by Debbie Behan
He grinned, thinking of how much trouble Conom had gone to, getting her onside and then filling her with drink to ensure his win. He wondered if Conom would be beating her if she were sober. Conom insisted on a star starters before the last hand and Kayden grabbed the bottle, getting them lined up. This last drink would do Kayden in, Aldebaran thought until he saw Kayden wink at Cassandra. He realised that Kayden was still able to keep up and maybe they were playing the player.
This was going to be interesting, seeing if they let Conom win. If they did, it would be to enjoy his company for another day. His kids were playing Conom and all of a sudden he felt proud of them for being able to hold their own against a warlord like Conom. He had been worried all night that he was up to no good. Yet here they were; they had read him like a book and were having just as much fun back at him.
Cassandra touched Kayden’s face, smiled and threw her hand in, letting Conom win.
Conom, finally pleased, stood up to leave. ‘Well that’s it for me. I’m calling it a night.’ He stretched and downed the last of his drink on the table. ‘I’ll organise a day of pleasure. Well, it will be for me anyway, watching you guys squirm,’ he grinned slyly.
He lifted Cassandra’s hand and kissed it. ‘Until then. It’s been a pleasure, Cassie. Kayden.’ He smiled, and nodded at Kayden next. Then he went inside and his entourage followed him as he left the castle.
Aldebaran picked up Cassie’s cards she had thrown in. ‘You let him win! Why?’
She shrugged. ‘Well, technically we were the winners. Now we get to have some more fun with him another day.’ She smiled, putting out her hand to Kayden.
‘Are you ready to retire, beautiful?’ he asked sweetly as she leaned into him.
‘Excellent party, Pops. We’re off to get some shuteye.’
‘Sleep tight, Cassandra.’
This was getting very complicated and Aldebaran sat up with Aqua, trying to make sense of the way he was feeling. He was having second thoughts, unsure whether he could go through with his devious plan to keep them there against their will. He knew now how caring Kayden was with her and really, she was the happiest she’d ever been in her life. It was then that it suddenly dawned on him that in the end he would be the one to make her miserable when she found out he couldn’t be trusted. Another parent disloyal to her!
His heart ached for the damage he might have caused with his selfishness.
He went up to their room and watched them sleep for a very long time. Then with a conscience ready to explode, he took the spell from them. He knew he had been wrong and that in the morning he was going to have to fess up and beg their forgiveness. In just two days they had taught him so much about family values and he hoped they would not turn their backs on him as they had on her mother.
Chapter Fourty
Family Secrets
Cassie woke up in Kayden’s arms and tried to remember the night before. She had really tried one on at the party and wondered how they ended up in bed. Everything was a little fuzzy. She knew they had ended up at her father’s and she looked around the room, admiring how much effort he had gone to making the place so nice for their holiday with him.
Kayden woke and said he felt a bit weird as well. ‘I think we’d better dry out today,’ he decided. ‘We’ve just been drinking far too much, that’s all.’
He suggested they go for a swim before breakfast to clear their heads. So as not to wake everyone they slipped downstairs quietly and out into the pool. The spa water was warm, inviting and felt like a bubbly hot bath. Lamar brought them coffee and as they sipped it they tried to remember how they ended up here when they were meant to be holidaying on Aquarius. Cassie was also amazed at all the renovations that had taken place since her last visit.
‘He would have done all this for you, Cass. He knows how much you love the water.’
‘Yes, I think he has.’
‘We’re meant to go home today, Cass but if you wanted to stay an extra couple of days to make your dad happy, seeing he’s gone to so much trouble, then it’s okay with me.’
‘What about Zoren and work?’
‘If there’s any trouble, Woody will let us know. We have our horses so we can just meet up with them at the location where we’re meant to be.’
Aldebaran finally came out, looking really worn out and waved to them.
‘We better go see what’s up.’ Cassie grabbed a towel each for them to dry themselves off as they walked inside.
He was sitting having a coffee and staring into space. Aqua was beside him, holding his hand as if she was comforting him.
‘Is everything okay, Pops?’ Cassie asked. He put his head down. Caringly, Cassie went over and pulled up a chair next to him. ‘What’s happened? Tell me,’ she said, reaching for his hand. He pulled it away.
He coughed as if words were choking him. ‘What I’m about to tell you is going to make you hate me, Cassandra and God knows my intention was never to hurt you. I couldn’t lie to you anymore.’
Kayden came and sat by her, putting his arm around her and bracing for bad news. If the bastard hurts her, I’m taking her away and never letting him see her again, Kayden thought angrily.
Aldebaran started from the beginning and when he finished telling them what he’d done, his eyes were red and his face was long and full of remorse. He gulped back his emotions and hung his head, disgusted with his little plan to kidnap them both.
Cassie stood up with tears stinging her eyes and walked outside. She needed a minute to cool off and discuss this with Kayden. She was too upset to think logically and needed him alone so they could discuss her bonehead of a father.
Kayden sat by the pool with her. ‘Honey, we both knew what Aldebaran was capable of doing. But to confess when he didn’t need to, has me a little rattled. In just two days, your love for him has made him turn a corner. He could have kept us here for months and we would have been none the wiser. Yes, his motives were selfish and he had to know I would never let him see you again. It was a crazy move and a big risk to take.’
