Page 115 of Walking in Darkness

Connie walked over to one of the closed doors. Opening it, he flipped on the light, then started down the stairs.

Kit followed Hudson and Connie to something that reminded him of a bank vault door. “This is the entrance to your hoard, isn’t it?”

Connie nodded as he went through the same routine Hudson had to unlock it. Then he turned to Hudson and Kit. “I’m going to program it so you can both get inside, just in case.”

Once Kit and Hudson had been entered and scanned, Connie opened the door and waved them through. Kit walked inside the brightly lit area and again was overcome.

It wasn’t nearly as big as Hudson’s, but it was still packed full of artwork of all kinds. He was sure some paintings he was looking at were originals and not replicas. Then there were the sculptures that towered over them.

“That’s a Donatello,” Connie said, pointing at a statue.

“Wait. Donatello? Isn’t that the guy who did that well-known statue,David?” Kit asked.

“Yup. This is a little-known work he did, though,” Connie said.

“Wow. It’s amazing.” Kit admired the statue. He turned back to Hudson and Connie. “I’d actually like to see theDavid.”

“When everything settles down, we’ll go to the Bargello Museum in Florence and see it if you want,” Hudson offered.

“Just like that, huh?”

“Yes, so you better get that passport done if you don’t have one already.” Hudson nudged Kit.

“Like I’ve ever needed a passport,” Kit grumbled.

“I’ll help you apply for one,” Connie said.

There was also glassware, pottery, metalworks, memorial boards, masks… along with the stereotypical piles of gold coins. There was a pretty vase that caught Kit’s eye—it was a kaleidoscope of color with a delicate-looking outline of a butterfly.

Kit noticed there were a few tapestries hanging on the walls, along with suits of armor. Maybe those weren’t art in the traditional sense, but they looked incredibly old. And real.

Connie had the same type of shelving Hudson used to display his treasures. Kit wandered around, stopping to look at a case that held massive bones.

Connie stopped next to him. “Dinosaur bones. Woolly mammoth, in fact. They’re probably not considered art—”

“Isn’t art in the eye of the beholder? Isn’t that how that saying goes? I mean, is it a Picasso? No. But it is definitely a relic from the past, and aren’t art pieces considered relics in a way?” Kit asked.

“Funny you should mention Picasso, because I have a couple of his.”

“Of course you do.” Kit hip checked Connie. “I expected no less.”

Hudson slid his arm around Connie. “Thank you for allowing me to see this. I’m honored.”

“I’m glad you’re here. Both of you.” Connie rested his head on Hudson’s shoulder.

“Thank you for showing us. I can tell you worked hard collecting these things,” Kit said, snuggling next to Connie.

Connie glanced down at Kit.

“Hey there,” Kit said, staring into Connie’s dragon’s eyes. “Your hoard is magnificent.”

Connie rumbled happily.

“I’m so honored to be your bonded mate, and I can’t wait until we can have a human wedding.” Kit slid his arm around Connie and squeezed. Then he looked up at Hudson, whose eyes had also changed. “You mean the world to me. The both of you do.”

The bond between the three of them thrummed with pleasure. Kit might not be a dragon, but he damn sure knew how his dragons felt, and they were ecstatic.

Connie blinked, and his dragon retreated. “I think we’re going to have fun planning a human wedding.”

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