Page 75 of Cultivating Caden

Big black eyes shimmered in the light. If Quade didn’t know it was a demon, he would swear it was crying.

Slamming a hand down on the table caused it to jump and shrink back. “Tell me! Why are you here? Who sent you?”

“Leave him alone! Can’t you see he’s scared?”

Quade whirled around to find Ten stomping toward him. “Ten, what the hell are you doing here?”

Ten rolled his eyes as he tapped his temple. “Psychic, remember? Our friend here is crying out in pain. Not like I can ignore it.”

The thought that he was causing his son pain gnawed at Quade’s stomach.

Ten smiled and stepped forward. “Hey, I’m Tennyson. It’s nice to meet you.”

The demon cocked its head, as if curious about what kind of being Ten was.

Holding out a hand, Ten moved nearer. Quade reached out to stop him, but Ten sidestepped him. “It’s okay, Dad. He won’t hurt me.” He took the chair across from the demon. “You’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

The demon whimpered and tilted his head in Ten’s direction.

Ten reached out and put his fingers on the demon’s head. “That’s what I thought.” He stroked the rough, scaly skin, and Quade swore there was a slight glow around them. When Ten sat back, Quade’s fingers tightened. He wasn’t pleased at having Ten so near the damn thing that put Perkins in the hospital.

“So your name is A’kosh. It’s good to meet you.”

The demon again tilted his head toward Ten.

“What’s he doing?”

Ten shrugged. “I took away some of his pain. He’s thanking me.”

“That thing is a killer, Ten.”

Shaking his head, Ten reached out again. “No, he’s not. Not everything in the world is black and white, Dad. There are so many shades of gray in there, you wouldn’t believe it. A’kosh is a drone. His life is all about service. He’s not a demon or a warrior, and only fights to protect his people.”

“Seems to me he wasn’t caring about that when he poisoned Perkins.”

“Are you sure?” Ten patted A’kosh on the head. The demon leaned into the touch, then chirped and sat back, hands folded. “Or were you so worked up, you thought he was a threat?”

This was getting weirder and weirder. When Quade gripped Ten’s arm, A’kosh hissed, his torn lip spread wide, showing rows of sharp mandibles.

“He doesn’t like you touching me.” Ten stroked A’kosh’s hand… talon… whatever. “It’s okay. He’s not going to hurt me, I promise. He’s a good man, and I think he can help you.”

“Help him? Why the hell would I help a thing that nearly killed one of our own?”

Ten’s lips tightened into a thin white line. “Can I see you, please? Out in the hall.”

Without waiting for Quade to answer, Ten got up and stormed out the door and into the hallway. Shooting a glare at the demon—A’kosh—Quade followed his kid. He found him leaning against the wall, his hands deep in the pockets of his jeans.

“Why do you do that?”

Quade squinted at him. “Do what?”

“You don’t listen. I told you he wouldn’t hurt me.”

“I don’t give a damn what you told me!” Quade sucked in a deep breath. “You’re my son, and if you want to get mad at me because I care, then you’ll be mad for the rest of your life.”

“Dad, look—”

“No,youlook. That… thing nearly killed a good man. And you think because you say so, I’m going to forget that fact?”