leave a mark, and he wasn’t looking forward to explaining to his mate how it came to be on his face. “At least now I can end it,” V said as he lowered his stance. “Let’s finish this.”

Attor took a breath and threw himself at V, his fists clenched and swinging rhythmically. Left, right, left, right. Punch after punch, he tried to make as much contact as possible with his brother’s body.

V stood firm against the barrage, hooking his arms around his brother’s shoulders and lifting him up above his head. The time slowed as Attor’s body rose straight above V’s, held in place by his powerful arm muscles. V slowly turned and arched his back, letting gravity take hold and slammed his brother’s body hard against the ring floor. The sound of air rushing from Attor’s lungs was heard by all the brothers. V lifted and grabbed his brother’s two hands, twisting them behind his back and placing his knee on the crossroads where Attor’s wrists met.

“Yield,” V calmly said, for him this wasn’t about screaming or yelling. This was a lesson in control. Even the best of fighters are useless when fueled by anger. Keeping your mind alert will keep you alive.

Attor tried to squirm, but it only caused V to lean harder on his wrists, threatening to snap them at any moment. The pain running through Attor’s body was like wildfire. It was unbearable.

“Yield,” V demanded.

Jo struggled to hold his cell phone camera steady because he was laughing so loudly. “This is the best brouhaha I’ve seen in days.” He was laughing harder now. “Say it, Attor… saaay iiit.”

V leaned forward one more inch, he knew that Attor’s wrists were close to breaking. Not what he wanted. What would be worse than a challenge for leadership? A fighter with broken wrists and left unable to fight at all. V, unfortunately, would do what he had to do, in order for his warriors to remain united.

“Fine,” Attor shouted through gritted teeth. “I fucking yield.” His words were laced with toxicity. “You’re the big, bad, boss-man.”

V laughed. “I’m sure there was certain words that needed to be used, wasn’t there, Jo?” V looked to his younger brother who was thoroughly enjoying this event.

“Yup,” Jo said as he steadied his camera phone, happy to record this monumental event. “Say it, Attor.”

Attor screamed with rage as he once again twisted to try and break free, but the pain being applied to his wrists and lower back kept him from getting loose. He gave up, letting his body fall limp against the floor of the ring.

Lifting his head to look at Jo. “Spank me, Daddy,” Attor spat the words venomously at the screen in his face.

Jo burst out in a new round of laughter as he checked his phone and replayed the video, Attor’s voice coming loud and clear… Spank me, Daddy. “This is too good.”

V stood up and released his brother, walked over to the ropes, and left the ring. Stopping at his bag to pick it up, he looked back at his brothers, all four of them watching him. “This is the end of it. We have a clan to protect. Let’s just get on with doing our jobs.” He didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he turned and left for his room.