Page 14 of Walking in Darkness

“You’re talking like this is a done deal. Do I not get a say?” Kit asked, because consent was a big thing to him.

Connie barely suppressed a whine.

He heard the sound and felt awful, but this was serious stuff they were talking about. Actually, he didn’t really knowhowserious this was, but he had certainly read enough paranormal romances to understand what a mate was. Of course, that was fiction.

This was real life—his life.

Kit rubbed his forehead. “I’m not trying to hurt you, either of you. And I’m not saying I’m not interested in doing this. But the fact is, I don’t know whatthisis. You’ve got to remember I’m human. I haven’t lived my entire life with the knowledge of what a mate is and all that jazz. I only know what romance books say.”

“Surprisingly, romance authors get a lot of it right,” Hudson said. “So, a mate. Dragons believe that we have a special person or persons with whom we are immensely compatible in all aspects of life.”

“It’s an intense connection between souls too,” Connie continued. “We call it a soul bond. When a dragon finds their perfect one or ones, they mate and are soul bound. You asked if it’s a done deal. The answer is yes and no.”

“Yes, you could walk away,” Hudson said. “A bond is not yet established between the three of us, although ithasbegun.”

Wait? What? Kit blinked at Hudson.

“So yes, you could walk away. But there’s a very good chance you’d never be happy, truly happy, in any other relationship you had. Youcouldwalk away, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be repercussions from your choice.”

Holy shit. “But I couldwalk away. I do have that choice, right?” Kit asked. That did not, of course, mean he wanted to. He just needed to know if he could.

“Yes,” Connie answered.

“You have that choice,” Hudson replied.

“And you’d let me?”

“Fuck.” Connie jumped up and walked out of the room, low growls following in his wake.

Kit bit his lip. He was hurting Connie with these questions, and he hated it. Restlessly, he rubbed his chest. His heart hurt. Was he getting a case of indigestion or…?

“A tentative bond has formed between the three of us, as I said earlier,” Hudson said, watching Kit rub his chest. “Connie is struggling with his response to your questions. You’re picking that up.”

“Shit. That’s why my chest hurts? I can feel his feelings, and I am reacting to them?”

“To some degree, yes. The bond is new and not fully formed, but Connie is having an extreme reaction.”

If he felt that now, what would he feel when they were fully bonded? “That’s scary. And kind of intrusive, don’t you think?” Frankly, that could turn into a nightmare, and he wasn’t sure he wanted such an ability.

“The bond means you would have a general idea of our feelings. That does not mean you can read our minds or us yours.”

“Telepathy. You’re talking about fucking telepathy.”

“Right, and that is not what this is. Look, I picked up through the bond there was something wrong as soon as I saw you earlier, but I didn’t know what.”

“That… that could be helpful in some cases and really invasive in others.” Kit aggressively rubbed his temple. A headache was brewing. “It’s not my intent to hurt him. Or you. And why am I not feeling anything from you?”

“Because I’m not upset with your questions. I understand why you need to ask. And I trust Gaura. You’re our mate, and I don’t think you’d walk away from us.”

Some instinct—or maybe that was the bond?—told him Hudson meant that. He really didn’t think Kit would walk away from them. Hewasworried earlier, but not so much now. “What about the both of you? What are the repercussions for you guys?”

“We’d always feel like we were missing a part of ourselves because we would be,” Hudson said. “But we would carry on.While we’re on the subject, you should also know Connie and I do not have a soul bond between the two of us.”

“What?” Kit reared back. “What the hell doesthatmean? Are you saying the both of you have a bond with me but not with each other?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Hudson said, grimacing. “We don’t know why, and frankly, it makes no sense.”

“Are you sure?”

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