“Our kid. This was all on him. He needed you out of the tree so it would try to find another source of energy. Fortunately my brother kept talking about how strong he was. How he’d been blessed by the demon king who made him the most powerful one. Seemed to me we could put that to good use.
Around them came chittering sounds as A’kosh’s people gathered nearby. A’kosh reached for Ten’s hand, and a series of snaps and pops filled the air as he gestured toward Caden and Quade, then to Ten.
He’s telling them you saved them, Poppa.
But Caden hadn’t. Not really.
Shut up and take the win.
Caden snickered. Even in Caden’s own mind, Quade had to be the bossy one.
“Can we go home?” Caden asked. “I need to wash this stuff off me and get about thirty years of sleep.”
Ten go home. Live life.
There was overwhelming sadness in A’kosh’s words, and it tore at Caden because he’d selfishly taken A’kosh’s half soul away.
Ten’s lip trembled. “But… I….”
No! A’kosh snapped. Ten need family. Need to grow up and live life. Not lose out on it.
There was more to A’kosh than Caden knew. He had so much love for Ten that Caden couldn’t bear to see them separated. A’kosh, why don’t you come home with us? You can help us keep an eye on the headstrong kid until he’s old enough to be with you.
Was it fair asking A’kosh to watch as his half soul grew up? Probably not, but it was no less fair than asking him to stay away.
A’kosh could only give what Caden took to be a smile. I… would like that very much.
Caden loved Ten’s happy gasp. You’ll come back with us?
A’kosh reached out and put a hand on Ten’s shoulder. Yes. I will be your guardian. I will keep you from taking foolish risks and protect you, even from yourself.
Ten sighed. Great. Another bossy person to deal with.
Caden and Quade laughed, but they doubted that A’kosh would be able to keep their headstrong son in line until he reached adulthood. Caden wasn’t sure there was anything in the universe that could do that.
As Ten chatted with Quade, A’kosh made his way to Caden. He glanced out of the corner of his eye to where Ten stood. “I….” A’kosh turned away. “I want Ten to experience love. When he joined with me, I saw so much. He doesn’t know. Doesn’t understand.” Pain radiated from A’kosh. “I must break bond between us. Ten must learn on his own. He can’t experience it through me.”
And again, Caden was struck by how mature A’kosh was. “Ten will be crushed.”
A’kosh shook his head. “Ten not know I break bond.”
No, that wasn’t true. “Ten will know. Ten knows everything.”
“Then what I do?” A’kosh sighed. “My people have no children. From time our eggs hatch, we grown. Expected we work for the queen and people. I see Ten work, like A’kosh. He needs to be a child, grow up whole.” He turned a teary gaze toward Caden. “I not say things right.”
But he did. He spoke eloquently about his love for Ten and how he wanted the best for him. It was no less than Caden and Quade wanted. “Let us explain it to him. The three of us have a lot to talk about. We’ve spoken about his need to experience things firsthand, and as much as it hurts me to see him in pain, I agree with you.” Caden slipped an arm over A’kosh’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I took him away from you.”
A’kosh pulled back. “No! You right. Ten not ready to be adult.”
On that Caden and A’kosh agreed. Caden would do whatever he could to preserve Ten’s innocence, at least for a little while. He walked over to where Ten was, his hands moving a mile a minute as he told Quade about having helped Doctor Desmond with Alexander’s treatments.
“Ten?”
Ten turned toward Caden, a goofy grin on his face. “Poppa.” The smile faded. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to talk.”
“No! That’s not fair!” Ten shouted.
“Sometimes, as parents, we have to do things that aren’t fair.” Caden brushed a hand over Ten’s head. “I know it sucks, but you’re a young boy, and A’kosh is older. He wants you to find out what life is like before you bond with him.”
“We’re already bonded.”
God, this sucked. It was tearing Ten’s heart out, and Caden’s as well. “A’kosh is going to break the bond.”
“What? No,” Ten gasped. “He can’t do that.” He turned pleading eyes toward Quade. “Dad, don’t let him do that.”
Quade sigh, his gaze locked with Ten’s. “We discussed it, and I’ve got to agree with Poppa.”
“But I know him, and he’s going to be hurt if we’re not soul bound. He’ll be alone on a world where nothing makes sense to him. He needs me.”
“Sit down, Ten. Please.”
Ten twisted away and stalked a few feet from Caden and Quade. He turned and put his hands on his hips, glaring at them. “No! I don’t want to talk. Why are you doing this?”
“Because we’re the adults, and we have to do what we think is right for you.” He followed Ten, and when they stood together, he slid a hand down and took Ten’s. “I know it sucks, and I know you’re going to be angry with us, but that’s our decision.” The rest of this was going to hurt too, but Caden would push through it. “You’re also not going to be working with the doctors at home without our permission. Your father already talked to them, and he spoke with Jack. They all agree that it’s time Tennyson got to be a kid.”
“I’m not a kid!” Ten’s face twisted into an angry mask. “I hate you!”
“I know.” Ten didn’t hate Caden, but he was looking for someone to lash out at. “And I understand.”
A moment later Ten dissolved into tears and fell into Caden’s arms. “Please don’t do this.”
“It’s done. We’re not saying you can’t work with people, but there are some things we think you’re too young to see or understand. What you sifted out of my head? Out of your dad’s? No kid should have to see that. I’m not going to say we don’t appreciate it, because we do, but… we want our son to have a life.” He kissed Ten’s hair. “And A’kosh isn’t going away. He’ll be here, and you’ll see him every day.”
Quade joined them. He put a hand on Ten’s shoulder and gave a squeeze. “Use your powers, Ten. See your future with A’kosh.”
Ten’s eyes drifted shut. “He’s so sad.”
“Keep watching. Let us see too, if you don’t mind.”
Images flashed in Caden’s head. It was A’kosh, watching from a distance, as Ten met a boy named Kent. It wasn’t long before the two of them became thick as thieves, and over the next few years, they grew very close. A’kosh watched the whole time, and yes, he was sad, but….
“Ten, can you feel A’kosh?”
“Yes. His sadness is—”
“No, look below the sadness. Dig deeper.”