Artemis and Onyx were both a little edgy with Thistle riding with them. Artemis kept crooning to the black dragon, easing the tension rippling through her. The rumors about Thistle had been that she was meek, mild, and shy and that Drayce had been concerned that his forceful, commanding nature would have the poor girl cowering in no time. He’d been afraid that she’d be unhappy pining for home, sad and depressed.
Shaking his head, Artemis found himself confused, because the woman he was looking down on was not apprehensive or faint-hearted. This was a woman with an impressive temper and a strong-willed disposition that would put the average two-year-old child to shame.
When he and Onyx had flown into the barn to rescue her, his long arm scooping up her almost weightless, petite frame, easily tossing her onto Onyx’s back, imagine his surprise when she shoved him screaming “Get off, you buffoon! This will be my dragon now.”
The shock had stunned Artemis. Standing near seven feet tall with broad shoulders and chest, Artemis was used to women and men alike being petrified. He had learned in his early teens to keep his voice low and quiet, near a whisper, treating everyone like a skittish animal. And if he did have to raise his voice or shout, he’d become accustomed to women crying and men backing up wide-eyed. Rarely did he ever have to raise his fist or hand to anyone, people submitted readily to his directions.
“I will not get off my dragon. We’re rescuing you; your sister, Satin, has requested that you come back to Trexotera with us and you’ll be riding with me.” Per his normal, Artemis had spoken in soothing tones, lightly stroking her arm as he spoke.
Her blondish white hair shimmered in the moonlight, and he swore he’d never seen anything as ravishing as her beauty, but when her piercing blue eyes narrowed, sparking with anger, and her small little hand reached up and slapped his face, yelling, “Don’t you ever touch me without my permission again. Get off my dragon, now, good Sir, or we’ll be fighting.”
He’d almost laughed at the absurdity of her thinking she could fight him—she couldn’t have been more than five feet tall, Artemis betting she came to the middle of his chest.
What in the universe could this small, almost child sized woman do to him?
Gunfire behind them meant they had to go, “Onyx, fly!” The large black dragon screeched, breathing fire onto the oncoming soldiers and with a lurch the beast leapt into the air, catapulting them hundreds of feet within seconds. Once safely away from the gunfire, Artemis grabbed the front of her tunic dress and shook her just a little, enough to put the fear of the Gods into her. “Don’t you ever slap my face or my body again. It’s time that you learn a lesson.”
It was then that he’d paddled her backside before flipping her dress up and spanking her panty-clad bottom as well.
If this is what Drayce and Satin thought was timid and shy, it scared him half to death to think what her other siblings were like. He had watched discipline sessions Drayce had with Satin, and wondered if the man could even brush his hair at night, his hand took as much a beating as the poor girl’s ass.
Alistair Quinn apparently produced some stubborn, ill-tempered girls. He couldn’t help but shake his head again, amazed at their character.
“What’s that?” Thistle pointed toward a ball of fire at the far end of the castle.
“I’m not sure.” Tugging on the reins, they weaved to the right, getting closer to the spectacle. There were three dragons and Warlords, in a fire battle with some of the Tempest soldiers. The damn fools were tossing gunpowder at the dragon fire, igniting it into a fireball that had the potential to make them all burst into flames, taking the lives of the dragons as well.
“Disperse! Dragons and Warlords! Disperse, now!” He shouted into the comm set, and then pulling up his horn; he blew six short fanfares, loud and clear.
Instantly the dragons and their riders responded to the taratantara of the trumpet, they swerved, darting past Artemis. The Tempest soldiers ceased with throwing gunpowder now that there was no dragon fire to fuel it.
It was then that Thistle gasped, her hand covering her mouth and her eyes wide.
“What, girl. Are you okay? Speak to me! What is wrong?”
“I …that’s Rhython, my brother. He’ll see me and know I’m leaving…and he’s been so mean to me, and to Satin. It would serve him right to know I’m leaving with you to Trexotera.” Her fear turned to revenge, and it was obvious by the gritting of her teeth, and the way her lips thinned and her eyes narrowed.
Did she say she was leaving with me?
The last thing he needed was her alerting Rhython and causing a ruckus. “Don’t you dare shout or even look in his direction. Avert your gaze, now! Mind me, or pay the consequences.”
Artemis was amazed at how often he’d spanked or threatened to spank this woman, and he hadn’t even known her an hour, shit, not even a half hour yet.
The words had barely left his mouth, and the brat leaned forward, looking around Onyx’s neck. “Rhython! Look up here!”
Artemis slapped his huge hand over her mouth, and the hoyden bit his middle finger—hard. Yanking his hand away, he checked for blood.
Seizing the opportunity Thistle said to her brother in a snotty, sarcastic voice, “I’m going to Trexotera, and look! I’m riding a dragon. Artemis and Onyx will protect me!”
“I’ll protect you all right, but first, I’ll thrash your ass raw. And if you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll bare your ass right now, right here and let your brother see me paddle you.”
Those blue eyes immediately filled with tears and her long delicate neck worked to swallow.
Satisfied with what he saw in her eyes, he quickly shouted, “Onyx, flame!”
The black beast inhaled deeply and blew flames onto the turret, and with some steering, Artemis kept the fire away from her brother, she didn’t need to see him injured or worse.
“Onyx, home! Fast!”
Obviously, the girl wasn’t ready for how fast the dragon flew, she fell back, pressed against his chest, and wrapping an arm around her waist he kept her secured safely to him. Blessedly and peacefully, the little brat was quiet, and within moments once she relaxed against him, she fell asleep.
Although he had planned once they broke through the clouds, stopping to spank the daylights out of her ass for disobeying him and putting their lives in danger by shouting at Rhython, he didn’t have the heart to wake her from such a peaceful slumber. Her eyelids fluttered, and he marveled at how dark her lashes and eyebrows were in stark contrast to her white hair. Her beauty was stunning, and although if he’d been asked what type of woman he liked, he would have told anyone that he liked meek and mild women, someone who obeyed readily with no delay or sass.
But this little woman, this petite spitfire sleeping against his chest, seemed to have stolen his heart from their first meeting. She brought his protective side to the forefront, and yet her brassy bravado and courage filled him with a strange pride…he enjoyed her strength. He enjoyed it almost as much as he reveled in disciplining her alabaster backside, watching it turn a lovely shade of red, tattooing his handprint into the plump globes, knowing that she’d have no choice but to think of him every time she attempted to sit in a chair without gasping out loud.
This little vixen had entangled him in her life, and already he couldn’t imagine not seeing her or watching over her on a daily basis.
Can it be that I’ve fallen in love this quick? How did she steal my heart?
As much as he didn’t wish to wake her for a discipline session, he wouldn’t forego spanking her once they arrived at the Quinn Estate. She would realize quickly that once he promised something, she could count on it…regardless of whether it was protection, a promise, a spanking…or love.