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He paused, but I kept quiet. I had a feeling I knew where he was going, but I wasn’t going to help him get there.
“When Dawsyn was born, I’d never been more terrified in my life,” he continued. “She was this tiny little thing, and I was responsible for keeping her alive. It was my job to protect her and provide for her. To make sure she knew how to handle whatever life might throw at her. She’smylittle girl.”
Only she isn’t so little anymore, I thought.
He cleared his throat. “Never did I think I had to prepare for her finding a mate in a dragon or that by doing so, she’d be put right in the middle of a battle she shouldn’t be fighting.”
“I never asked Dawsyn to fight,” I said. “In fact, I’d rather she not, but your daughter isn’t the type to be told what to do.”
His laugh was strangled. “She’s more like her mother than I hoped she’d be, but at the same time, she’s so much more than I could have wished for.” He paused and glanced out the window. “I understand that you two had a mate bond, and I know you’re aware of the ramifications from your brother—”
“He’s no brother of mine,” I interjected sharply.
Roman’s eyes pinched at the sides briefly, but he continued. “From the forced bond she took to save River. I also know by looking at my daughter and seeing the way she watches you that it doesn’t matter if that bond returns or not. You’re still her fated mate.”
I fucking hoped so. “And she’s mine. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.”
He raised both brows. “Anything?”
“Anything that she asks of me,” I specified. If Dawsyn told me she wanted to stay here at her pack after Knox was dealt with, then that was what we’d do, but only if that was what she wanted. Not because her father made us feel like it was what we should do.
I had no doubts Dawsyn loved her pack, but she’d left for a reason, and I wasn’t going to force her to return.
“Very well,” he said. “Her mother and I have spoken, and we support whatever Dawsyn wants to do. I just need you to know that sometimes what our mates want isn’t always the best choice. I need to know that if she’s putting herself in danger, you’re not going to be afraid to step in and stop her.”
“You mean, regardless of how much she might hate me in the moment, there may come a time when I have to force her to sit out of the fight?”
He grinned. “Precisely. I’ve done it for my mate and don’t regret that choice to this day.”
“I will always put the safety of Dawsyn above all else,” I said, leaving it at that. Promising to control my mate wasn’t something I could do. Not to her.
Though, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t if there were no other choice.
“That’s all I can ask for.” He stood and I did the same, but before I could say anything else, he added, “Well, that’s not exactly true. I’d love to ask for the two of you to stay here, but my mate said I wasn’t allowed to do that.”
I grinned. “I hear you, but I’m not the one you should benotasking.”
Where we lived would be up to Dawsyn. If she chose here, then I’d have to figure out what to do about my dragon, but as long as we were with our mate, then I knew he wouldn’t mind staying hidden if that was necessary.
“Let’s go downstairs, so my daughter and mate can quit yelling at me.” He gestured toward the door and I headed back into the hallway ahead of him.
“Makes me a little more thankful that dragons can’t communicate the same way,” I said.
Roman shrugged. “It’s more of a benefit than anything else most days.”
As we headed toward the other set of stairs, he glanced at me again. “Thank you for bringing her back to us.”
“I would have looked for her until I died.”
“And that’s the only reason I don’t want to kill you right now.” His face was devoid of any emotion, and he brushed past me without another word.
So much for thinking our chat had been more of a positive one.
ChapterTwenty-Two
DAWSYN
My mother had tried to distract me by having my aunts and their mates over to say a quick hello and goodbye to me, but nothing could make my mind stop wondering what the hell my father and mate were talking about upstairs.
