Page 10 of Cultivating Caden
“He’s not my boy by any stretch of the imagination. He hates me, which I’m not sure isn’t deserved. I almost killed him a few days ago because we thought he’d murdered a bunch of men. Turns out that he had done it, but it wasn’t under his control, so he’s about to become our newest member.”
“Oh, that’s nice. We should bake him some cookies.”
Quade chuckled at Jess, who was taking the conversation in stride. “That might not be a bad idea.” Leaning over, he inhaled deeply. “So, how long until this is done.”
She smacked his chest. “I know you’re a growing boy, but give it time to cook.”
He grinned and turned on his ultimate weapon. No one could resist puppy dog eyes, and being a lycan, he was an expert at them.
Jess scowled at him. “I don’t like it when you do that.”
“Because I’m irresistible?”
“Because you’re a pain in the….” She looked around, then lowered her voice to a whisper. “A-s-s.”
Another thing Quade loved about her. Jess spelled things out that she couldn’t say aloud. Even though there weren’t many children in Sanctuary, they flocked to her when she made special desserts. Not one of them made comments that she was a man—they simply accepted that she was special, just as everyone in Sanctuary was.
“Here, eat your dinner.”
She handed him a huge bowl of stew, which Quade took over to the table. He picked it up, ready to gulp it down, when he noticed her glaring at him. He sighed, put the bowl down onto the blue placemat, and went to get silverware.
“Thank you.”
If Quade could choose one personality to stay in control of Alexander’s body, it would be Jess. The moment he thought it, guilt knotted his stomach. Dr. Desmond was continuing his efforts to find a way to integrate all of the parts into one cohesive whole, but even he couldn’t be sure what the results would be. Best-case scenario, Alexander would be the sum of all his parts. Worst case, he would be brain-dead.
“Jess? What do you remember from, you know, before?”
She cocked her head, her eyes wide. “Before? Before what, sweetheart?”
He knew he should shut up, just as he was aware Desmond would have a fit if he found out that Quade had stuck his nose in where it didn’t belong, but he loved Jess and the thought of her hurting didn’t sit well with him at all.
“Do you remember a trip to the mall about twelve years ago? You were there when something happened, but I was never sure what.”
Her brow knitted as though she was trying to think back. Would she remember? Would Alexander block access to that dark time? And would it bring him pain?
“I went with Collin, my grandson, to buy him some shoes he’d been begging his mother for. April lived on a fixed income, and no way could she afford them. One day I was watching Collin while she was out, and we snuck to the mall. I was going to buy him those shoes for his birthday. He went into the shop and… and….”
Jess grabbed her head, her eyes wide and mouth open in a silent cry. Quade rushed over and threw his arms around her, cursing his stupidity. Jess shook, and Quade rubbed a hand over her back, trying to calm her.
“What the hell are you doing, boy?”
Quade groaned and stepped away. Apparently Alexander’s personalities didn’t only protect him—they also protected one another.
“I don’t swing like that, you know. And even if I did, it sure as shit wouldn’t be with you.”
Dyson. Damn it.
Alexander’s entire demeanor changed. Where Jess was quiet and gentle, Dyson was gruff, his body language more imposing. The altering of persona threw Quade for several moments.
“Sorry.”
Brushing off the front of his shirt as though Quade had cooties, Dyson leaned over the pot and took a whiff. “Damn, someone’s made up some tasty food. Hope they don’t mind if I help myself.” He reached for a bowl from one of the steel cabinets, scooped himself up some stew, then strode over to the table to sit.
“Is she okay?”
“Who?”
“Jess.” He wanted to addyou idiot, but figured his tone implied it.
Dyson’s eyes narrowed as he took a bite. “Don’t know no Jess.”
No, of course not. Though they shared a body, Alexander’s… others didn’t seem to be aware of one another, at least not on a conscious level.
“I’m going to…. You know, go back to my room.”
Without looking up, Dyson had the final word. “Clean up your plate, son. No one wants a sloppy man.”
Quade took a breath to steady himself, then reached for his dirty dishes. He rinsed them off, put them in the dishwasher, then retreated to his room, where he could worry about what the hell he’d done to Jess in peace and quiet.
