CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: CONNIE

CONNIE SWALLOWED. Watching Kit get into Don’s truck was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. A part of him wanted to stop his mate, to tell him not to leave.

But another part of him knew it was for the best, even though it tore him apart. As he watched them drive off, a million thoughts raced through his mind, each one fighting for dominance in his conflicted heart.

Kit’s bookstore was busting with paranormals, their presence filling the small space with powerful energy. Connie couldn’t help but be impressed by how many had stepped up to help Kit in his time of need.

The gargoyle king, Ward, stood softly speaking to his clan members. Raven, the Master of the City, held court with his vampires. Axel and a group of his werewolves stood ready by his side.

Connie’s gaze swept over the room and noticed that every leader in San DeLain was present, except for Alpha Li Li, of course. Connie wondered briefly about what had become of that situation. No one had heard anything as of yet.

There were fifteen daemons there and just as many dragons. Susan, a member of Kage’s clan, was also there. She was a magic user with some healing ability. If needed, she could deal with the runes.

As Don’s truck sped toward Whispering Pages Bookstore, Connie tuned in to Kit and Don’s conversation through the wire Don was wearing. They were discussing potential scenarios for their upcoming meeting with Lennox, with Don planning to introduce Kit as a surprise for Lennox in front of Lennox’s bosses.

Like he was some sort of damn gift, it made Connie’s dragon want to trample something. Kit was their treasure.

Later. He’d trample something later, he promised himself.

As soon as Kit was presented to Lennox, they’d all portal in and attack. Maia had been tasked with getting Kit out of there. That was her main job.

Connie cracked his knuckles, listening to the tension in Kit’s voice as he talked to Don while they drove. His mate had been scared earlier, no matter how bravely he’d tried to hide it. Something like that couldn’t be hidden in a room full of paranormals. They had all smelled it, and Connie’s heart had clenched at the thought.

But several other paranormals in there had also gazed at Kit with respect in their eyes.

Now the mate bond pulsed with Kit’s nervous energy, causing an uncomfortable sensation in Connie’s chest. From the tenseness of Hudson’s mouth, he was feeling it too.

As the clock ticked down, the air in the bookstore grew thicker with anticipation. Every person there knew the stakes were high and failure was not an option. Connie glanced around, seeing everyone’s faces set in grim determination.

Just then, Hudson cornered Connie, his eyes those of his dragon. They burned with fear and aggression. “We need to be ready the moment that signal is given,” he whispered harshly, his voice barely carrying over the murmurs of the gathered crowd.

“I know.”

“We will protect him.”

“We will,” Connie promised.

“I love you. I need you to keep yourself safe too, mate.”

“And I love you. And same goes. I need both of my mates safe and sound.” Dragging Hudson closer, he kissed him roughly, pouring all his fear and frustration into the kiss.

When they broke apart, Hudson stalked off. Touching his lips, Connie grinned. Hudson had kissed him like he wanted to eat him. He loved that need of Hudson’s. But that spike of desire faded as he glanced over at the large digital clock mounted on the wall.

Time crawled excruciatingly slow, each tick echoing loudly in his ears. Around them, the various groups mingled, passing time but always alert, always waiting for the signal.

He was ready to finish this.

Suddenly, Kage stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room. “Get ready. It won’t be long now. Also, everyone? If my people suddenly start to portal you out, do not question us. It will be for your own safety.”

Kage then turned to face Connie and Hudson. “But that shouldn’t be a worry because we’re going to do everything we can to avoid such a situation.”

Agreement rang out.

Connie nodded, feeling Hudson’s grip on the bond tighten. They both knew Kit was walking into a lion’s den, and all they could do was wait for the right moment to strike.

The seconds stretched into minutes, each one loaded with a palpable tension that could almost be sliced through.

As the digital clock ticked on, Don’s voice crackled suddenly through the wire. “We’re here,” he murmured tersely. “I know you’re listening, so please remember your promise to help my brother.”

Kit’s voice came next, quieter and strained. “They will. They’ll help Chester. We are all going to come out of this safely. I love you guys.”

