Page 5 of Edge of Darkness

“How is Axel handling that?”

“Honestly? I think he’s having a lot of the same emotions I’m having—just minus the sadness, of course. Lots of anger, for sure. Austin and I are keeping an eye on him.”

“That’s good. I’m not going to lie, that situation is a little weird, but I’m glad you and he have worked things out. It sounds like he needs a friend. Also? I hear you’re connected to a wolf pack too.” Hudson snickered.

“Well, that didn’t take long. But yes.”

“Werewolves are just a bunch of old gossips. Anyhow, I never thought I’d be saying that. Not in a million years.”

“That I’m connected to a werewolf pack? Me either. Life’s a damn trip, is it not?”

“It is indeed, my friend. So, is Austin up to having visitors?”

“Of course.”

“Conrad and I will stop by, then. Is any time good?”

“Yes, just call. I’m still feeling rather protective.”

“I bet.” Hudson wasn’t soul bound to anyone, which was the equivalent of a mate for dragons, but he could imagine how he would feel if he were in his friend’s shoes. “Hey, Kage?”

“Yes?”

“I’m here for you. If you need anything,anything, let me know.”

“Thank you. I most definitely will. There’s a possibility I might ask to borrow your jet to make a quick trip to Greece, but I’m not sure yet.”

“Anything you need.” Hudson didn’t ask why Kage was going to Greece because, frankly, it wasn’t any of his business. If Kage wanted him to know, he’d tell him, eventually. But Hudson had a sneaking suspicion—he knew where Kage was born.

After the call ended, Hudson leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. His friend was hurting, and he hated that. It made him want to burn something to the ground.

They’d met when Hudson had fished Kage out of the River Thames during the late eighteen hundreds. Ah, the Victorian era. What fun that had been. How Kage had stunk too.

It still made him smile thinking about it. Kage had turned the air blue with his foul language. He was one of the few non-dragons Hudson trusted.

They had several joint ventures that paid nicely, and they shared similar tastes in both stocks and bonds… and at one time, in men and women. But those days were past, for both of them.

Strong hands began to massage his tight shoulders. Turning his head slightly, he nipped at the fingers working a particularly brutal knot.

“I certainly didn’t see that coming.”

Hudson wasn’t surprised Connie heard what Kage said. He was a dragon, after all.

“He’s hurting. You can hear it in his voice. And stop biting at me before you start something right here in your office,again, you damn horny dragon.”

Hudson spun his desk chair around and yanked the biggest pain in his ass into his lap. “If I remember correctly, Connie, it wasyouwho started it last time.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Connie sniffed as he straddled Hudson’s lap.

“Uh-huh.”

The first time they’d made love had indeed happened in Hudson’s office. Oh, they’d fucked plenty before that, but that time had been different.

It had been rough and motivated by fear from the hunters’ attack. Conrad had freaked out over Hudson being shot—so much so, he’d partially shifted out of fear.

Only it hadn’t been just fear. That was the day they’d stopped running from what they’d felt and ended up making rough love on top of Hudson’s desk. Well, Hudson had stopped running. Conrad had still been fighting for something between them.

Seeing Conrad come undone by fear had nearly broken Hudson. The problem was, as much as he adored Conrad, or Connie as he called him more often than not, they were not soul bound.

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