Treasured by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #10) - Jessie Donovan Page 0,1

You've been trying so hard and practicing constantly. I know you'll do fine."

Before her daughter could reply, the gate opened, and a voice from some speaker said, "Drive inside and take the first left. Park in front of the large building there."

Daisy clapped her hands. "That's the Protector building. It's their fancy word for security. Maybe you'll meet Kai, that serious dragonman. He's really tall, and handsome, but he has a mate. So don't fall in love with him, Mum. His mate won't like it."

She cleared her throat and glanced over at her daughter. "I'll try not to."

Her daughter completely missed Dawn's sarcasm. "Good. Oooh, there he is! Standing right in front of the building. Look at his muscles, Mum. He doesn't need to be in his dragon form to snap someone in half!"

"Daisy Mae, people simply don't snap someone in half."

She parked the car, turned off the ignition, and gently took Daisy's wrist to keep her from bolting from the car. "Now, remember that tonight is special. Everyone is looking forward to the play that you've all worked so hard on. You need to be on your best behavior, like you promised, so that it goes off without a hitch. Okay?"

"I know, Mum. I won't go wandering, I promise."

Even though her daughter tried to follow directions, it didn't always happen.

Still, Dawn smiled, released Daisy's wrist, and said, "Good, because I need you to introduce me to everyone until you have to go get ready for the play. I'll be lost if you disappear."

Daisy's eyes widened. "I can do that, introduce everyone. I've memorized so many people's names. I haven't met them all yet, so maybe I can surprise them. Yes, that will be a fantastic game to play. Keep track for me, okay, Mum? See how many I get right."

She snorted. "I'll do my best. Now, let's not keep the eagle-eyed dragonman waiting."

Daisy undid her seat belt and was out of the car before Dawn could do more than blink. Quickly, she followed suit and caught up to Daisy, who stood in front of the one she'd called Kai.

He was quite tall, hovering at least six inches above Dawn, and wasn't smiling. His eyes appeared to take everything in, and nothing got past him. She didn't know how anyone would want to try and defy him looking like that.

The dragonman was definitely a little intimidating. Dawn hoped some of the others would be less so or her evening would be a long one.

Doing her best to calm her heart rate, she forced a smile and said, "Hello. I'm Dawn Chadwick, Daisy's mum."

The dragonman grunted. "I'm Kai. Now, follow me. I'll take you to the great hall, where everything is happening tonight."

He turned and walked away, clearly expecting them to follow. Daisy whispered loudly, "We have to keep up. Come on, Mum."

Daisy took her hand and pulled her at almost a run. Dawn, never the runner, struggled to keep up.

So much for looking cool and collected for when she encountered nearly an entire dragon clan. She only hoped they understood that being Daisy's mum meant handling everything by the seat of your pants.

Blake Whitby frowned at the empty stage as barely a few puffs of smoke erupted. There should've been more, much more, according to his calculations.

His inner dragon—the second personality inside his head—yawned and spoke up. It's enough smoke for a children's play. I don't know why you're spending so much time on this.

You're the one who said we needed to get out more. This is me trying, although your other request for finding a mate isn't going to happen.

It doesn't have to be tonight. But tinkering, and calculating, and the other boring rubbish you like so much isn't enough for me. You can have that during the day, but I want sex at night.

Blake mentally sighed. Again with the sex? Don't you remember what happened last time we tried to find someone to occupy you?

His beast huffed. Don't act as if it's merely for me, and it wasn't that bad. You should be happy since I didn't get any sex in the end anyway.

Right, tell yourself it wasn't embarrassing.

However, it had been that bad. The female had refused to do anything until she could see his dragon form and take a picture.

Which Blake had refused.

He was a white dragon with a black spot, which was extremely rare. Almost like the unicorn of dragons, especially since his black spot was more iridescent than plain black.

Every female—not to mention quite