Page 81 of Cultivating Caden

“Yeah, fine.” Caden drew in a breath. “I want to come with you.”

“We talked about this. You’ve never dealt with this kind of thing before, and you’re not ready for it now. Just let me go with A’kosh, help his people, and I’ll come straight back to you.”

Visions filled Caden’s mind. What if there was something there that could hurt Quade? Ten had said some sort of being was staring back at him. What did he call it? Ancient and powerful. To someone like Ten, who seemed to be power personified, what was strong enough to scare him?

“Please….”

“Ten, come here.”

Ten stepped away from A’kosh and strode over. “Yeah, Dad?”

“Take Poppa and go back to our place. Call Uncle Matt and Uncle Kieran and ask if they can stay with you guys until I get back.”

“Okay.”

Quade seemed startled. “No argument?”

“No. I know it wouldn’t do me any good, and you need your head in the game.” He threw his arms around Quade’s stomach and squeezed. “Please come home to us.”

Quade bent over and planted a kiss on Ten’s head. “Nothing will keep me from you guys.”

Stepping back, Ten’s gaze shifted over to A’kosh, whose big black eyes were fixed on him, unblinking. Waves of guilt, friendship, and… more rolled over Caden. Somehow he knew that Ten was close to tears. He put a hand on Ten’s shoulder to steady him. “Give your friend a hug good bye.”

Like he was waiting for permission, he threw himself into A’kosh’s arms. Caden stood, amazed, as four more limbs grew from A’kosh’s body and wound their way around Ten. He placed his forehead against Ten’s, and a series of chirps sounded softly. Then he leaned back and pressed his mouth to Ten’s head, before stepping back and going to Quade.

“He said he’ll protect Dad with his life.”

“And I’ll make sure he stays safe.” Quade came over. “I won’t let him be hurt if I can stop it. You’ve got my word.”

Before Caden or Ten could say anything, Quade rushed back to A’kosh, who put his arms in the air and began to make strange geometric patterns in front of him. At first it was a faint haze, the barest of lines making their presence known. Then a brilliant blue light burst into being, and Caden stood in shock as he realized he was staring into another dimension.

The sky was a sickly green, and the sun a deep ruby red. The trees were black, gnarled, and not like anything he’d ever seen on earth.

“Quade?”

Quade turned and smiled at him before stepping into the breach with A’kosh. As soon as they entered, the portal shimmered, then faded as if it was never there.

“Come on, Poppa. Let’s go get the uncles.”

He let Ten take his hand and lead him home, wondering what would happen to Quade.

It wasn’t going to be right until Quade was home again where he belonged.