by Debbie Behan
Conom was choked up. He coughed. ‘Don’t you think for one minute you have ever disappointed me, Cass! God, no! I am so proud of how you sat on that horse with blood pouring out of your arm and not a tear in your eye, still staying to fight whatever came your way. I just didn’t understand why, until your story, and now I do. I realise I was being far too over-protective and no better than your mother. I wanted to lock you up with me as well so none other could hurt you or take you from me. I’m so sorry, Cassie. I’ve really mucked up where you’re concerned. I can’t seem to get this friend thing right.’
She hugged him, sat back and watched him. ‘You know, we both need help in that department. I know that if I muck up, Kayden has promised he will always be there to catch me when I fall. Therefore when you muck up, I will always be there to catch you too. But fall gently, I’m not as strong as Kayden,’ she playfully teased him.
‘What did I ever do to deserve you?’ he said, gently holding her hand.
She smiled beautifully at him. ‘You loved me and I knew you could never hurt me. That’s all I needed to know.’
He frowned. ‘But I’ve hurt the others by being selfish.’
She giggled and smoothed out the wrinkles on his forehead. ‘My man will know I’m in good hands. Pops, well that’s another matter. He may lock you up in a horrible old dungeon and then, well, it will be my turn to save you.’
Lepius wasn’t sure why Cassie had dragged him into their private time together but from the first day she’d arrived, she’d had a hold on him and it was only now he felt it release. He shook himself awake, finally being able to get up and walk away. Maybe she held me so I couldn’t ring Ald or maybe something will unfold in time and this is a lesson I need to learn for some unknown reason. His thoughts ran as he guessed only time would tell. He could ask her but he didn’t really think she knew what she was doing. There was one thing he was sure of. Damn, she’s good at what she does. That was so calculated and clever. With so much love in his heart, she settled Conom without sending him into a rage and left their strong friendship intact. That was definitely not the outcome he was expecting. Kayden Hunter had found himself a true gem and it was time to let him know where she was.
‘Kayden, its Lepius. I think we have a treasure here of yours that you may want to come and collect,’ he said.
‘Thanks, Lepius, I’m with her father. We’ll be there shortly. I assume she’s sorted it out with Conom.’
‘Mate, you would be proud of her! If you’d just witnessed the last twenty-four hours with her you would have seen how clever she is. She even had me locked into it, holding up my willpower until she had sorted it out. You’re one lucky man, Kayden!’ he said, ending the conversation.
Covin came in with some guards, even though Lepius didn’t feel it necessary. Conom knew Lepius had called Kayden and took Cassie up to her room for a sleep. He came back down and waited to face the music, knowing he would be in for it but also knowing that he had armed guards protecting him until he left the palace. He was a lot happier now and just grinned when their eyes met. There were no hard feelings. Gone was the angry ground-shaking fear. Cassie had replaced it with love and respect. Stealer of hearts: very fitting, he thought as he grinned back at Conom.
When Kayden and Ald arrived, they were shown in. Kayden took one look at Conom, saw his happy face and smiled. ‘You all right now, mate?’ he asked Conom.
Conom nodded. ‘I really stuffed it up, Kayden. I thought you were reckless with her but now I understand you are letting her live. I thought locking her away would keep her safe yet I was being no different to her mother and stepfather. I was an idiot and she has made me see that in the sweetest possible way.’
‘Conom, I understood why you took her but if you ever want to see her again it has to be with respect, not only for her but for both of us. I appreciate that you saved her but I would have made it in time as well. Please try and just trust me a little more too.’
‘I do, Kayden. I went crazy and I’m really sorry. You must have been out of your mind with worry.’
‘See, that’s the difference. I trusted you straight up with her. I would never have let you near her otherwise. It’s you, Conom, who had to learn trust, and I am pleased it was a quick lesson because I have to admit I missed her like hell. Where is she?’ He looked around.
Lepius gestured to Covin. ‘Take Kayden up to see his wife. I think Ald and Conom need a minute on their own,’ Lepius said, seeing the way Ald glared at Conom with eyes that wanted to squash him like a grape.
