Page 55 of Cultivating Caden

“Quade? What aren’t you telling me?”

His expression told Caden there was something there. “Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me. What did Ten tell you?”

“Can we talk about this later? Right now, I just want to hold you.”

It sounded so good, but…. “No, I need to know what’s going on.”

The pain in Quade’s expression spoke volumes. Whatever it was, it had to be bad.

“Ten said….” He sucked in a breath. “He said you’re going to die.”

Shock coursed through Caden. He fell onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He hadn’t been expecting that. When Quade grabbed him and jerked him across the bed, Caden didn’t resist.

“I’m not going to let that happen, do you understand me? You’re mine, and I will never let anyone else touch you. The only way anything gets to you is if they go through me first.”

The words should have inspired confidence, reminded Caden he was loved, although….

“You mean you’d die with me.”

“I can’t live in a world without you. It’s selfish, I know, but I’d let all of existence crumble to dust before I’d give you up.” He kissed Caden’s chest. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve been mine for a thousand lifetimes before today—you’re mine now, and I won’t let anything change that.”

The words, spoken softly, touched Caden’s heart, but they still left a chill that coursed through him. He was going to die.

“You’re not going to die.”

“You can’t know that. How many times have you said Ten knows things?”

“Well, he doesn’t know this!” Quade leaped off the bed. “He says there are no other avenues, that all the things he sees converge at this moment in time. He said there is no other way, but I swear to God, I will find one.”

He wouldn’t. Quade was angry because he knew Ten was right.

“Why don’t we go into town?”

Quade blinked. “What?”

“Let’s drive into town. I’ll show you my shop and where I live.” Anything to distract him.

Quade continued to stare, his hands clenched at his sides.

Caden got up, walked over to him, and put a hand on his chest. “Quade? Talk to me.”

The anger in his expression morphed to the last one Caden ever expected to see: fear.

“I can’t lose you, do you understand? I’ve lost you a thousand times, but I can’t lose you this one. We have to have our happy ever after.” He wrapped his arms around Caden, his breath warm on Caden’s neck. “I can’t do this again. I can’t live without you.”

There were no words for what Caden was feeling. He wanted to tell Quade everything would be okay, but he knew better. He had to distract him, get him out for a while at least.

“Why don’t you go for a run?”

Quade’s lip quivered. “You trying to get rid of me?”

“No! I mean, I want you to just let go for a while.”

Wrapping his arms around Caden, Quade leaned in close. “I vote we go see your shop. Ten showed you things about us, but we know very little about you.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, Caden. Take me home.”