CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: KIT

KIT WAS getting married. Actually, right now, he was getting bonded, but still! Excitement and nerves danced through his body. He was getting bonded! To have both of them as his was absolutely worth choking down some blood in wine.

They'd even picked up on the fact he wanted a human wedding, something he'd been dreaming about since he was a kid. He had an entire file stuffed full of pictures, venues, catering choices, music, and tuxedos that looked like wedding dresses from the back.

Yeah, his motto for a wedding was to "go big or go home." Little did he know that when he'd been dreaming about a wedding that two dragons were going to show up and make it happen.

He looked down at his left hand. They probably didn't know about a wedding band, but that was okay. He was more than willing to point it out.

But would they wear a ring? Actually, could they? How would that work when they changed into their natural form? That was definitely something he needed to ask Hudson. Plus, since Kit wanted a wedding band, would Hudson want to furnish the stone?

Hudson returned to the living area with a bust just as Connie walked in with three wineglasses and a bottle of wine.

Connie whistled as he set them down on a nearby counter. "That's got to be the most elaborate body chain I've ever seen."

Kit couldn't even whistle—his mouth was too busy hanging open. Connie wasn't kidding. It was the most ornate one he'd ever seen. He wasn't sure what Hudson was holding would even qualify as a "chain" since there was so much of it. It was more like a harness.

The ensemble was basically a collar of pearls, then string after string would drape down over his chest and shoulders. But it didn't stop there. There were more strings that extended all the way down to his hips. Some pearls were huge, while some were quite small.

"It's a shirt of pearls," Kit gasped. He really didn't know how else to explain it.

There also wasn't a doubt in his mind that the pearls were real. He couldn't begin to guess how much that cost.

Hudson carried the bust over and set it down in front of Kit. "I noticed you wore pearls today, and it made me think of this.

"Talk about a pearl necklace," Kit mumbled.

Connie snickered.

"I'll be happy to give you one of those," Hudson informed Kit.

Kit could literally feel himself turning red. Sometimes his mouth ran before his brain could engage.

Grinning, Hudson started undoing the pearl body chain. "Still, I'd be honored if you'd accept this. It would please me to see you wear it."

Kit ran his hands over his face. "Hudson, that thing's real, isn't it? If you just brought it up from your hoard, it's got to be. What if I snag it on something and one of the strings broke? Or all of them did?"

"Jewelry is meant to be worn."

"Even when it costs a small fortune?" Kit demanded. "I'm serious. What if I break it?"

"Then you break it."

Kit goggled.

Hudson stopped undoing the pearl chain and quickly made his way over to Kit. Smoothing a strand of hair out of Kit's face, he looked into his eyes. "What's the point of having something like that if I don't get to see you in it? It's been gathering dust in my hoard for years. You like jewelry. You wear jewelry."

"Well, yeah, but most of what I wear is costume," Kit argued.

Connie joined them and rubbed his hand up and down Kit's back. "Wear it. Hudson wouldn't offer it if he was concerned about it getting damaged."

"I want to see you in it," Hudson said.

Kit blew out a breath. "Okay, look, just tell me. Is it some sort of historical piece? Did some forgotten queen wear it or something?"

"Not at all. I had it made fifty years ago while traveling in Japan. I collect rubies, because I like the color red best, but something told me I needed to do this. The idea… spoke to me," Hudson admitted.

"And you want me to wear it?" Kit wandered over and touched one of the strings of pearls on the bust.

"I want to give this to you, and yes, I want you to wear it." Hudson followed Kit and started undoing the body chain again. "Please."

Connie joined them and pressed a kiss to Kit's earlobe. "I can't wait to see you in that. Preferably without a shirt on."

"Preferably without anything on," Hudson corrected.

Kit gulped. Suddenly he had a very clear image of them making love to him in that thing… and nothing else. Oh yeah. That was going to have to happen.

Connie nosed Kit's throat. "You like that."

"You bet I do." Kit shivered. He liked it a lot.

Hudson lifted the body chain off the bust. Holding it in his hands, he looked at Kit.

Turning slowly, Kit presented his back to Hudson. Connie moved his hair out of the way so Hudson could fasten it onto Kit. The first thing Kit noticed was the heaviness of the piece.

It wasn't bad, but he definitely was aware of it. In a way, that was good. He wouldn't want it to be so light he forgot about it. But it wasn't so heavy that it bothered him.

The next thing was how well it seemed to fit—almost like it was made for him. The collar part wasn't too tight around his throat, and the strands that draped over his chest lay just right.

"Oh, wow," Connie whispered. "It fits you perfectly."

Looking down, Kit ran his hand over the pearls. They were a gorgeous creamy white he absolutely loved.

"Magnificent. You are simply magnificent."

The rumbly tone in Hudson's voice brought Kit's head up. Once more, Hudson's dragon was looking through his eyes.

Smiling slightly, Kit stepped to Hudson and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I feel magnificent. Thank you. I will treasure this always."

"A treasure for my treasure," Hudson growled before pressing his lips against Kit's.

