Cassandra's Challenge

by M. K. Eidem

  “He has eyes like the Glitter Man.” Victoria whispers to the Admiral.

  “What?” The Admiral looks down sharply.

  “They’re mean like the Glitter Man’s.” William looks at Lucas.

  “Who’s the Glitter Man?” The King asks.

  “He’s the big Carinian man that had the Regulians kidnapped me when I was two.” Victoria tells the King matter of factly.

  King and guards alike stare at the little girl.

  “Victoria, I need to talk to King Jotham. Go to the Royal Wing with Lucas.” The look in the Admiral’s eye tells her not to argue.

  “Okay.” She hugs him as he puts her on her feet. Walking towards Lucas she stops then walks over to Deffand. She waits until he looks down at her.

  “I’m sorry I kicked you. You were in my way. I didn’t know you were protecting the King.”

  Deffand’s eyes shoot to the King who nods. Deffand squats down to the little girl.

  “Don’t try it again, you could be hurt.” Victoria gives a him a large disarming smile that melts the big man’s heart.

  “You’d have to catch me first.” Turning she slips her hand into Lucas’ and they walk away.

  “Pretty confident little girl.” Jotham tells William.

  “Her father was a member of a shock troop.” The Admiral watches Deffand rise. “So was her grandfather, Cassandra’s father. They made sure their women knew how to defend themselves.” He sees the understanding in Deffand’s eyes.

  “So the rumor is true.” William looks at Jotham.

  “Rumor?”

  “That she took down a member of your crew with one punch.”

  “Two, if you ask her, but yes, Falco attacked her, she took her out, came out of the whole thing with a couple of bruised knuckles.” The Admiral frowns at the memory.

  “You need to fill me in on this Glitter Man.” The King turns towards his wing knowing the Admiral will follow.

  “That’s the last one.” Kia says helping Cassandra out of the final fitting.

  “When do you think you’ll have them all done?” Cassandra slips on her borrowed clothes.

  “The ones you need for tomorrow can be taken with you now. The rest we will deliver tomorrow.”

  “And shoes?”

  “The same.”

  “Javiera and the girls’?

  “Some will go with you tonight, the rest tomorrow.”

  “Wonderful. Thank you Kia, Pazel.”

  “You’re welcome.” Entering the outer room Cassandra sees the suns are setting.

  “What time is it?” She looks at Marat.

  “1830 mam.”

  “What! Javiera we need to get back, I didn’t realize it was so late.”

  “I’ll have the Limisin brought around.” Marat tells her. As they wait, finished clothes are loaded.

  “We’re ready for you.” The security detail surround the women escorting them to the waiting Limisin. Once they are alone Cassandra turns to Javiera.

  “Tell me what’s wrong.” Javiera eyes fill with tears as she looks at Cassandra.

  “Leander found the test.”

  “Okay…..”

  “We fought at about it.”

  “Why?”

  “He…he thinks…he accused me of…”

  “Of….”

  “Of being with someone else since he’s taking the Ollali juice.”

  “Javiera why didn’t you just tell him it was for me?” She’s aghast that this has happened because of her.

  “He should have trusted me, believed in me! How could he think…”

  “This is my fault.”

  “No, it’s Leander’s!” As Javiera breaks down Cassandra wraps her arms around her. She was going to have to fix this, if she could. When they come to a stop Cassandra sees they’re back at the Palace.

  “Javiera we’re back.”

  “What?” Looking up she quickly wipes her eyes. Her cheeks are dry when the door rises.

  Exiting the Limisin Cassandra finds William waiting, his eyes going from her to Javiera.

  “Marat, let’s get them into the Royal Wing.”

  “Yes sir. Vetter you’re to remain on guard here.”

  Security encloses the group leading them to the Royal Wing. As they approach, security unlocks the door allowing them entrance.

  “I’ll go check on the girls.” Javiera quickly leaves. William watches Cassandra’s concerned eyes following her.

  “Is there a problem?” He gently touches her cheek, bringing her attention to him.

