Page 59 of Edge of Darkness

“Oh, Nox also had a message for Kage,” Kit added.

“What did he say?” Hudson asked.

“He said to tell Kage he said hello when Kage returned from Greece.” Kit swallowed. “And he was smiling when he said that too. He knows Kage is in Greece.”

As soon as he had a chance, Hudson was making a phone call to Kage. “Is that all he said?”

“Well, no.” Kit quickly explained how his forehead had bounced off the wall in the corner Nox had shoved him into and how he’d swung at Nox and hit him.

Both Hudson and Connie growled in unison.

Head tilted, Kit stared at both of them. “Can you two stop that? Damn. Anyhow, when I saw Nox’s face, I saidNo. It can’t be. You… you… you’re dead.And Nox saidAm I?Then there was roar, and Nox saidSeems like that’s my cue to go. Do tell Kage I said hello when he returns from Greece.”

“I-I don’t understand.” Connie’s voice was still rumbly. “How can that be Nox?”

Kit glared at Connie.

“Okay, hold on.” Connie patted Kit on the leg. “Stop trying to kill me with your eyes. I’m not saying I don’t believe you.”

Kit blinked. “Really?”

“Really,” Connie said.

“I believe you too,” Hudson added. “I believe you saw Nox. What I’m questioning is if that is the original Nox. Does that make sense?”

“Not even a little,” Kit admitted.

“What are you thinking?” Connie asked Hudson.

“This is going to sound crazy, but hear me out.” Hudson took a deep breath before spilling his thoughts. He felt silly mentioning this because it was so outrageous. “What if the person Kit saw was a clone?”

Connie’s eyes widened. “Shit.”

“Holy sci-fi, Batman,” Kit muttered.

“Nox figured out a way to create hybrids. Why couldn’t he also do something like this?” Hudson asked.

“Shit. Shit. So was the Nox who Axel killed the real Nox? Or a clone? What about the one Kit just saw?” Connie demanded. “And fuck, Hudson, if Nox managed to do this, did he figure out some way to pass on his abilities?”

Kit grabbed Hudson’s arm. “Wait. Are you saying there might be several mimics running around? Please tell me that’s not what you’re saying. Please.”

Hudson calmly covered Kit’s hand with his own. “I don’t know what I’m saying, honestly. I’m only throwing out ideas that would account for Nox being killed, cremated, then buried… but then attacking you at that club tonight.”

“But doesn’t a mimic need blood to assume someone’s identity?” Connie cringed as he looked at Kit. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

“You didn’tbringup anything, trust me. They’re always there, lurking. But that is a good question. Does anybody have a good answer?” Kit asked.

“Mimics can’t store information like that. It’s why they need….” Hudson trailed off.

“Blood.” Kit shuddered. “They need fresh blood. Am I right?”

“Yes. They’re not like a computer that can store the information and then call it up at any time. Their ability doesn’t work that way,” Hudson said.

“Good to know,” Connie said.

“Please keep in mind that this is conjecture only,” Hudson said. “There might be another explanation that’s much less outlandish. Regardless, thereisa viable threat. Which means, Kit, you will be staying at my compound, and you go nowhere alone.”

This was not the way Hudson wanted things to unfold between the three of them, but his first concern was Kit’s safety. And he couldn’t keep their mate safe unless he could keep an eye on the human.

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