Page 28 of Spooks & Specters

“Mother of all!”

Hudson barely managed to suppress his reaction to the ticklingandKit’s exclamation. But it wasn’t easy. Kit’s raised voice called to the most primitive side of his nature, demanding Hudson act, to protect his mate.

“Is that… Is that…. Oh my God. Itis!”

Connie had also raised his head and was staring at Hudson. Or rather, what was climbing on Hudson.

“Holy shit? Is that a baby dragon?”

Oh, this was bad. This was incredibly bad. A youngling had a full array of abilities. Although inferior to those of an older youngling, those abilities were sufficient for it to take care of itself, at least against relatively weak threats and predators.

A youngling could run within hours of hatching and could fly within a day or two. Its senses were fully acute, and—due to the interweaving of a dragon’s centers of memory and instinct—it was born with a substantial amount of its parents’ knowledge imprinted in its mind.

A youngling had a grasp of the generalities of the world and of its own identity. It knew how to move, how to use its innate abilities, who and what its parents were, and—perhaps most important—how to view the world around it.

And humans were a threat.

And even though Kit was taking their blood, he wasnota dragon.

Connie and Hudson moved at the same time—Connie curled protectively around Kit, completely entrapping him, but also covering him. Hudson shifted immediately and grabbed the youngling by the scruff of its neck.

Hudson inhaled deeply. He. The youngling was a male.

The youngling yowled, of course, then spit fire. Well, more like sparks, which Hudson didn’t appreciate. The youngling’s eyes widened immediately when Hudson hissed. Red dragons were immune to another red dragon’s fire, no matter the form they were in, but that was completely uncalled for.

Connie growled, and Kit, who was buried underneath Connie and protected by his scales, suddenly went quiet.

Holding the youngling aloft, Hudson glared into his eyes. He didn’t recognize the youngling, but the male was definitely from his court. There was no mistaking the scent of one of his members.

“You are old enough to know better. We don’t expose ourselves to humans. We do not spit fire at others, especially when a human is around. And a human would notbehere unless that human was important. And this one is because he’smyhuman.”

The youngling ducked his head as best he could with Hudson holding him by the scruff. Hudson couldn’t tell how old the little male was, but he was definitely old enough to know better.

Which begged the question—who was watching this youngling?

“Do you understand me?”

The little dragon huffed.

Hudson didn’t say anything, just raised an eyebrow as he stared at the little male.

The little dragon squeaked, then lowered his eyes.

“Much better.”

“I want to see the baby dragon,” Kit demanded. “Connie, get off me. There is no danger here.”

Hudson closed his eyes briefly. Kit was wrong, actually. When dragons were involved—no matter their age—there wasalways a danger. Maybe even more so since the dragon in questionwasa youngling.

“Hudson! Tell him to let me out!”

Hudson opened his eyes and stared at the little dragon. “My mate wants to meet you. Can you behave yourself? No sparks. At all. Understand? Just look cute.”

The little dragon rolled his eyes but nodded enthusiastically.

Hudson guessed that would have to do. The little male might be young, but he was definitely old enough to know how to act. Of course, just because he knew how didn’t mean he necessarily would.

Hudson lowered the little dragon to the ground. “Again, this is my and Connie’s mate, who is not a dragon, which I know perfectly well you can tell.”

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