Daisy spoke up before either Blake or Dawn could. "I can tell you some things. Like the bedroom they decorated for me. It has so many dragons, which I love, although I could always do with some more. Not to mention my new house is so close to my best friend, Freddie's. I can see him all the time now, unlike when we lived in Manchester. It's brilliant. It's almost like I'm always on holiday now."
Blake half-expected for Hayley to smile and tell Daisy to be quiet. Instead, the human asked Daisy, "What else did they do for you? Or what else do you like about living on Stonefire?"
"It's hard to remember it all! I have so many books now, new ones I didn't know existed. I also get to go to dragon school and am always surrounded by kids with flashing dragon eyes. Most of them let me ask questions. Only a few don't, but that's okay because not everyone likes me."
Blake jumped in at that. "Who?"
Daisy shrugged. "Mostly the older kids. But they don't like all my questions, or so Freddie tells me. He said that if I waited to ask questions later on, or maybe only once in a while, they'd be nicer to me. But I'm not good at holding back like that. I'm just curious is all, especially since I can never have an inner dragon and so I need to ask as many other dragon-shifters as I can. You know, just to make sure I know how it all works and stuff."
And yet, Blake still wanted to find the older children and have a chat with them.
His dragon sighed. She'll find her position within the clan like we all do. Whilst she's fairly alpha for a human, she will never be at the top of the hierarchy. Let her find her place.
I suppose.
Still, Blake didn't like the fact Daisy wasn't accepted by everyone.
Hopefully, Dawn could convince Daisy not to say those kinds of things during their hearing. He'd have to bring it up with her later.
For the present, he merely focused on answering Hayley's questions and taking note of what she asked them to do.
Their hearing date would come sooner than they'd like, and they had to be as prepared as possible.
Later that night, after Daisy had finally fallen asleep, Dawn curled up next to Blake on their bed and laid her head on his shoulder. She sighed. "The wait for the hearing is going to kill me."
He wrapped an arm around her torso and hugged her closer. "It gives us time to prepare, love. I know we jumped into things as far as the mating and the frenzy, but the DDA is harder to please than an inner dragon or an eleven-year-old girl."
She smiled. "I suppose that's true."
As Blake rubbed her upper arm with his thumb, she snuggled more against him. After so many years of fighting everything on her own, it was comforting to have someone to lean on both literally and figuratively.
Just thinking about everything Blake had done for her and Daisy brought up the feelings she'd been trying to control.
It was time to stop hiding and be forthright. Blake deserved that much from her.
She tilted her head up and met his gaze. She said, "I love you, Blake."
His finger paused a second on her arm before resuming. He then cupped her cheek with his free hand. "I love you, too, Dawn. And at some point, I think I'll have to thank Daisy for forcing us to kiss after the play or I might've never realized how much I needed you in my life."
She maneuvered until she could straddle his lap and hold his face between her hands. As she caressed the light stubble, she murmured, "Maybe we'll wait a few years before we do that, or we'll never hear the end of it from Daisy."
He grinned, which still made her heart skip a beat even though she'd seen it more and more often lately. "She's probably already going to take credit for it."
"Yes, but let's not inflate her head too much. She's already trying to lead her entire class in some sort of effort to get them to have more shifting practice, all so she can see more dragons up close."
He chuckled and kissed her gently. "I have a feeling few people are going to say no to her, love. So you'd better get used to it."
"As long as you can say no to her—at least sometimes—then we'll be fine."
Blake threaded his fingers into her hair. "Her I can say no to. You, on the other hand, are much harder to resist."
As his pupils flashed between slits and round, a thread of heat shot through her body. Even with the enormity of the hearing looming over them, Blake could still make her temporarily forget about her problems.
And Dawn was on board for a few hours of leaving reality behind.
So she leaned forward until her lips were a hairbreadth from his and said, "Then I might just have to use that power. Because right now, I could do with a distraction."
His pupils changed quicker, and his voice was husky as he replied, "And I have no desire to deny you right now, either."
He took her lips in a kiss before she could reply, his tongue entering her mouth and exploring slowly.
Dawn caressed him back, loving how he could be slow one minute and quick the next, never knowing what Blake or his dragon would do.
In the blink of an eye, Dawn was on her back with Blake on his hands and knees above her, his pupils still flashing. "Now, all I need to know is if you want slow or quick this time."
She arched her back, eager to have her nipples rubbing against his chest. "I don't care. Just touch me, Blake. I need you."
Without another word, he shredded her clothes—why she bothered putting them on at night, she had no idea—and she waited to see what he'd do.
Even though Blake had lost count of the number of times he'd claimed Dawn since the very first time, he always craved more.
It'd been hard enough adjusting with Daisy living with them—it required being quieter than he'd like—but then they'd been thrown the custody battle, and he'd resisted taking her the night before.
So when Dawn had asked for a distraction, his guilt had fled, and he'd ripped off her clothes. His beautiful mate now lay naked below him, the scent of her arousal making his cock turn to stone.