Connie’s heart lurched at Kit’s words. How he wished they could respond. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his strength. Over the bond, he sent a surge of reassurance toward Kit, hoping to steady Kit’s fraying nerves.

For a moment, the bond practically glowed as Hudson flooded it with love too.

“Going in now,” Don said.

The silence in the bookstore became profound, every creature holding their breath as they awaited the signal.

“Entering the tunnels,” Don said. “From here on out, I obviously won’t be talking to you in case it gets noticed.”

Connie fought not to react, but he struggled to keep his composure. It was excruciating to stay put while Kit put himself in harm’s way, but he knew he had to trust his mate.

Trust Fate.

Every fiber of his being wanted to run and save Kit, but he clenched his fists and fought back the overwhelming urge. He couldn’t let his emotions cloud his judgment, even though it felt like a piece of himself was being ripped away with every step Kit took toward danger.

Each second felt like an eternity as he listened and waited for something, anything, to happen. The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of his racing heart. Every passing moment heightened everyone’s anxiety as they braced themselves for what was to come.

“Why aren’t they talking?” Connie finally demanded.

“Sweetheart, they’ve got to act like Kit’s been kidnapped. Of course there wouldn’t be much talking. But if you listen closely, you can hear that they’re in the tunnels. Hear the echoes of their footfalls?”

“Yeah, okay, I do.”

Then suddenly the bond lit up with nerves.

“Shit,” Hudson muttered.

“What?” Kage demanded.

“Showtime,” Connie whispered.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

Lennox’s sneering voice came through the wire, taunting and full of disdain. The undercurrent of danger wasn’t lost on anyone listening.

“Easy,” Hudson murmured.

Connie’s fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms hard enough to draw blood. His dragon roared within him, itching to break free and tear into the man who threatened Kit.

“I have something for you,” Don said.

There was the sound of a scuffle and then Kit made a small sound of pain.

Hudson grabbed Connie by the shoulder. “It’s all fake. He didn’t actually hurt Kit. Remember that. Also, remember that Kit is no longer human. He’s much harder to hurt. He’s okay, Connie.”

Connie was starting to sweat. His dragon was infuriated. But if Hudson could keep control by Gaura, so would he. But knowing Kit was going through something and that he and Hudson weren’t there—listening to this was making him insane, but he couldn’t walk away, either.

“I told you I would get him for you, and I have. Now let my brother go,” Don said.

“I must admit, I am surprised. You’ve been nothing but incompetent from the moment you joined our ranks as a hunter,” Lennox said. “What Nox saw in you, I will never know. But still, you managed to accomplish what I didn’t think you were capable of. Hello, Kit.”

“Fuck you,” Kit snapped.

Connie let out a sharp hiss, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Kit’s words. What the hell was his mate thinking? Hadn’t anyone ever warned him not to provoke psychopaths? Didn’t he know the danger he was playing with?

“Connie,” Hudson warned through gritted teeth. “Just stay calm.”

“Actually, I’ll be fucking you, thank you very much,” Lennox replied.

Connie turned and put his fist through the nearest wall. Over his dead body that would happen.

“I’m going to force you to mate me, Kit, and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do to stop me. Hopefully, that’ll destroy Hudson and Connie. I love the idea that forcibly mating you could kill the dragon king of the San Delain court. Killing his Right Hand is just a bonus.”

A hushed gasp rippled through the bookstore. Connie’s heart stopped, if only for a moment, then his blood boiled with fury. They knew what Lennox’s plan was, but hearing it put so baldly was revolting.

Forcing a mating bite on Kit—and it would be a bite since Lennox was a werecat—would be horribly painful. It could be done on other werecreatures, but Connie wasn’t even sure if the bite could cancel out the soul bond with Kit because Hudson and Connie were completely different creatures than Lennox. Nevertheless, it would be a horrendous situation to put Kit through.

And if the bond did break? Connie wasn’t sure he and Hudson would survive. Hudson’s grip on his shoulder tightened to the point of pain, a stark reminder that they were not alone in this fight and had to maintain control.

