Page 47 of Walking in Darkness

CHAPTER TWELVE – KIT

KIT ROLLED his eyes. He noticed he was the only one whodidn’tflinch at that sound.

Connie chuckled at Kit’s reaction.

“Grace? Chris?” Michail sighed heavily. “Hudson is right. As turned shifters, you are stronger physically than Kit. Even when he is officially mated, that won’t change. And I am stronger than both of you because I was born a shifter. Kit is at the bottom of the ladder.”

“Gee. Thanks.”

“Welcome to the paranormal world, where strength, hierarchy, money, and social standing are everything,” Michail said. “You will have some of those things as their mate, but you will always be only one step above human. I’m not saying that to hurt you, child. It’s just the truth.”

“I’ll tell you like I told Kit—you are important to him, so you are important to me. He needs to be safe, so his parents need to be kept safe.” Hudson held up his hand when Chris opened his mouth. “If you were used against Kit—if you were hurt—do you know what that’d do to him?”

Chris shut his mouth abruptly.

Hudson nodded. “Exactly. It’d destroy him, and Iwillavoid that if at all possible. I’m sending dragons to protect you. Period. I’d like for them to be welcome in your commune, Alpha.”

Kit’s gaze snapped to his pops.

“Yes, Kit. Your pops is their alpha. Michail has already said he’s an omega. Your mom doesn’t give off alpha vibes, but your pops does.”

“Is that true, Pops?”

“According to Michail, yes. Apparently, even as a human, I was very much an alpha. When I was changed, those characteristics were—I don’t know exactly how to phrase it,” Chris said. “Transferred maybe? Anyway, that’s what happened.”

“So, as an alpha, would you disrespect Kit’s people in such a way by not welcoming them into your territory?” Hudson asked. “And make no mistake, my dragons are Kit’s people. This is Kit’s court too.”

Chris stared at Hudson, his mouth tight. “You fight dirty.”

Michail snorted. “Of course he does. He’s a dragon.”

“I’ll do whatever is necessary to assure Kit’s peace of mind.”

“And if I refuse your dragons? Are you going to send them into my territory, anyway?”

“Yes. It would make for an uncomfortable situation for all, of course. I rather hope we can avoid that.”

Kit could literally see the steam coming out of his pop’s ears.

Finally, Chris huffed. “For Kit’s sake, I’ll agree to it. But I want you to understand something. While they’re in my territory, they obey the laws ofmyterritory. My rules are not outrageous, though, and I’ll gladly go over them when they get there.”

“May I have a copy of those rules now?” Hudson asked. “I’d like to see them too.”

“Sure. I’ll have it emailed to you later,” Chris said. “I also need you to understand that my commune is a safe place for others that society has turned its back on.”

Kit waved his hand at himself. “I’m a perfect example. I don’t conform to social norms. I have long hair. I wear makeup, heels, and jewelry. I’m a guy who’s not afraid to wear a skirt.” Kit shrugged.

“And you look damn sexy in one,” Connie volunteered.

“You bet your ass I do.” Kit winked at Connie.

Hudson nodded too.

“I like what’s considered feminine clothing like skirts, heels, lace. But I also like masculine clothes like leather.” Kit then winked at Hudson. “Yeah, I said leather. Anyway, my point is, my parents never tried to mold me into something I wasn’t. That’s all Pops is trying to say.”

“I understand, and I promise you whoever I send will be open-minded and accepting,” Hudson promised.

“Not all dragons are, though,” Michail said quietly. “In fact, most of them are very old school. I was concerned. Kit wasn’t raised to conform.”

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