CHAPTER TWELVE: CONNIE

“I’M SORRY, what?” Connie’s jaw nearly hit the floor as he stared at Kit in disbelief. Surely, they had not heard Hudson correctly.

“We chased Don into this dilapidated bookstore, but he got away. However, we discovered some tunnels while searching for him. There are several down there actually.”

“Don? Did he say Don?” Kit questioned.

“Back up just a moment. Where did you run across Don? And how?” Connie asked.

“After finishing up at the lawyer’s office, I wanted to check on Kage and see how things were going at the Dominion. Due to all the damage, I had to park my car a few blocks away, and while walking over, I noticed the distinct scent of a hunter nearby.”

“He called me when he did,” Kage chimed in. “I portaled to his location.”

“Dammit, Hudson,” Connie snarled.

“I called Kage, sweetheart. I wasn’t alone. Then I saw Don and gave chase. He ducked into this derelict bookstore.”

“Since no one has answered me, let me ask this again . You mean Don, right? As in… my damn ex?” Kit demanded. “The one who keeps popping up all over the place here lately? That Don? And you and Kage chased him?”

Kit’s voice was steadily rising, and Connie didn’t blame him in the least. Thank the Flames they were in Kit’s office when his cell phone rang.

“Yes, that Don. We almost caught him, but the guy’s slippery,” Hudson said, his voice laced with irritation. “He opened a hidden passage and disappeared. We followed and found tunnels underneath the bookstore.”

Kit paced the floor of his cramped office, raking a hand through his unruly hair. “Wait, what? Tunnels? Did you say tunnels? Underneath the bookstore? This is getting weirder by the minute.”

Connie, who had been silent, finally spoke up. “Are you telling me you followed a known hunter into an unsecured area with only Kage as backup?”

“Connie—”

Connie took a deep breath as his dragon rumbled to life. He knew his king was more than capable. Hudson had not only the age but the bloodline. He was a fierce warrior. Connie kept reminding himself that as his heart rate increased and his dragon mentally bared his fangs.

Hudson had gone into danger, and Connie had not been there.

“Sweetheart? Listen to me. I know what you’re thinking. Yes, it could have been a trap. And no, you were not there with me, but Kage was. You know, the one who is capable of using shadows to open portals?”

Smoke trailed from Connie’s nostrils.

“Oh boy, he’s smoking, and I don’t mean he’s smoking a cigarette,” Kit said.

“That was dangerous,” Connie growled, his voice deepening.

“I don’t disagree, but I also felt it was necessary,” Hudson said. “We didn’t actually go into the tunnels.”

“Well, thank the dragon gods for that,” Connie said quietly. “Why is it the first time I’m not with youthatyou manage to find trouble?”

Hudson chuckled softly. “Do I at least score points for not going into the tunnels or for Kage and menot splitting up?”

“Mother of all,” Kit breathed. “Split up? You do know what happens to people when they split up, right? Have you ever watched a horror show? Come on.”

Kage groaned in the background.

“See?” Hudson said to Kage. “I told you.”

Kit wasn’t the only one taking deep breaths. Connie finally managed to get his dragon under control. “Okay, so what’s our plan here? We wait for him to pop up again, or do we go down into those tunnels?”

Kit stopped pacing and turned toward Connie, his expression serious. “We can’t just wait for him to show up again. I feel like something is going on involving him. We need to do something now.”

“I agree,” Hudson said. “We can’t afford to sit back and let Don keep ducking in and out of sight.”

“But we need to be careful,” Kit said. “Those tunnels could be anything—a trap, an escape route, or something we haven’t even thought of yet.”

“Exactly. If they are as extensive as they sound, there could be a whole network beneath the city,” Connie reasoned. “Don’s probably using them to move around unnoticed. It’s the perfect hideout for someone who doesn’t want to be found.”

“And does Lennox know about them?” Kit asked.

“If Don does, it’s safe to assume Lennox does,” Hudson answered. “Kage and I discussed it. We think we should scout it. And before anybody yells, that’s why he’s called Austin and his lieutenants too. Either Denisha or Maia will portal to you and bring you here.”

“When you say you, you mean Connie, don’t you?” Kit asked.

Connie had enough sense not to answer that question—he could see the narrow-eyed look Kit was giving him. Nope, he was letting Hudson field that one.

