Page 17 of Keran's Dawn

I shrugged. “It could be, but it’s not.”

This time, she faced me full on, self-righteous anger burning in her emerald eyes. I liked seeing these sparks of fire in her. While I like females who deferred to my dominance, I couldn’t stand skittish and simpering ones. There was nothing sexier than a woman with a backbone who dared to speak her mind and let you have it when you were in the wrong.

“Me not falling apart and not turning into an emotional mess doesn’t mean I’m not hurt,” she snapped in a stern tone that I found quite the turn on. “Anyway, how is that any of your business or relevant to your mission here?”

“Like you so accurately mentioned earlier, I am the Crown Prince. For security measures, I always do thorough background checks on the people I will closely interact with,” I said in a self-evident tone.

Dawn stared at me for a few seconds, seeming torn before shrugging.

“There’s nothing special about me,” she finally said in a grumpy tone, turning away from me to resume walking towards the cafeteria. “I was the typical unwanted pregnancy. My mother put me up for adoption then continued with her charity work.”

“What about your father? He didn’t claim you?” I insisted.

“I’ve never met him,” Dawn said icily.

“Never?” I repeated in a deliberately dubious tone.

“Yes,never!” Dawn snapped, this time openly glaring at me. “I doubt he even knows I exist, which frankly is none of your damn business. What’s with all the prying?”

“To assess your character and honesty,” I said bluntly, my tone slightly menacing. “You lured me here to protect people who do not particularly seem like they want to be. Instead, they are consorting with those determined to bring down my house, which you conveniently kept hidden until the last minute. So yes, Dawn Merrick, I will pry.”

She swallowed hard. To her credit, Dawn didn’t wither before me. She held my gaze with a hint of defiance, refusing to cower.

I liked that.

“I didn’t keep the Guldan’s presence hidden. There was no evidence for me to think their presence could be related to my reasons for asking you to come here,” she said sternly. “For the record, I didn’tlure youhere.Youchoseto come. I merely requested Braxian assistance since we weren’t getting any help worth mentioning from the local authorities.”

We reached the entrance of the cafeteria as she finished her sentence. Dawn opened the door with far more strength than necessary, her back stiff as she stomped towards the counter. I repressed the urge to smile. There was something sexy and entertaining about a pissed off female itching to smack you for some perceived slight.

“As for the hybrids, theydowant to be protected. Since Haven isn’t fulfilling its duty towards them, they are rightfully looking elsewhere. They want a greater purpose, opportunities for a brighter future, all things the Guldans are offering, when no one else is.”

The meaningful glance she cast my way while pronouncing that last part hit a nerve. Yes, we had passed and enforced laws to protect hybrids on Braxia. And although we had made it known that those who had fled were welcomed to return, we’d made no real effort to set up programs and infrastructures to facilitate such migration and reintegration.

“Anything else you want to pry about?” she asked while retrieving the meat and produce from the cooling unit.

“Plenty,” I said tauntingly. “How come you’re still single?”

Dawn dropped the three thick pieces of steak on the island. They landed with a thud as she stared at me with a disbelieving look.

“What makes you think I’m single?” she growled.

I tapped the side of my nose with a smug grin. “I do not scent any male or female on you. A long-time partner marks you with a scent that even a shower won’t take away. Only a long separation will make it fade away. Even hybrids can perceive it. You should know that.”

She clenched her teeth. The way her eyes threw daggers at me had my blood rushing to my groin. Turning her back abruptly to me, Dawn retrieved some plates and pots from the cupboards, loudly closing the doors. I bit the insides of my cheeks not to laugh. Right this instant, she was likely picturing herself slamming those cupboard doors shut on my face.

“Well, Mister-I’m-so-tactful-and-considerate, you may not have noticed, but I’m not the embodiment of human beauty,” Dawn said in a clipped tone as she washed her hands. “Men aren’t exactly banging my doors down, and I don’t fraternize with the people I’m here to serve.”

I huffed and waved a dismissive hand, making no effort to hide my disdain. “Human beauty standards are overrated.”

This time, Dawn paused halfway through drying her hands to peer at me with a stunned expression.

“That was unexpected. Braxian males have the reputation of being almost obsessively drawn to human females,” she said in an unimpressed fashion. “Quite a few women down on their luck come here seeking out hybrids to offer their services as Indentured Servants to help them get back on their feet… once they’re done being on their backs.”

I snorted. “A wise approach for any woman with a sense of self-preservation. I’m sure they find handling a hybrid far more manageable. Purebloodsareproportionally endowed.”

A slow chuckle tumbled out of my throat when Dawn’s green eyes flicked to my crotch. She immediately averted them and busied herself spicing up the meat to hide her embarrassment.

“While you are correct that Braxians have an unhealthy obsession with human females, I do not fall in that category. I personally do not find them particularly appealing,” I said in all sincerity.

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