Satin looked toward the door again, as if willing it to open with Thistle and Artemis.
“She’s fine, Satin. You know Artemis, if he felt it was that necessary, she must have done something pretty awful.”
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she nodded her head in agreement. Just as Drayce and Satin had left the barn, Artemis had rounded the corner with a sleeping Thistle in his arms.
He whispered to them, “We’ll be along shortly, I have a bit of discipline to administer to Thistle’s bare bottom. I’ll explain later.”
“Carry on; we’ll see you in my father’s office when you’re finished.” Drayce had saluted the man and gripping Satin’s arm firmly, he dragged her into the castle, while she looked over her shoulder.
“Wait. He’s … did he say he’s spanking her? Why?”
“It’s none of our concern, Princess. Worry about your backside, instead of hers.”
Coming home had made her forget momentarily that Drayce had warned her that she’d be disciplined herself tonight. She certainly didn’t want to spend her first evening home this way, but after what she had done, she guessed she deserved it. She’d meant well, flying in to rescue Zayvoc after he’d been shot and his dragon had been stolen; but in hindsight, following Drayce’s directive to stand down and let him handle it would have been the thing to do.
Satin supposed that after her spanking tonight, the lesson would be driven into her.
Now they sat in Zorander’s office making small talk, waiting for them to really discussion the mission. His father had asked about Thistle, wanting to know her likes and dislikes so he could tell the staff and make her stay at the estate more comfortable.
Concern gripped her heart, her sister wasn’t someone who was used to angst or conflict, and she couldn’t imagine how she would react to Artemis spanking her. The man was a force to be reckoned with – and huge!
The doorknob turned, and Satin leapt up as soon as Thistle and Artemis entered, grabbing her sister she hugged her tightly, and glaring at Artemis, she whispered to her twin. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“Yes, I hurt her and if you don’t stop glaring at me, I’ll ask your husband to spank you for me.”
“Princess.” Drayce dragged her nickname out, the warning obvious.
Cloven laughed, never missing an opportunity to insert his sadistic desire to stir the pot. “It seems that her little ass needs a lot more than a spanking if you ask me.”
Zorander glared at his son. “Shut it, Cloven.”
Cloven rose, shaking his head and muttering, fixing himself another drink from the wet bar.
“Tell your sister what you did, brat, and it better be the truth.” Walking past her, Artemis sat in a chair, his ankle casually resting on his knee.
He accepted the drink that Cloven had made for him. “Thank you, Cloven, I need this after the evening I’ve had. Get talking, girl or I’ll take your panties down again.”
“You…you can’t do that in front of all…in front of these people.” Thistle’s cheeks flushed pink with the thought of losing her panties, and Satin’s heart leaped in her chest just thinking about the humiliation attached to such an act.
“Drayce?” Satin pivoted, pleading for her husband’s intervention.
“Stay out of it, Satin. I’m warning you, don’t get involved.” Drayce picked up his tumbler of basilisk¸tipping the glass toward Artemis in a show of good faith.
Groaning loudly, and planting both feet on the floor, Artemis rose, stalking toward Thistle.
Thrusting her hands out, her palms facing the large man, Thistle whined, “Noooo! Nooooo, I’m talking. I’m talking.”
“Then get on with it.” Artemis didn’t even raise his voice. Instead it dropped to just above a whisper which made the words seem more lethal, before sitting once again in his chair.
Satin’s belly clenched, as did her ass. The twins didn’t come past the middle of his chest, and Satin couldn’t imagine receiving punishment from someone so large. Her gaze dropped to his hand, and she shivered with trepidation.
Alternating between wringing her hands, and cupping her backside, Thistle quickly spoke her grievous sin, the one that caused her to receive a paddling from the dark-haired Warlord.
“There was a firefight by the war tower on the top of the castle, so Artemis told Onyx to fly over there and help the Warlords. The soldiers were throwing gunpowder at the dragons and causing huge explosions. Artemis commanded that they disperse, and the soldiers stopped throwing gunpowder, but that’s when I saw Rhython near the tower.”
Thistle paused, nibbling on her bottom lip, and watching Artemis closely. He nodded for her to continue.
Taking a deep breath, she resumed her story. “Artemis told me not to say a word, he didn’t want my shout or visibility to alert them to him rescuing me to Trexotera. But…Rhython makes me so angry…and he’s been so mean…well, I shouted to him, blowing our cover.”
“What else did you do, bad girl?” He raised his eyebrows in her direction.
“I … uh…He covered my mouth to keep me quiet, and I bit him.”
“Oh, Thistle! You didn’t!” Satin couldn’t believe her ears. Her timid, meek sister who rarely got into trouble, bit the largest man she’d ever encountered.
“Don’t be too upset, Satin. Although I’m left with a pink mark on my ring finger.” He raised his hand so everyone could see the red bite mark. “Her bottom looks much worse, but she’s promised to obey all orders. Haven’t you, baby?”
“Baby?” Satin furrowed her eyebrows looking from Artemis back to Thistle and then to Drayce.
Drayce shrugged, smiling and then winked knowingly at Artemis.
“Yes, Sir. I’ll obey.”
“See, it’s all better now.”
