Page 28 of Cultivating Caden
Chapter 8
Quade bit backthe curse that he wanted to let fly. He’d explained to Caden how dangerous it was for him to go back out into the world. Now they were back to that argument.
“And what happens if you lose control?”
“I won’t.”
“Really? You’re willing to bet the lives of people around you on that?”
Caden sat back and stared up at the ceiling. “My life is boring and mundane. There’s nothing that gets me worked up or angry. In all the years I’ve worked in town, never once have I gotten mad at someone.”
“Bullshit.” If Caden wanted to be shown, then Quade would be the one to do it. “Get up.”
Caden tilted his head so their gazes met. “Why?”
Quade reached out and wrapped his hand around Caden’s bicep and hauled him off the couch. “Because I fucking said so. We’re going out.”
Without waiting for Caden to agree, Quade dragged him out of the room and down to the elevator. Once there, he swiped his pass card over the electronic eye, punched the button that would whisk them outside, and when they arrived, shoved Caden out. He landed on the ground, face-first on a carpet of decaying leaves and branches. When he stood, streaks of dirt tracked his cheeks.
“What the fuck? What are you doing?”
“Millinocket is a small town. There aren’t a lot of people there, but if there’s one thing I can promise you, anyone can get you frustrated.”
“Yeah, no shit. You’re doing a damn good job right now.”
Quade moved quickly, shoving Caden’s shoulders and knocking him to the ground again. He couldn’t be certain, but it felt as though the earth shifted slightly. “Get up!”
The redness of Caden’s cheeks told Quade everything he needed to know. Despite his claim that he didn’t get angry, he was furious.
Stumbling to his feet, Caden stepped away. “Knock it off.”
Instead, Quade raced at him and did a sweep kick at his feet, knocking him down once more. This time the tremor that rattled the area wasn’t his imagination. If he hadn’t been on good footing, it would have knocked him on his ass.
Caden stood again, his green eyes glowing with a phosphorescence. Leaves and detritus swirled around his feet as though caught in a cyclone, streaming up into the sky. “You son of a bitch!”
With those words, the ground exploded. Roots from the trees burst forth, piercing Quade’s body. It hurt like hell, but he wouldn’t give in this time. He let the change occur, taking on his lycan form. He sliced through his bonds, smiling as they crumbled to the ground.
“Best you got?”
Snarling, Caden raised his hands skyward, and ancient trees sprang to life, whistling through the air and lashing at Quade, ripping off swaths of flesh. Fuck, Quade knew if Caden was in control, he could flay Quade alive. Still, these strikes were haphazard at best, so right now there was a lot of pain and blood, but not much else.
Regardless, it was best to try to put an end to this before Cadendidkill him.
“Is this what it was like for the bikers, you think? When the trees tore them apart, ripped their limbs from their bodies? Did it give you satisfaction? I know you didn’t mean to do it, but now? I can see in your eyes how angry you are. I know you want to kill me. Is that what it’ll take to get through to you? To show you why you’re a danger to humans and demihumans alike?”
When pollen clouds gathered around his head, Quade knew he’d pushed too hard. They were thick and cloying, working into his lungs, choking him. It was then that Quade realized he’d made a tactical error, and unless Caden snapped out of it, Quade would die.
“Stop it! Stop hurting each other!”
The voice was small, tiny against the noises that surrounded them, but it echoed in Quade’s mind. As bad as it was for him, it appeared to be worse for Caden, who clutched his head and howled in what Quade could only call a combination of rage and pain.
It was then that Quade saw Ten, rushing through the forest, wearing nothing but pajama bottoms. He stumbled several times, his face a mask of pain. Blood dripped down his arms and chest from harsh-looking scratches, and tears streaked his face. Quade ignored his own pain and hurtled forward to scoop Ten up, wanting to get him away. Apparently Ten had other ideas. He turned and glared at Quade, pure venom in his eyes.
“Stop!”
Quade froze, every muscle locked.
Ten’s gaze shifted over to Caden. “Sleep!”
