Page 93 of Cultivating Caden
Caden sighed as the power continued to fill him. The Tree was an amazing thing. It held all of reality in it, and it was allowing Caden to mold the world the way he wanted. Sure, he could fix things for everyone. He could undo damage caused by millions of years of humankind, but he knew in his heart that the only lasting change would come from people working together. He could make things better for Quade, for Ten, for A’kosh, but….
“It’s time to come home now, my love,” Quade rumbled in Caden’s ear.
But there was more to fix. More he could…. “Quade? I can bring them back.”
“Who?”
“The men from that night. I could bring them back to life. Or I could stop them from dying entirely.” Thoughts were rampant now, all the things he could undo. “I could keep Ten’s parents from dying. I could—”
Quade put a hand on the small of Caden’s back. “No. Ten and I? We appreciate that you care more than you know, but what’s done is done. A’kosh’s people are one thing. They weren’t meant to die. But if you change our history like that, you’re running the risk of altering everything. Remember when you asked why Ten didn’t help people learn their powers? It’s like that. If you change things, then we might never meet. Ten’s family could die the next day, or this time it might be Ten who was killed. Rewriting time is dangerous. There are too many variables at work. Plus, I did the deed, and I live with that guilt every day. I want to think it makes me a better person now. Don’t do this, Caden. Please.”
And that beseeching voice was all it took for Caden to stop drawing on the power. The Tree had done enough by returning life to A’kosh’s world and by giving him and Quade back their son, who now stood in A’kosh’s arms.
“You did good, baby. Now let it go.”
And Caden did. He relegated his link to the tree, which had returned to its vibrant green self, to the back of his mind.
“Quade?” he whispered, stumbling back.
Powerful arms wrapped Caden up and held him close. “I’m here, Caden.”
“How…?” The single word encompassed so many questions.
“Our kid. This was all on him. He needed you out of the tree so it would try to find another source of energy. Fortunately mybrotherkept talking about how strong he was. How he’d been blessed by the demon king who made him the most powerful one. Seemed to me we could put that to good use.
Around them came chittering sounds as A’kosh’s people gathered nearby. A’kosh reached for Ten’s hand, and a series of snaps and pops filled the air as he gestured toward Caden and Quade, then to Ten.
He’s telling them you saved them, Poppa.
But Caden hadn’t. Not really.
Shut up and take the win.
Caden snickered. Even in Caden’s own mind, Quade had to be the bossy one.
“Can we go home?” Caden asked. “I need to wash this stuff off me and get about thirty years of sleep.”
Ten go home. Live life.
There was overwhelming sadness in A’kosh’s words, and it tore at Caden because he’d selfishly taken A’kosh’s half soul away.
Ten’s lip trembled. “But… I….”
No!A’kosh snapped.Ten need family. Need to grow up and live life. Not lose out on it.
There was more to A’kosh than Caden knew. He had so much love for Ten that Caden couldn’t bear to see them separated.A’kosh, why don’t you come home with us? You can help us keep an eye on the headstrong kid until he’s old enough to be with you.
Was it fair asking A’kosh to watch as his half soul grew up? Probably not, but it was no less fair than asking him to stay away.
A’kosh could only give what Caden took to be a smile.I… would like that very much.
Caden loved Ten’s happy gasp.You’ll come back with us?
A’kosh reached out and put a hand on Ten’s shoulder.Yes. I will be your guardian. I will keep you from taking foolish risks and protect you, even from yourself.
Ten sighed.Great. Another bossy person to deal with.
Caden and Quade laughed, but they doubted that A’kosh would be able to keep their headstrong son in line until he reached adulthood. Caden wasn’t sure there was anything in the universe that could do that.
