Page 113 of Edge of Darkness

“Of course not. Having you as a customer is a feather in her cap,” Connie said.

“I’ve never been a feather in someone’s cap.” Kit admired the anklet. “I love ankle bracelets. It’s beautiful.” Kit kissed Connie’s cheek. “Thank you so much. I’m going to enjoy wearing it.”

“I’m going to enjoy seeing you wear it.” Connie winked as he backed up so Kit could close his door. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Hudson and Connie waited until Kit closed the door before walking away.

“He looks good in jewelry,” Hudson said.

“I can’t wait to see him draped in some of the things from your hoard,” Connie said as he tried not to waddle to Hudson’s bedroom. Oh yeah, now he remembered why he hated coming in his pants. Yuck and gross. Next time, they needed to be on a damn bed.

Hudson grinned at him as they walked. The ass. Connie rolled his eyes at Hudson. Like Hudson didn’t have come sticking to him too in uncomfortable places.

He and Hudson took a quick shower, and Connie was already sitting in bed, scrolling through social media, when his phone started buzzing. He answered it just as Hudson sat down next to him.

“Hey, Beckett,” Connie said. “What’s up?”

“Are you guys in for the evening?” Beckett asked.

“Yes, why?”

“Is it just you and Hudson?”

“Yes. What’s going on?”

“Remember asking me about human mates?”

Hudson raised an eyebrow at Connie as he put some pillows behind his head and leaned back against them.

“Yes.” Connie shrugged at Hudson.

“Well, I found some scrolls in my hoard, and I went through them,” Beckett said. “There aren’t too many instances of dragons mating with humans, but therearesome.”

“So it has happened before,” Hudson said, listening in on the conversation.

“Yes, it has,” Beckett said. “Much like the daemon, humans take our blood to extend their lifespan. As long as he’s taking your or Connie’s blood, he will live indefinitely. We already knew this, of course.”

“Right. And Kage said Austin inherited many of the traits of a paranormal, like our eyesight, hearing, and accelerated healing,” Hudson said.

“That’s true, yes. As you know, we can’t change humans like shifters can, but our blood gives them properties they wouldn’t otherwise have,” Beckett said. “It’s very similar to what the hunters have done with some humans.”

Hudson cringed. “But whatwedo is voluntary.”

“Some humans volunteered,” Connie said. “Although we know many did not.”

Hudson scowled at Connie. “I don’t like comparing the two.”

“I understand that. I’m just saying.” Connie shrugged.

“Guys? Kit will be harder to kill, have better eyesight, excellent hearing, and an extended lifespan, but he won’t be suddenly shifting into a dragon or breathing fire,” Beckett pointed out.

“We know that,” Hudson said, crossing his ankles.

“But I bet you didn’t know there are stories handed down through our history that say a red dragon’s soul bound mate, a mate who isnotdragon-born, can survive our dragon fire.”

CHAPTER THIRTY –CONNIE

CONNIE’S MOUTH fell open. “What?What? Are you kidding me?”

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