Page 87 of Cultivating Caden
Chapter 22
“What do you mean?”
Caden knew he had to keep calm, but when Ten sat bolt upright and cried out for Quade, it shot a dagger straight through his heart.
“I can’t hear his thoughts. A’kosh’s either.”
“Does that mean they’re…?” Kieran gasped as he clutched Matt’s arm, his eyes wide and full of panic. “Sir?”
Matt wrapped Kieran in his arms and stroked slow circles on his back. “That’s not what it means, boy. Just stay calm.”
“No, they’re not dead, I’m certain of that. That kind of trauma I would feel no matter what.” Ten stood, went to the door, and grabbed his jacket.
“Where are you going?”
His gaze snapped to Caden’s. “I’m going after them.”
“No, you most certainly are not.” Caden took two steps toward Ten when he was stopped in his tracks, unable to move. “Ten….”
Ten turned, his back rigid. “I’m going. I won’t leave them alone there, and I won’t let you stop me.” His gaze narrowed, and Caden feared Ten believed he would leave Quade on the other side.
“Do you really think I would abandon them? I love Quade, and A’kosh is our friend. Like you, I won’t leave them there.” Caden drew in a breath. “Please, let me help you.”
Ten was quiet for a moment, but then his shoulders slumped, and Caden found the force that had been holding him dissolved. He hurried to Ten’s side.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“I do,” Ten said softly. “You’re my Poppa. I’m… sorry I got angry.”
“It happens.” That conversation would come later. Right now, they had a family to save. “Now, how are we going to get there?”
Ten muttered something under his breath, but Caden caught the words “I can do it.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
He sighed and turned Caden loose. “A’kosh is my half soul. I can use his abilities, just like you could use Dad’s.”
Narrowing his gaze, Caden glared at Ten. “What do you mean, I can use Quade’s?”
“Poppa, we don’t have time for—”
Caden waggled a finger in Ten’s face. “Oh, you’ll make time. You’ve been holding out on us ever since I got here. What the hell do you mean, I can use Quade’s?”
Another sigh rolled out of Ten. “You’re half of his soul, which means you make up half of what he is. Your abilities are meant to complement each other. You control plants. Dad is more animalistic. I can do things with my mind, while A’kosh’s physical presence keeps me grounded so my abilities don’t overwhelm me. Every soul longs to be joined, to make each other complete.”
“And you didn’t tell us this why?”
Ten fidgeted, twisting his fingers together. “Because you’re not human this time. You’re the Tree of Life, the source of all creation. I thought maybe you weren’t meant to be together this lifetime.” He lowered his gaze.
“If you’re right, it could be the last lifetime we have together. Did you even consider that? If this is where it all goes away, don’t you think we deserve the chance to face it together?”
Ten’s lower lip trembled as his eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry, Poppa. I didn’t mean to… I know you… I’m sorry.”
Standing there, his fists clenched at his sides, on the verge of tears, Ten reminded Caden once more that he was a child. Yes, he possessed enormous gifts, and true, he was very mature for his age, but he was a little boy. His son. The one who never had stability in his life, or someone to love him. Caden grabbed Ten’s shoulders and pulled him in.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled.”
Ten shook his head harshly. “No, don’t. I messed up. It’s just that… Dad’s never had the best control with his wolf. The two were at odds for so many years, and it made Dad angry. I was afraid that if he gained access to your abilities, he might do something like trying to tear the wolf out of his body. And with your powers, he probably could have done it.”
