Page 105 of Walking in Darkness

Holy shit, he needed to get his act together before he freaked them out. The last thing he needed was for them to think he was having doubts right here at the last second.

He’d deal with how he suddenly understood their native language in a minute. Dragging his phone out of his pocket, he opened it and looked at the text message Connie had sent him.

“I pledge to honor you, love you, and cherish you as my soul bound mate today and all the days hereafter until Gaura calls us home. By the flame, I tie my soul to yours willingly and claim you as mine,” Kit said.

“Yes, yes, yes. My mate. Mine!” Connie abruptly snarled.

“So beautiful. So very beautiful. Mine! So very much mine.” Hudson roared.

Desire, need, and a sense of rightness crashed over Kit. There was this overwhelming happiness, along with a flood of other emotions. Stunned, Kit tried to decipher what he was feeling.

It took several seconds for him to understand that those emotions weren’t his. They were Connie’s and Hudson’s. And he could feel them all. The fluttering bond suddenly grew and strengthened. A tingle raced through his body, and he squeezed his eyes shut. There was the something he’d been expecting to happen earlier.

A bright light flashed behind his eyelids. The light faded, and in his mind’s eye, he saw a red ribbon of energy snake from his chest toward Connie’s. Another red ribbon from his chest arrowed toward Hudson.

More than a little freaked, he tensed. What the hell was that?

“It’s okay. It’s okay, babe. It’s the bond. I see it. Don’t fight it,” Hudson gasped.

“I see it too.Please. Please accept us,” Connie begged.

Floored by the desperate need in their voices, the slight fear receded, and a ribbon of energy slammed into Kit’s heart from each of them.

The animalistic roars from his mates shook the walls.

Thanks to the bond between them now, Kit could see the core values Hudson and Connie held themselves to. There was compassion and empathy. Loyalty, kindness, and reliability also shone brightly. Trust figured prominently too, but it had to be earned.

From Connie, there was also eagerness to live life to the fullest and golden retriever energy, which fit Connie—he did have an energetic personality and was affectionate.

From Hudson there was also arrogance that came from the knowledge he was powerful. And he was. Very powerful. Kit truly had no idea. There was also a willingness to do what was needed, no matter how distasteful, to protect his court.

Hudson had killed and would probably kill again. Kit was okay with that because Hudson’s mates, his court, his friends meant the world to him. He would use that power to protect his courtandhis bonded mates at all costs.

There was also a driving need to protect Kit, the fragile human that he was. The same was there for Connie, even though Connie was a dragon.

“Mother of all.” Kit slowly opened his eyes. “I saw it. For a brief moment, I saw something that linked us together.”

“It’s the bond.” Hudson pressed a kiss to Kit’s temple.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Yes, it is. Are you okay?” Hudson asked.

“Yeah. It was wild. I saw all the values that make up each of you. I saw who you are.” Kit blinked. “I see you. All of you. I’m so very proud to be your mate.”

“I experienced the same thing. You’re a good person, Kit.” Connie joined them and placed his hand over Kit’s heart. “You have a pure soul, and—” Connie suddenly gasped, his hand going to his heart.

“Sweetheart?” Hudson reached for Connie.

Kit didn’t have to close his eyes this time. He didn’t need to. That red ribbon of energy tore out of Hudson and slammed into Connie, and then another left Connie and slammed into Hudson.

Both dragons dropped to their knees, their wineglasses shattering on the floor.

Scared to death, and unsure exactly just what was going on, Kit set his wineglass on the table, then dropped to his knees next to them. But he didn’t know what to do or who to help first. Or even if they needed help. Should he get somebody? Who would he get, though?

“Oh Gaura, oh Gaura,” Connie kept repeating, his hand still on his chest. In shock, he stared at Hudson.

Since Connie was at least capable of speech, Kit focused on him. “What happened? What’s wrong? What’s going on? Are you okay? What the hell happened? Connie?What the fuck?”

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