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Despite the fact the man was still barely paying him any attention, warmth bloomed in his belly. Quinten had risked his life to save Caden.
All of the people at the house who’d made snide comments about Quinten, suggested that Caden should stay, or flat out called Quinten a horrible person had been wrong.
Caden couldn’t care less what Quinten did in the name of his business. Quinten showed his strength of character when he protected a camboy being abused by his boyfriend and took a strange shifter into his home without hesitation. He showed it when he flew Caden into enemy territory to get him the help he needed to stay alive and never once mentioned how dangerous it was for him.
Goddess, how could so many people be so wrong about him?
“What pack are you from?” Nero asked out of the blue, startling the crap out of him.
A little while ago, they’d turned onto a much busier, paved street, and he’d been captivated by the big, sprawling houses set back from the road.
“Um…” He wasn’t sure how much he should share with the vampire. “I don’t really have a pack. I’m pretty much a nomad.”
Nero’s eyes met his again in the rearview, and there was something in his that caught Caden’s attention. “Nomad, huh? I’ve met a few of you in my years.”
“Yeah. Well, sometimes it’s just easier to keep moving,” Caden said, glancing out the window next to him and trying not to remember why he’d needed to leave the pack he’d grown up in.
He could feel the attention of both of the parahumans, so he didn’t have to guess that he was giving off some pretty strong scents, but he ignored them, not in the mood to talk.
He felt a hundred times better than he had before they’d gotten the collar off, but after their terrifying flight and the shock at coming face-to-face with a vampire for the first time, he was exhausted. As soon as they got to wherever they were going, he was going to find a bed or a sunny spot and take a nice, long nap.
It wasn’t long before Nero was steering the SUV down a driveway, getting waved through by the man at the huge iron gate. The house that came into view once they passed through was the biggest Caden had ever seen in real life.
The Kincaids’ home had been large—three stories and full of people and life—but this was a sprawling estate with outbuildings and more rooms inside than Quinten was probably aware of.
“This is your house?” Caden asked, staring out the window.
“One of them, yes.”
One of them, Caden mouthed in awe. He’d known Quinten was wealthy by the way he dressed and how big his apartment had been, but this… this was next-level rich. Who even needed this much house, let alone more than one?
Quinten tucked his phone away and waited for Dare to open his door before stepping out. Instead of going out his own side, Caden scooted across the seat and followed after him, sticking close to his side as they walked up the steps to the large double-doored entrance.
One side opened before they reached it. A severe-looking woman with a short haircut and what was obviously a uniform of a knee-length black skirt, white blouse, and black tie stood in the opening, giving Quinten a brisk nod.
“Mr. Amato,” she said. “It’s so good to have you home.”
“It’s always good to be home, Mrs. Burns.” He pointed at Caden. “We’ll have a guest for a while. This is Caden. Please make sure he’s comfortable in one of the bedrooms and that he has anything he needs.”
She gave Caden a quick once-over, her expression less than impressed, but she didn’t say anything about how he obviously didn’t belong in a mansion like this. “Of course, sir. I’ll take excellent care of him.”
“I know you will,” Quinten said, smiling at her as he moved into the house.
The foyer was enormous, three times the size of Rick’s, with a grand double staircase curving along the edges and going up to the second floor. Caden stared at what he was pretty sure was a famous painting, just hanging in the entrance of Quinten’s house like it was no big deal. How could someone get used to living in a place this huge and imposing?
There were a few scents lingering in the air, but he had a feeling they were all from people that Quinten hired to take care of the place, like Mrs. Burns. It didn’t have much of a lived-in feeling, though you’d have to have a family of fifty to achieve that.
It seemed extravagant after some of the places he had lived, but it was beautiful too. Bright and airy. And peaceful. Somehow, he just knew that if given the chance, he could make the sacrifice to get used to the splendor around him.
Except that wouldn’t happen. This wasn’t and never would be his home. He needed to remind himself it was temporary, and while he appreciated everything Quinten was doing for him, he couldn’t forget that.
It didn’t stop him from following Quinten like a lovestruck puppy.
When Quinten noticed him, he paused and turned around, gesturing back at where Mrs. Burns was still standing. “Go with her, Caden. She’ll show you where you’ll be staying. You can also give her a list of anything you need, like clothes and a phone, and she’ll make sure that you get it.”
“But…”
“No buts, kitten. You need to rest. Witch’s and doctor’s orders.”
