Cloud Riders (Lord of the Planets)

by Debbie Behan

  Getting up was more difficult. Slithering down the pillar, she grabbed Woody, who only just caught her. ‘She’s bloody paro. Who’s been making those drinks?’

  The guy that made them ‘fessed up. ‘We were just trying to help your boys, man,’ he said, and Jason and Ethan tried to high-five each other, missing hands completely.

  ‘That’s real mature, Jason,’ Woody said. ‘Kayden, get up and look after your woman.’ Kayden stood up and came over to help with Cassie. He was a goner as well. Jason and Ethan both passed out on the table leaving Conor to help sort out Cassie and Kayden.

  He put his arm around Kayden. ‘I’ll take the boss, you grab the girl,’ he slurred at Woody.

  ‘We’ll take them up to the guest room,’ Conor suggested and Woody nodded.

  Conor and Kayden staggered up in front of them and as Cassie neared the top of the stairs, she felt suddenly ill.

  ‘I think I’m going to throw up, Woodsta.’

  ‘Shit, Cassie. You sure?’

  ‘Yep!’

  He grunted and made a detour to the bathroom. When he came back for her, she had just started splashing her face and gargling with mouthwash. Even that made her dry retch. He frowned, seeing the shape she was in and suggested a walk.

  ‘No! You have your girlfriend here. Don’t be silly. I’ll be fine.’ Standing up with some scrap of dignity left, she tried to make it to the door but Woody caught her again as she stumbled. ‘I’m fine, Woodsta. Your dream date is waiting. Just take me to Kayden.’

  ‘You’re too far gone to go to sleep yet. Damn those guys! Jeez, I leave any of them for five minutes and they are up to no good.’

  ‘They’re incorrigible but I love ‘em,’ she slurred.

  ‘Well, your boyfriend’s no better. He should have been watching you.’

  ‘Woodsta, he’s my boyfriend but he doesn’t own me. I have to learn for myself. Go play nice with your friend. I’m fine really,’ she mumbled, thinking he understood.

  ‘You don’t need to learn how to become a bloody alcoholic, Cassie. None of us expects you to drink like this. You only need just enough to get happy and then you have to learn to stop.’

  She nodded as he walked her down the stairs and out the front door. They walked for a very long time down a path before turning back. She was starting to walk better and her head wasn’t nearly as fuzzy.

  ‘Thanks, Woodsta. You’re a real sweetie,’ she said without the slur. It felt good to feel a little normal again.

  He stopped and lifted her head to the moonlight. ‘Wow, not only are you looking better but I could actually understand all you said that time. What possessed you to drink so much, Cassie? I’ve watched you and you always know when to stop. What’s eating you up?’

  She sucked in a gulp of air, thinking about this afternoon. ‘Kayden explained to me today that I’m different from other girls. You know, immortal like you guys. Your girlfriend Ella; she looked at me as if I was a freak and I felt like one. I’ll never again be normal like she is. Against her, I felt so insignificant, plain and inadequate. I was angry with myself for feeling like that so I kept drinking to make me forget. I’m no princess anymore, Woodsta. I used to have the prettiest clothes, shoes and makeup. Once I could have stood next to someone like Ella and felt an equal. I’m so sorry, I don’t mean to hang it on your friend but it just made me remember and I feel so stupid now I’ve sobered up.’ Cassie watched the change in his expression. ‘You’re disappointed in me, aren’t you?’

  ‘Cassie, I’m not disappointed. I just didn’t know you missed the dressing up bit. You never seem to worry and I never thought it might be a part of who you are. I never gave it consideration that there might be a part of your life that you did enjoy and miss. At the casino I remember now how perfect you looked with your uniform on and not a hair out of place. Sometimes boys can be so insensitive.’ He ran a hand through his hair, pausing to find the right words. ‘Sweetie, we have more money than you can poke a stick at and you only have to ask us and you can have anything you want. You shouldn’t ever be made to feel inferior to anyone. I’ll organise our designer to pay you a visit. Cass, you are our family now, the little sister we never had. Now I know how, can you please let us spoil you just a little in return for the joy you give us?’

