Caden squinted at him. “Are you being serious? After the whole minotaur thing, I have to ask.”
That brought a laugh. “Yes, totally serious. So, are you going to invite me in, or do I need to stand by the door all night?”
“Oh, sure. Have a seat. Pizza should be here shortly.”
Quade took a seat in front of the television. “You left the game on.”
“Thought maybe you’d like to play after we eat.”
Caden swore Quade flushed, but he didn’t say anything. A knock at the door had Caden hurrying to answer it. The guy smiled as he handed Caden the boxes. When Caden held out money, the guy’s eyes widened.
“Oh. Um….”
The deliveryman shot a panicked look at Quade, who crossed to the door. “I’ve got this,” he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out several of the same stones he’d given to Greta. The deliveryman smiled and put them into this pocket.
“Thank you, Quade!” With a nod the deliveryman turned and went back down the hall.
Taking the boxes into the kitchen, Caden grabbed a couple of sodas, then returned to the living room. Quade leaned forward and inhaled deeply.
“I smell meat. Fuck, chicken and sausage?”
“One for you, one for me. I got their Garden of Eatin’ pizza. Don’t wait on my account—dig in.”
They ate their pizzas in silence, Quade moaning as he bit into his slice.
“They make the best pizza.” He wiped a strand of cheese from his chin with a finger, then licked it off.
When Caden took his first bite, he couldn’t believe how delicious it was. Thick crust, with perfectly seasoned sauce, and chunks of mushrooms, onions, green and red peppers, as well as veggie sausage and pepperoni, all covered with a generous layer of vegan cheese. It was like an orgasm in his mouth.
By the time they were done, Quade had eaten his entire eighteen-inch pizza and half of Caden’s, despite his protest about not liking vegan food. Happy and sated, Caden leaned back and watched as Quade devoured the remaining slice.
“So what are we doing tomorrow?”
“Mm, oh, I thought we’d start with breakfast, then wander around and show you some of the specialty shops. Some of the dwarves sell crystals you won’t find in any shop anywhere else. My favorites are the deep red ones. They’re like geodes, but they glow from some internal light. The dwarves call them life crystals. I’ve got a few in my place, and they’re amazing.”
It sounded great. In fact, the whole of Sanctuary did, but…. Caden sighed.
“Quade, I can’t stay here. I’ve got a life to get back to.”
Quade groaned, his head thrown back as he stared at the ceiling. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go.”
What the hell?
Chapter 8
Quade bit back the curse that he wanted to let fly. He’d explained to Caden how dangerous it was for him to go back out into the world. Now they were back to that argument.
“And what happens if you lose control?”
“I won’t.”
“Really? You’re willing to bet the lives of people around you on that?”
Caden sat back and stared up at the ceiling. “My life is boring and mundane. There’s nothing that gets me worked up or angry. In all the years I’ve worked in town, never once have I gotten mad at someone.”
“Bullshit.” If Caden wanted to be shown, then Quade would be the one to do it. “Get up.”
Caden tilted his head so their gazes met. “Why?”
Quade reached out and wrapped his hand around Caden’s bicep and hauled him off the couch. “Because I fucking said so. We’re going out.”
Without waiting for Caden to agree, Quade dragged him out of the room and down to the elevator. Once there, he swiped his pass card over the electronic eye, punched the button that would whisk them outside, and when they arrived, shoved Caden out. He landed on the ground, face-first on a carpet of decaying leaves and branches. When he stood, streaks of dirt tracked his cheeks.
“What the fuck? What are you doing?”
“Millinocket is a small town. There aren’t a lot of people there, but if there’s one thing I can promise you, anyone can get you frustrated.”
“Yeah, no shit. You’re doing a damn good job right now.”
Quade moved quickly, shoving Caden’s shoulders and knocking him to the ground again. He couldn’t be certain, but it felt as though the earth shifted slightly. “Get up!”
The redness of Caden’s cheeks told Quade everything he needed to know. Despite his claim that he didn’t get angry, he was furious.
Stumbling to his feet, Caden stepped away. “Knock it off.”
Instead, Quade raced at him and did a sweep kick at his feet, knocking him down once more. This time the tremor that rattled the area wasn’t his imagination. If he hadn’t been on good footing, it would have knocked him on his ass.
Caden stood again, his green eyes glowing with a phosphorescence. Leaves and detritus swirled around his feet as though caught in a cyclone, streaming up into the sky. “You son of a bitch!”
With those words, the ground exploded. Roots from the trees burst forth, piercing Quade’s body. It hurt like hell, but he wouldn’t give in this time. He let the change occur, taking on his lycan form. He sliced through his bonds, smiling as they crumbled to the ground.
“Best you got?”
Snarling, Caden raised his hands skyward, and ancient trees sprang to life, whistling through the air and lashing at Quade, ripping off swaths of flesh. Fuck, Quade knew if Caden was in control, he could flay Quade alive. Still, these strikes were haphazard at best, so right now there was a lot of pain and blood, but not much else.
Regardless, it was best to try to put an end to this before Caden did kill him.
“Is this what it was like for the bikers, you think? When the trees tore them apart, ripped their limbs from their bodies? Did it give you satisfaction? I know you didn’t mean to do it, but now? I can see in your eyes how angry you are. I know you want to kill me. Is that what it’ll take to get through to you? To show you why you’re a danger to humans and demihumans alike?”
When pollen clouds gathered around his head, Quade knew he’d pushed too hard. They were thick and cloying, working into his lungs, choking him. It was then that Quade realized he’d made a tactical error, and unless Caden snapped out of it, Quade would die.
“Stop it! Stop hurting each other!”
The voice was small, tiny against the noises that surrounded them, but it echoed in Quade’s mind. As bad as it was for him, it appeared to be worse for Caden, who clutched his head and howled in what Quade could only call a combination of rage and pain.
It was then that Quade saw Ten, rushing through the forest, wearing nothing but pajama bottoms. He stumbled several times, his face a mask of pain. Blood dripped down his arms and chest from harsh-looking scratches, and tears streaked his face. Quade ignored his own pain and hurtled forward to scoop Ten up, wanting to get him away. Apparently Ten had other ideas. He turned and glared at Quade, pure venom in his eyes.
“Stop!”
Quade froze, every muscle locked.
Ten’s gaze shifted over to Caden. “Sleep!”