CHAPTER SEVEN: KIT

KIT WAS going to lose his damn mind. Pacing back and forth, he clenched his fists at his sides. His breathing sawed in and out and sweat beaded on his forehead. Why did it feel as if the walls were closing in and the air was becoming thicker? Can’t do this. Can’t panic. They can feel that.

He fought to get control of himself. Him panicking was the last thing his dragons needed. Both of his mates had a stranglehold on the bond, blocking all emotions from him, and while they may think that was helpful, all it did was scare Kit even more.

The intense grip of their connection was suffocating, like being trapped in an underwater current with no way to break free. There was something going on out there, and he had no idea what.

Well, he knew they were under attack, and so was Kage. That was it. If his mates thought his not knowing was a comfort, he was going to loudly inform them of how wrong they were the first opportunity he got.

Did he mention loudly? Because with how he felt right then, there was going to be screaming involved.

Since he was taking both Hudson’s and Connie’s blood, his senses had all improved, meaning he could hear what Kage had been telling Hudson clearly, just as Connie could.

Someone had attacked Kage’s home base, just as they had Hudson’s,

Kit looked at his cell phone. He didn’t have service down here, but at least he could tell what time it was. Since it was stupid o’clock in the morning—three a.m., in fact—the restaurant that was part of the Dominion would’ve been closed, thank God.

From what Austin had told him, the first several floors at the Dominion were mainly shops and entertainment open only to residents. The apartments for Kage’s clan were higher up in the building.

He had no idea how much damage had been done, but he sincerely hoped nobody had been killed. But the likelihood of that was not good. The question was why. If Lennox was behind this, what was he hoping to accomplish?

Kit collapsed on the floor next to a big pile of coins, and that stupidly large ruby he’d seen the last time winked at him. He picked it up, toying with it.

At least where they’d been targeted had been pretty isolated. So far.

Surely, if they took a direct hit he would know, even down here. He figured if one of his mates got hurt, he’d know that immediately too, even if they were suppressing the bond.

And he was totally kicking their asses for that later.

Ugh. They were probably picking up how annoyed he was with them, and considering they were under attack, that was probably not the best thing. Taking another deep breath, Kit slowly released it, trying to calm himself. His fists slowly unclenched.

As he calmed, his muscles relaxed. The room around him, which previously felt suffocating, now almost seemed to expand along with his breaths. He understood their reasoning, and honestly, he couldn’t fault them for it.

Out of the three of them, he was definitely the weak link. He hated that, but there was nothing he could do about it. Once he got his emotions under control, he eased the stranglehold he had on the bond.

The tight knot in his stomach loosened, and he could finally take a deep breath without feeling like he was suffocating. He didn’t like it when they choked him off, so it wasn’t fair to do it to them.

As soon as he eased up, a wave of relief flowed over him. Okay, so, whatever was going on up there, at least they seemed to be okay.

Then rage surged through Kit’s veins as a wild, animalistic fury filled him. He caught his breath in shock. Hudson—and that was definitely Hudson’s feelings—was consumed by an intense and deadly anger that radiated from him like a scorching fire that promised to unleash chaos and destruction.

“Holy shit, what just happened?” Kit muttered to himself, because he was positive he’d never felt such anger from Hudson.

A wave of reassurance washed over Kit through the bond, emanating from Connie like a warm embrace. However, it was quickly followed by Hudson’s intense anger. Kit couldn’t be sure if the reassurance was directed toward him, but he assumed it was.

Hudson, oddly enough, seemed… almost disconnected? That really didn’t describe the feeling he got from him, though. The bond was still there, and Hudson hadn’t shut it down, but it was almost as if whatever feelings coming through were almost… secondary?

Like they were Hudson’s but not Hudson’s. Which made absolutely no sense, because of course it was Hudson… unless what Kit was feeling was actually from the dragon.

Suddenly, possessiveness flared along the lines of the bond, along with a primitive feeling of… devotion. Commitment? Dedication? Along with covetousness, cravings, eagerness, and greediness. It glimmered and pulsed with each emotion that passed through it.

The possessiveness was visible as the bond constricted, while devotion and commitment were shown through its steady, unwavering glow. The bond also revealed eagerness and greediness, flickering in anticipation of what was to come.

And at the center of it all was love, radiating with a brightness that seemed to envelop everything around it. Kit looked on, breathless, as he witnessed the power of this love connecting them.

Love?

Kit gulped.

It was a love so pure and all-consuming it was almost blinding to behold. The three of them had been dancing around with that for a while now, but there was no denying what he was feeling was from Hudson’s dragon. Eternal love—something so big and so vast, Kit could barely wrap his human mind around it.

The bond between them pulsed with love and understanding, like two puzzle pieces finally fitting together perfectly.

Wonder flowed along the bond from Connie, along with much of the same feelings he was picking up from Hudson. Wonder and joy, plus warmth. Yup, that was his Connie. Although Connie’s feelings didn’t seem to be quite so primal, so maybe Connie was still in his human form.

The anger slowly bled away and contentment invaded Kit. Kit had never doubted that the three of them were well on their way to falling in love, but this confirmed it.

He was loved.