  “I need to speak to Leander.”

  “Can it wait? He’s in a security meeting with Quinn.”

  “I need him for five minutes.” Cassandra won’t budge on what she wants. This needs settled.

  “Go to our suite, I’ll send him up. Then we’ll eat.” William’s eyes tell her not to argue with him.

  “I can do that.” Stretching up she gives him a soft kiss. “I missed you today.”

  “I won’t be long.” Nodding she heads up the stairs. William waits until she enters the suite then goes to find Leander.

  “Cassandra’s in our suite. She needs to speak with you.” The Admiral enters the room they had converted into their ready room. He sees Leander’s eyes flash.

  “I’ll talk to her when we’re done here.”

  “You’ll go now.” The Admiral’s voice is icy. Making Leander realize he’d not only questioned an order from the Admiral but from the future Queen.

  “Yes sir.” He leaves the room.

  “Problem?” Quinn asks.

  “I don’t know. What have you got?” The Admiral looks at the plans on the table.

  Knocking on the suite’s door, Leander waits, fuming that he’s been summoned for what he considers a private matter. Cassandra opens the door, stepping back she allows Leander to enter.

  “Look Cassandra,” He turns as she shuts the door. “I know you and Javiera are friends but this is none of your business.”

  “The test is for me.” She gets straight to the point.

  “What?!?” Cassandra stays silent Leander’s stunned.

  “The test is for you?” He runs a shaky hand threw his hair. “Why didn’t she just tell me?”

  “Maybe you should have trusted her.” Cassandra’s voice is as hard as the Admiral’s had been cold.

  “I need to talk to her.” He heads to the door.

  “You need to apologize to her.” Leander stops, turning to look at her.

  “Does the Admiral know?”

  “That’s none of your business.” Cassandra shoots back to him. Staring at her Leander realizes he has more than one bridge to mend, but his wife comes first.

  Cassandra walks out of the bedroom as William enters the private area. Seeing him she walks into his arms, resting her head on his chest.

  “I told Hutu to send third meal up.” William says into her hair, feeling her nod. “Is everything okay?”

  “I think so.” She looks up at him. “Who’d have thought standing still could be so tiring.”

  “You were gone a long time.”

  “Yeah, I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized it was so late. At least we got it all done. The rest of the clothes should be here sometime tomorrow.”

  “For all of you?” William hadn’t thought that had been possible.

  “Yeah, Victoria is going to be thrilled. Thank you.” Stretching up giving him a gentle kiss.

  “Don’t thank me. I should have realized it when you first got on the Retribution.” Knowing this would be an issue they’d never agree on she lets it go.

  “So what happened around here today?” Before he can answer third meal arrives while Hutu is checking the plates William pulls out a chair for Cassandra.

  “Eat.” William says sitting next to her. He needs to tell her about Victoria but not until she eats.

  Eating in a comfortable silence Cassandra thinks back over the day. They’d accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, now comes the hard part, catc
hing the traitors. William is risking everything for her, for her to try and find some justice for her planet. Then there’s the assassination attempts on Tibullus his keeping it from his friend and King. So many things could go wrong if they don’t work together. Now Javiera and Leander….because of her….she needs to confirm she’s conceived so she can tell William. He has the right to know.

  William watches as her thoughts cross her face, knowing she’s only this open with him. “Serious thoughts.” Worry and fatigue are in the eyes she turns to him. The fatigue seems to be happening more often, he’d have to look into lightening her load.

  “Just thinking.” She pushes her plate aside. “So what do I need to know?”

  “About?”

  “Today, you never answered me, than told me to eat.” He raises an eyebrow at her. “Which means there’s something that I need to know and I’m not going to like it. I’ve eaten so….” Both turn as Lucas and Victoria enter the room.

  “Uh, hi Aunt Cassie.” Cassandra raises an eyebrow at her niece’s lack of enthusiasm.

  “Hi.” Her eyes flicker from Lucas to William then back to Victoria. Something is definitely up.

