CHAPTER SIX: HUDSON

HUDSON JUST knew Connie was going to make some comment about Hudson's mom, but he didn't, thank Gaura.

And wow, that took on a whole new meaning, didn't it? Now that he knew Gaura was an actual living being. One that Kit had met.

Hudson was so jealous.

Although being in the presence of a dragon deity was kind of terrifying too, he was sure. Gaura was all powerful. Plus, he had the distinct impression that Kit desperately hoped another meeting wasn't on the agenda.

Hudson had to wonder why Gaura hadn't come to him, though. Not that Kit wasn't worthy. He very much was. But Hudson was the dragon king in his area. Did that not count for something?

Then again, it might be because Gaura knew Hudson would question why he and Connie didn't share a mate bond. Yeah, he still wanted answers on that one.

Hudson's thoughts turned back to his mother, Queen Abigail. Connie was being ridiculous. She wasn't that bad. Was she overprotective? Yes.

Out of her one clutch, only Hudson had survived. So, maybe sometimes she was a bit overbearing. A little demanding.

She'd been hinting for at least a hundred years that if he didn't find his bonded mate soon, he needed to at least have a couple of hatchlings. She'd certainly tried to introduce him to several female dragons through the years.

His mother was the queen of her own territory and had a domineering personality. He hated to admit it, but she was kind of old-fashioned too. Maybe even a bit narrow-minded. Was she intimidating? Well, yes. Also, very opinionated. She had certain feelings about certain things and voiced them quite loudly.

And she didn't think too highly of humans either, but considering how they were destroying the planet, he couldn't blame her for that. Which could be a problem, although Kit wasn't like the ultrarich who controlled so much of the world.

Fine. He could see why Connie was nervous about her. Which, shit, meant Kit would probably be. Lovely.

"Also, Kit, phone lines are notoriously unsecure, so be very careful what you say to your mother. No mention of what your dad or we are, please," Hudson said.

"Great. This should be fun. Then again, by refusing to give her a straight answer, that'll guarantee they'll be on the next plane out here by tomorrow at the latest." Kit stood and dragged his cell out of his pocket. "Let the fireworks begin. I'll be back."

Phone in hand, Kit walked out onto the back patio.

"Holy shit, Hudson," Connie said.

"I know."

"I don't know where to even start." Connie glanced outside to where Kit stood. "Gaura, Hudson. He met our god. I have so many questions! Plus, well, I don't want to sound like an ass, but—"

"Why Kit?" Hudson asked.

"Exactly. Not that I think our mate isn't worthy of meeting our deity, but we're the dragons. If there was a worry concerning Kit, shouldn't you or I have been visited?" Connie asked. "Actually, strike that. You're the king. I'm nobody important. It should've been you."

Hudson scooted across the couch and took Connie's hand. "You are very important to me, and you also will be to Kit. Don't ever say you're no one important."

Connie squeezed Hudson's hand. "I appreciate that, but you know what I mean. Out of the three of us, you're the highest rank."

"I don't have an answer for you." Hudson stared at their entwined fingers. Why had he never noticed how long and sexy Connie's fingers were? Amused at his thoughts, he met Connie's eyes. "I might be the highest ranked, but don't fool yourself. I wouldn't be the king I am without you."

Grinning, Connie opened his mouth to say something, but Kit's raised voice from outside halted his words. Connie cringed, and he and Hudson both turned to look outside. Kit was pacing, and the hand not holding the phone gestured wildly. It wasn't hard to see that Kit was quickly getting frustrated.

"She wants answers," Hudson said, watching Kit. "And she's not taking no for an answer."

He knew that because both he and Connie could overhear Kit's part of the conversation.

"He was so mad earlier. I hated that."

The sudden shift in topics didn't surprise Hudson. "Can't say that I blame him. That was a helluva thing to be told, not to mention how he was told."

"And by who. He must've been terrified. I wish I knew what Gaura's thinking was." Connie grimaced at the sudden spike in Kit's voice. "Man, she's really giving him what for."

"She loves him. That's obvious. I imagine she also knows something is going on and is concerned. When you add in the fact that Kit's being less than forthcoming, that mothering instinct is triggered."

"And Kit just told her our names," Connie said. "Shit's about to get real."

"And he just told her to ask his papa who we are too. I've noticed when Kit feels threatened or insecure, he gets snarky."

"Well, you told him not to mention what we were over the phone. That restricts exactly what he can say." Connie perked up. "It looks like the conversation is over if him throwing his phone on the table is any indication. Should we go out there?"

"Yeah, come on." Hudson waited until Connie stood, then followed him onto the patio.

Kit faced away from them, his hands on his hips and his head leaned back slightly. Even from here, Hudson could hear Kit taking deep breaths.

"I love that woman, but oh my damn, she makes me crazy."

Hudson snorted because he completely understood. He wrapped his arm around Kit's waist while Connie took one of Kit's hands. The three of them stood there staring at the pretty pool water.

Kit released a long, tired sigh. "I told her, several times in fact, that I needed to talk to her and my dads, but that there were things I couldn't say over the phone. So, what does she do? Keep asking me questions I couldn't answer over the phone. And then got mad when I kept repeating that I couldn't answer her."

"You told her you were seeing us?" Connie asked.

