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Not that she'd had a chance to tell him. However, once the custody matter was settled, she would.
The door opened and in walked Bram, Evie, and a woman with dark hair dyed blue on the ends that must be Alice Darby, Evie's friend.
They all sat across from her and Blake. It was Bram who spoke up first. "Sorry we're late. We had a few things to find out before getting here." He motioned toward the dark-haired woman. "Alice can explain it better than me. So quickly, Alice, this is Dawn and Blake. Dawn and Blake, this is Alice. Okay, now let's get down to business."
Alice leaned her arms on the table and spoke, her southern English accent similar to Evie Marshall's. "So let me get a few things out in the open. Your case isn't the first, Dawn. There have been other humans moving onto a dragon's land with their human child. However, it has been more than three decades since the last time it's happened in England."
She willed her voice to be strong as she asked, "And what happened?"
Alice answered, "The woman and her son were allowed to stay on Skyhunter. But I believe in complete honesty, so I'll tell you that the DDA was much less put together back then. Remember, the sacrifice program only really started in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The woman's case was right before that. The DDA is much stricter now since dragon-shifters are more visible in both the news and in the UK in general."
She didn't think the woman was trying to depress her, only give her honest answers. So Dawn pushed aside her sadness at how this might be much more difficult than she'd thought. She looked at each of the three people across from her in turn. "So, what do we do?"
Evie replied, "We already submitted all the necessary forms for you and Daisy to move here, and they were approved before the Susan woman filed her complaint. That works in our favor. But you'll still have to attend a hearing with you, Susan Miller, a DDA panel, and Daisy. The human social services side of things wants to leave this to the DDA, probably to avoid any association with dragons in general. You'll each state your case, and they'll talk to Daisy in private. Given how Daisy loves it here, I think she'll be your greatest asset."
She nodded. "When will it take place?"
Bram spoke up. "In a week. You'll be allowed a solicitor to help present your case. Whilst there aren't many that will represent dragon-shifters, there are a few. I have the best one coming to help you, and she should arrive tomorrow morning. Her name is Hayley Beckett. You'll meet with her at 8:00 a.m."
The last time Dawn had dealt with a solicitor had been her divorce. Why did it seem as if they were only necessary under the worst of times?
Blake spoke up. "What can I do to help? Or do I have to wait until Miss Beckett arrives?"
Bram replied, "She'll have the best advice of what you can do, but you have to prove you'll be a good father to Daisy. So it couldn't hurt to start putting everything together to prove that—finances, your job, and even references from clan members."
Blake nodded. "I'll start right after we finish here."
As Dawn looked from Blake and then to the others across the table, she felt the urge to cry again. She was barely an official clan member and they were all so willing to help her. "Thank you," she croaked.
Blake pulled her against his side as Bram waved a hand in dismissal. "Stonefire takes care of its own, which includes you. It's nothing special."
Oh, but it was, and Dawn knew it. However, she merely nodded since she didn't have enough energy to argue about something so trivial when she could possibly lose Daisy forever in the coming weeks.
No. She wouldn't let her go. With everyone at her back, they had to win. They just had to.
And as Bram, Evie, and Alice explained a few things she needed to know ahead of the custody hearing, she merely took strength from Blake's touch and did her best to keep it together. Because when she talked to Daisy about all this, she needed to be strong.
Chapter Sixteen
The next morning, Blake took Dawn and Daisy to the Protector's building for their meeting with the solicitor and tried his best not to let his mixture of anger and uneasiness show. Both of the females in his family needed strength, and he would show it.
His dragon spoke up. Of course we'll be strong for them. Anyone who tries to take them away will have to face me.
As much as I wish you could just shift and eat the horrible aunt, it doesn't work that way anymore.
His beast grunted. There were some good points to the old times. Although I do prefer better hygiene and the fact people aren't constantly trying to hunt us as trophy kills. But eating our enemies was a nice t
ouch hundreds of years ago.
Blake resisted a sigh and focused on ushering Dawn and Daisy into the building and down the hallway.
Once they reached the correct room, he looked at Dawn and murmured, "Ready?" She nodded weakly, and he quickly kissed her forehead. "We'll win, Dawn. I know we will."
Daisy must've heard him because she asked, "What happens if we lose?"
He replied, "We're going to focus on winning. That's more important."
"Okay." Daisy stood taller. "Then let's find a way to win."