Lepius watched Kayden take the steps two at a time, not wasting any time in getting to Cassie. He turned, smiling as he led the other two warring parties outside where they could do no damage if it came to a fistfight. Once out on the patio, he poured them a drink and offered cigars all round. Fumes were pouring out of Ald and Lepius doubted if a cigar would help but he offered him one. He took it and lighting it up, walked away from them both. He had something else on his mind other than Conom and they both felt it and sat down, waiting.
Chapter Fifty
My Sweet Love
Cassie heard Kayden’s quiet voice and felt the touch of his hand and she rolled towards him, putting out her arms. Finally, he’s come for me. She felt relieved as he gently scooped her into his arms, kissing her.
His kisses were such sweetness. She closed her eyes and let him sweep her away. She was dizzy from emotion by the time he released her.
‘I’ve missed you, gorgeous.’ He reclaimed her lips, sweeping her back into that joyful space where only he could take her. Pulling himself up on his elbow, he smiled down at her, tracing his finger around her mouth. ‘I have to stop kissing you, honey, before I forget where I am.’ Then he frowned and seemed concerned. ‘Not only that but your father is here and is very anxious about you. I should take you down there before he and Conom go at it again. You know Conom nearly put your dad through the castle wall. He was so angry that you were hurt.’
Cassie jumped up. ‘Jeez! Quick, get me to them before Pops turns him into a bug and squashes him, or worse!’
Kayden laughed, swung her up in his arms and had her downstairs in a flash. Putting her down and letting her walk the rest of the way, he chuckled. ‘Not sure what could be worse than being squashed like a bug, honey, but we’re here. Go do your peace-making thing.’ He smiled, gesturing to go with the flutter of his fingers. ‘Make haste, woman. Come find me when you are done because I have other plans for you when you’re done, sexy girl.’ He chuckled and she winked, turned and swayed her hips, her butt she gave a wiggle, making him laugh more.
Cassie decided to quit stuffing around and went in search of her father. He wasn’t hard to find. All she had to do was follow the smell of cigar smoke. She knew Aldebaran would be somewhere close to that. Out on the entertaining deck, her father was standing with his back to Lepius and Conom. He seemed to be looking out into space, deep in thought, the tension around him thick. Conom, Lepius and Covin were sitting on chairs pulled in tightly at the table as they quietly discussed something together: probably how to get Conom out of trouble with her father. He did seem in an unapproachable mood.
But I’m his daughter and he’ll talk to me whether he likes it or not. ‘Hi there, Pops,’ she said.
He swung around and gathered her to him, holding her with one arm while he used the other to find where she’d been hurt and to run his hand gently over her scars. There was barely a mark left and in a couple of days there might not even be that. He found them anyway, caring in such a way that it made her fret for all the times she had missed this type of concern as a child.
‘Pops, I’m okay really,’ she whispered.
He hugged her and growled. ‘I’ve been such a damned fool.’ His voice was deep and moving. ‘If something had’ve happ—’ He choked and let it trail off.
She squeezed him tighter. ‘See, I knew you still loved me, you big old grum
py bear.’
He threw his head back and laughed, letting her know she’d broken his mood. ‘Cassandra, you had me terrified. Next time if you’re going to get hurt in the line of duty, at least keep a wound so I can do my fatherly thing and fuss a bit. Your powers are taking all the fun out of it!’
It felt so good to hear him be just her father again and to be getting his warm, loving hugs. His worrying just proved what she had felt all along, that he did love his daughter.
‘My powers weren’t that tough,’ she grinned. ‘I cried the next morning and if you had’ve been here it would have been you I blubbered all over. The doc had to give me another needle.’ She showed him the bruise from the needle. ‘That’s how big of a sook your little girl was. It was Kayden and the team who healed me. I have nothing on my own in that department. In our future there will be plenty of scrapes I will need you to fuss over.’