"Yes. Of course she wanted to know everything—who you were, what you did for a living, how old you were, how I met you, and so on. A lot of those things I honestly couldn't answer over the phone, and she wasn't having it." Kit rested his head against Connie's shoulder. "She didn't understand why I wouldn't answer her questions. She asked why I was being so squirrely."

Hudson's lips twitched.

"And I was dodging her questions, but I'd already told her I couldn't get into certain things on the phone. I got irritated and told her to tell Papa your names."

"Oh, Kit." Hudson squeezed Kit.

"Yeah, I probably could have eased into it better, but Mom can be really insistent. She's like a gentle tornado."

Connie snickered.

"No, seriously. She's sweetly persistent, lovingly forceful, and unfailingly stubborn. You see her coming, and you try to get out of the way, but she sweeps you up, and the next thing you know, she's zeroed in on whatever's troubling you and doesn't stop until she gets an answer."

"She sounds awesome," Connie said.

"The woman is devious. Don't think she isn't, but she'd go to war for those she loves. Anyway, after I threw that out there, to tell Papa, you could've heard a pin drop. Needless to say, she hung up quickly after that." Kit sighed. "Bet the next phone call I get will be from my papa."

"Actually, I'd be surprised if he did," Hudson said. "He's not going to want to talk on the phone about this."

"Right. Well, then, since I have parents in-bound, I need to swing by the apartment and do some picking up. If I don't, Mom will. She can't seem to help herself."

"That's not a problem," Hudson said, following Kit over to the patio table. "After you get done, we can grab lunch."

"That sounds nice. Knowing my mom, they'll be on a flight by this evening. She'll text with a flight and arrival time, I'm sure."

"When she does, tell her I'll have a car waiting to pick them up from the airport," Hudson said.

"Oh. I, ah, assumed it would be us," Kit said.

"Your apartment is on the other side of San DeLain. Plus, we don't know how late their flight will be or even if they'll get in today. Let me see if Nelson can do the pickup."

"Okay then."

Hudson sent a quick text message to Nelson. Within a few moments, Nelson texted back, saying he'd be happy to do it.

"Nelson said yes. Tell your mother a Black man with red dreads will be their driver. He'll have a sign with their name on it."

"Please tell Nelson I said thank you," Kit said. "Let me change into something a bit more appropriate for lunch, and I'll be ready. I'll meet you guys back here in a few minutes."

"We'll be waiting," Connie said.

As soon as Kit left, Hudson turned to Connie. "Will you grab one of the cleaning staff and ask them to make sure the blue room has fresh sheets and the attached bathroom has toiletries?"

"Okay. You're going to put his parents in your wing, though?"

"Of course. They are his parents, after all. Plus, it's more private in this area of the house. Maybe that'll make his shifter dad a little more comfortable."

"Being the only shifter surrounded by dragons? I'm not sure anything will make him feel more comfortable," Connie said.

"I know, but it's safer for them to be here than at a hotel or Kit's place. I'll happily point that out if I must."

"I'm sure. I'll be back shortly. Is there anything else I need to do?"

"Inform Stella we're going to have guests, and when they arrive, we'll be eating in my quarters for at least that first meal. And please send a text to my inner circle informing them we'll have guests coming and who they are."

"Torres will probably run a background check on them," Connie pointed out.

"He's my head of security. I expect no less."

"Got it. I'll be right back."

THIRTY MINUTES later, Kit returned, Connie with him. Kit wore a simple pair of jeans, a sage green T-shirt, and sandals. It was almost criminal how somber Kit was dressed.

Hudson had changed, and so had Connie. A small smile teased Hudson's lips when he saw Kit and Connie were holding hands.

"Mom sent her flight information. They should arrive at the San DeLain airport tomorrow morning at eleven. I told her who to look for when they arrived."

Hudson pulled out his cell phone. "Give me the information, and I'll send it to Nelson."

"How long are they staying?" Connie asked.

"Three days," Kit said.

"Hudson, that means they'll be here when the leaders meet at Isadora's," Connie pointed out.

"See if you can move the meeting to next Monday night," Hudson said. "Check with Isadora first, and if she's willing, then contact the leaders."

"I'll send Isadora a text message right now," Connie said. "I'll let you know what she says."

"What is this meeting? Is, ah, that okay to ask?"

"It's a monthly meeting of all the paranormal leaders of San DeLain at a restaurant of a mutual friend. We started doing this when Nox became an issue," Hudson said. "And we've continued doing it."

"Okay. Thanks for telling me." Kit repeated what his mom had told him. "She also said my papa recognized your names."

Hudson hit send, then put his cell phone back in his pocket. "I see. Then they shouldn't be caught off guard when they meet Nelson," Hudson said. "That's good. Did she say anything else?"

"No. Although, she said Papa was rather… concerned."

"Understandable," Hudson said. "They just found out their human son is involved with two dragons. I also had one of the guest rooms freshened up for your parents. I'd like them to stay here. It would be safer."

"That makes sense. Not sure they will go for that."

"I think they will once they know the entire story. I wouldn't assume your papa is safe, even though he is mated," Hudson said. "And I also understand why your papa is concerned."

"Yeah, well, I'm sure he has a million questions. As it just so happens, so do I," Kit said, a little bit of a bite to his voice. "Anyway, I'm ready if you are."

It was going to be a long day, of that Hudson had no doubt.