Page 63 of Walking in Darkness

“Are you sure?” Connie asked.

“I’m positive. I don’t want you to miss out on something I’m guessing you need to do just because I’m uncomfortable.” Kit pinned Hudson with a look. “You promise you won’t move once I get up there?”

“I won’t even twitch,” Hudson promised. “But if you’re this uncomfortable, we don’t have to do it.”

“I want to. Besides, what human in their right mind wouldn’t be a little scared? But I trust you, so let’s do this.”

Hudson was tempted to ask Kit again if he was sure, but he refused to. Kit had already said that he was, so he didn’t need Hudson questioning him because Hudson was the one feeling a bit insecure. “Then let’s go outside.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN – HUDSON

HUDSON undressed, then walked out to the middle of the open field that wasn’t far from the back of his house. Connie and Kit followed him. There were woods all around them, but he’d cleared this area for exactly this purpose.

Closing his eyes, he mumbled a privacy spell under his breath. He wasn’t worried about a human getting on his land without him knowing about it, but the ones in the planes overhead always presented a problem.

When aircrafts had been invented, they became a colossal pain in the ass for anything that had the capability to fly. There had been more than one unexplained airplane crash over the years.

Satisfied that the area was protected, Hudson let the change roll through him. In the blink of an eye, his form blurred as his human body disappeared. In its place stood a creature of mythology—a dragon. A sleek, powerful, and intimidating dragon. Hudson stood still as his body expanded until it was the size of a three-story house.

Dragons were not like werewolves—they didn’t share their human body with an animal. Instead, the animal shared its form with a human body, but they were still two parts of a whole. Although, in this modern world, the human form tended to take precedent.

Nevertheless, they were creatures of magic, which accounted for how they transformed and their spells work. Theydidn’t so much shift as they dropped the human façade and became what they truly were.

Hudson sat proudly. He was well aware that in this form he was magnificent. He had a muscular body with an elongated neck. His limbs might be short, but they were powerful.

There were three digits on each foot that ended in sharp claws—claws that could rip through flesh quite easily. His head was massive, and there were tiny nostrils on either side of his snout—a snout full of lethal teeth and a pair of horns that extended from his jaw.

A bony ridge separated his nostrils, and a mane of daunting spikes sprouted from the back of his head and ran down to his shoulder blades, where huge leathery wings sprouted from. That would be where Kit sat.

But his scales were the real showstopper. The iridescent scales were a pure red, but Hudson was perfectly aware that they’d sparkle in the setting sun’s light.

“He’s beautiful,” Kit whispered to Connie.

Hudson turned his head toward his mates. Connie’s heart rate was normal, but Kit’s was definitely elevated.

“And can apparently hear exceptionally well in this form too,” Kit muttered.

Connie laughed softly. “We can, yes. Let me know when you’re ready to move closer.”

Hoping it would help set Kit at ease, Hudson lowered himself to the ground. He wouldn’t move from there until Kit was ready to go back to the house if that was what it took to reassure his mate.

Kit took Connie’s hand. “Okay, I’m ready. But before we climb up there, can I walk around him?” Kit shook his head quickly. “Sorry. I keep forgetting you can understand me, Hudson. Is it okay if I admire your fine form first?”

Hudson didn’t want to make any sudden moves and scare Kit, so he slowly closed his eyes and opened them.

“That’s a yes,” Connie said, squeezing Kit’s hand. “Come on. I’m sure he’d love for you to admire his dragon. We’re all basically built the same, you know. Hudson happens to be bigger because he’s royalty.”

“Man, youarehuge.” Kit edged closer to Hudson’s foreleg. “No squashing the human, okay?”

“Babe, he would never.”

“I know that. I was totally kidding, although I’m sure it wouldn’t take much. Like, one good roll.”

“Trust me, he’s well aware of how big he is compared to you. He won’t hurt you.”

It pained Hudson to hear Kit talk like that, but he wasn’t wrong. Hudson could really do some serious damage to any human in this form. A lot of paranormals too, for that matter. Wanting to reassure his mate, Hudson concentrated on what was basically the equivalent of a cat purring.

Kit jumped when he heard the sound. “Is that…?”

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