Draconic command should have made everyone stop. It didn't.
As soon as Ryker put her down, she sprinted without looking back at Maddox. The problem was the ballroom was dark and she was glowing like a beacon. The worst tactical retreat in the history of retreats. Every eye in the room was on her. Including his. Especially his.
A Draconic command was supposed to have a one hundred percent success rate across dragons and wolves. She was the exception. Naturally.
He didn't want to use it on her at all. It was the equivalent of pulling rank on the person you were trying to impress. Bad form. Terrible optics. He was doing it anyway because this wasn't right. Something had her rattled.
"Guinevere. Stop. Look at me."
She stopped, muscles locking, then turned to look at him. The crowd parted immediately. And the only thing Maddox could hear was his own pulse and his dragon saying one word on repeat like a war drum that had found its rhythm and refused to stop.