  She pulled him down and kissed his cheek. ‘You are all so terribly sweet and that was just selfish of me to want more. Then again, if you’re offering, maybe a couple of nice girlie dresses to wear to your parties would be more than enough and really appreciated. But I would like to work the cost of them off somehow. You know, maybe teach you how to play cards or something,’ she stirred.

  He laughed and gave her a hug. ‘Whatever makes you happy, Cass. But it’s not necessary.’

  ‘Yes, I know but I want to and I promise I’ve learned my lesson about the alcohol and won’t be so stupid next time.’ They walked back to the house, arm-in-arm. She looked up to Woody like the brother she never had and felt closer to him at this moment than she had ever thought possible. It was as if they had formed an unspoken bond. It was nice to have such a good mate who saw her at her worst yet still cared.

  He took her to Kayden and pulled back the covers while she got in. He kissed her head as he covered her up.

  Kayden felt her and holding her gently, cuddling in. ‘I missed you, sweetheart,’ he whispered.

  Cassie looked back up at Woody. ‘Sweet dreams, Cassie.’ He grinned caringly as he went out and closed the door. She felt so much better and happier now and went to sleep dreaming about pretty clothes.

  Next day while having breakfast, Cassie looked outside at the weather. It was a lovely sunny day and not one to sit around, Cassie took Kayden’s hand and dragged him outside. Grinning, she pointed to the trail bikes in the shed. ‘Never been on one. Feel like some fun?’

  Kayden shook his head as his men joined them, inquisitive to see what she had spotted that was so urgent.

  ‘Unless you sooky la-la’s want to stay home and play nursemaid to your hangovers,’ she stirred them

  They were all bright-eyed and itching to be out there. She could see it on their faces.

  ‘Well, I’m in. What about you lot?’ Kayden asked hearing no answer. They had already started pulling them out, arguing about who was going to take which one. As the dirt bikes roared into life, Cassie started to shake with nerves and excitement.

  ‘You okay, sweetheart?’ Kayden asked as he cuddled her.

  ‘Just nervous-excited.’

  They went for miles. The bush kept changing from thick trees and scrub to just a few sparse bushes. The only thing that didn’t change was the red dirt that flew up around them. They found some sand dunes and that was the best fun of all. The fine red dust puffed around them in a cloud, making visibility difficult but not once did it deter the riders. They slipped and slid their bikes up and down the mounds, barely missing each other. Cassie squealed and laughed, enjoying every bit with the skylarking daredevils.

  Arriving home, the majority of the dirt was hosed off. The rest of it washed off as they threw each other into the pool. Afterwards, they sipped wine and chatted while the bubbles in the spa did their job. There was a real bond of friendship forming. Cassie was becoming a part of them all, feeling them as they did her.

  Later, lounging on the deck, Cassie asked Woody what he was still doing here. ‘Aren’t you meant to be on your way to Cable Beach Resort with Ella?’ The minute she said it she wished she could have retracted it. The mood of the group changed as soon as the words left her mouth. Everyone stopped eating and looked at Woody.

  Kayden frowned. ‘Actually I hadn’t given it any further thought as I would have laid a bet this was just another one of Ella’s ploys to pull us apart, man. Are you really going to see this nonsense through?’ Kayden asked with a serious, boss-like tone.

  Jason could not help himself. ‘What, you’re not serious? You’re really going to take off? What happens if we get a call out? Jeez, Woody mate, Ella hates us. Get involv
ed with her kind and you can kiss what you do with us goodbye.’

  ‘Shut up, Jason,’ Woody growled. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  Kayden intervened. ‘Woody, it is your life and we can’t stop you if you choose another path except Jason is right! I saw the look she gave Cassie last night: utter contempt. I won’t have her around upsetting our balance.’

  ‘So you’re the only one who can have a girl fulltime. That’s so much bullshit, Kayden.’

  ‘There are girlfriends and then there other types of girlfriends who just want you as a possession. She has so much power over you already, what do you think will happen when she has you reeled in, hook, line and sinker?’

  Woody’s knuckles where white with anger.