“All right, now that we’ve solved what occurred in the barn, I think it’s time to discuss the battle and what’s happened.” Zorander went to sit in his desk chair, turning on his comm set, a hologram appearing over his desk. He swiped and typed until the correct file appeared. “Before we start, I want to tell you all that Alistair Tempest has contacted me already and he has surrendered, asking for a truce. I’ll let you know that I’m not trusting it, but we’ll take the truce that’s been offered, though we need to stay vigilant and be sure our intelligence can be trusted, and ready to attack at a moment’s notice if necessary.”
Drayce nodded in agreement. “Wish Thornheart and Orchid captured Sapphron bringing her back to Zayvoc. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a dragon so tickled to see his master. That beast rolled on her back whining and kissing Zayvoc like it had been months since they’d been together. Does anyone have any idea what that animal was subjected to while in the Tempest Estate?”
Satin cleared her throat. “I do, Drayce. Rhython had decided that she would be his beast, and having no understanding or patience, he had beaten the poor dragon before I awoke that morning, and he hadn’t fed or watered him. Poor Sapphron nuzzled me and even let me ride him. The animal was traumatized in just the short time he’d been subjected to Rhython.”
“Shit! Why would they want dragons if they don’t know how to care for them or treat them?” Drayce had slammed his hand against the wooden desk, pissed at the dragon’s treatment.
“It was only a day, and I’m so glad that Wish rescued him. I was worried about Sapphron and thought he was still there.”
Zorander looked over at Thistle. “Now that your capture has been revealed.” He frowned at Thistle, and tears filled her eyes. “Your father mentioned you being at our Estate, and I wondered how he knew since the mission was to be covert. He has hinted that there will be repercussions, it now makes sense. Your little stunt had caused us a lot of grief, girl. I certainly hope that your punishment was severe enough to keep such a calamitous action from occurring again.”
“Oh trust me, Zorander, her bottom is quite sore.” Snapping his fingers, Artemis pointed to the floor in front of the King’s desk. “Turn around.”
Swallowing loudly, Thistle spun around, her eyes wide with worry.
“Lift your skirt and drop your panties to show everyone your punishment.”
Apparently too afraid to outwardly argue, Thistle frantically shook her head, her chin quivering.
“Now!” Artemis stood out of his chair, and in two long steps, he was next to the small woman.
However, before he had even made it to her side, she hooked her thumbs into her white underpants and bunched them just under her buttocks, her hands trembling.
“Oh, Drayce!”’ Satin’s hand went to her mouth.
Drayce whistled low and long. “That is one sore bottom. I’d say she paid the price, wouldn’t you father?”
“Yes, I’d agree.” Zorander rose and walked around to the front of Thistle. The poor girl was bent over, tears puddling on the floor in front of her. Lifting her chin with his finger, Zorander looked directly into those sapphire eyes, and with the pads of his thumbs, he swiped at the tears leaving tracks on her cheeks. “Do you think you’ve learned your lesson, Thistle?”
“Y-yes, S-Sir.”
“Then that solves it. I believe you, and from what I can see, the punishment fit the crime. Let me pull your underwear back up.” Gently the older man slid the cotton panties over her very red bottom which showed several purple spider marks. He patted her ass lightly, and then addressing Artemis, he said, “You plan to rub some aboboprine lotion on that sore bum tonight, right, Artemis?”
“Indeed, I wouldn’t leave that task to anyone but me.” Patting his thigh, he crooned, “Come over here, sweetling.”
Thistle rubbed the back of her hand under her eyes to dry her tears and rushed to sit on his comfortable lap. She tucked her head under his chin, burying her face into his chest to hide her embarrassment.
Satin looked over at Drayce, and they both smiled, knowing that the beginning of something new had just occurred right under their noses. She hadn’t known Artemis for long, but in the short time that she had, she would have never guessed he’d have a sensitive, caring side like this.
Zorander flopped back into his desk chair, typing on his holo keyboard, he made a few notes on the battle page, and then turning toward his warlords he leaned back and with a loud sigh said, “It seems except for a few bumps, the mission was successful and we rescued Satin, Azure, Thistle, and poor Sapphron. We’ve had a triumphant day.”
Shutting down his system, and rounding his desk, he shook hands with the other men standing around him. And then turning toward the women, Zorander smiled saying, “One girl has been punished and is waiting for her lotion, while another is due to be punished. I hope you’ll submit to your punishment and learn the same harsh lesson your sister has, Satin.”
Dropping her head to stare at her feet, Satin’s face and chest became hot with her blush. She didn’t want to discuss her spanking with her father-in-law let alone Artemis. “Yes, Sir.”
“Trust me, Father. She won’t make this mistake again. I cannot and will not lose her in battle.” Drayce held her small hand in his large one, and he squeezed it reassuringly, but she knew that in just a few minutes that same hand would feel worse than any wooden paddle they owned.
“Don’t be swayed by her tears or emotions, son, this is important. It seems that both these women need firm direction and correction, neither of you let them down. You hear?” Zorander looked from Artemis to Drayce, his lips thinned.
“Yes, Sir” both men said in unison, dragging their reluctant women with them from the den.
Satin looked over at her sister, “I hope you sleep well, Sister.”
Thistle waved. “You as well, Satin. I hope it’s not as bad as you think it will be.”
Satin nodded in silence; she had an inkling that it would be worse than she could imagine. Her husband had lived through the fear of losing her and not being sure he could rescue her—all because she disobeyed his command. No, this punishment would be worse than she could imagine, but not more than she could handle. She trusted him implicitly and knew he wouldn’t damage her spirit.