Page 29 of Spooks & Specters

The youngling nodded, then lowered his muzzle in deference.

Although, to be fair, the sparks the little dragon had shot off were probably because Hudson startled him. Everybody in his court knew who Kit was, including the youngest of them.

There was a human saying about how curiosity killed the cat. To some degree that also applied to younglings. Not necessary the killing part, but curiosity was definitely a problem for the younger dragons.

“Okay, Connie, let Kit go.”

Connie grumbled but uncurled from around Kit.

Kit popped up immediately, rubbing his hands together. “Where’s the baby dragon? And geez, shouldn’t you get dressed? He’s a baby, after all. Oh. Is he a he or a she?”

Hudson picked up his swimming trunks and slipped them on. “He is a youngling. Connie? If you want to switch back, that’s fine.”

Within seconds, Connie was also pulling on his swim trunks. He glared at the little male. “Do we know who he is?”

“No. I also wonder where his caretaker is.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s definitely something that should be addressed as soon as possible. But in the meantime, can I pet the baby dragon? Pleaseeeeeee?”

The baby dragon in question started doing tippy taps, his tail wagging behind him.

“Oh my Goddddddd, that’s the cutest thing ever!” Kit dropped down in front of the little male. “Is that a dragon thing? The tippy taps?”

Hudson was beginning to think it was a Kit thing.

“You are the cutest thing ever. Yes, you are. Yes, you totally are.”

Hudson pinched the bridge of his nose as the youngling chirped happily as he climbed into Kit’s lap. He stretched his neck, preening, as Kit slowly stroked him from nose to tail, just like he would a cat.

Everyone could hear the youngling’s purrs.

“You’re absolutely adorable,” Kit whispered.

The youngling plopped down, gently kneading Kit’s leg as his tail swished. Loud, rumbling purrs drifted from him as Kit rubbed one of his ears. The young male turned his head and rubbed his jaw along Kit’s wrist.

Connie edged closer to Hudson. “Did he… did he just scent mark our mate?”

Yep, trouble. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the trouble Hudson had planned when he snuck his little surprise into one of the picnic baskets. Forlornly, he glanced at it. There definitely wasn’t going to be any fun times with a youngling around.

“He’s a youngling, Connie.”

“I know that, but that doesn’t mean he’s unaware of what he’s doing.”

Yes, scent marking another person could, in some instances, be seen as rude, especially if that person was mated. Paranormals tended not to like other paranormals scent marking their mates.

So he understood why Connie was annoyed, even if the little male was a youngling. Hudson’s dragon hadn’t cared for the action either, but he was older than Connie.

He understood that sometimes younglings did that to people they were attached to. Of course, this youngling had just met Kit, so there shouldn’t be any attachment there.

Nevertheless, ear rubs were pretty awesome.

“I’m sorry,” Connie said softly. “I sound like a jerk, don’t I?”

Before Hudson could agree, the little shit in Kit’s lap licked Kit’s wrist.

“You are the cutest thing ever!” Kit exclaimed, burying his face into the little male’s neck and kissing him.

The little male turned smugly toward Connie and smirked. Then he hopped off Kit’s lap and ran toward the picnic basket, which he launched himself into. Laughing, Kit hurried after him and sat down.

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