His dragon growled. Then do something about it. A true distraction means making her lose her mind with pleasure. If you don't give it to her, then I will.
Not wanting to give his beast the opening, Blake lowered down until he could feel Dawn's warm, soft skin against his. Taking her lips in a quick, rough kiss, he loved how she moaned into his mouth.
Needing more than a kiss, he broke it and slowly kissed her jaw, her neck, and down to her breast. Her nipples were already straining and begging him to taste them, so Blake took one into his mouth and suckled.
Dawn arched her back and dug her nails into his scalp, a reminder of how much his mate liked for him to play with her nipples.
When he lightly nibbled, she squirmed some more. Needing to feel just how wet she was for him, he ran a hand down her side and then over to between her thighs. Lightly rubbing his finger through her folds, he growled against her breasts. She was so fucking wet already.
Moving from her nipples, he kissed between her breasts and moved to the other. As he nibbled, suckled, and licked, he also strummed her core, loving how her hips moved at his touch.
Pushing a finger inside her, Dawn cried out softly. While his mate was fairly good at keeping her voice down, he didn't want to risk it. So he released her nipple and took her mouth in a kiss before moving his finger faster.
She moved in time to his thrusts, but he soon removed his finger, and she cried out in disappointment. Releasing her lips, he murmured, "I want to torture you just a little more before you come, love."
Raising her arms above her head, she spread her legs wide. "Then don't keep me waiting."
Both man and beast mentally roared in approval. What he wouldn't give to fly her to a remote location, bend her over a log, and take her roughly, over and over again, neither of them worrying about being too loud.
His dragon roared. Soon enough. But our female is waiting now. Don't make me take control.
Blake ran his hands down her shoulders, lightly squeezed her breasts, and then moved them to her thighs. Spreading her w
ider, he settled his head between her legs and licked slowly up her slit, loving her taste. He'd never tire of her sweet honey.
Dawn managed to bite her lip to keep from making noise, which encouraged him to do it again, and then once more. It was only then he lightly circled her clit, and Dawn bucked her hips.
He lightly rubbed and flicked her tight bud as he thrust one finger inside her, and then soon two. Even though he was pleasing her, the sight of her grabbing the sheets and arching her back made his cock even harder.
He'd be claiming her more than once during the night, that was for sure.
As he increased the flicks of his tongue, her face and neck flushed more, telling him she was close. Knowing what to do by now having learned many of her desires, he lightly suckled her clit as he thrust his fingers harder. Dawn groaned and then stilled as she sucked in a breath.
Her pussy milked his fingers, and Blake removed them so he could lap at her orgasm, knowing full well the quick flicks against her entrance would only make her come harder.
Once Dawn relaxed against the bed with a sigh, his dragon growled. Now it's my turn.
Allowing his beast to take over, Blake retreated as his dragon flipped Dawn over and said, "You're mine, human. Let me remind you."
Then his dragon thrust their cock into Dawn and took her quick and rough, Dawn doing her best not to make loud noises the whole time.
And so it went for another hour and a half, man and beast taking turns with their mate, helping her to forget about the outside world for at least a little while.
Chapter Seventeen
After the longest two weeks of her life, Dawn finally looked up at the brick and glass building that contained the Department of Dragon Affairs branch in Manchester and willed for the day to go her way.
Not that she had long to think about it because Daisy tugged her hand and asked, "Are we going to go on a tour first? I've never been inside, and I always wonder if the DDA has some special dragon stuff they keep hidden from everyone else. You know, paintings and old jewelry or something, that we can see only if we ask nicely."
She smiled at Daisy's enthusiasm. "It's not a museum, Daisy. And our appointment is in twenty minutes, which isn't enough time for a tour. And no, not even a quick one, before you ask."
Daisy slumped her shoulders. "Okay. Maybe later, though? I can at least ask if they give them. And if they say there's nothing to show me, then I can ask why not. Maybe they need to open a museum to help people like dragon-shifters more. I bet my old classmates would love it, and maybe it'd make them less afraid. It really is a brilliant idea."
Blake squeezed Dawn's other hand, and she shared an amused glance with her mate. Dawn replied to Daisy, "Maybe there is someone we can set up an appointment with, so you can ask some questions later but not today. Remember, we all need to be on our best behavior and tell the DDA people whatever they need to know."
Daisy bobbed her head. "I know that. I even brought my list of things I like about Stonefire, just in case I forget some and they need more reasons."
Dawn had seen the list, complete with over two hundred points, and didn't think the DDA panel would need that many reasons. But she had to give her daughter credit for being well-prepared.
Blake spoke up. "We should head inside. It's always better to be early than late."
Even though the sound of people walking around, the tram in the distance, or even just the car horns probably drove Blake and his dragon mad, he was calm and collected on the surface.
He was enduring something he disliked so much for her and Daisy.
It made her love him even more.
She gently pushed Daisy. "Let's go. Maybe you can look over your list again while we wait, to make sure you're extra prepared."