Cassie calmed down and started to see the big picture. She finally had a parent who loved her and now she was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Together they thrashed out all the logic in the world—why they should just leave— but their hearts were pulling them in another direction. He had gone to great expense to stop his fighting for them while they went on a honeymoon and was willing to stop any fighting while they were with him. Then there was the remodelling of his castle for Cassie so she would feel happier in these surroundings and his grief at hurting her was just so evident. They came to an agreement and walked back inside.
Kayden spoke for both. ‘What you did was very underhanded and stupid to say the least, Aldebaran. If you had gone ahead with it, not only Cassie but I too would never have forgiven you. We trusted you. Your daughter trusted you. Yet you intended to throw that away like it is nothing to you?’
Aldebaran had his head down and was so upset that Cassie could feel the stress from where she stood. She wanted to go to him but Kayden held her firmly. He needed a dressing-down and knew she was too soft to do it.
Kayden continued. ‘I just wish you’d understood the hardship your daughter has endured to get herself to this point. However, confessing to us has made us see our relationship might still be salvageable if you can promise me that such foolishness never enters your head again. I’ll not have Cassie upset or hurt by you or anyone else! She has had enough hurt and if you want her in your life you have to stop this madness. She’s not a toy or a game to play. She is your daughter and my wife. If you cannot promise to just love her and make that enough for you then we are leaving now.’
He met Kayden’s eyes with sincerity. ‘Don’t go! Don’t take my little girl away,’ he pleaded.
Kayden looked at him, frowning. ‘For the life of me I can’t figure out what madness made you think I would never b
ring her to see you again. I would never upset her that way. I had asked her to give it time before she saw you again only because she was so distraught when she came home last time. She had bonded with you so strongly in just that short time that she sobbed deeply having to leave you. It has been her choice, due to you both fighting on opposite sides, to break ties with you, not mine. For goodness sake, Aldebaran, why didn’t you just talk to me about it? From now on you damned well better!’
Aldebaran looked miserable. ‘I thought you had only included me to make Cassandra happy on her wedding day and that you only brought her here because we kind of roped you into being here, not because you really wanted to.’
Kayden shook his head. ‘I’m here not only for Cassie but because you were like her in so many ways. I wanted to get to know you better as a father-in-law. That was why I came. Just this morning we had been discussing staying on an extra couple of days because we were actually enjoying ourselves. This was meant to be a family vacation. What we do as Cloud Riders and those politics should never have entered into this, Aldebaran.’
‘I know. And I feel a real idiot, Kayden. I didn’t know you then but I have come to know you and that’s why I couldn’t go through with it. I can’t believe I’ve blown everything because of my stupidity.’
‘Before I take this any further I need you to be totally upfront with us. I need to know everything because we both now remember that Conom was the man Cassie played cards with to get our friends out of trouble. Is he just another setup, Aldebaran?’
‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘Definitely not! Conom, as far as I can tell, really does like you both and just loves a challenge.’
Kayden believed him and let Cassie’s hand go. It was her turn now to sort it out with her dad and show him what a family was all about and what it meant to be a part of one. Lies, cheating and deceit had to stop right here, right now. She ran her hand through her hair, another nervous trait she shared with her father. With a sweet grin she held out her hand to him. ‘Maybe it’s time we both threw self-doubt aside and replaced it with a little trust. And maybe somehow we may put the pieces of a life we should have had, back together.’ She looked at her father and smiled.
He grinned back, knowing what she meant to him and willing to give anything a go just so long as he had her in his life. Aldebaran’s eyes were misty with unshed happiness that Cassie was going to give him a second chance. He hugged her before moving over to Kayden and offering his hand apologetically. He had barely finished saying sorry when he pulled Kayden in for a group hug with them both.
It was much later that Aldebaran worked up the courage to ask if they would stay a couple more days. The more he drank the cockier he got and his nagging at Kayden finally worked. Kayden grinned, giving in and Pops was delighted. He squeezed them both and even called Kayden ‘son’.
Kayden and Cassie excused themselves to give Kayden time to contact his team and let them know the change of plans and what he wanted them to do in the meantime. Kayden used Zoltan and his own power combined to send them a message telepathically, letting Woody know he was to continue in charge until he returned and to let him know the minute there was a problem. He asked Woody to get Tremaine to check Mother as she was nearly due to have another of Zoltan’s foals. Kayden said the boys were just as good with the horses as Tremaine but Tremaine had delivered many calves and foals on his ranch and was better to have around Mother in her condition. Cassie always smiled when he call Zoltan’s playmate ‘Mother’. Kayden had explained that Zoltan would not service any other mare.
‘Even Zoren has no answer for Zoltan’s strange behaviour,’ Kayden added.
‘He’s just in love with Mother then? That is so cute,’ Cassie smiled.
Kayden confided that Zoltan only bred when there was a need for more horses. ‘I have a feeling Zoren may have a need for another team in the future as we have plenty to replace ours if anything happens.’
