CADEN HALLOW clearly understood what his son had just said. But he couldn't act like he did. Infact, he could never.
Admitting that he also saw flashes of Casselba in his mind would be also admitting he wanted her. And he could not do that to Ryan. Not to his son.
What kind of father would openly admit to his son that he had the hots for his teacher; a woman who looked like she fell straight out of the TALES OF ARABIAN NIGHTS, and who was also a supernatural mystery.
The answer was simple—no father. So Caden plays it dumb.
It was clear in Ryan's soft coffee eyes that he wanted her. Needed her rather. Somehow, the young man had to make sense of the situation. Caden on the other hand made up his mind to let Ryan go it alone. It was better for both of them that way.
Father and Son could must never have the same woman—no matter how hot she may be.
"Dad, did you hear what I just said?" Ryan says again.
Caden looks at him quizzically.
"Shit?"
"No, dammit! Before I said shit."
Caden goes squinty-eyed but Ryan doesn't buy it.
"Fine. I said we need to find her."
Caden walks straight to his son, placing both hands on either side of his shoulders. He looks directly into Ryan's eyes and says,
"Okay, son. I do not know what is going on right now but I don't know what you are talking about."
"Sure you do," Ryan immediately interjects.
He grabs his journal, turns it open to a page with Casselba's specific tattoo.
"Tell me you don't know what this is?" He says, holding up the sketch to Caden's eyes.
Caden is surprised at how well his son got the planes of the ink but he doesn't show it. Instead, he calmly collects the journal with both hands.
"Of course I know what this is..." he replies and Ryan lets out a long breath. "...It's a beautiful sketch."
Ryan immediately sighs in disappointment.
Caden was clearly lying through his teeth. Ryan knew because the only person worse at lying than him was his father. Another thing they both shared. So he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and begins.
"Dad, I know this is new and not entirely normal but I just need to understand. I know you know this art and who it belongs to. We both share a mind connection, with her. It's not normal to see visions of a woman but she is also not human either. To understand this need for her, we need to find her. We need to talk to her. Please, okay?"
Caden doesn't immediately reply and the room stays quiet for so long Ryan thinks he might just fall asleep standing.
"I'll be in the library," Caden murmurs and hurries out of the bedroom.
Ryan huffs at his abrupt exit. His father was clearly in denial.
Ryan slowly lowers the journal back to the desk. He runs his hand over the page, his finger moving over the black-and-white lines. He didn't know why but Casselba signified completion. The one thing both he and Caden needed in their lives.
A woman to love.
And Ryan didn't care whatever else she came with.