The kiss went straight to hotness overload. Hudson's tongue swept in, taking no prisoners. He dominated the kiss, demanding that Kit give him everything, and Kit did.

A few seconds later, he felt Connie's hands on his ass and Connie's mouth against the back of his neck. Trapped between his two dragons, Kit gave in to the desire sweeping through him.

This was where he was born to be.

The bond between the three of them fluttered happily. Hudson slowly ended the kiss, but he didn't release Kit. Instead, he sank his hand into Connie's hair and yanked him closer, kissing him too. Connie's chest was pressed against Kit's back, so he felt the rumble that came from inside Connie.

Once Hudson had kissed Connie senseless, he pulled away. "Mine. My mates."

Connie's answering growl sent a shiver through Kit. He wasn't capable of making that kind of sound, but words. He had those. "Yes. Yours. And Connie's. And the both of you are mine."

The look in Hudson's eyes told Kit they were going to end up in bed if he didn't do something quick. Which, ordinarily, he wouldn't have a problem with, but they had a bonding to finish, and they kept getting distracted.

But what a wonderful distraction it had been.

Looking down once more, Kit touched the pearls. Oh yes. What a wonderful distraction it had been.

Kit met Hudson's gaze, and Hudson's eyes slowly changed back to their gorgeous dark brown. "I'm going into the bedroom for a few minutes. Why don't the two of you get those wineglasses doctored up? While you do that, I'm going to read over the words I'm supposed to say."

Hudson blinked, then shook himself slightly. "Will you keep my gift on?"

"Absolutely." Kit gave his mates another quick kiss, then took himself off to the bedroom.

He absolutely did not need to see how they went about getting the blood into the wineglasses. Instead, he wandered into the master bath so he could see his reflection. Turning this way and that, he admired the pearl body chain.

Damn, he looked hot.

Suddenly, he wanted to go dancing. In fact, he wanted to wear this dancing. Shirtless. And he was pretty sure he had a pair of white leather pants that would be kick ass with the pearls.

It still scared the shit out of him that something could happen to this beautiful piece, but Hudson was right because jewelry was meant to be worn.

Now, whether or not he could talk them into going out was another matter. Thanks to Lennox. Kit refused to let that asshole bring down his mood, but there was no denying they were all kind of just sitting around waiting for him to do something. Anything.

Lennox had been too quiet.

But now was not the time to think about such stuff. That asshole had no place in the beautiful ceremony that was about to go on between the three of them. Plus, Connie and Hudson might pick up on what Kit was feeling.

The brothers had ruined enough. They would not ruin this.

Kit shoved that out of his head and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He read over the text Connie had sent him. That was definitely a mouthful. Good thing he didn't have to memorize it, or he'd be in trouble.

Looking up, Kit met his gaze in the mirror. "I'm getting mated."

Happiness surged through him. Grinning slightly, he rested his hand against his chest. Well, he attempted to. There were a bunch of pearls in the way, but still.

Suddenly, he knew pearls were going to figure prominently in his human wedding. Hell, he might even wear this. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea.

"Kit? We're ready," Connie called. "It's done."

Kit winked at his reflection, then hurried back. Connie and Hudson were standing in the middle of the living area, and they both held a wineglass that was partially full.

Next to the wine bottle was another glass that was also partially full. Kit liked the idea that they were letting him get his own glass instead of handing one to him. Because who would be the one to hand it to him? Hudson?

And that wouldn't be fair to Connie, and vice versa. This way, Kit was committing to this by picking up the damn glass himself. The symbolism of it appealed to Kit.

And doing just that, Kit picked up the wineglass and walked to them. He held his up. "I'm ready."

Hudson gently tapped his against Kit's and then Connie's. "Just so you know, we both added our blood to your wine."

"Good. That's how it should be since there are three of us," Kit said.

"I very much agree." Hudson lifted his glass. "I'm ready."

Connie tapped his wineglass against Hudson's and then Kit's. "I'm ready too."

As Kit brought the wineglass to his lips, he noticed Connie's and Hudson's eyes were once more the color of their dragons. He was getting used to seeing it, and honestly, it was beautiful. He was glad their true nature was present.

Kit maintained eye contact with each of them as he drank the wine. There was a slight metallic taste to it, but nothing he couldn't handle. It wasn't nearly as bad as he was afraid it was going to be, and relief swept through him.

Kit finished his wine and then held the glass in front of him. Oddly enough, he didn't feel any different. Not a twitch or a tingle to be had. Which was kind of disappointing. He'd been expecting something.

Hudson lowered his glass and faced Kit. "Kit, Iss lobe zss enren dikn, zss keben, pnd zss shdsvv, ie meine reele deboned isj pnd alle tage dansv biss yuft usj naah huuse. Bea der flade binde dich meiss reele bwillss aj deene unsj bespchsj ams medi eoigentss."

Kit had no idea what Hudson said because all it sounded like was a bunch of hissing and throat clearing by someone with a bad case of laryngitis. Maybe he should've suggested they repeat it in English. Dammit, dammit, dammit. Would it completely ruin the mood if he asked for that? Yeah, probably.

