Chapter 60

Kaden’s POV

I heard Cora’s breaths get lighter and I just knew she was asleep. She deserved some rest after what she'd done.

“Did anything happen to her?” I asked, looking up at Benjamin.

I didn't ask her because she wouldn't have told me anything but Benjamin would tell me everything.

“What do you mean? She’s fine.” He replied confusedly.

“Did she get hurt in any way?” I inquired.

He hesitated before saying, “Uh– Nope, not at all!” I didn't need a seer or visionary to tell me that was a terrible lie.

“You’re a horrible liar.” I replied coldly.

He coughed and I saw his hands tighten around Aliyah. “N-no, she didn’t get h-hurt.”

“Just tell me.” I said exasperatedly.

“Lemme see.” He frowned in concentration, trying to remember everything, “Um, there was Lashawna, Alfred, Miko, the demon who bit her, then that werewolf pulled her hair but I don’t think that hurt her.” He finished.

I was livid and asked in a deathly calm voice, “Miko?”

He froze, “Did I say Miko? When did I ever mention Miko?” He winced slightly.

“A demon bit her?” I asked in the same tone.

“Did I say the demon bit her? Psh! I was definitely lying.” He said lamely. Benjamin is so dumb and tells the most obvious and terrible lies.

“What happened with Lashawna?” I ignored his lies. That was the least I could care about at the moment.

“Oh, yeah. Turns out Lashawna was working with Miko. She helped kidnap you.” He fidgeted with Aliyah’s fingers.

“And Alfred?” I asked in a tight voice.

“Him too.”

“He hurt her?” I asked, my eyes never leaving Cora's beautiful face. I brushed her hair out of her perfectly sculpted little face.

“No. She is the Uniter, Kaden. She doesn’t really get hurt. The only thing that hurt her was the demon bite, but she healed herself.” He shrugged.

I looked over at her and froze when I saw the faint bite on her left arm. Gingerly, I picked it up and brought it close to my face to look at it.

I set her arm down the same way but I couldn't help the loud growl that rumbled in my chest. Everybody looked back at me; even my dad frowned while taking his eyes off the road for a minute and looking in the mirror to see me.

“What’s wrong?!” I heard a panicked voice ask, “Kaden?! You okay?!”

I looked down at Cora and smiled tightly, “Fine.”

She arched a brow and turned to Benjamin, “What happened?”

He looked at me and I frantically shook my head. He smirked and looked back at Cora.

“Oh, nothing, just him being a man.” Benjamin shrugged stupidly.

I frowned. Nice one, Benjamin. Real original.

“Just being a man?” Cora repeated in disbelief.

“Yup.” Benjamin smiled.

“Liar.” She leaned back against my shoulder, “So, what really happened?” She asked again giving Benjamin the look.

“Huh? What? Oh…huh?” He stammered.

Her eyes glazed over and then Benjamin flinched, staring into space.

“Cora?” I called at the same time Aliyah called, “Benny?”

I looked between the two of them. Benjamin still had a frown on his face while Cora was smirking tauntingly.

I frowned, “I’m so lost.”

Aliyah nodded in agreement and shook Benjamin, “Benjamin?”

Cora’s eyes unglazed and she laughed heartily while Benjamin shuddered.

“What’s so funny? And what just happened?” I asked confusedly.

“She was just reading my thoughts.” Benjamin shuddered again.

“Haha, Aliyah. Wherever you guys finish the mating bond you’ll have some SUR-PRI-SES!” Cora laughed louder.

“Shut up!” Benjamin yelled angrily. I growled loudly and pulled Cora instinctively against me.

Cora stopped laughing, “Say sorry.”

“He just yelled at you.” I retorted angrily.

“Benjamin, apologize. Kaden, apologize.” She strictly told us. Cora being serious or sounding authoritative was just funny and sexy to me.

Benjamin winced, “Sorry, Cora.”

“Sorry.” I mumbled, rolling my eyes.

“Like you mean it.” Cora snapped, elbowing me in the ribs.

I grunted, “I am so, very, truly sorry, Benjamin. I’ll never growl at you again.” I said sarcastically but it came out like I meant it.

“Sarcasm is bad.” Cora said, picking at her nails.

“What?” I asked with wide eyes, “That wasn’t sarcasm.” I added, lying through my teeth shamelessly.

“Puh-lease. I am the QUEEN of sarcasm.” She looked up at me and nodded.

I thought about it, “Nah, you’re not. Not really.” She really wasn't.

“Yeah-huh!” She pouted in annoyance.

“Whatever.” I chuckled, running a hand through my hair and she poked my forehead, hard.

“Ow!” I whined loudly, rubbing my forehead

“Say I am.” She glared poking my stomach,

“No.” I said childishly.

She flicked my ear, “Admit it. Now.”

“Mom!” I yelled.

My Mom looked back and chuckled, shaking her head playfully in pretend disappointment, “Yes, Kaden?”

“She is hurting me.” I said pointing to Cora.

My Mom just chuckled again and turned around; she didn't even have time for my bullshit. Nicely done, mother. I see the battle line has been drawn.

“Muahahahahaha! She’s on MY side!” Cora said evilly, “Kaden, are you on my side?” She asked sweetly.