He smiled again. ‘I love your tears as much as your smiles so I’ll look forward to going all paternal on you.’ He stopped smiling and scowled. ‘I hope that child-stealer has learnt his lesson and won’t pull a stunt like that again.’
She nodded. ‘You and he are so much alike, Pops. You both want to wrap me up in cottonwool. I think between you and Conom stealing me you have given my husband a few extra grey hairs.’
He held her for a minute, thinking. ‘I did the same thing, didn’t I?’
She chuckled. ‘You’re both naughty and terribly guilty of loving me just a little too much but I adore you both immensely for it.’
‘I thought you would hate me after how I acted when I saw you last. I’ve been standing here, worried about what you might say when you saw me. I didn’t even feel up to whacking Conom, which may I say is all I’ve wanted to do for the past couple of days! I’m so sorry I hurt you, Cassandra. I keep doing that, don’t I?’
‘No, Pops, you only hurt me if you don’t do what we’re doing now, and that’s to talk it through. You’re just like me, you’re learning about something new. Let’s face it, I’m not your normal run-of-the-mill daughter. But then you are not a normal run-of-the-mill father either. Sometimes we’re bound to stuff up. That doesn’t mean we don’t love each other anymore, does it?’
Aldebaran grinned, pleased. ‘No, it doesn’t mean that at all. I love you more than I have loved anything else in my whole life, although I do need to come to terms with the fact that you aren’t a little girl and are all grown up. I just wish I hadn’t missed all those important years. I know you would have been a delight.’
‘Don’t worry, Pops. Wait till I start popping out the grandkids. You’ll be sorry you ever wished that.’ Cassie knew Kayden had told her it would be up to the gods if she were to fall pregnant. But stuff it! He needs a bit of shaking up. Get moody with me, the bastard! She chuckled under her breath at the look on his face. Perfect payback!
He laughed aloud this time. ‘Don’t you dare, Cassandra!’ he said, still laughing. ‘One of you has been quite a handful so far. Don’t scare me by making me do this over again.’
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him now that he was happy. ‘Not now, but maybe in the future I’ll make you a grandpa. Mark my words, you aren’t getting out of it that easy. You may have been cunning enough to stay out of my childhood but I’ll not be letting you escape grandfather-hood that easily,’ she joked with him.
He laughed again. ‘You better stop threatening me, young lady or I’ll hand you back to Conom to save me.’
‘And he’ll make an excellent uncle for my kids, seeing as they won’t have any real ones,’ she said, leaning back in his arms. ‘Grandpa Ald and Uncle Con … com.’ She chuckled.
‘That’s it, young lady,’ he said, picking her up as she wiggled and squirmed, enjoying his good mood. He took her over and plonked her in Conom’s arms. Cassie looked at the stunned Conom.
‘Here, you deal with her, Uncle Con … com,’ Aldebaran laughed. ‘I am going to have a drink and a cigar with Kayden. We deserve it.’ Still chuckling, he walked over to Kayden and put his arm around him. ‘She’s your wife,’ he said, teasing still.
Kayden laughed and joined in. ‘She is your daughter.’
Conom looked down at her, smiling. ‘She’s my girl,’ he said, putting her down.
She took his hand and dragged him back over to her father. ‘You were naughty, Conom, so say sorry to Pops.’
Conom screwed up his face at her and she put on a stern expression. Aldebaran just stood looking at them with amusement in his eyes. The words seemed stuck in Conom’s throat so she nudged him. ‘Conom!’ she growled sweetly.
He sighed. ‘Sorry, old friend. I lost it—but I can’t promise I’ll never do it again. This daughter of yours stirs me up like no other woman I’ve ever met.’
Dad put out his hand and they shook hands. ‘She has us both a little rattled. I think it’s time we discussed more serious issues.’
He turned to Kayden. ‘Give us a minute and I think we’ll be requiring your expertise.’ He touched her face. ‘Don’t stress, little one, it’s just time for me to become a real father.’