Hudson then faced Connie. "Connie, Iss lobe zss enren dikn, zss keben, pnd zss shdsvv, ie meine reele deboned isj pnd alle tage dansv biss yuft usj naah huuse. Bea der flade binde dich meiss reele bwillss aj deene unsj bespchsj ams medi eoigentss."

A brilliant smile crossed Connie's face, then he closed his eyes. He chuffed, and a little trail of smoke escaped his nostril. "Hudson, Iss lobe zss enren dikn, zss keben, pnd zss shdsvv, ie meine reele deboned isj pnd alle tage dansv biss yuft usj naah huuse. Bea der flade binde dich meiss reele bwillss aj deene unsj bespchsj ams medi eoigentss."

Kit watched pleasure race across Hudson's face.

Then Connie faced Kit. "Kit, Iss lobe zss enren dikn, zss keben, pnd zss shdsvv, ie meine reele deboned isj pnd alle tage dansv biss yuft us home. By the flame, I tie my soul to yours willingly and claim you as mine."

Kit blinked. Then he blinked again. Wait. Just a second. Did… did he just understand what Connie was saying? Whaaaaat? What the hell? They were speaking their native language, so how did he suddenly understand that last bit?

"Kit? Babe? This is where you say the words back to us," Connie said.

Holy shit, he needed to get his act together before he freaked them out. The last thing he needed was for them to think he was having doubts right here at the last second.

He'd deal with how he suddenly understood their native language in a minute. Dragging his phone out of his pocket, he opened it and looked at the text message Connie had sent him.

"I pledge to honor you, love you, and cherish you as my soul bound mate today and all the days hereafter until Gaura calls us home. By the flame, I tie my soul to yours willingly and claim you as mine," Kit said.

"Yes, yes, yes. My mate. Mine!" Connie abruptly snarled.

"So beautiful. So very beautiful. Mine! So very much mine." Hudson roared.

Desire, need, and a sense of rightness crashed over Kit. There was this overwhelming happiness, along with a flood of other emotions. Stunned, Kit tried to decipher what he was feeling.

It took several seconds for him to understand that those emotions weren't his. They were Connie's and Hudson's. And he could feel them all. The fluttering bond suddenly grew and strengthened. A tingle raced through his body, and he squeezed his eyes shut. There was the something he'd been expecting to happen earlier.

A bright light flashed behind his eyelids. The light faded, and in his mind's eye, he saw a red ribbon of energy snake from his chest toward Connie's. Another red ribbon from his chest arrowed toward Hudson.

More than a little freaked, he tensed. What the hell was that?

"It's okay. It's okay, babe. It's the bond. I see it. Don't fight it," Hudson gasped.

"I see it too. Please. Please accept us," Connie begged.

Floored by the desperate need in their voices, the slight fear receded, and a ribbon of energy slammed into Kit's heart from each of them.

The animalistic roars from his mates shook the walls.

Thanks to the bond between them now, Kit could see the core values Hudson and Connie held themselves to. There was compassion and empathy. Loyalty, kindness, and reliability also shone brightly. Trust figured prominently too, but it had to be earned.

From Connie, there was also eagerness to live life to the fullest and golden retriever energy, which fit Connie—he did have an energetic personality and was affectionate.

From Hudson there was also arrogance that came from the knowledge he was powerful. And he was. Very powerful. Kit truly had no idea. There was also a willingness to do what was needed, no matter how distasteful, to protect his court.

Hudson had killed and would probably kill again. Kit was okay with that because Hudson's mates, his court, his friends meant the world to him. He would use that power to protect his court and his bonded mates at all costs.

There was also a driving need to protect Kit, the fragile human that he was. The same was there for Connie, even though Connie was a dragon.

"Mother of all." Kit slowly opened his eyes. "I saw it. For a brief moment, I saw something that linked us together."

"It's the bond." Hudson pressed a kiss to Kit's temple.

"It's beautiful."

"Yes, it is. Are you okay?" Hudson asked.

"Yeah. It was wild. I saw all the values that make up each of you. I saw who you are." Kit blinked. "I see you. All of you. I'm so very proud to be your mate."

"I experienced the same thing. You're a good person, Kit." Connie joined them and placed his hand over Kit's heart. "You have a pure soul, and—" Connie suddenly gasped, his hand going to his heart.

"Sweetheart?" Hudson reached for Connie.

Kit didn't have to close his eyes this time. He didn't need to. That red ribbon of energy tore out of Hudson and slammed into Connie, and then another left Connie and slammed into Hudson.

Both dragons dropped to their knees, their wineglasses shattering on the floor.

Scared to death, and unsure exactly just what was going on, Kit set his wineglass on the table, then dropped to his knees next to them. But he didn't know what to do or who to help first. Or even if they needed help. Should he get somebody? Who would he get, though?

"Oh Gaura, oh Gaura," Connie kept repeating, his hand still on his chest. In shock, he stared at Hudson.

Since Connie was at least capable of speech, Kit focused on him. "What happened? What's wrong? What's going on? Are you okay? What the hell happened? Connie? What the fuck?"