Page 81 of Nightshades
“So much rain lately,” I begin and add a bit of sugar to my coffee, stirring it with a spoon. “Are you feeling okay, Caden? I know sometimes kitsunes can feel a lot of loneliness, especially with your long lives. I remember reading about the storm kitsunes that the more rain that pours, the more their heart aches.”
“And?” Caden’s jaw is tight, tense, and his fox is clearly unhappy with me by how his tails are flicking behind him.
“Caden,” Demi says his name with worry and sadness. “Does your heart ache?”
Caden grips the edge of the booth, and by the way his fox grows above him, his power is going to be directed at me any minute.
The skies darken with his rage, the inside of the diner cast in the storm’s shadow. Customers who were on their way outdecide to stay, sitting down in their booths again to wait for the storm to pass.
“That’s none of your business,” he seethes at me, the lightning in his eyes becoming bolder as his power increases.
“I’m not trying to start a fight with you. I’m only trying to have a conversation. You’re upset that I can see you, but I can’t help that, Caden. I can’t help what I am, just like you can’t help what you are. I wouldn’t tell anyone. I haven’t whispered anything to anyone about the creatures I have seen, except to my family, since they have the same…affliction as I do. And if I did tell, a regular person would call me crazy.”
Bolts of electricity begin to crackle across Caden’s fingertips, his veins lightning up with his power.
“Caden.” Demi reaches to touch his arm, and before I can tell her to stop, her fingers graze his bicep, shocking her instantly. “Damn it!” She sucks a finger into her mouth, bringing it away to see the damage.
It’s red but fading fast.
The fox must care for Demi because his ears lie flat, his eyes becoming wide with panic. Caden’s power recedes in an instant, and he snags Demi’s hand to inspect it.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t…I didn’t mean to hurt you. Oh my god, are you okay? Do you feel okay?” Caden checks her over, even going as far as to press two fingers against her throat to check for a pulse.
Which is funny, considering she is obviously alive.
“Caden. I’m fine. You shocked me. It isn’t a big deal. See? It’s gone already.”
Caden flips her hands over a dozen times to check for any sign of injury.
“Because you’re mated to Creed. That’s the only reason you’re alive right now,” I state, dipping the toast in the runny egg yolk. “That’s why he is freaking out. One shock from himcan stop someone’s heart. He isn’t all rain, wind, thunder, and lightning like he puts on.”
“The storms help me keep my power in check.”
“Caden, that can’t be good for you. It storms here all the time. Every day, nearly all day.”
“Because his heart aches,” I add. “If it weren’t for the storms, he’d lose himself in power.”
Caden narrows his eyes at me, not liking what I have to say, when finally, he puts his defenses down and sags against the table. “Yes, she’s right,” he says to Demi. “It’s hard seeing all of you find your fated mates. I want mine too. I don’t think you realize how big a deal it is to paranormals, to creatures like me, like Creed, to find someone destined for them. Some paranormals wait their entire lives and never meet the other half of their soul, someone meant for them, created to make their soul whole again, someone to spend eternity with. I know with Creed it was hard because of all the DNA he has, but at least his vampire would have only lived two hundred years, and he would have died if he hadn’t met you,” Caden explains, and a large realization slams against me.
I’m Shade’s fated mate. Everything he said last night makes sense. How he would protect me for all eternity, how I am his, and he is mine. He didn’t go into detail about fated mates, and I don’t think he knowswhyhe needs me.
“So yes, I want that, and my fox is sad with every day that passes that we don’t meet the one meant for us. I’m so happy for you, Rhett, and Fitz. I love seeing your families grow. The way Creed would kill anyone for you, Demi, that’s how any paranormal would react. We kill anyone we see as a threat to our mate. If I ever met my mate and she was in danger, I would create the most dangerous hurricanes and tornadoes. I would rip cities to pieces if it meant protecting her. I’m young in kitsuneyears. I have plenty of time to find my mate, but living three hundred years already?—”
I knew it.
“—It’s just a long time to not have anyone.”
Demi doesn’t say anything. Instead, she wraps her arms around him, embracing him in a tight hug.
His fox becomes smaller, relieved that he doesn’t feel the need to have to protect himself.
“I didn’t mean to start anything,” I say between chewing. “It’s hard not to talk about it when I can see things for what they are.”
“Must be hard to see things like us and not know what will happen to you,” Caden steals a piece of my bacon off my plate.
“I’ve never come across anyone who has wanted to hurt me before. I have found that a lot of creatures are like humans. There are good ones and bad ones.”
Caden nods in agreement.