Rhydian missed a step but then continued like before. "Liliwen and I wanted to be mates, but the clan was against it. There was an established anti-human sentiment here at the time, one endorsed by the clan leader, too. And so I was taught a lesson—hence the scars—and she was chased out of the country." His gaze met hers, steel blazing in them. "However, this time I'm in charge. No one will chase you out, Delaney. That I vow."
His confidence made her belly flip. Maybe she was naïve, but she believed him. "I know."
After a few beats, Rhydian nodded. "Good. You believing me is the best thing to happen so far today."
"More than me saying I'd be your mate?"
He grinned. "But I already knew you'd say yes, though. So I count that as something I learned yesterday."
She did roll her eyes at that. "Do all dragon-shifters suffer from being overly cocky and confident?"
"I was right, so it's not really cocky, just observant."
She was about to ask if he was claiming his body-language-reading skills were champion-worthy again, but he stopped them in front of a blue door. Rhydian knocked as he murmured, "This is Gwen's place."
Delaney swore Rhydian had calculated their position in relation to the destination and timed his responses to it.
However, she forgot all about her wonderings as the door opened to reveal a tall, dark-haired woman. A little girl stood right behind her, her wide, dark brown eyes watching Delaney as if she were some sort of mythical creature.
Rhydian motioned toward Delaney. "Gwen, meet Delaney. And Delaney, this is Gwen and little Cora."
Unlike most children Delaney had interacted with over the years, Cora didn't say anything but rather pressed her face into her mother's side. Gwen smiled down at her daughter. "It's okay, Cora. You know Rhydian, and Delaney is his new friend." Gwen met Delaney's eyes. "She'll warm up soon enough. While she's always shy, she hasn't met many humans over the years, either."
Despite the fact the little girl's father was—or had been—human. And while she didn't know all the details, Delaney was the only human on Snowridge, which meant Cora's father probably wasn't in the picture now, if ever.
In that second, her heart ached for Gwen and her daughter. It didn't matter if one was a human or dragon-shifter, shitty things could—and did—happen without prejudice.
It was Rhydian who spoke next. "Well, with the introductions done, I need to go and take care of some things." He looked at her. "Will you be all right alone here with Gwen and her daughter?"
A small part of her wanted to scream no so that Rhydian would stay. He was going to be her mate, and she was hungry to know more about him.
And yet, she knew he was a clan leader and he'd always be busy. So she wouldn't be selfish. "I'll be fine. Although I hope I'll see you later?"
He bobbed his head. "Of course. I'll join you at the school later to pick up Rian."
She wondered if it was to let the other parents know he approved of Delaney or because he wanted to see her. Maybe it was both. "Until then."
He finally released her hand, said his goodbyes to Gwen and Cora, and left the way they'd just come.
Gwen's voice filled her ear. "Come in. I'm sure you have questions, and I'll do the best I can to answer them."
Tearing her gaze away from Rhydian's retreating figure, she smiled and entered Gwen's place. Even though she was grateful for the dragonwoman's help and kindness, Delaney silently counted down the minutes until she went to collect Rian from school.
~~~
Rhydian somehow mana
ged to leave Delaney's side and focus on his clan for the next six hours.
He'd told Wren, Carys, and Eira about his future mating to Delaney. They'd all been genuinely happy but had also been full of questions.
His dragon spoke up. I don't know why they kept insinuating that I couldn't control myself.
Dragons who find their true mates usually aren't patient, and you know that.
His beast huffed. I don't like being lumped together with everyone else. It took a lot of patience, strength, and intelligence to win the leadership position. They should know better.
If the trials had included a test involving our true mate, it might have been much more of a challenge for you. But none of that matters now. We need to hurry if we're to make a grand entrance and let all the parents know of our engagement to Delaney.