Chapter Fifty-One
Lepius Spellbound
Lepius and Covin sat back and watched as Cassie worked her magic on the two most notorious rulers in the galaxy.
‘Check her out now, Lepius,’ Covin said quietly as he poured them another drink.
You could have bowled them over with a feather as Aldebaran picked her up, laughing, and came over to them, playfully dumping her into Conom’s lap. How the hell she had turned Ald’s mood around so quickly was beyond them. The mood he was in when he arrived, Lepius felt sure it was going to be on for young and old. Now they watched as she dragged Conom to Ald and was making him apologise.
No, surely not! I must be hearing things. Is that Conom saying sorry? Lepius was gob-smacked. She was amazing and they found it hard not to admire the power of such a little bundle of joy.
‘Well, Lepius,’ Covin grinned and held his glass up to him. ‘To the physician and his home. Well done!’
Lepius shook his head, still trying to work out how easily that went down. ‘If only our other issues were so easily solved. Maybe Cassie might work with me and melt some of my enemies for me.’
Covin coughed and nearly choked on his drink. ‘That ain’t going to happen so forget it. If you went all soft on me like Conom’s gone, I’d have to knock some sense into you to toughen you right back up again. He’s walking on both sides now and you, my king, had better stay right away from that little stealer of hearts,’ he warned and even though he’d said it in jest, the underlying tone told Lepius he was deadly serious.
‘Maybe. I just wish I had a Cassie of some sort to work beside me like she does with Kayden. I’d give my right arm to have a relationship like that. She’s his soldier, his lover and his wife. I’ve watched her work so hard for him over the last couple of days as she’s broken down one of Kayden’s biggest threats in the universe. They’re enemies out there and yet look at them here. She has them eating out of her hand and it’s not false. I can feel how deeply she cares for them too. Her dedication has left me shaken. You know, not once did she ask to go home or did she mention Kayden. Conom was all she saw, yet look how in-love she is with her man.’ He watched her eyes melt under Kayden’s gaze. ‘I have no idea why for the second time in two days, she has captured me to learn her secrets. I can’t seem to look anywhere else and I’m fascinated by her. It leaves me to ponder why and wonder if I will ever know.’
Covin sat back in his chair with that faraway look he sometimes had. ‘I’ve always thought you were destined for a very powerful woman. Maybe your Cassie is out there but she is going to have to be a lot more powerful to handle a bloody heartless brute like you,’ he said, amused.
Lepius laughed loudly. Covin knows me well with women. There’s no way he’d leave me alone for two seconds with a sweetie like Cassie.
He raised his glass, grinning at Covin. ‘Touché, my friend.’
Kayden and Cassie came in, sitting to have a chat. He had always found Kayden very entertaining. The two of them complemented each other and he found he was enjoying himself immensely. Even Covin relaxed into the mood once Ald and Conom had joined them and there seemed to be no hostility.
After a loud night of cards and booze, they woke up around midday, all suffering from the night before.
‘That was some night.’ Lepius sipped on a strong coffee.
Cassie and Kayden bounced down the stairs, Cassie looking as pretty as a picture. Kayden kept mucking around and twirling her about, dancing with her and making her laugh.
Ald growled at them in jest. ‘Will you two stop showing us up? Bloody kids, those two never get hangovers,’ he grumbled.
She giggled at her father and walked past Conom who was drinking a coffee and reading the paper. She ruffled his hair as she passed him. ‘How’s the coffee, ace?’ she asked.
He looked up and grumped at her for annoying him. ‘I was enjoying it,’ he mumbled. She leant over him and whispered something in his ear and he started to laugh. ‘I’ll give you getting old!’ He stood and threatened to throw her in the water. She squealed and wiggled so he put her down. With a flick of her hand, not even touching him, she used her powers to throw him into the water and dove in after him. Kayden and Ald were laughing while Kayden peeled his shirt off and went in after her. Still playing her game, she called out for her father to join them. ‘Come on, Grandpa. Don’t tell me you can’t handle your booze anymore either.’