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Blake stood inside the doorway off the left side of the dais in the great hall, waiting for his signal to go on stage.
His gaze kept checking to make sure Daisy was still in the room, but she hadn't left Freddie's side since they'd arrived.
His dragon spoke up. She wouldn't miss this. It's her first dragon mating ceremony.
I want to believe that, but she has a reputation for sneaking out when no one is watching.
Well, she now has us and Dawn—not to mention most of the clan—watching her. Before she was merely a visitor, but no longer. Stonefire won't let anything happen to her.
He was about to say that might not be enough when Dawn emerged from the opposite side of the dais, and any thoughts unrelated to his human fled his mind.
She wore the dark red color of Stonefire, her dress fastened over one shoulder and flowing down her body. Even though it wasn't form-fitting, both man and beast mentally growled at how revealing it could be, showing off the curves of her body.
Then Dawn caught his gaze, smiled, and his feet moved of their own accord toward her. They met in the middle of the dais, right in front of a tall table with a box holding their mating bands, and he took her hand. He murmured, "You look beautiful."
While not as deep a blush as she'd had many times during the frenzy, they tinged pink. "You aren't too bad yourself."
He resisted adjusting the sash across his bare chest. His dragon whispered, Remember, humans don't walk around mostly bare-chested that often this far north.
Ignoring his dragon, he kissed the back of Dawn's hand right before Bram's voice boomed inside the large hall. Everyone quieted down as he said, "Today is truly a special event. After all, it's been such a long time since Stonefire welcomed a mother and daughter pair to the clan. I hope that everyone will help Dawn and Daisy adjust and remember that from today, they will be part of our clan, too."
There were a few claps and a whistle from somewhere. Regardless, Blake never looked away from Dawn's eyes.
Usually, mating ceremonies were only done between two people, but everyone had thought it a good idea to have Bram help in this case. That way, the clan would understand that Daisy may be a human child, but she was now part of Stonefire, with the complete backing of the clan leader.
Bram gestured toward Blake and Dawn. "And now we'll have our ceremony. Given how many we've had in recent years, I hope you can enjoy yet another one without getting too bored."
There
were a few chuckles from the crowd because it was true. Blake had lost count of how many mating ceremonies he'd been forced to attend in the last two or three years.
His dragon huffed. That doesn't matter right now. Start the ceremony. I want Dawn as our mate. Now.
Since Blake was just as eager, he waited for Bram to descend the steps before he spoke up first. "Dawn Chadwick, our beginning was accidental and a surprise. However, you agreeing to be my mate is the best thing to ever happen to me. I always thought isolating myself would make me happy. Little did I know it only took the right female to make me realize I'd been hiding away from everything. But no longer. With you at my side, I can face anything. And whilst being a parent will be all new to me, I hope I can help with Daisy, too, and tell her all she wants to know about dragon-shifters. I love you, Dawn. Will you accept my mate claim?"
Blake had gone back and forth about saying I love you, but he meant it and didn't want to leave it out of such an important occasion.
Dawn replied, "I do."
He nearly exhaled in relief at her answer. Picking up the silver arm cuff engraved with his name in the old language, he slid it around her upper bicep.
She smiled at him and said, "Blake Whitby, you're right—our beginning was a little bit of a surprise. However, I'm glad it happened. You're smart, kind, and a very loving man. While I know our future is just starting, I truly believe it will be a good one. I care so much for you already and can't wait to write the rest of our story in the coming years. Will you accept my mate claim?"
He hid his disappointment at her lack of a love declaration, yet he respected her for being true to herself. It only made him more determined to win her heart completely.
"I do," he stated and offered the bicep without his dragon-shifter tattoo. As she slid the cool metal around his arm, he couldn't tear his gaze away from Dawn's. Once the band was in place, he pulled her close, cupped her cheek, and whispered for her ears only, "You're mine now, human," and kissed her.
He barely heard the cheers as he explored Dawn's mouth and reveled in the feel of her body against his.
She finally pulled back and murmured, "I'm sure Daisy will have some questions about that now."
He grinned. "Good."
And as he led his mate down the stairs toward the floor, where clan members were already lining up to congratulate them, he didn't think twice about the crowd of people. With his mate at his side and his new daughter racing toward them, Blake felt as if he could take on anything.
Funny how finding his true mate had changed his world so completely.
Chapter Fourteen