  “Did the Admiral tell you?” She looks at her with nervous eyes.

  “No, why don’t you.” She so knows she’s really not going to like this.

  “It’s not like I really did anything wrong.”

  “Victoria, tell your Aunt.” The Admiral’s voice brook no argument.

  “I sort of ran away from Lucas.” Victoria looks at her feet.

  “You what?” Cassandra’s voice is quiet.

  “I saw the Admiral in the corridor.” Victoria pleads her case. “I wanted to tell him about all the clothes, so I ran down to him. It isn’t like I was running away from Lucas I was running to the Admiral.”

  “Tell her the rest Tori.”

  “There’s more?” Cassandra sees William nod.

  “I uh…sort of…uh…”

  “Victoria Lynn! Spit it out!” Her sharp tone has Tori’s eyes shooting to hers.

  “I had to get through the King’s guards to get to the Admiral.”

  “You were with the King Jotham?” Cassandra eyes shoot to William.

  “Yes.”

  “You broke through the King’s security?” She looks back to her niece.

  “They were in my way.” Victoria tells her defiantly.

  “Go to your room Victoria.” The total lack of emotion in Cassandra’s voice has Victoria looking uncertain. She’d expected her Aunt to be angry. She isn’t sure what this is.

  “But…”

  “Victoria Lynn Chamberlain now!” While she doesn’t raise her voice, Cassandra’s eyes harden as she looks at her niece.

  Seeing she isn’t going to get any help from Lucas or the Admiral, Victoria goes into her room, shutting the door.

  With the door closed Cassandra launches herself out of her chair. Running a hand through her hair she turns to Lucas.

  “What happened?”

  “We came in an entrance further away from the Royal Wing so the guard could get back quicker. We’d just turned a corner I was saying something to Leander, the girls in between us, when suddenly Tori starts running. The next thing you know she puts a move on Deffand and is standing in front of dad.”

  “Deffand?” Her eyes widen. “Captain of the King’s security Deffand?”

  “Yes.” William answers her.

  “Great.”

  “She apologized, all on her own when we were leaving.”

  “Well that makes all okay then doesn’t!” She fires at Lucas, her eyes starting to blaze. “She’s lucky she wasn’t hurt! That one of the guards didn’t fire at her! Damn it!” William is up pulling her into his arms as her voice breaks.

  “But they didn’t. She’s okay. Cassandra,” feeling her tremble he tips her face up to his. “She’s safe.” Seeing the strength in William’s eyes she calms.

  Lucas knew that his father and Cassandra were life mates, that they had a strong bond. But he’d never witnessed just how strong until now. Seeing how they responded to each other made him feel like he was intruding on a private moment.

  “How did the King react?”

  “She charmed him.” William can’t help but smile at the memory. “She thanked him for her room then told him he looked like Tibullus.”

  “Tibullus? When did she meet Tibullus?”

  “On the Retribution.” Cassandra looks at Lucas as he speaks. “He came to see me after Falco attacked you, Victoria was with me.”

  Cassandra gives William a concerned look. “He was nice to her?” He realizes she’s worried Jotham had treated Tori like he’d treated her.

  “The King was fine. Valerian was the ass.” Lucas informs her.

  “Valerian…” Her hands clench on William’s chest.

  “He never got near her.” William reassures her, his eyes flashing at Lucas. “He never touched her.”

  “Why are you worried about the High Admiral?” Lucas demands. “He wants to catch the traitor as much as we do.” Cassandra leaves William’s arms, she needs to think.

  “Dad…”

  “He wants the traitor.” William watches Cassandra. “He just doesn’t care who he has to sacrifice to get him.”

  “What are you saying?” Lucas’ stomach sinks.

  “He’d use Victoria as bait with no regards to her safety, if it gets him his traitor.”

  “This can’t happen again Lucas.” Cassandra turns facing him, her eyes serious. “If it does I’ll put Marat in charge of Victoria.”

  “You can’t do that!”