‘Are there more immortals living on earth?’
‘To protect the earth you need to have an earth-bound connection—you know, be born here. I doubt we are the only ones here but if there are more they will be born in secret as our horses are and like us, something will happen to draw them to each other and eventually to us, just the way it has always been. Zoren has many teams looking after the universe and beyond.’
It was some hours later that Kayden finally found time to spend with his new wife. Aldebaran had got plastered and was sleeping it off downstairs. Kayden had outdone himself pleasing Cassie and she had enjoyed a hot shower before he even stirred. She grinned at the satisfied expression on his face as he groaned and rolled over, reaching out for her again.
‘Hey, clean girl, come and let me get you dirty again.’
‘You’re pushing it, stud. Hit the shower and make it a cold one. Don’t forget we promised to dine with Pops tonight. It’s getting late so we better get a move on.’
‘You’re so not fun when you’re at your father’s house. I’m so going to make you pay for making me share you on our honeymoon. At least I can tell the boys to nick off and they do. I say that to your father and he’ll probably turn me into a rodent or a toad, the old wizard,’ he grumped as he turned on the hot water in the shower.
Standing under warm water, he was still grumbling when Cassie threw her towel aside and jumped in the shower with him.
‘You’re bloody ruined,’ she giggled.
‘Oh gorgeous honey pie, I’m so loving you again now,’ he chuckled, snuggling into her.
When they finally made it downstairs, they found Aldebaran sitting in an armchair, reading and relaxing.
Cassie pulled the book from her father’s hands. ‘Hi Pops, miss me?’ she smiled.
‘Every second you’re not with me,’ he growled like a big bear and tickled her until she gave him the book back.
Kayden plonked himself into the chair near him and hearing him growling, grinned. ‘So what’s for dinner, Poppa bear, porridge?’ he joked.
Aldebaran grabbed him. ‘Call me Poppa bear?’ he growled, ruffling Kayden’s hair. ‘And as for dinner, you have two choices. Conom invited us to have dinner with him tonight or if you prefer we can stay home and I can cook some porridge for you!’ He grinned and shook his head.
Kayden was amused at his humour, giving it straight back at him. He wasn’t a bad old dude after all and he was actually beginning to like the guy. ‘Conom’s invite sounds better than the gluggy crap you’d serve us up. Hell yeah, I’m in!’
Aldebaran smiled and directed attention to Cassie.
‘Let’s go then.’ Cassie was excited. ‘Come on, Pops, get up and do the transporting thingy you do. I’m starving,’ she joked with him.
Aldebaran looked amused. ‘Come here then,’ he said, standing up. ‘And there will be no stirring Conom up tonight playing cards and beating him again. He’s happy he won. Let’s just leave it at that so I don’t have to put up with him bitching after you go home.’
With that they magically appeared on the Monoceros star. Kayden told Cassie it was the home of the mystical one-horned unicorn.
Conom was overjoyed to see them and showed them around his mansion. The entrance was like walking into an atrium. It had many floors. To get to each level there was a glass elevator or if you felt up to walking, a staircase of marble trimmed with gold which twisted charmingly between each floor. On the lower level he had a gym, sauna and spa rooms for treatments and massages. On the same level was a huge cinema room for movies, complete with popcorn machine and snack bar. The next three floors were like luxury apartments complete with en suites. Viewing the one he showed them, they noticed how the light-coloured walls and floors were a contrast to the red, green and gold furnishings. The elegant curtains opened up to ceiling-to-floor balconies that allowed one to sit out under the stars at night.
The ballroom and entertaining rooms were on the top floor and the roof
was their last stop. It had a lap pool that seemed to just run off the roof. The illusion was amazing. The area was fitted out with a bar and sitting at it, miles up from the ground and under the stars like that, made Cassie feel as if she were having drinks in the clouds. It was so enchanting she just sat in awe for a while, sipping her cocktail.
Kayden and Conom were talking and Conom must have seen her far-away look and asked if everything was okay. Cassie shook her head. ‘You star owners have far too much time on your hands. Your homes are so exquisite and over-the-top magical. I’m just a bit speechless.’
Conom laughed. ‘You’re thinking that what we have should be enough, right?’
She raised her eyebrow in a teasing manner. ‘Well yes, I think you and my dad need to go find a good woman each, settle down, and start making little stars to share your fortunate life.’
‘And forget about taking over more universe real-estate,’ Conom added, still grinning at Cassie as he tactfully changed the subject, taking them down to dinner. The dining table was set with a lazy Susan in the middle that turned so they could share the different dishes that came out. Conom had organised Indian cuisine and they all over ate with the delicious dishes of curries and naan breads that came out. He was a good host and went to a lot of trouble making the night for them just perfect.
After dinner, no matter how much Aldebaran protested, the cards were brought out and a game had begun.
‘So what stakes are we playing for tonight?’ Cassie asked as she shuffled.
Conom grinned. ‘You both still owe me a day out as it is. What say tonight we play for two days but somewhere on earth? Ald and I will come to you, though. We could possibly take off somewhere for a whole weekend: shooting, fishing, the works. What do you think?’