Page 20 of Walking in Darkness

“Can I ask why?” Hudson asked.

Connie really wanted an answer to that, as well. Kit had been attacked, for crying out loud. Wouldn’t that be something to share with his parents? But then again, Kit had promised not to reveal the paranormal world to anybody. Of course, he hadn’t known that one of his dads was an actual paranormal.

“Because there would’ve been questions I wouldn’t have been able to answer. I promised not to reveal what I knew, and that simply wouldn’t have worked with my mom. She’s relentless, especially when she thinks I’m hiding something,” Kit said. “I decided it was better not to say anything at all. Aboutanyof this.”

Just as Connie had thought. “So, they have no clue. Whoo boy.”

“Yeah. Talk about a can of worms.” Kit scrubbed his hands over his face. “I’m going to have to come clean about the attack if I confront them about my papa being a paranormal.”

“I agree. I don’t see a way around that,” Hudson said.

Connie nodded. “You should know, also, that as soon as your papa gets near me or Hudson, he’s going to scent that we’re dragons and probably not react well.”

“Why?”

“Because dragons have a history of taking humans regardless of whether they’re willing,” Hudson admitted. “You, being our bonded, puts a different spin on things, but it’s still going to come as a shock.”

“Not to mention Hudson is royalty,” Connie added. “So, you’re not bonding just any dragon. As a mate to a royal, you automatically become a target for anyone who has a bone to pick with Hudson. As ahumanmate to a royal—”

“I become a liability,” Kit finished for Connie.

“I wouldn’t put it that way,” Connie grumbled.

“A liability. A weakness.” Kit shrugged. “I’m not a paranormal, and even when I take your blood, I’m still the weak link, so yeah, I would put it that way. Why do I have the feeling there are bodyguards in my future?”

“Because there will be,” Hudson said. “But to be fair, I rarely travel alone either, especially for business. Normally, Connie is with me. If he can’t be, I take Torres.”

“And ifheisn’t available, another one of Hudson’s inner circle goes with him,” Connie said.

“Just so you know, when we officially mate, Connie will also have a bodyguard,” Hudson said.

Connie’s mouth fell open. “Wait, what?”

“You might be a dragon and my right hand, but you will still be the mate of a royal. You also will have a bodyguard.”

Kit snickered. “It won’t be just me, then.”

Hudson eyed Connie. “No. It won’t.”

Connie grumbled. Having a bodyguard was completely pointless, but he understood the necessity. Plus, he couldn’t argue about it without looking like an ass. He and Kit were going to have bodyguards. End of story.

“Now that we have that settled, let’s return to the subject at hand,” Hudson said. “Going home to your parents is anoption, Kit, but it means several dragons will be going with us as a security detail.”

“Which will panic your papa and trigger his instincts,” Connie said. “That many dragons on what he considers his territory will most likely lead to him feeling threatened. He has mates too.”

“A shifter feeling threatened is never a good thing,” Hudson said. “Then add in that you’re his son… and there you go. All the ingredients are there for such a meeting to go south.”

“Before you say anything, we know he’s not your biological father. Obviously. If he was, you’d be a shifter. But I can promise you, it’ll make no difference to him,” Connie said. “You’re his son.”

“Oh, I know,” Kit said. “So, going there isn’t the best idea. What about coming here? Is that an option?”

“I’m okay with your parents coming onto my territory,” Hudson said. “But that means you’ll need to tell themwherethey’re coming, meaning it won’t take much for your papa to figure out who I am if he has any ties to the paranormal world. So, again, he’s going to feel threatened and outnumbered.”

“So really, the only neutral place is my apartment.” Kit sighed heavily. “With its thin walls and people all around.”

“We have something for that, don’t worry.” Connie patted Kit’s leg.

“Yeah?”

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