Page 35 of Edge of Darkness

“Of course.” Kit crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his desk chair. “Why are you asking me that?”

“Well, I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen you wear black. You’re usually way more colorful. And, well, you look….”

Kit scowled. “I look what?”

“Like a dark but fluffy cloud.”

Kit’s mouth dropped opened. “Fluffy?Fluffy? Are you saying I look fat? Shit, does this outfit make me look fuckingfat?” He hadn’t thought so, but what did he know? Maybe hehadhit his head this morning while showering. He’d hit everything else.

“What? Good gods,no!” Beckett exclaimed, rushing the rest of the way into the office. “Clouds are usually soft, and pretty, and cute, and, and, clouds make people happy, which you do! You’re a happy cloud. Clouds are happy, you know?”

Kit raised an eyebrow.

“But you’re dressed all in black, and kinda scowly, which is what I meant by dark. You know, dark like a thundercloud, and oh my gods, I’m making a hash of this!”

Kit hadn’t heard that phrase in a long time. It almost made him smile.

“I wasnotsaying you look fat. You’re damn sexy!” Beckett’s eyes widened. “Not that I’ve been looking, of course. I just meant—oh my dragon gods, I’m just going to shut the hell up now. The damn shipment is late but will be here tomorrow.” Beckett dashed out of Kit’s office.

Kit slowly sipped his coffee, his mood suddenly much better. Beckett was usually so calm and collected. Stately. Dignified. It was kinda fun watching that dragon trip all over himself.

A few minutes later Beckett returned, a slight blush on his face. “Okay, let’s try this again… and sorry about that. I reallywasn’tsaying you looked fat. You never wear black, is all. So, again, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Kit shrugged. “This Monday is just the most Monday ever. I didn’t sleep well, hit my big toe on the bed frame when I got up, dropped a full bottle of shampoo on theotherbig toe, almost fell over trying to pick up the soap, and yeah. I’m in a shitty mood ’cause Monday is Mondaying.”

“Is that all?”

“Isn’t that enough?” Kit demanded. Seemed like it should be enough, by damn.

“You said you didn’t sleep well. Is that normal for you?”

Of course Beckett zeroed in on that. Kit sighed. “Well, yeah, it is now— thanks to a certain someone drinking my blood and then turning intomeright beforemyvery eyes,” Kit snapped.

Beckett blinked.

“Sorry. Sorry.” Kit pinched the bridge of his nose. Maybe he should’ve stayed home, dammit. “That was unnecessarily harsh.”

“But I think it was an honest reaction that you didn’t intend to show me,” Beckett said, sitting down in the chair across from Kit’s desk. “You’ve been hiding how this has affected you, haven’t you?”

“I mean, not really? Austin and Kage know. But maybe some?” Kit waved his hand at Beckett. “I don’t know how to deal with… you guys… and I’m not sleeping well because of nightmares—”

“Oh, Kit.”

“And now the nightmares are showing up during the daylight hours and…. God. That fucker will not get out of my fucking head.”

“Wait. Wait. What? What do you mean your nightmare is showing up during daylight hours? You’re talking about Nox, right? I think you need to explain,” Beckett said.

Kit huffed. This should be fun. “You know I love to read, and I freely admit I have an overactive imagination.”

“Which has to do with… what?”

“I just want you to know how ridiculous this makes me feel repeating this. I bought groceries yesterday, and when I was pushing the shopping cart back to my vehicle, I suddenly got creeped out. It felt like somebody was watching me. Only, there wasn’t. There was no one paying attention to me in that parking lot.”

“That you knew of. Dammit, Kit, why didn’t you call?”

“And say what? That I got freaked out because a possum walked over my grave?”

Beckett blinked again. “Um, what?”

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