“Well, Connie and one of my inner circle,” Hudson responded. “Beckett will be there with you. I think it’s safe to say they won’t use this place again, though.”

“Now that we know about it? Most likely not,” Connie admitted, not commenting on who had not been named. “Who do you want me to bring?”

“Torres, if he’s available.” Hudson sighed into his phone. “Kage and I will wait here at the bookstore for everyone.”

“That sounds perfect,” Kit said.

Connie turned toward Kit again, his gaze sharp and focused. “What?”

“You really don’t think you’re the only one going, right?” Kit protested immediately. “Don is personal for me. I need to see this through.”

Recognizing the determination on Kit’s face, Connie knew it was about to hit the fan. Really, Hudson should have known Kit wasn’t going to let this go. “Um….”

Kit pointed a finger at Connie. “Yeah, no. Don’t even. I’m coming. This is not even up for discussion. And before either you or Hudson say anything, I’m as safe as I can be with three daemons and three dragons. Besides, if Austin is going to be there, then I damn sure am going to be there too, unless you can explain to me why he gets to be there, and I cannot?”

Both Connie and Kit stared at the cell phone Connie held when they heard Hudson’s growl.

“Answer the question, and don’t you growl at me,” Kit snapped.

“Kit—”

“No. If you can’t give me a reasonable excuse, then I am going to be there.”

“Fine!” Hudson barked. “But you do what I say when I say. Absolutely no unnecessary risk.”

“Of course,” Kit said sweetly.

Connie, Hudson, and Kage spent the next twenty minutes discussing every possible scenario they could face in the tunnels—from booby traps to an ambush by Don or other hunters. Connie also called Torres and gave him a heads-up on what was about to happen and asked him to inform the rest of the inner circle.

“Okay, Kage tells me Maia is coming to get you and Kit after she picks up Torres. Denisha is coming straight to us. Kit? Make sure no one blunders into your office at a bad time. Connie? Will you let Beckett know what’s going on?”

“Of course.” Connie sent Beckett a quick text.

“Maia will be there shortly,” Kage said.

After they hung up, Connie approached Kit, placing a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. “We’ll get through this,” he murmured quietly.

“I know,” Kit replied. “That doesn’t mean it didn’t scare me when he said he and Kage went through that hidden door.”

Connie pulled Kit into a hug. “I completely understand, believe me.”

“Yeah, I guess you do. If you hadn’t been stuck here with me—”

“None of that now. It was just yesterday you gave me a scare. My dragon and I needed to be here with you. Just keep reminding yourself that Hudson is a thousand years old and more than capable.”

“You too.” Kit gave a half-hearted chuckle as he stepped back, ending their hug. “I saw your reaction, remember? Let’s just hope all those centuries have given him a good sense of direction in those tunnels.”

Connie released him, clapping him on the back. “If not, he’ll just blame us or Kage for any wrong turns.”

His brief attempt at humor faded as they prepared for what was ahead. As promised, Maia appeared within minutes, a swirl of shadows heralding her arrival. Torres was right beside her, his face set in grim determination.

“Ready?” Maia’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Connie said, glancing at Kit, who nodded in agreement.

They moved as one, stepping into the vortex of shadows Maia controlled. The sensation was disorienting. The absolute absence of light deprived all beings of their senses. The nothingness swallowed up everything.

No sound could be heard as they traveled through the portal. The silence was heavy and oppressive. Isolating. Unnerving. Pressure seemed to compress around them before suddenly releasing them into their new location—a dimly lit corner of a bookstore that smelled of mold and forgotten stories.

Hudson and Kage were already there, several sheets of paper sprawled out across a dusty table.

“What are those?” Connie asked, coming to stand next to Hudson. “Wait. Are those maps? Where in the world did you get those from?”

“Good, you’re here. Darnell managed to hack the city hall computer and download images of the tunnels underneath San DeLain, which he quickly printed out for us,” Hudson said without looking up.

“Hey, Kit,” Austin said as he came to stand next to Kit.

“Hey. This is a trip, huh?”

“I swear it’s going in my next book,” Austin said quietly.

Maia snickered.

“Okay, everyone. So? This right here?” Hudson jabbed his finger at the paper decisively. “It makes the most sense that Don has been using this main tunnel. It intersects with several smaller ones here, here, and here.”

