Page 45 of Cultivating Caden

“No, I’m good, but thank you for offering.”

“Okay.” Matt took Kieran’s hand. “Come on, sleepyhead. Let’s get you into bed.”

“Yes, Sir.” Kieran yawned, then leaned over and gave Caden a peck on the cheek. “Good night, girlfriend.”

“The two of you, I swear.” Matt shook his head, but Caden could see the warmth of his smile as he gazed at them.

“Go on, get some rest.”

They went into the second bedroom and closed the door, leaving Caden in the living room, staring at the windows that showed a fake sun starting to peek over the horizon. He let his head rest against the sofa, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Jack frowned,his wide forehead wrinkling. “What do you mean, you were attacked?”

“By a Bogran! It slammed into the car and came after Caden.”

“What the hell for?”

“You tell me. It wasn’t interested in any of us. I had to slice it open just to get its attention. And the weirdest thing was that voice. It said Caden was a wood sprite. I heard about them, but never really thought the stories were true.”

“Neither did I. Are yousurehe said sprite?”

“Well, gee, he could have said Coke, I guess. Of course I’m sure!”

Jack punched a button on the phone. “Hilda, I need someone who knows something about sprites.”

“You found your girl.”

“Youknow about sprites? Why is this the first I’m hearing about it?”

“It’s not like it’s dinner table discussions. What do you need to know?”

“Get in here.”

“Excuse me?” The chill in her voice was evident. “Maybe if you say ‘please.’”

“Oh for fuck’s…. Please get in here.”

She chuckled, then disconnected. A moment later the door opened and she strode into the room. As soon as he laid eyes on her, Jack got that moony look he had whenever she was around. He was head over heels for his wife, and it made Quade just a tiny bit jealous.

Which, of course, had him thinking about Caden. He remembered Caden standing there, terrified but not moving as the Bogran bore down on him. In that instant, that one fraction of a second, Quade’s heart seized at the thought that he could lose Caden. It had driven him to fight harder than ever before.

And then he’d claimed him. Oh, fuck. He’d claimed Caden as his, which meant he had essentially said Caden was his mate. Fuck and thunder. What the hell had he done?

“Are you paying attention?”

“Not in the slightest. I’ve got other things on my mind.” He glanced at Hilda. “What do you know about lycans and their mates?”

She blinked, her big brown eyes wide. “I thought you said this was about sprites?”

“It is,” Jack assured her. “I don’t know what Quade is talking about, but that’s not germane to this conversation.”

Quade snorted. “It is if I claimed him as mine.”

“Youwhat? Oh shit.” Hilda stomped across the floor. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“No, but I’m sure you’ll explain it to me.”