The atmosphere shifted when Nero proclaimed they had needed Caden. Cassi felt they were no longer needed for this half of the conversation. She tilted her head back and kissed Nic’s jaw before tugging him away from the front door. She didn’t want to barge in the middle of something intimate, but she was also too tired to get back into the SUV. She could only imagine how tired Nic was. It probably wasn’t smart to let him drive.
Cassiopeia pulled Nic through the yard where they snuck around to the back door. Avery, it seemed, had the same idea. He was already at the back with the door unlocked and opened when Cass got there with Nic.
”You two look like you’ve been awake all night. What happened?”
Cassi sighed, rubbing her hand over her tired face. ”Caden broke into my shop and ruined half my inventory while summoning a demon. He was trying to get answers on Mundus. Trying to summon him. Caden ended up killing the demon before getting arrested. They stuck him in the basement.”
Avery Zain
Location: Caden&Nero's House - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Avery started to feel the same way Cassi did, so when he saw her making an escape with Nic, Avery tucked Kimiko away and did the same. He felt secure in thinking that Nero wouldn’t kill Caden. Not yet, anyway.
He walked to the back door and opened it just before Nic and Cassi arrived. Cassiopeia revealed the details of what had happened, and his eyes widened in shock.
”Putain de merde,” Avery cursed and ran a hand over his chin. He glanced at Kimiko before looking at Cass. He knew how important that shop was to her.
”Is there anything we can do about your shop?”
Cassi smiled tiredly and patted Avery’s chest. ”Not right now. Right now, I just want to sleep. It’s been a long night.”
Avery nodded quickly and gestured to the guest side of Caden and Nero’s home. ”Everything is made up and clean as always. I’ll make sure you aren’t disturbed, but I’ll have the staff make a late lunch.”
Caden remained bowed while Nero spoke, letting their disappointed words wash over him. Nero was right, of course. Caden had acted rashly; he knew that now, but it hadn’t mattered initially. He felt the tonal shift in Nero’s voice as well as the space around him. He waited until he heard the others leave before he lifted his head to look at Nero.
”I should have stayed. I made it about me when it’s not. I should have stayed so we could figure it out together.” Caden bowed his head again, closing his eyes to block out one of his senses. ”Ich habe durch die Beschwörung des Dämons nichts gelernt,” he whispered.
