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Maybe.
Daisy's voice prevented Blake from replying to his beast. "I need your help, Blake. This inner dragon cave thing is confusing. How can your dragon hide from you inside your own mind for years? I don't get it."
Setting the cooker temperature to a low simmer, he covered the pot and sat next to Daisy. Just as he was about to ask which part she was having trouble with, Dawn burst into the room. One glance at her widened eyes and he instantly knew something was wrong.
Going to her side, he stated, "Tell me what happened, Dawn."
She handed him a piece of paper. When he saw the Department of Dragon Affairs letterhead, a sense of foreboding settled over him. Since it would be faster, he read the first paragraph:
This is your official notice to appear before a DDA judge to discuss the custody of your daughter, Daisy Chadwick. A blood relative has put in a claim to take over her care. You will find a more detailed explanation as well as a copy of the filed statement from the relative enclosed in this envelope.
Someone had filed a claim to take Daisy away? He muttered, "Who the bloody hell would do that?"
Before he could shuffle through the paperwork, Dawn squeezed his bicep but looked at Daisy. "Can you go upstairs to finish your homework, love? I need to discuss something with Blake."
Daisy looked between them. Even Blake could tell she wanted to know what was going on, but they'd been working with her on the issue of privacy. Not just for them, but her, too.
With a sigh, she scooped up her book and binder. "Fine, I'll be upstairs. But only for a little while. I really do need Blake's help with my homework."
He nodded. "
I'll help you as soon as I can, Daisy. I promise."
With another much more overdramatic sigh, Daisy left and trudged up the stairs. Only when he heard her walk into her room and shut the door did he focus back on Dawn. "I only read the beginning bit. But who is trying to claim Daisy? I thought her father was in Australia."
"He is. It's not him trying to claim Daisy but his sister, Susan."
Right, Susan Miller—the aunt who lived in Liverpool.
His dragon growled. She can't have Daisy. She belongs with us. She is part of our family now.
I know, dragon. But we have to be careful and do this the human way. Otherwise, the DDA could take her away.
His beast grumbled and curled up inside his mind, a sign for Blake to handle whatever human things needed to be done.
Guiding Dawn to a chair, he made sure she sat down before he did. "I didn't think Daisy and her aunt were that close, though?"
She shook her head. "They aren't. They usually only see each other at major holidays. But I think I've mentioned how Susan distrusts dragons, right?" He nodded, recalling a vague late-night conversation. She continued, "Well, apparently she believes Daisy living here is detrimental to her well-being. Or so her letter tries to claim." She searched his gaze. "With everything going on, I haven't really had a chance to look into it all. But it's happened before, right, a human child moving onto a dragon clan?"
What he wouldn't give to have the answers she wanted to hear. "I honestly don't know. I suspect so, but we need to talk with Evie and her friend Alice." He quickly explained how Alice Darby knew more than just about anyone when it came to dragon-shifters and everything about them. He continued, "But even without talking to them, just know that we'll fight this and win, Dawn. Daisy belongs here with you."
She laid a hand on his cheek. "With us, and all of Stonefire, too. She's never done so well, Blake. She's less distracted, she focuses longer than normal, and she hasn't even been in much trouble." He noticed tears welling in Dawn's eyes. "I can't lose her, Blake. I just can't."
He drew her close against his chest and held his mate. "You won't lose her, love. I promise I'm going to do whatever it takes to win this battle."
And for a few long moments, they remained that way—silent and embracing each other as if it was the only thing keeping the world together.
Then Blake finally forced himself to release his mate long enough to call Bram and set everything up with Evie and Alice.
It seemed his life with Dawn and Daisy had been too easy so far. If he wanted a future with them, he'd have to fight for it. And Blake was more than up for the challenge.
Nearly two hours after sharing her news with Blake, Dawn sat with him inside a meeting room on the ground floor of the Protector's main security building, waiting for Bram and the others to arrive.
Since she'd had a quick cry earlier when alone with Blake, it'd helped to clear her head a bit. The shock of the news had made Dawn forget the fact that she'd raised and taken care of Daisy all on her own for years. Daisy was Dawn's daughter, and no one else's. No one would take Daisy away from her, even if it took everything she had to keep her.
Blake squeezed her hand and she met his gaze. His reassuring, loving look helped her further push aside her fears.
Her dragonman was kind, smart, and better with Daisy than she'd hoped. Add in his sexy looks and how good he was at wringing out orgasms, and it was no wonder Dawn loved the man.
