Page 60 of Walking in Darkness

“What?”

“We know some hunters were experimented on. Remember Tammy?”

“I do, yes. What are you thinking?”

“I’m wondering if Don was one of the hunters whose DNA was mutated with a shifter’s. If it was a vampire’s DNA, he wouldn’t be out in the middle of the day,” Hudson said.

“And since Kit is human, he wouldn’t be able to pick up the scent of a mutated human.”

“When he takes our blood, though, he will. His sense of smell will improve to where hecanpick that up. Which is yet another reason he needs to do it.”

“I know, Hudson, but we can’t force it on him. As much as we may want to. Just keep reminding your dragon of that. That’s what I’m doing.”

“I know. I am.” Hudson’s dragon rumbled in his head. He hugged Connie, just enjoying having his mate close to him.

After a few moments, they heard the jetted tub turn off. Kit came into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. His skin was flushed, and he looked sleepy-eyed.

Kit turned on the ceiling fan, dropped the towel, and plopped down on the bed next to them. “I’m hot.”

Hudson admired all that flushed skin, even as he reminded himself Kit most likely was not in the mood. Dammit. He’d put his underwear back on too. “How do you feel?”

“Better. But now I’m sleepy.”

“That’s not surprising,” Connie said. “Once you cool off, do you want to take a nap?”

Kit stretched, then yawned. “Yeah. I can’t sleep this hot.”

Hudson started to make a joke about turning the air conditioner up so Kit could cool off quicker, but he noticed Kit’s eyes were closed. His young mate was already drifting off to sleep. He must really be exhausted, since he said he couldn’t sleep when he was too warm.

Kit’s breath evened out. A couple of minutes later, he shivered. Connie stood and walked into their living area and returned with a throw. Gently, he covered Kit with it.

Hudson eased off the bed and followed Connie back into their living area. “Why don’t I go get my laptop from my office, and we’ll work in here?”

Connie nodded enthusiastically. “That works. I’ll go get mine too. I really don’t want to be too far from him.”

“Then I’ll meet you back here.” Hudson rubbed his hand up and down Connie’s back, then followed him out of the living area.

A FEW hours later, Hudson noticed Kit was waking up. He heard Kit sit up in the bed, groan, then get up. After a quick trip to the bathroom, he heard Kit get back into the bed.

Connie set his laptop down and stood. Together, they walked into the bedroom.

“I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.” Kit sat against the headboard. He’d stuffed a couple of pillows behind his back for comfort and had the throw over his legs. Apparently, he’d also turned off the ceiling fan.

“Well, technically, you got rear-ended by one. Close enough.” Hudson sat on the edge of the bed. “The soreness is worse, I take it?”

Kit nodded. “Yeah.”

Connie sat down next to Hudson. “But are youhurtinganywhere? Your neck? Your back?”

Kit turned his head this way and that, then rolled his shoulders. “Luckily, no.”

“That’s good,” Connie said. “But maybe we should still call in a doctor to have a look at you. No one in our court is a medical doctor, but there are paranormals who treat humans.”

Hudson immediately thought of Dr. Sanchez. He was a daemon and part of Kage’s clan, and he treated the occasional human. Hudson was sure he would treat Kit if asked.

“I don’t think that’s necessary, but if I get to feeling worse, I’ll say something.”

Hudson really hadn’t paid much attention to the fact that none of his dragons had pursued a medical degree, because, quite frankly, dragons didn’t need doctors.

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