And he loved.

Kit sent acceptance, happiness, joy, and yes, love back along the bond. It practically vibrated seconds later. There were two very happy dragons somewhere above him.

The timing might have been horrendous, but that was okay too. He wouldn’t trade what he’d just learned for anything in the world. I love them.

Waves of happiness hit him.

They needed to hurry up and come get him.

AFTER WHAT felt like an eternity, Kit was suddenly jolted awake by a surge of excitement coursing through the bond.

It sent a bolt of adrenaline rushing to his limbs, urging him to sit up and scan the room frantically. His gaze was immediately drawn to the hoard’s door. His mates were out there, eager to unlock it so they could finally get to him.

The anticipation in the air was thick and palpable, making it hard for Kit to catch his breath as he braced himself for whatever was about to happen next. At some point, he’d curled up on the floor and fallen asleep. Putting a bed in here and in Connie’s hoard was now a priority if this was where he was going when shit hit the fan.

The door swung open with a loud creak, and Hudson burst through like a force of nature. His strides were long and purposeful, his gaze fixed on the target in front of him. Kit’s breath caught as he watched Hudson approach.

He’d always thought Hudson was sexy, but there was something different about him now. A raw, untamed energy emanated from every inch of his body, giving off an air of danger and unbridled sensuality.

It was both intimidating and alluring at the same time. Hudson’s eyes were still the color of his dragon, and redness rode on his cheeks. His long hair flew around him as he advanced toward Kit.

Connie’s short hair was becomingly messy, and there was color on his cheeks too. The stubble on his jawline only added to his rugged appearance. His eyes were human brown and blazed with intensity, yet they practically glowed with warmth and affection.

Jumping to his feet, Kit threw himself at Hudson. Connie slammed into both of them, and Kit wrapped an arm around Connie’s neck, pulling him in for a desperate kiss.

Hudson nuzzled Kit’s ear and squeezed his ass, his other arm around Connie’s waist. Desperate for air, Kit pulled away, sucked in a breath, then slammed his mouth over Hudson’s.

Kit ended the kiss, then stared into Hudson’s eyes. “I love you, you magnificent dragon. Can you feel how much I love you?”

Hudson rumbled happily. “I can. I love you too.”

“I can feel it.” Kit turned to Connie and pulled him closer. “I love you too, my sexy dragon. Can you feel how much I love you?”

“I do. We both do. And we both love you.”

Kit wiggled his way out of their arms and dropped to his knees, his determination clear in the way he moved. With nimble fingers, he swiftly pulled down the waistband of Hudson’s night pants and pulled out his cock.

Connie was next, and Kit wasted no time in freeing him as well. His hands wrapped around both hard lengths, eager to please them both. He took Connie into his mouth, sucking frantically and using his tongue to wet every inch of him.

Connie’s groans filled the air, encouraging Kit to continue his work. After a few moments, he switched his attention to Hudson, giving him the same intense treatment. Back and forth he went, alternating between the two and driving them crazy with pleasure.

The bond between them pulsed with a primal, urgent need that sent shivers down Kit’s spine.

Connie’s lips parted as he lost control, revealing his clenched teeth as he gasped for air. Eyes closed tightly, his chest rose and fell rapidly with each ragged breath. His brows furrowed in either pleasure or pain—Kit couldn’t tell as he gazed up through his eyelashes.

Kit milked Connie eagerly, taking everything he had to give. With a satisfied sigh, Kit turned his attention back to Hudson, and their bodies moved together like dancers in a passionate duet.

Hudson’s moans crescendoed, reaching a fever pitch as he finally released with a guttural cry of pleasure. The air was thick and heavy, filled with the heady scents of passion and sweat mingling together.

Drops of perspiration glistened on Kit’s skin. Every inch of him was alive and buzzing with electric energy, fueled by the intensity of their shared desire.

“Gods, I’m dizzy,” Connie complained, leaning against a counter full of crowns, a silly grin on his face. “I think you sucked my brain out of my dick.”

Kit’s laughter died in his throat when Hudson threw him over his shoulder and headed out of the hoard.

Snorting, Connie followed them.

THEY MADE love to him, playing his body like a violin and driving him mad. Their love and need to saturate every part of Kit’s body with their scent had been almost more than he could handle. He was exhausted, limp, and deliriously happy. They deserved to take a moment to celebrate their love, and they had.

“I love you,” Hudson said, helping Kit sit up in bed.

“I love you too,” Kit said as Hudson fluffed the pillows behind his back.

“Here.” Connie held out a glass of water. “I got you something to drink.”

“Thank you, mate.” Kit took a big gulp, then grinned at Connie. “Have I told you lately I love you too?”

Connie lit up. “Yes, but I’m always open to hearing it again.”

“That’s a good thing since I plan on saying it a lot.” Kit rested in the guest bed they were temporarily using, staring at his very proud-looking mates. “Okay, now that the two of you have successfully drowned me in your scents, tell me what happened.”

Connie snickered.

“You laugh, but I know that was exactly what you two were doing,” Kit mumbled. “So, spill.”

“That reminds me, I need to call Kage,” Hudson said, sitting on the foot of the bed.

