Spoken for

In Dragon terms, to be spoken for is the human equivalent of being engaged, and thus the individual who is spoken for is no longer available for courtship or dating. Usually this doesn't happen in a dragon courtship for at least 5 years at the soonest, but more often doe not occur until at least 10-20 years of courtship have occurred. The next step in a dragon's relationship is to become life mates, which usually occurs within 2-5 years after being spoken for. Becoming a life mate is the next step after this, and is a bond that can never be broken by anything except death. This is why dragons, given their incredibly long lives, are very cautious and scrupulous about whom they choose, seeking to ensure that they make the right choice and do not act foolishly. As such, flash relationships among dragons are rare, and more often than not end badly. Although there are some exceptions from time to time.