“No. You are forcing me to get you a puppy.” He said grumpily.

Cora laughed, “I forgot about that!”

My Dad groaned, “Damn it! Why did I have to bring it up?!”

Everyone laughed and Cora sat crisscross on her seat. She started poking her purple Vans.

“Why are you poking your shoes?” Benjamin asked, frowning slightly. Stupid Benjamin, you never question the random things Cora does.

“Why not?” She retorted, not even bothering to look up.

She poked harder and grunted in the process. I raised my brows at her questioningly. She’s one very strange female, doing the most random shit all the time.

“Seriously though, why?” Benjamin tried again. For goodness sake, Ben.

“Seriously, why not?” She poked harder.

“You’re so annoying and aggravating!” Benjamin complained.

“You’re so ugly and stupid.” She retorted angrily.

He gasped and quietly asked, “Ugly?”

She nodded, “Yup.”

“That’s just cold.” He glared at her coldly.

Cora shrugged and set her hands on her knees, “I don’t care.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Benjamin frowned.

“There’s nothing wrong with me.” She replied, picking at her jeans.

“Obviously, there is. What is it?” He persisted.

“I said nothing Benjamin.” She growled quietly.

I raised my brows in surprise as Benjamin frowned in hurt. Everyone gasped and looked back at us. I set my hand on top of hers. She stiffened then relaxed, only to shake my hand off.

“We’re home.” My Dad announced quietly

Cora got up and threw the back door open. She walked up to the front door, opened it and walked in; alone. That's odd.

I frowned after her.

“What’s wrong with her?” Stephen asked worriedly.

I shrugged, “I don’t know. Just give her some time alone, I guess. It's been a long rough day.”

They all nodded and we walked into the house. We all went into the living room and sat down.

“So, um, Ambrose, Domino, why didn’t you let anyone know you were alive?” My Dad asked quietly.

Regret flashed through Ambrose’s eyes while Domino looked sad.

“It would’ve put you guys at risk.” Ambrose said in a soft voice. His voice was so angelic that I could sit and listen to it all day. Guess that's where Cora got it from.

“We could’ve handled it.” My Dad said quietly, looking down sadly.

“They would’ve killed you.” Domino replied.

“Why?” My Mom did the asking this time around as she sat next to my Dad.

“If they knew you guys were our friends, they would’ve come here demanding for Cora at whatever cost. We couldn't have that.” Ambrose said, putting a hand on my dad’s shoulder.

“Why’d you guys pretend to be dead?” My Dad asked coldly.

“Pretend to be dead? Because if they knew we were alive, they would have found us by all means.” Domino blinked away the tears in her eyes.

“So? You could’ve just put another protection spell on you guys again.” My Dad shrugged.

“They would’ve found Cora.” Domino sniffed, trying to keep her emotions at bay.

“So you guys had to give up your lives just to keep me safe?” I heard Cora’s voice come from the doorway.

I looked over and her face was all puffy and red. She’d been crying. She walked in and stood in front of Ambrose and Domino.

“We didn’t give it up, honey.” Domino laughed, “You're everything to us and all we wanted was to protect you.” She smiled.

Cora nodded, “People knew I was the Uniter?”

“When you were a baby. Witch Malone, I told her you were the Uniter. Only because all the witches used to be close. Little did I know she was on Miko’s fathers side.” She laughed sadly.

“She told Miko‘s daddy.” Cora started walking towards me.

I held my arms open and she sank into my lap. I wrapped my arms around her torso and set my chin on her shoulder.

“Yes. As soon as I told her, she said she had something important to do. Me, being the dense person I was, didn’t think anything of her leaving so suddenly. The next day, Makhi sent his guards out to take you.

I saw them coming and quickly put you with a friend,” Cora tensed up but Domino continued, “while I put a spell on Ambrose and I. We went out to stop them but they ‘killed’ us and proceeded to find you.

“When they found out you weren’t there they went back to Makhi and he sent out a search team. We went to our friends house but weren’t allowed to go in because even they thought we were dead.

But we never left you. We were always there with you.” Domino finished, smiling tearfully at Cora.

Cora was still tense as she plastered a smile on her face, “Yeah. And friends? You were friends with my foster parents?”

“Yes. Good friends other than Kaden and Jasmine.” Ambrose grinned at my Mom and Dad. My parents smiled back happily.

“That’s nice.” Cora smiled but it was so obvious it was a fake smile.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered in her ear.

She shivered, “Nothing. Just wondering.”

My eyes narrowed slightly but I let it go, nodding at her. There was no need for me to put any pressure on her.

“Were Michelle and Henrik good parents? Did you ever call them Mom or Dad?” Domino asked, smiling sadly.

Cora stiffened again, “They are not and will never be my parents.” She growled quietly, holding my hand instinctively, so tight that it started to hurt. She didn't even realize she was holding my head.

“Baby?” I asked quietly and she relaxed slightly.

“Sorry.” She mumbled, looking down sadly.

Domino and Ambrose’s smiles had dropped a little.

“Well, were they good parents?” Ambrose asked hopefully.

“No.” Cora replied emotionlessly, getting out of my arms.

“What–” She cut Domino off.