She laughed, the sound a balm to his very center. Was it always this way with true mates, that they seemed to be too perfect for words? Yet another instance of how Blake's self-imposed isolation had kept him in the dark.
Dawn replied, "Let's just say that getting a dragon child to bed can be a bit tougher with both personalities fighting it. And before you ask, I'm staying with Sasha Atherton right now."
He smiled. "Well, Freddie and his brother are a bit more energetic than most. Good luck with that." He paused and decided small talk could wait. It was time to be blunt. "Why are you still here, Dawn? I thought you would've run."
She took a step closer and tilted her head. "Did you want me to run?"
He blurted, "No."
"Good. I know this is all a bit awkward, but I just wanted to talk with you again. I only have a few days to make a very important decision, and getting to know you better will help me to make it."
He wished his dragon was awake so his inner beast could get to know Dawn, too. But that was impossible, and so he decided to embrace what he could while he still had it. "So they told you about the mate-claim frenzy then and all it entails?"
She bobbed her head. "Yes, and I'm not fully against the idea. But I've been hurt badly before and want to try and make sure it won't happen again."
Her bastard ex. A growl escaped before he could check it. "I would never abandon our child. Whatever happens, even if we don't suit as mates for the long-term, I will always be involved in our child's life and do my best to protect him or her."
She searched his gaze. "And what about Daisy? Even if she's not yours, she will probably need protection, too, if we live here. There aren't many humans on Stonefire."
"There are more than you think. And our clan isn't like some in that we welcome humans now. If Melanie or Evie so much as got a word of mistreatment, there'd be bloody hell to pay."
Melanie had been a human sacrifice given to Stonefire a few years ago and had ultimately written a book about dragon-shifters, paving the way for better understanding. She and Evie unofficially oversaw all the humans on Stonefire, sometimes with help from another human named Jane.
Dawn replied, "While I'm glad for it, Daisy needs some sort of stability. I think it'd break her heart to have you dote on any child of ours but ignore her."
He blinked. "I never said I would ignore her. I'll be honest and say that it'll take time to care for her as I've only met her recently—much like you. But she will be the half sibling of any child of ours, if you go through the frenzy. And that equates family in my book."
Dawn searched his eyes again, and he hoped he'd said the right thing. He wasn't good with humor to ease a situation like some, or pretty words to impress.
He just said the truth. And often, people didn't like it.
She took another step closer. Maybe he should've told her to stay by the door, but it brought her close enough for her scent to reach his nose. And her feminine musk mixed with something lightly floral calmed him.
"Well, then I guess that means we should do a sort of speed dating to see if we suit?" She lifted her mobile in her hand and waved it back and forth. "I can even set a timer on my phone, if you like, to make it seem more real, complete with an annoying buzzer sound."
And just like that, her words lightened the mood.
Blake had never had someone really try to do that with him before. Well, unless they'd been after him to shift so they could touch his lucky spot.
However, Dawn didn't even know about the damn spot. She merely wanted to know him.
Which made him want her all the more.
He waved toward the chair against the wall. "It's probably best if you sit over there whilst we do it."
She grinned and sat in the chair. "Right, then are you ready? Sixty seconds each, to keep it short and sweet? You can even ask the first question."
He couldn't remember the last time he'd played any sort of game. Blake spent most of his time on work, or flying, or swimming in the lake.
And yet, he'd never wanted to do something more. "I think it's time to get started, but you can ask the first question since it was your idea."
"Okay." She pressed her phone to start the timer, and he waited to see what Dawn would ask him.
For the first minute or so after she'd entered Blake's room, Dawn hadn't been sure if she'd made the right decision. She knew Blake was shy and not the most social person in the world, but it had been tense and awkward.
However, he'd soon opened up and even said Daisy would be considered family if they went through the frenzy.
That had been one of her biggest worries. Sure, she still needed to ensure Blake confirmed his words with actions, but it was a start.