“Which you can, as soon as you tell me what happened.”

“That’s fair,” Hudson said. “There was a surface-to-air missile launched into my territory, but it hit near the boundary I share with the gargoyles. I’m not sure whoever fired it meant to do that, but nevertheless, that’s where it hit.”

“There were no casualties, as the cabins there are empty, but they will need to be rebuilt. We also lost some outbuildings too,” Connie said, standing next to the bed.

“Another missile was launched, and this one was actually heading straight toward the main house,” Hudson said. “I transformed into my dragon and brought the missile down.”

“Actually, he incinerated it. There’s not much that’s hotter than dragon fire.”

“So, that was it? No more missiles were fired toward us?” Kit asked.

“That was it.” Hudson shoved his hands into his hair. “I hate to do this, especially at this moment, but I really do need to talk to Kage.”

“Hey, I completely understand. I’m grateful we managed to steal some time away, so you go be king. And Connie? If you need to go be his Right Hand, go. I’m not going to be mad or resentful. This is who the two of you are. I know that.”

Hudson gently kissed Kit’s lips. “Thank you. Thank you for understanding, especially since we just declared our love for each other. I want to do something special, but—”

“Hey, I have no complaints! None. At all. So go do what you need to do.”

“Thank you.” Connie kissed Kit on the cheek. “You have no idea how that helps us. No idea.”

Turning, Kit touched Connie’s hand until he bent down so Kit could kiss him. “Oh, I think I do.” Kit glanced at the table and saw what time it was. “I think I’m going to go have breakfast with whoever is in the communal dining room since it’s getting to be that time.”

“Please don’t leave the compound. At least until I know exactly what’s going on,” Hudson said.

“That’s a given. I won’t. When I get through with breakfast, I might hang out and play pool, or maybe go for a swim. But I’ll stay around here.”

“Thank you. We’ll find you eventually,” Hudson said, getting up from the bed.

“Keep your phone on you, just in case,” Connie added.

“Sure thing.” He’d just stay right here until they got dressed and left, otherwise no one would get anything accomplished today.

They kissed him again on their way out of the room. Tentatively, Kit ran his fingers over his lips, enjoying how swollen they felt. His men had really taken good care of him.

Once the door shut behind them, Kit wandered into the bathroom to take a shower.

IT HAD been an all-out attack. By midmorning, that was all anybody was talking about at breakfast. None of Hudson’s inner circle or the two Ancients were there, but it didn’t matter. Word traveled fast, and bad news even faster.

Kage had been attacked, but no one in his clan had been injured. The damage to his building was substantial, though. The human authorities had forcibly evacuated it, leaving Kage and his clan scrambling to temporarily move into another building he owned.

Kit knew the gargoyles had been attacked, and the rumor was they had sustained injuries, and maybe even fatalities. Axel’s pack was also targeted, and he had lost a few wolves too.

Kit heard whispers that Li Li’s pack was also hit, and that Li Li, the alpha, had been killed. Kit vaguely remembered seeing the beautiful Asian lady at the one meeting he’d attended. Seemed like he remembered she was mated. If that was the case, he sincerely hoped it was just a rumor that she’d been killed.

Raven had been targeted and had suffered losses too. So far Kit hadn’t heard anything about Isadora or the mer people. It appeared as if most—if not all—of the paranormal leaders of San DeLain had been attacked.

A couple of hours had passed since he’d last seen his mates, and he missed them dreadfully. After breakfast, he played pool, then returned to the bedroom they were temporarily using.

He stared at his phone. Should he call his parents or not? He didn’t want to worry them, but if they found out something like this had happened and that he hadn’t told them, they’d be furious—as he would be if the roles were reversed.

His parents should be up by now, and besides that, he really, really wanted to talk to them. The attack scared the hell out of him, but something wonderful had come out of it.

Just as he went to unlock the phone, it rang, startling him. Seeing that it was his pops, he quickly answered. “Hey, Pops, I was just thinking about—”

“Are you okay?”

Kit’s stomach dropped to his feet. “What?”

“Where are your mates?”

A noise caught Kit’s attention, and he glanced up as Hudson and Connie stepped into the room. “Um, they’re with me. Why?”

“Chris’s pack was attacked too,” Hudson said quietly.

“ What ?” Kit yelled. “Attacked? Are you okay? What about Mom? What about Papa? Mother of all, what the fuck ?”

“Easy. Easy. We’re okay. Hunters attacked us, but between my pack and Hudson’s dragons, we fought them off. A couple of my people were injured, but nothing serious. Hudson’s dragons were not injured. But, Kit, you should know, they tried to kidnap Michail.”

“ What ?”

“Yeah, they were after your papa,” Connie said quietly. “But they didn’t succeed.”

“Damn straight,” Chris growled. “No one, and I mean no one , fucks with my mates.”

Kit’s heart was pounding, but there was nothing he could do about that. “They attacked us too. I think that they attacked almost everybody in San DeLain, I’ve heard. But why you? You’re not here.”

“No, we’re not in San DeLain. Although we can’t prove it, we’re pretty sure Lennox was behind all of this.”

“But why?” Kit gasped.