Page 34 of Walking in Darkness

But Hudson was an Ancient and a royal, to boot. He was the very definition of stubborn, and there weren’t too many creatures who could out stubborn a dragon.

“While I understand that, how would you feel if someone insisted on sending unknown paranormals into your territory?” Connie pointed out.

“I’d be pissed and would resist, of course, until it waspointed outthat it was for my child’s peace of mind.”

“Oh boy.” Connie should’ve expected something like that. Hudson could manipulate with the best of them. And he absolutely would, especially if it got him what he wanted. “You’re going to use Kit against them.”

“What’s that saying? Oh, yeah. Happy mate, happy life.”

Connie snickered. “You know the saying is actually ‘happy wife, happy life.’”

“Same thing. Kit’s parents are protected, which makes him happy, and a happy Kit makes us happy.” Hudson shrugged. “I’ll piss off whoever I need to in order to ensure that happens.”

“Hopefully, it won’t come to that.”

Hudson shrugged again. “I’m sure they’ll come around to my way of thinking.”

In dragon speak, that meant Hudson didn’t care if they did or not—dragons were going home with them.

“Got an idea of who you’re sending?”

“I’ll ask for volunteers first before I assign any dragons. None of my inner circle, though.”

Connie glanced toward the entrance of Hudson’s private quarters. He could hear Kit’s footsteps. “Are you going to tell Kit your plans?”

“Of course. I need him to be on my side in this because if they don’t agree, Kit will be my Plan B.”

“Plan B, huh? That’s an interesting group of words to walk in on. What’s up?” Kit asked as he entered the room.

Connie started to move over so Kit could sit between them, but Kit waved him off and instead plopped himself down in Hudson’s lap. He promptly stretched his legs out across Connie.

Hudson explained his plan while being totally upfront about how he’d absolutely manipulate Kit’s parents if he needed to. Confusion swept across Kit’s face first, then understanding, and finally, a sort of stunned bemusement.

“That’s… kind of impressive, but also scary. I mean, you’re being upfront with me about your intentions of using me to sway my parents into doing what you want. I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

Hudson grabbed Kit by the chin. “Look at me, Kit. See me. I’m a dragon.”

“O-kay. And?”

“Dragons are cunning, stubborn, covetous, manipulative, and dangerous. But when we love, we love completely.”

Kit’s eyes widened.

Did Hudson just throw the “L” word out there? Yes, yes, he did. Were the three of them in love with each other? No, but they would end up there. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind about that.

“I will do anything and everything to ensure your happiness,” Hudson continued. “I will move any mountain I need to.”

“Jeez.”

“As I told Connie, your parents are important to you, so they’re important to me.”

Connie moved Kit’s feet off his lap, got up, and then kneeled on the floor so he could see both Hudson’s and Kit’s faces. As far as he knew, this was the first time Kit was truly seeing what Hudson was capable of.

“You’re our mate. You meaneverythingto us,” Connie stressed.

Kit’s bottom lip trembled.

Hudson stroked it with his thumb. “Losing them would devastate you, and I will do everything I can to avoid such heartache. A couple of my dragons will be going home with them. Period. And if I must use you to convince them to do that, so be it. This is who I am, Kit.”

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