Page 30 of Beyond the Darkness

“What do you mean?” Cyrus demanded.

How did Cyrus not know this? “Their DNA has been mutated with other paranormals, giving them characteristics of that paranormal, thus making them stronger and agile, plus they heal faster. The leaders here in San DeLain have been attacked several times already. They’re deadly.”

“She knew?” Cyprus said quietly. “Sheknew?”

That answered the question of whether or not she had shared the information with her inner circle and mates. “She did. I told her myself and shared all the information I had.”

“She knew and didn’t tell us,” Cyrus said softly.

“This same group of hunters are very well funded, Cyrus, and attacked most of the paranormal leaders here in San DeLain last night and into the morning. They also attacked Kit’s parents.”

“The human?”

This time Hudson couldn’t stop the growl that climbed up his throat. “Thathumanis my mate.”

“Such a shame.”

Hudson almost hung up. “Do not—”

“Anyway. You said that Connie’s old court was attacked too?”

The fact that Cyrus didn’t care about what happened to Kit’s parents was glaringly obvious. All he cared about was that another dragon’s court was attacked.

“Connie is speaking with one of his parents right now, but from what I can gather, yes. But there were no casualties. Isn’t that right, Connie?”

“Yes. There are some injuries but nothing bad. Several hunters were also killed,” Connie said.

“Good,” Hudson growled. The more, the better.

“Yes, yes, that’s good to know. Hudson? We are now a court without a royal. You know one of two things will happen,” Cyrus said.

Hudson did indeed. As soon as word got out, a courtless red dragon royal would take over. There was also nothing to keep the new King or Queen from killing Cyrus and Eleanor. Normally, that was exactly what happened.

Or, the court would disband and the dragons would petition to join other red dragon courts.

“I assume you will offer us refuge,” Cyrus said.

Hudson almost laughed. “You assume wrongly. You have been nothing but insulting to my human mate. I was already hesitant to allow the three of you to visit, considering I was well aware of your feelings toward Kit. I certainly will not allow you to live in the court he resides in.”

Kit’s mouth fell open.

“How dare you?” Cyprus demanded. “You mean to tell me that you would pick a human over your own parents?”

Hudson had been waiting on this for hundreds of years. “You may have helped create me, but you were never a parent. Neither was Eleanor. Neither, in fact, was Queen Abigail. Yes, I pick my human mate over the both of you. Goodbye, Cyrus. Do not contact me again. I wish you the best of luck, though, in the rest of your miserable life.”

Hudson disconnected the call.

“Oh my God, Hudson, did you really just—”

Hudson met Kit’s gaze. “I did. You and Connie are the most important things in my life. I say things because the both of you are even more important than my hoard. So yes, I chose you.”

Kit hurtled himself across the room and threw himself into Hudson’s arms. “But—”

“They would have made your life a living hell, and I won’t have it. They consider humans less, almost to the point of being a subspecies. My mother had already made statements that she would not accept you as my mate, like she had any say in it. We are even blessed by Gaura themself.”

Connie joined the hug. “They would’ve insulted you with sly smiles and cutting words. Attempted to destroy your self-confidence, not to mention endeavor to come between the three of us. If Hudson wouldn’t burn them to a crisp, there’s a good chance I would.”

Kit pulled back enough to look into Hudson’s face. “They are really that bad?”

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