Page 53 of Walking in Darkness

Connie understood why Hudson was irritated with him, although he’d had good intentions. If Kit couldn’t get past the repulsion he felt for blood, and if he could only stand to drink from one of them, then it would be better if it was Hudson.

His mate could debate that for as long as he wanted, but it didn’t change the fact that Hudson was an Ancient, and as such, he was much more powerful than Connie.

And he would always be so. But Kit was also right because eventually it would bother Connie. That was just the nature of the dragon. The fact was, he couldn’t wait to bond with Kit and Hudson.

Nobody had to know that he had literally dreamed of making the bond permanent. Making love was not what made the bond official. There were certain words that needed to be spoken outside of the blood exchange. Those words tied their souls together and completed the bond, but it wasn’tjustthe words.

Anyone could be forced to say words. In order for souls to bond, the person speaking those words had to mean them. They literally had to come from the person’s soul.

It was something the dragons of old never fully understood. Forcing a human to bond with them never worked because the human, more times than not, was forced into it.

Connie held up his hands. “Okay, okay. I hear you loud and clear.”

“Good. I will get past this aversion I have to blood, and it’ll be fine.”

Connie leaned over so he could kiss Kit on the cheek. “I know. I was only thinking about your comfort.”

Kit turned his head so Connie’s lips collided with his. Warmth curled in his stomach. Connie loved kissing Kit—he gave as much as he took.

Kit ended the kiss, then rubbed his thumb over Connie’s lips. “And I thank you for thinking about me, but I will never choose you over Hudson. The three of us are mates. Thethreeof us.”

“I won’t bring it up again,” Connie said.

“Good.” Kit patted Connie’s cheek.

THEY HAD lunch first, then Beckett returned up front to help with customers. As they left the bookstore, Connie inhaled discreetly, but he smelled nothing out of the ordinary. In other words, no werecats.

Connie unlocked the SUV and got into the driver’s side. As soon as Kit and Hudson were settled, he locked the doors, started the vehicle, and pulled out of the parking lot.

Kit was asking dozens of questions about what Beckett had told them as they pulled onto the interstate.

“You know, I’d love to see the scrolls that he found that information in. They’re a piece of history,” Kit said. “They’ve got to be worth a fortune.”

“Most definitely. Dragons are kind of funny, though, about letting people into their hoards,” Connie said. “But maybe he’d let you. He knows how much you love books. But don’t get your feelings hurt if he says—shit!”

All Connie could see in front of him was red brake lights. A lot of red brake lights that he was coming upon entirely too quickly. He practically stood on the brake, trying to stop.

Kit grabbed the door handle of the SUV as he was thrown forward. “Fuck. Fuck, Connie, they’re—”

From the back seat, Hudson growled loudly. “Dammit!”

“I know. I know! Hold on!” Connie wished Hudson had been the one sitting in the front seat instead of Kit. Dragons could take a lot more damage than humans.

Oh Gaura, Kit was human. Completely human.

Seeing that he was still going to plow into the person in front of him, he jerked the wheel to the right and onto the shoulder. Fortunately, there was a grassy area right next to the interstate.

They bounced across the grass, throwing huge dirt clods into the air, before finally coming to a stop. His damn heart was pounding after Baja-ing across the grass.

At least they were off the interstate. Horrified, he watched vehicle after vehicle slam into the back of each other.

And some of those vehicles were eighteen-wheelers. People were going to die from this, or at the very least, have their lives completely changed. Once more, it brought home just how fragile humans were.

There was smoke curling into the air farther up the interstate. Was something on fire? Were there people trapped in those burning vehicles? He sincerely hoped not.

“Is everybody okay?” Connie asked, turning away from the carnage.

“I’m fine.” Kit was still busy staring into the passenger-side mirror. “Jesus, they’re still coming.”

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