Page 68 of Cultivating Caden
The whole thing got weirder and weirder. “How is he your kid?”
Quade started chuckling, which morphed into a full-on body shaking laugh. “Don’t know. I’ve never had sex with a woman.”
Taking a seat next to him, Caden wrapped an arm around Quade’s shoulders. “Talk to me.”
And he did. The words came slowly, almost as if Quade were nervous about Caden’s reaction. He told him about Ten’s visions and how he saw no future for them. How Quade had sworn he’d protect Ten and Caden, and how he’d said that Ten was family and he loved him. And then the words that Ten spoke afterward.
“He called me Daddy.”
Trying to lighten the mood, Caden leaned closer. “Would you rather I call you Daddy?”
Lurching up from the couch, Quade spun around and glared at Caden. “You think this is some kind of fucking joke?”
Contrite, Caden got off the couch and pulled Quade in close. “You know I don’t. Did he say why he called you daddy?”
“Oh, yeah. You’re going to love this one. In his visions of the future—you know, before we hadnone—you and I were supposed to be his fathers. He saw the three of us together, as a family. And the best part? He said we were happy.”
A family?Caden bit his lip.
“You’re not laughing. Come on, it’s funny. The three of us a family?”
A soul-deep hurt flashed through Caden. “Why the fuck is it funny? Don’t you think I can be a father?”
“What? No, not you. Me.” Quade sighed. “I’m not cut out for it. I don’t have… I never had a family of my own. My people weren’t really nurturing. It was fight until you dropped, and then don’t stop fighting. What kind of father could I be?
“A damn good one.”
Quade’s eyes opened wide. “What?”
“Look, I know we haven’t talked. I get that this is all new. I know that Ten shared a lifetime of memories with us, but we don’t really know each other at all. Us being together? It’s a scary idea.” He sighed. “My only family was my mom. I never understood why she was always so careful with me, but now I do. She knew I had something special about me, and she wanted—needed—me to see it.”
“So you could see us? As a family?”
“Of course. Am I saying it would be easy? No. But you? And Ten is… Ten is the perfect child. He’s sweet and sassy and has no problem playing us for his own gain. And… shit, I love the little bastard. I could picture him as my son with no problems whatsoever. But if it’s not something for you, then we’ll deal with it.”
Turning to go into the bedroom, Caden was surprised when Quade grabbed his arm. He spun Caden around, and in that moment, judging by his expression, Caden knew the truth, because it was plain on Quade’s face.
“You do want a family.”
Quade groaned and dropped back down on the couch, his head in his hands. “I’m supposed to be a lycan. I was the one who grew up with the fucked-up representation of what family was. Honestly, I never thought it would be possible for me, but Ten? Yeah, I’ve thought of him like my own. Then you came along and… shit.” Quade scrubbed a hand over his head. “You came along, and I dreamed about us—you and me—raising Ten together. When he said ‘Daddy,’ I knew if it was a dream, I’d be crushed. I can’t tell you what my heart did when I heard it from him. It was as though everything I ever wanted in my life had finally come true.”
“Why is that wrong? You can pretend you’re unaffected, but I’ve seen you with him. I watched you panic when he wouldn’t wake up. I saw firsthand how you sat on the couch playing a game just to make him happy. You were already like a father to him, and when he needed you, you were there.” Caden reached out, took Quade’s hand, and gave it a squeeze. “And who doesn’t need family? An uptight lycan and a neurotic sprite? What would it feel like to not be alone in the world anymore?”
Quade peered up, his eyes shiny in the light. “So what are you saying?”
Caden smiled. “Is there room in your place for two more people?”
“Seriously? Don’t fuck with me on this, Caden.”
“No, I’m definitely not. I want the whole package. You, Ten, and a life. And having that? We’ll all have something to fight for.”
Quade smiled. “Tomorrow I’ll talk to Dandrot about us having custody of Ten, and then I’ll get Greta to work her magic on making him a room.” Quade cocked his head. “Unless you want a bigger place. I could definitely see us with a larger apartment. There’s one in the western part of Sanctuary that has a lot more space. It’s a newer building, but it’s filling up. And it would overlook the park—which Dandrot gave his blessing for—and it’s not far from here so we could see Matt and Kieran, and—”
Caden grabbed Quade’s face between his hands and kissed him. “I think it sounds great. For now? Let’s go to bed and try to get some sleep. I can’t wait to talk to Ten, let him know what we’re going to be doing.”
An enigmatic smile. “I’m guessing he already knows. He told me once that he’s got a stronger connection to you than most people, so it’s likely he’s sitting in bed, wondering when we’ll come and get him.”
“Now?”
Quade nodded eagerly. “Now, please.”
And just like that, everything Caden ever dreamed of had been given to him. And he would die before he gave them up.