Denisha entered then, her presence commanding as always. “I did a quick check. The perimeter is secure, but we should move quickly.”

Everyone gathered around the table, leaning closer to see the printouts more clearly. Hudson traced their intended path through the labyrinthine network below.

“Our best chance is to split into two teams,” Hudson declared. “One will take the north tunnel here”—he pointed—“while the other heads south after entering from this point.”

“I want Kit on our team, Hudson,” Connie said immediately.

“Of course,” Kage said. “Just as I would want Austin on mine. I would suggest your team take Denisha, and my team take Torres. That way Denisha can open a portal if you should need it, and Torres can cook anything we might run into down there.”

Torres grinned hugely.

“Agreed,” Hudson said, then looked at Kit. “But remember what I said about unnecessary risks.”

“I totally plan to let you and Connie take all the unnecessary risks,” Kit said. “Any necessary ones too.”

“Good,” Hudson grumbled.

With roles assigned and paths set, they prepared to step into the shadows of the underground tunnels.

“Stay sharp,” Hudson advised. “Watch each other’s backs. And remember, this is reconnaissance first.”

The familiar thrill of adrenaline surged through Connie as they approached the entrance to the tunnels. Beside him, Kit’s expression was resolute—the bond between them was calm.

“Then let’s move out,” Hudson ordered. “Kage? Meet back here in two hours, okay?”

“Yes.”

The group descended into the darkness of the tunnels with only their flashlight apps guiding their way. The walls were damp and echoed their every movement, making the atmosphere even more eerie and oppressive. The tunnel eventually split into multiple pathways, each one as foreboding as the next.

“Okay, we part here. Everyone? Be safe,” Hudson said, then they set off along their assigned paths.

Hudson, Kit, and Connie ventured deeper into their chosen tunnel. Every step they took seemed to echo ominously around them. A chill ran down Connie’s spine—not from fear, but from a cold draft that seemed unnatural in such a confined space.

“Do you feel that?” Kit whispered.

“Yeah,” Connie replied quietly. “I do.” He paused to examine the walls more closely. “Look here.” He pointed at markings that were barely visible on the rough surface.

Kit leaned closer, tracing them. “Symbols? Runes?”

“Possibly,” Connie murmured. “This could indicate magical protection—or a warning.”

“A witch might be involved, but that’s hard to believe,” Hudson said.

“The hunters haven’t targeted them like they have us, though,” Connie pointed out.

“Because they don’t consider witches as paranormals,” Hudson said. “Which is stupid because they are definitely other .”

“True,” Connie said. “So, what are the runes for?”

“I have no idea,” Hudson said. “Probably nothing good.”

Connie nodded, exchanging a look with Hudson. They proceeded with even greater caution. Every step forward was weighed against the risk of triggering unseen magical defenses or walking into a trap set by Don or his allies.

Connie kept Kit close, his gaze darting around as they navigated through the narrow, uneven path lit only by the dim light from their phones.

As they rounded another bend in the tunnel, they heard a faint echo—voices maybe? Or just an echo of their own movements? It was hard to tell with how sounds traveled down there, even with their keen hearing.

Suddenly, Denisha held up her hand, signaling them to stop. “Listen,” she whispered urgently.

For a moment, all was silent except for the distant drip of water. Then, faintly, they heard it—a series of soft clicks. The group exchanged nervous glances. It sounded like something–a door maybe–being opened.

“Is there something down here with us, you think?” Denisha asked.

“Oh God, like what?” Kit whined.

Denisha shrugged. “Well, the hunters are experimenting with DNA.”

“ Oh my God,” Kit gasped.

“If these tunnels are being used by Don or the hunters, we might not be the only ones down here,” Hudson said after a decidedly tense pause. “We need to be quiet. We don’t want to alert anyone to our presence more than we have to.”

“Let’s keep going, but be ready, Denisha,” Connie said.

They continued on as their path sloped slightly downward. The air here was damp and heavy with an earthy smell that reminded Connie of wet leaves after a storm.

After what felt like hours but was likely only minutes, they emerged into a larger cavernous area lit by sporadic patches of bioluminescent fungi clinging to the damp walls.

The natural light revealed an underground lake with water so still it looked like glass.