Page 102 of Walking in Darkness

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX – KIT

KIT WAS getting married. Actually, right now, he was getting bonded, but still! Excitement and nerves danced through his body. He was getting bonded! To have both of them as his was absolutely worth choking down some blood in wine.

They’d even picked up on the fact he wanted a human wedding, something he’d been dreaming about since he was a kid. He had an entire file stuffed full of pictures, venues, catering choices, music, and tuxedos that looked like wedding dresses from the back.

Yeah, his motto for a wedding was to “go big or go home.” Little did he know that when he’d been dreaming about a wedding that two dragons were going to show up and make it happen.

He looked down at his left hand.Theyprobably didn’t know about a wedding band, but that was okay. He was more than willing to point it out.

But would they wear a ring? Actually, could they? How would that work when they changed into their natural form? That was definitely something he needed to ask Hudson. Plus, since Kit wanted a wedding band, would Hudson want to furnish the stone?

Hudson returned to the living area with a bust just as Connie walked in with three wineglasses and a bottle of wine.

Connie whistled as he set them down on a nearby counter. “That’s got to be the most elaborate body chain I’ve ever seen.”

Kit couldn’t even whistle—his mouth was too busy hanging open. Connie wasn’t kidding. Itwasthe most ornate one he’d ever seen. He wasn’t sure what Hudson was holding would even qualify as a “chain” since there was so much of it. It was more like a harness.

The ensemble was basically a collar of pearls, then string after string would drape down over his chest and shoulders. But it didn’t stop there. There were more strings that extended all the way down to his hips. Some pearls were huge, while some were quite small.

“It’s a shirt of pearls,” Kit gasped. He really didn’t know how else to explain it.

There also wasn’t a doubt in his mind that the pearls were real. He couldn’t begin to guess how much that cost.

Hudson carried the bust over and set it down in front of Kit. “I noticed you wore pearls today, and it made me think of this.

“Talk about a pearl necklace,” Kit mumbled.

Connie snickered.

“I’ll be happy to give you one of those,” Hudson informed Kit.

Kit could literally feel himself turning red. Sometimes his mouth ran before his brain could engage.

Grinning, Hudson started undoing the pearl body chain. “Still, I’d be honored if you’d accept this. It would please me to see you wear it.”

Kit ran his hands over his face. “Hudson, that thing’s real, isn’t it? If you just brought it up from your hoard, it’s got to be. What if I snag it on something and one of the strings broke? Or all of them did?”

“Jewelry is meant to be worn.”

“Even when it costs a small fortune?” Kit demanded. “I’m serious. What if I break it?”

“Then you break it.”

Kit goggled.

Hudson stopped undoing the pearl chain and quickly made his way over to Kit. Smoothing a strand of hair out of Kit’s face, he looked into his eyes. “What’s the point of having something like that if I don’t get to see you in it? It’s been gathering dust in my hoard for years. You like jewelry. You wear jewelry.”

“Well, yeah, but most of what I wear is costume,” Kit argued.

Connie joined them and rubbed his hand up and down Kit’s back. “Wear it. Hudson wouldn’t offer it if he was concerned about it getting damaged.”

“I want to see you in it,” Hudson said.

Kit blew out a breath. “Okay, look, just tell me. Is it some sort of historical piece? Did some forgotten queen wear it or something?”

“Not at all. I had it made fifty years ago while traveling in Japan. I collect rubies, because I like the color red best, but something told me I needed to do this. The idea… spoke to me,” Hudson admitted.

“And you want me to wear it?” Kit wandered over and touched one of the strings of pearls on the bust.

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