~Excerpt from Edge of Darkness, book 1 in the Dragons of San DeLain
As they talked, the hair on the back of Connie’s neck stood up. A feeling of menace wrapped around him. Calmly he swallowed the sip he had just taken and nonchalantly scanned the area as he answered a question Hudson just asked.
Dragon gods, there were so many people here. Way too many people for him to figure out who was staring at him—them?—with such loathing. But there was, he’d bet his scales on it.
“Connie?” Hudson demanded softly.
He shouldn’t be surprised that Hudson noticed his attention had wandered. “Someone seems particularly interested in either me or us. And not in a sexy way,” Connie whispered back. “Do you feel it?”
Chapter Three - Hudson
HUDSON LEANED back in the chair and sipped his drink as he casually he looked around. He hadn’t noticed what Connie said he felt, dammit, but he also hadn’t been really been paying attention.
And shame on him for that. He knew better. Just because Nox was dead that didn’t necessarily negate the threat of hunters.
There were so many people around them, even though they were off the dance floor. Then there were the folks upstairs who could stare down into the bottom level. It would be impossible to pin down whomever was giving them the hairy eyeball.
Nevertheless, Hudson discreetly drew air into his lungs and tried to shift through the various scents he inhaled. Unsurprisingly, everything was muddled thanks to the humans’ sweat, cologne, hair products, and so on.
It didn’t help that they were sitting under an air vent that was running on high. Then add in the identifying scents from the various paranormal there, and it was definitely messing with the scents.
As luck would have it, though, the air-conditioning kicked off for a moment. What perfect timing. Hudson made himself wait before inhaling again so the scents could settle.
Oh yes. That was much better.
The vampires were easily identified thanks to their slight metallic scent. And it was a vampire owned club, after all, so there were a lot of them there.
Salt and brine rode the air currents. Glancing about, he spotted a few merpeople. Their androgynous features marked their species. Like the vampires, they needed blood, but unlike the vampires, it didn’t have to be human.
A couple of magic users were there too. They tended to smell of ozone even when not using their powers. They blended in with the human crowd the easiest.
A lone gargoyle sat at a table, his earthy scent tangy and fresh but also sharp. Seeing him was a surprise. They didn’t often leave their territories.
Then it hit him like a brick to the face—an oddness to a human scent that made the nose wrinkle because it was just wrong.
“Hudson?” Connie murmured. “Do you—”
“Yes, I’d like to have another drink,” Hudson replied, cutting Connie off.
If this was one of the genetically altered hunters, then they could nearly hear as well as any paranormal. Last thing he wanted to do was alert whoever was watching them that they were aware of it.
“I’ll take care of it, Conrad. You stay here and hold our table, please.” Hudson knew Connie would catch on pretty quickly. For one thing, Hudson usually used Conrad’s nickname of Connie. Unless, of course, he wanted Connie’s immediate attention.
“Yes. Yes, okay, I could go for another drink. Sure. I’ll stay here.” Connie lounged in his chair looking completely unperturbed. He even smirked. “It’s your turn anyway.”
“That it is. I’ll be back.” Hudson left the table and hurried to the bar. From where he was standing, he had a pretty good line of sight to Connie, as long as no one got between them.
The vampire bartender drifted down to Hudson, a slight smile on his face. “Hey. Do you want the same?”
Hudson act like he was having problems hearing the bartender. Which, if he’d been human, was a distinct possibility with the way the music was thumping.
Hudson leaned across the bar like he was trying to give the bartender his order. The bartender blinked in confusion, then met Hudson half way.
“Hunters are on the property,” Hudson breathed, speaking so quietly it was almost sub vocal.
