Not that he wanted it, either. He didn’t have time for a mate and family.
His beast finally spoke up again.There’s a slight scent of dragon-shifter about her. Maybe she was injected with dragon’s blood at some point? That could be the reason I can’t fully tell.
Cam focused on Emily again and decided to be blunt. “Why do you smell slightly of dragon-shifter? Did you get sick and need dragon’s blood to recover?”
She frowned. “You can tell I’ve had dragon’s blood from my scent?”
“Aye, but you still haven’t answered my question.”
“Er, well, I’ve used myself as a test subject in the past. And yes, sometimes there was dragon’s blood in my serums.”
“Whose blood did you use?”
She searched his gaze. “Why does it matter?”
It shouldn’t, and yet, to a dragon-shifter, the giving of blood could be an intimate thing. Only in recent decades had theyresorted to giving it to strangers to help raise money and ensure their survival. But in the olden days, it had been considered a bond and agreement between dragon clans and human ones.
His inner beast spoke up.Why do you care? She’s pretending to be our mate, and you shouldn’t get jealous.
He didn’t have an answer, so instead of replying, he studied Emily’s face. “Regardless of whose blood it is, it’s confusing my dragon. Maybe eventually he’ll be able to tell if you’re our true mate or not, but that means no kissing on the mouth until he can be sure one way or the other.”
“Can’t we just hold hands and say that’s good enough for now?”
“Not for Seahaven.”
She swallowed, and his eyes tracked her throat, so long and lovely. Maybe if he kissed her there, where her scent was stronger, his dragon would be able to tell the truth.
“Um, Cam?”
Shaking off his ridiculous thought—he did not want a mate now, maybe not ever—he defaulted to his stern Protector voice. “It’s late, and you’ll be gone for most of tomorrow, so we’ll talk about this again later.”
“You’re the one who brought it up in the first place!”
She crossed her arms over her chest, but he behaved himself, keeping his gaze on her face. “Aye, I know. But things are complicated now, what with the mysterious dragon’s blood in your veins. Maybe more time will allow my beast to figure out if you’re our true mate or not. For now, go to bed, and I’ll clean up.”
“No, I should help, especially since you cooked.”
He shook his head. “Go to bed, Emily. I need some time to think.”
After studying him for a few beats, she bobbed her head. “Okay, fine, I’ll go to bed. Thanks for dinner, and whilst I mightnot see you tomorrow, I still plan on going to your parents’ house the day after. Good night.”
“Night.”
Once she left, his dragon sighed.You didn’t handle that very well.
There’s no instruction manual for this kind of thing.
You don’t need one. You’re usually polite and supportive with the other females on Seahaven, unless they break a rule. But Emily hasn’t broken any.
He grunted, not wanting to talk more about it.
Eventually his dragon curled up and went to sleep, leaving Cam to replay the dinner and realize that he’d enjoyed spending time with the human female. She was rather easy to talk to, and unlike some of the dragon-obsessed humans he’d encountered in the past, she didn’t try to flirt or praise him or say what she thought he wanted to hear. Dr. Emily Davies was simply…herself.
Although why she thought that was a negative, as she’d tried to warn him, he had no bloody idea.
As his mind started to imagine kissing her neck again, he quickly pushed the image aside and focused on all the tasks he needed to do the next day. Namely, connecting with Antony Holbrook and ensuring Emily’s safety.
Because that was his job—keeping her safe. She was his to protect, and nothing more.