“You’re delusional if you think that’s going to happen,” Kit responded, his voice shaky but defiant.

“Am I?” Lennox scoffed.

“I would rather be dead.”

“You’re no use to me dead. The pain it will cause your mates, along with Michail, will be so satisfying,” Lennox said. “You can thank your papa for this. He should not have run.”

“He ran for a reason, and that’s because you’re a fucking nutcase,” Kit declared. “I won’t mate you.”

“You seem to forget your current situation. You are in no position to negotiate, and I did not ask you to mate with me. It will happen regardless, and you will be mine.”

From the depths of the tunnels, the sound of heavy footsteps approached. Lennox laughed, a dark, chilling sound that echoed ominously through the wire feed. “Oh look. My hunters have arrived. Your escape routes are cut off now. You’re not going anywhere.”

Connie itched to shift and tear through every obstacle until he reached Kit. But he remained still, muscles coiled tight, eyes blazing with suppressed fury.

Hudson leaned close, his breath warm against Connie’s ear. “We have a plan. Hold on just a little longer, sweetheart.”

As agonizing seconds ticked by, Don’s voice finally broke the tension. “And my brother? You promised you would release him.”

“The fact that you believed me is completely astounding.” Lennox laughed. “I’m not letting him go. Ever. He’s the first human with mutated mer DNA who has lived longer than a month. He’s a success. But you? You look like you’re due for the grave at any moment.”

“You promised!” Don yelled, then started coughing.

Connie heard a rather large and distinctive splash in the background. “They’re at the underground lake.”

“And you’re an idiot,” Lennox mocked.

“You are a horrible person, and you need to die just like Nox!” Kit screamed.

Then, there was a high-pitched keening sound, like that of a dolphin in distress.

“Mother of all, what the hell was that ?” Kit yelled.

“Go, go, go,” Hudson yelled. “That was the signal! They’re at the underground lake! Go !”

Don laughed. “You’re underestimating his mates.”

“Oh?” Lennox asked with a mocking tone.

Instantly, Kage was in motion, pulling their group into the shadows. Between one breath and the next, they were in the darkness, and then they were in the tunnels. They ended up right outside the main tunnel that led to the underground lake. Almost immediately, Connie heard Don talking.

Alarms started blaring.

Group after group portaled in and spread out. Susan studied the runes and started weaving a spell. Hunters flooded into the tunnels, and fighting broke out.

The werewolves attacked with their deadly claws and teeth. A head went flying by as Connie stormed forward. He saw a mer move his hands in an odd way, and water encased a hunter’s head. Connie had seen this before, and it was as terrifying now as it was then. Most of the daemons were in their true forms, their massive wings also a deadly weapon.

There was a series of loud crashes, and screams followed, echoing down the tunnels.

“What the fuck have you done?” Lennox roared.

“Kit is loved, something you have no concept of.” Don yelled. “Oh, and what is that I hear?”

Connie partially transformed, seamlessly as usual. Hudson was right behind him in a similar state. They didn’t dare allow their dragons out because that might completely collapse the tunnels, and that was the last thing they wanted.

There was complete chaos. Overhead lights flickered as rescuers and hunters clashed fiercely. The sounds of combat were intense—shouting and grunts of exertion and pain.

The open room where Lennox stood was now a battleground. The stench of blood and fear filled the air, mingled with the sounds of roars and snarls. Destruction and chaos echoed around them as bodies hit the ground and furniture was overturned in the fray.

Connie roared, a guttural sound of protective fury as he barreled forward. Hunters scattered as flames rolled toward them. Hudson was at his flank, their movements synchronized after years of fighting together.

But even during the madness, Connie looked around, desperately searching for Kit. When a particularly large adversary lunged toward him, Connie intercepted him with a swipe of his powerful claws—sending him crashing into a wall and leaving a sizable dent… and a shredded chest.

The fight continued around them—a blur of motion and color and noise—but gradually, Connie sensed the tide turning in their favor. Raven’s vampires were relentless in their pursuit, while Ward commanded gargoyles to secure the perimeter.

But Connie couldn’t find Kit.