Which would keep her daughter occupied for a while, meaning she wouldn't irritate the DDA employees in whatever waiting room they were shuffled into. While Dawn thought Daisy had a great idea about opening museums related to dragon-shifters—a visual way to educate people—now wasn't the time to bring it up or risk irritating someone who could decide their fate.
After checking in with reception, they rode the lift to the second floor and went down the hall to the door that read, "DDA Hearings and Deliberations." The person at the desk inside the door showed them to a waiting room, also telling them that their solicitor, Hayley Beckett, would join them inside the deliberation room right before it started.
As Daisy went over her list, occasionally asking if she should add some more details, Dawn sat next to Blake, his hand in hers, and took strength from his calm presence. Her life could be decided in a matter of minutes. And no matter how resolved or determined she was, the upcoming meeting could throw a huge wrench into her life.
Blake tried to relax his mate by rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. However, she remained tense.
His dragon sighed. Of course she is. If they take Daisy away, it'll destroy her.
Especially since it wasn't as if Dawn could just leave and go back to her old life. She carried a dragon-shifter child, and once it was born, he or she would have to live on Stonefire. Which meant Dawn would either have to leave the child with him and move back to Manchester with Daisy or leave Daisy in the care of her aunt and raise her new baby.
It was rather an impossible choice.
Not that he wanted to think of it. They'd come prepared, had as much knowledge as they could to face it, and Daisy's enthusiasm for Stonefire should help in their favor.
Altogether, it had to give him and Dawn the outcome they wanted.
His dragon said softly, Maybe. The DDA has improved in the last few years, but nothing is guaranteed with them.
You say that, but the DDA Director, Rosalind Abbott, owes Stonefire for bringing down the Dragon Knights. Maybe Bram called in that favor.
I don't know if she has that reach or will deign to interfere in the lower ranks of the department.
Before Blake could reply, a human employee walked up to them. "It's time. Follow me."
They made their way out of the waiting room and down the hall into a much bigger chamber. Blake barely paid attention to the furnishings or the like because he noticed two things at the same time—Hayley was sitting at one table and two humans at another. One of the humans was the aunt in question.
His beast growled. I wish she'd look this way. Then we could flash our eyes and scare her a little.
As much as I want to do that, too, we probably shouldn't stir up any trouble. The staff will take notice of every little thing we do.
His dragon huffed. Stupid human ways I'll never understand.
They all sat down next to Hayley, with Daisy between him and Dawn. Hayley turned and whispered, "Just do as we discussed and it should be fine."
It was the "should" part of her sentence he didn't like.
Daisy took his hand with one of hers and her mother's with the other. She stated, "We'll win, remember?"
Even though the aunt didn't look at them, Blake noticed her frown. Clearly she didn't understand just how much Daisy loved dragon-shifters.
No, the female just wanted to win against the dragons and display how much she hated them. No matter what Stonefire or the other dragon clans did would ever change that.
His beast said, Her loss. And as long as she doesn't try to kill some of us, just ignore her.
He had a hard time believing the short woman would be able to orchestrate an assassination hit, let alone do it herself.
A door opened at the far side and a group of humans—two females and three males—walked in and took their place at the long table at the front of the room.
One of the females sat in the middle and spoke first. "Today we're here to discuss full custody of Daisy Chadwick. The parties are her mother, Dawn Chadwick, and her paternal aunt, Susan Miller. Statements have been submitted by both parties, but today's meeting will factor even more in our final decision. Right, then let's begin."
And so for the next twenty minutes, the tw
o solicitors walked through each of their cases. Blake didn't follow the particulars of the law very closely, but Dawn used being her mother and caring for her on her own for nearly a decade as her defense. The aunt's reasoning was that a human girl should be raised in the human world.
The questions were so boring that even Blake's dragon fell asleep for awhile.
However, he remained awake and continued to give support to his female and new daughter when needed. His participation was limited, which seemed odd considering Daisy would be living with both him and Dawn.
That could mean the female leading the questioning didn't think highly of dragon-shifters.
But Blake lived by trial and error, facts, and numbers. So he pushed aside any speculation and merely answered when necessary. If the decision turned out negatively, he would help formulate a new plan. Because both man and beast needed to ensure their mate could be happy. And Dawn would never be happy without Daisy.
So he waited for the end of the hearing, when they could maybe have a better idea of what their future would be.
It took every bit of strength Dawn possessed to remain calm and not start pacing the room. Susan had no problem sitting there calmly, answering questions. Of course she merely saw Daisy as a pawn for her beliefs, not the key to her happiness.
True, Susan probably cared a little for Daisy. But seeing as Susan had been fine with seeing Daisy once or maybe twice a year before this whole debacle, Dawn doubted the proceedings and battle were done out of love.
Having Daisy sit next to her helped more than anything, as did occasional foot touches from Blake. Not to mention that despite Hayley's slightly disheveled appearance from their first meeting, the woman was persistent and sharp for the proceedings.
After nearly an hour, the woman in charge pointed toward Daisy. "And now, are you ready for some questions, Daisy?"
Treasured by the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 13) Page 12
