Page 37 of Edge of Darkness

CHAPTER TEN –HUDSON

HUDSON DISCONNECTED the call with Beckett and immediately dialed Connie.

“Sire?”

“Beckett just called. Someone tried to enter Kit’s bookstore, someone who meant Kit harm. The wards activated.”

“Where are you? Are you still in your office?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, give me twenty minutes to get there and—”

“That’s not necessary, Connie, plus I need to go now.”

“Dammit, then take Lord Nelson with you. Do not go by yourself, especially if there’s a problem. I mean it, my king. Promise me, or I swear I’ll show up there just as soon as I can,” Connie growled.

“I really don’t think that’s necessary, but to keep you and Nelson frombothyelling at me, fine. I’ll take him with me. Finish your training with Lady Audrey. I’ll contact you just as soon as I know something.”

“Thank you, my king. I’ll talk to you then,” Connie said, disconnecting the call.

Hudson knew by the tone of Connie’s voice that his lover was annoyed with him for not waiting, but he felt like he didn’t have the time. Connie was in one of the far training fields getting ready to practice aerial maneuvers in his dragon form with Audrey, who was their specialist in such exercises. Still, he knew Connie would’ve preferred to be the one to go with Hudson.

Hudson dialed Nelson, told him what he needed, and arranged for Nelson to meet him in his office. As he was speaking to Nelson, another call beeped in.

Ending the call with Nelson, he switched over. “Hello?”

“King Hudson, this is Susan. The wards on Kit’s bookstore were just activated. Luckily, Doc Terry doesn’t have any patients, so he’s bringing me to you momentarily,” Susan said. “We’ll get you, then go to the bookstore.”

“Good. I was about to call you,” Hudson said. “Beckett told me he felt the alarms activate. Since Kage has tasked me with Kit’s protection, I feel like I need to investigate this.”

“Which is why we’re coming to you first. Where should we meet you?” Susan asked.

“My office. It’s been a while, but Terry has been here before.” Hudson noticed Nelson and waved him into the office. “I’m bringing Lord Nelson with me. He specializes in close combat training, but he’s skilled in many forms of combat. Just in case.”

“The more the merrier,” Susan quipped, then hung up.

“Majesty?”

Hudson quickly explained to Nelson how they were traveling, grimacing in agreement at the look on his face. Neither one of them were thrilled traveling by the shadows, but a daemon’s mode of transportation was the quickest way to get there.

Since Terry hadn’t been to Kit’s new office, Hudson sent a quick text message asking Beckett for a picture of where they were at. Daemons could travel by the shadows without knowing where they were going, but it was always risky. They could see out of their portals, so they knew what they were stepping into the majority of the time, but accidents could happen.

Terry and Susan stepped out of a shadow a few seconds later, making Hudson flinch even though he knew it was going to happen. He slipped his phone into his pocket and took a deep breath.

Terry opened another portal, and Hudson stepped inside of it. He really did hate traveling this way.

A FEW seconds later, they were standing in Kit’s office, and chaos exploded as soon as they stepped out of the shadows.

Only this time, it was all Hudson’s doing.

His true nature surged to the forefront as the most sinful scent wrapped around him. It scrambled his ability to think, snatching his iron control away from him in the blink of an eye.

It taunted him, making him want things that he’d yearned for… for hundreds of years. Hudson’s gaze sharpened as his control unraveled, and his eyes shifted to those of his dragon.

Someone gasped.

That scent called to him, demanding his attention. His fingernails lengthened and sharpened into deadly claws. Horns sprouted from his forehead, making his scalp burn as they grew upward and back.

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