Treasured by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #10) - Jessie Donovan Page 0,53

us. We're a family, right? Blake said he wouldn't leave, and I don't have to leave, so we can stay together and be a family."

Dawn smiled. "Yes, we can." As she hugged Daisy to her side, she met Blake's gaze and tried her best to blink away her tears. "But this is just our starter family. We'll grow and have more to love soon enough."

Daisy spoke up again. "That will be brilliant. Well, as long as I don't have to babysit all the time. But just think—I can see his or her little dragon first. And help my brother or sister learn how to be a dragon. I know I'm not one, but if I study hard, I can help. That's what big sisters do."

"Yes, they do."

And as Daisy went on about all the things she wanted to learn and teach her new sibling, Dawn merely smiled at Blake and conveyed with her eyes how happy she was. Not only would she have her daughter with her, but she also had a second chance at life with Blake and their new baby.

Dawn had never been happier and looked forward to whatever the future might bring.

Epilogue

20 Months Later

Dawn watched as Blake and Daisy tried to put the little party hats on her twin boys. Except, when one would get it on Jasper, then Theo would knock his off. And then vice versa.

Still, the fact Blake and Daisy would keep trying just so she could get the perfect picture warmed her heart.

While the twins' first birthday was special on its own, there was another reason Daisy and Blake were trying so hard. After all, in a few months, they'd have another child to join the family, too, and they wanted to spoil all three of their current children up until the last minute.

She resisted placing a hand on her belly since she needed both for her phone. However, while dragon-shifter population skewed male, Dawn secretly hoped she could have another daughter.

Daisy and Blake finally managed to get the hats on and quickly stepped to the side. Daisy shouted, "Now, Mum!"

And so she snapped a few pictures with her phone before the hats ended up on the floor again.

Laughing, she walked toward her boys. "Hey, you two should be happy. Daisy wanted hats with extra glitter and feathers on them."

Daisy jumped in. "Well, I wasn't sure how to make dragon wings, exactly. And then Blake said they'd be too pointy and sharp anyway, so I really did compromise."

Her daughter was nearly thirteen, and yet, Dawn was always surprised at how much more grown up she sounded by the day. Hugging Daisy to her side, she replied, "The hats look fabulous, Daisy-love. It's almost like a mini-aquarium on each one."

"Well, Jasper and Theo like it when Blake swims in the lake in his dragon form. And a lake was too big to fit on a hat, not to mention the fish are more interesting in the sea, so I just went with my imagination."

Blake pulled one of the cupcakes just out of reach of Jasper. "I think we'd better light the candles now or there won't be any cupcakes to use for singing ‘Happy Birthday.’"

Dawn snorted. "Dragon-shifter boys do eat a lot." She placed a hand on her protruding belly. "If this is a boy, too, then we may need a bigger kitchen if we're to feed them all."

Daisy jumped in. "I still say you should just find out now, Mum. The waiting would kill me if I were pregnant."

She tilted her head. "It's dragon-shifter tradition, Daisy. I thought you'd be excited we're following it?"

Her daughter frowned. "Usually, yes. But waiting nearly nine months is just too long."

Dawn laughed and released her daughter to help Blake with the cupcakes. "Just be grateful you aren't a dragon-shifter, then, because you'd have to wait six or seven years to meet your inner dragon."

"I suppose. But I can't remember much from when I was that little. So I'm guessing it's not as difficult as when you're older."

Blake grunted. "It depends. I have some things I've been testing for years now and still haven't figured out."

Daisy shook her head. "I couldn't wait that long! I guess I can't be a scientist, then."

Jasper leaned forward and managed to reach the edge of the cupcake. Dawn clapped her hands and said, "We'll talk about patience later. Right now, let's light the candles and sing ‘Happy Birthday.’"

Blake lit the candles and as the three of them sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jasper