  Cassie started this argument and was determined to try and turn it around to give Woody a chance to see the real Ella. ‘Woodsta, her world is far different from your sweet self. You are tall and handsome. The stereotype, women like her go for; however not as an equal but as a pet by her side. She’ll make you so excited to be with her that you won’t see the clouds for the stars until it is too late. Once she has you, the sex will turn off. Next thing you’ll just mope around her waiting to do anything she asks to get back what you once had. After she has taken away your confidence and spirit, she will then take on a lover and it will destroy every bit of manhood you had left. I’ve seen this happen firsthand with my own sweet mother. I know you don’t want to hear this but you, my handsome friend, are far too good for a woman like her. You’re too close and wrapped up to tame Ella, to make her fall fully in love with you and accept you for all you are.’ Cassie sighed, feeling his sadness but also his need. ‘The only way it would be different is if she saw what you really did. A woman like her needs to feel you are above her, yet your laws prevent her ever being told what you do. On the other hand, let’s say you did choose another path to be with her. I don’t know how you can make her proud of you while working say, in her daddy’s business when he’s still the boss and you’re just the employee.’

  He had his head down.

  ‘Woody.’ Jason made him look up at him. ‘There is only one way to find out if she’s the real deal, man. Go, but with your eyes open this time. Turn off the gushy damned sex for a couple of days and just be with her. Talk to her, have fun and see if she is really what you want. You have to work out, bro if she means more to you than all us. Find out for all our sakes because she’s an absolute pain to be around lately.’

  ‘He’s right, Woody,’ Kayden said. ‘She’s even started to piss me off the way she’s demanding to know more. Try as I do, I don’t trust her and you have to have been around long enough to see through an act. You deal with that every time we travel through the portal. All I will add is that if you go and I call, then you’d better be back here double time or don’t bother coming back at all. I’ll know you’ve made your bed and best of luck to you.’ He had an irritable tone to his voice.

  Woody stood up, just as angry, ready to give Kayden a mouthful and then snapped his mouth closed and stomped back into the house to throw some clothes in an overnight bag and left.

  None of the guys attempted to follow him in or buck up at what Kayden had said. She could feel they were just as disappointed in Woody as Kayden was although the look Kayden flung at them, daring any of them to support their friend, was enough to shut anyone up. He would have told them to go with him being in the mood he was in, and they knew it.

  Tension was thick in the air. Even so, Cassie refused to let Ella spoil a day that had been one of her best days ever. The trail bikes had been an absolute blast. She jumped up. ‘Come on, guys, do we really need Woody to have fun? Let’s go play some cards and get drunk, seeing as the big guy’s not here to growl at us tonight.’

  She tugged at Kayden until he stood up and let her drag him inside. The boys followed, even though their hearts weren’t in it. Cassie didn’t care; she was determined to take their minds off it one way or another.

  Conor went to the cellar and dragged out more wine. This was poured out while the hands where dealt. Only this time, Cassie let them win, acting like a ditsy blond girl. They started having fun with her daft behaviour and even though they knew she was letting them win, they needed silliness to cheer them up. She started to get very tipsy, only this time she slowed right down like Woody had told her to, keeping her head in the game. It was hard though because of the fun she was having.

  ‘Let’s play strip poker,’ she giggled, thinking that that would make it even more fun. Now, I’ll start wining. She grinned mischievously to herself knowing the thoughts of Woody still gnawed away at them and the men just needed some entertainment. Hell, we all do. She had to think of something totally mind-blowing to stop them thinking for just a while.

  Kayden held her face in his hands. ‘You are so very cheeky, honey. We will play your game, only because it’s our turn to amuse you for a while,’ he laughed, knowing she wouldn’t lose a scrap of clothing herself if she started to play for real.

  Cassie picked up the cards and shuffled. ‘Okay, here’s the deal. The loser takes a piece of clothing off. Once you get down to the jocks, you nominate someone else to strip. That way it will keep us half decent,’ she said as she dealt the first hand.

  What came next was a real surprise and very, very sneaky. The men all conspired against her and Conor lost every hand and started nominating her.

