Page 31 of Walking in Darkness

“Actually, he became obsessed with me. That’s all you need to know. But to carry on his line, he was required to mate. I had assumed that would be the end of our relationship. I was wrong.” Michail swallowed heavily. “He made itveryclear he was unwilling to give me up, and I was equally unwilling to live in such circumstances.”

“Papa,” Kit murmured.

“I’m okay. It was a very long time ago. I fled and started a new life, and eventually, I met Grace and Chris. I knew who she was to me. I also knew she was married and loved her husband. Fate looked favorably upon us. They both fell in love with me and I them.”

Chris squeezed Mikhail’s shoulder. “I’m bi.”

“As am I,” Michail added. “Most shifters are. Kit, you might not be of my loins, but youaremy child. I loved you the moment you opened your mouth and screamed the walls down.”

Kit’s laugh was kind of wet as he jumped to his feet and hurried toward his papa. Michail stood and wrapped his arms around Kit. Grace and Chris crowded close.

The love between the four of them was obvious. Kit was very lucky in that respect.

“Okay, how about a break?” Connie asked. “I’m sure we can all use a drink. We’ve been talking for quite a while.”

“That sounds lovely, but there’s still something else we need to share with Kit,” Grace said.

Kit pulled back from his papa. “What?What?”

Hudson knew, but it wasn’t his place to say.

“Sweetie,” Grace said, taking Kit’s hands.

“Oh hell. What, Mom?”

“It’s nothing bad, I promise. But you know your pops, and I love your papa. And with him being a shifter, his lifespan is longer than ours. We couldn’t stand the thought of him going on without us, so…”

Kit started grinning.

“Okay, not the reaction I was expecting,” Grace said. She tilted her head as she stared at Kit. “Huh. Why do I have the feeling you already know what I’m about to say?”

“Because I do. Because I had the same conversation with Hudson and Connie.” Kit was practically bouncing on his toes. “Papa extended both of your lifespans, didn’t he?”

Hudson cleared his throat. “Um, probably not in the way you’re thinking, though.”

Kit let go of his mother’s hands and turned toward Hudson. “What do you mean? There are other ways to do it?”

“Oh dear,” Michail said, quickly glancing between Kit and Hudson.

Hudson was the one now holding both of Kit’s hands. “Yes, your papa extended their lifespan. But not in the way wewill extend yours. Dragons can’t change a human into what we are. You’re either born a dragon or you’re not.”

Kit pursed his lips. “Wait just a minute. Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“I changed your mom and pops. They’re shifters like me now,” Michail admitted.

Kit’s mouth dropped opened. “You’reshifters! Oh, come on, that’s awesome!”

Bemused, Chris shook his head. “And here we thought you’d freak.”

“Of course I’m freaked! My parents can shift into cats. How awesome is that!” Then Kit gasped. “Wait!”

“And here it comes,” Grace said, rolling her eyes. Opening her purse, she grabbed her billfold, opened it, and took out a folded bill, which she passed to Chris. Then she did the same with Michail.

“I got to see this!” Kit yelled. “Holy cow, you guys! I gotta see this!”

Connie scrubbed a hand over his face. “Um, Kit, it’s really rude to ask—”

“Hold on, did you guys bet on my reaction?” Kit demanded.

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