  “I can and will.” She stares him down. “If this had happened with Marat in charge you would have been enraged.”

  “I…” Lucas finds he can’t argue with her she’s right.

  “She needs protected at all times Lucas.” William pulls his son’s look. “We don’t know who this traitor is, where he is, or who else is involved. Everyone is suspect.”

  “King Jotham?”

  “No not Jotham, but everyone else, and I mean everyone Lucas. If you truly want to protect Victoria, you have to suspect everyone outside this House.”

  “This House?”

  “The one Cassandra’s building her House as Queen.”

  Looking from his father to Cassandra Lucas suddenly realizes that’s exactly what was happening. Cassandra is choosing those she trusts, keeping them close, creating her own House. He also realizes she’s giving him a second chance. To protect not only his life mate but the only family she has left.

  “She’ll be protected, even from herself.” Hearing his own words out of his son’s mouth, William knows his son has finally realized what it means to protect a life mate, the weight of it.

  “Alright then.” Cassandra hears it too and knows he’s still the best protection for Victoria. The ringing of William’s portable comm ends the conversation.

  “Zafar.”

  “Admiral, there is a transmission for you from the Captain of the Judgment. Would you like me to transfer it to your portable?”

  “No. I will come to you. Tell Huerta two minutes.” The Admiral disconnects.

  “Go.”

  “I won’t be long.” Cassandra gives him a soft smile.

  “You’ll be as long as you need.” Stretching up she gives him a quick kiss goodbye.

  “Lucas, with me.” The Admiral heads for the door.

  Entering Victoria’s room Cassandra finds the little girl lying face down on her bed.

  “Victoria.” Moving to the far side of the bed she sits. “Come on Victoria, we need to talk.”

  “You’re mad at me.” Victoria rolls over revealing red rimmed eyes.

  “Upset, I’m upset at you. I have every right to be.”

  “I just wanted to see the Admiral.”

  “What did we talk about yesterday? About you always being with someone.”

  “But I was.”

  “Who?”

  “Well…”

/>   “Victoria, if I can’t trust you then we might as well stop all this right now.”

  “But we have to catch the Glitter Man!”

  “How? How can I do that if I have to worry about you all the time?”

  “You said I get to help.”

  “And you will. Victoria, you’re the only one who knows what the Glitter Man looks like. What do you think he’ll do if he sees you first? If he finds you alone?”

  “He’ll take me again.” Victoria whispers.

  “That’s right.” Cassandra knows she’s scaring her, but she has to make her understand. “He’d take you again. That’s why you can’t run away from Lucas.”

  “Are we safe here?” Victoria crawls into her Aunt’s lap.

  “Yes, we’re safe here.” Cassandra hugs her. “Victoria, I want you to understand, the Admiral is protecting us, he’s very good at it. But he can’t do it by himself, we have to help him.”

  “How?”

  “By listening to him, not going where he says we can’t. By staying with our guards. They’re there to protect us.”

  “Just like King Jotham’s.”

  “Yes just like King Jotham’s. They keep him safe.” Her eyes capture her niece’s. “You could have been hurt today.”

  “But I wasn’t trying to hurt the King.”

  “They didn’t know that, their job is to protect first, ask questions later. You’re lucky the Admiral was there.”

  “I’m sorry Aunt Cassie.” Victoria’s eyes are earnest.

  “I know you are baby. Do you understand now why when you’re out of this Wing you have to stay with your guards?”

  “Yes. I’ll stay with Lucas, no matter what.”

  “Good.”

  “Are you still upset with me?” Cassandra decides she needs to be honest with Tori.

  “A little, you scared me.”

  “I didn’t mean too.”

  “I know, and I’ll get over it, as long as you don’t do it again. Promise me.”

  “I promise.” Victoria gives her a big huge.

  “That’s good enough for me.” She hugs her back. “Now let’s get you ready for bed.”

  Sitting in a window seat Cassandra looks out at the moonlit garden. Sighing she rests her head against the wall. The gardens were beautiful, full of flowers she’d never seen before.