  ‘Kayden he’s cheating!’ she winged, and giggled as she removed her top.

  He just smiled but in his eyes she could tell he was enjoying himself far too much to stop the game just yet. He was so naughty but she had started it and even though it had backfired, she was enjoying flirting with him and watching the fun he was having. Conor lost again and they started clapping for her to remove her skirt.

  ‘This is so not fair,’ she laughed. ‘You guys are in so much trouble after this game’s over. You know I’ll get you back.’

  Jason roared, laughing at her. ‘It will be well worth it, girl. Now get your gear off,’ he said teasingly.

  She stood and turned up the music, slowly dancing as she unzipped her skirt. She let it drop before seductively sitting on Kayden’s lap and hugging him.

  He lifted her in his arms as he stood up. ‘Show’s over, boys.’ He started heading with her to the stairs. ‘Come, my lovely, the fun is only just beginning.’

  ‘You are so right about that, boss,’ Jason said as the three of them sprung at them, snatching her out of his arms and running outside to jump in the pool with her. Kayden had no choice but to give in and jump in to save her. They wrestled and struggled until they where spent and sobered up somewhat. She could see they were a lot happier again now and over the Woody thing. It was time she relaxed and just enjoyed their company again. They lay in the pool for a long time talking until Kayden saw Cassie yawn and shiver. ‘That’s it for us, guys, I’m taking my princess to bed.’ He heard no argument this time. The boys were just as tired as they were.

  It was way past midnight when Cassie finally dried off her hair and flopped into bed. Kayden eased her over to his warm body and cuddled her. ‘Thanks for tonight. We really needed you, sweetheart. You came through for all of us.’ He rubbed her head gently, soothing her into a deep sleep as he worried silently what he would do if Woody really didn’t return.

  Missing in Action

  Zoren had another mission for the Cloud Riders. Even though none of them had received word from Woody yet, Kayden was hopeful he would have sorted it out by now and used his telepathy to let him know it was time to come home. The rest of the men were at the house, busy in the kitchen by the time Kayden and Cassie returned from the paddocks. They only needed to bring a couple of horses as Starburst and Zoltan were already in the stables. It had only been yesterday that Kayden and Cassie had gone together for a ride up in the hills and had a picnic.

  While Jason helped Kayden unload, Cassie went in to help Ethan and Conor. They were making omelettes although once Cassie
arrived they nagged her to make scones as well. They chatted while she mixed up the dough and cut it into shapes. Before Kayden and Jason returned, they were in the oven, baking away. It had only been a couple of days since she had seen them, yet she had missed their humour. Meals were always so much more fun with their kidding and jokes.

  After breakfast, they went down to the satellite room under the stables. Kayden explained the mission to them while punching in coordinates and working out the best route to get there. He nodded at Cassie. ‘Sorry, honey. It’s your father again.’

  She shrugged. ‘Who’s Pops gunning for this time?’

  ‘Well, apparently Aldebaran and Conom made a direct strike on Orion, sending in a few hundred soldiers. Aldebaran lost most of the soldiers sent into the battle—nothing he wasn’t expecting. He was merely trying to find out what defences Orion had in place. Orion’s two faithful dogs that rule the Canis Major and Canis Minor constellations, concerned about their master, joined forces and sent out a Z-Andromedae. The weapon was aimed at destroying Aldebaran’s home world.’ Kayden paused, facing Cassie. ‘A Z-Andromedae is composed of a red giant star and a hot blue star. It is enveloped in a cloud of gas and dust that give out nova-like outbursts. The mix of two stars with its poisonous gas and flares nearly destroyed your dad’s home.’

  ‘Nearly?’ she asked. ‘Jeez, how come we weren’t called?’

  ‘Zoren had tracked it, sending another team, as it all happened immediately after the attack. Zoren’s team never made it in time so Aldebaran had to summon all his wizardry powers, destroying the threat himself and losing many more lives before he could clear the poisonous gasses from the atmosphere around his home world.’

  ‘So he’s not a happy-chappie with Zoren either?’ Cassie questioned.