by Debbie Behan
Kayden knew only too well what Woody was up against and came to join them. ‘Count me in. Wouldn’t miss this for quids.’
‘We’re in.’ Ethan and Conor pounded fists.
Kayden pulled his arm from around Cassie so he could take his cards.
Jason and Woody wore the same playful expression.
‘Let’s see what the new girl’s got.’ Jason’s eyes were wide as he dealt.
‘You’re one of us now.’ Woody nodded for her to pick up her cards.
Cassie picked up the hand and smirked. ‘Just don’t expect any sympathy when I win.’
‘Bring it on, girl!’ filled the air as the games began.
A few hours later, Kayden called it a night after Cassie had won again. ‘That’s it, guys. She’s too good for us tonight. Get some shuteye and we’ll finish this off another night.’
‘Bad luck, guys,’ Cassie stirred them up as they left. ‘Maybe next time I might let you win a few.’ She was happy she could hold her own.
Jason hugged her. ‘Nice to have you home, Cassie girl. It was fun,’ he said as he left.
Woody kissed her cheek on the way past. ‘I learnt a few tricks off you tonight. Until next time, sweetness.’ He inclined his head in a gentlemanly fashion.
Ethan and Conor leant in and kissed Cassie’s cheeks at the same time. Arm-in-arm they left in good spirits and singing.
‘That was fun. Whipped them good and proper,’ she said, waving them goodbye.
Kayden grinned. ‘Yes it was a good night, sweetheart. You had them eating out of your hand. But just remember they learn fast. It may not be so easy next time, my little cardsharp.’
She stretched and yawned, resting against him as he guided her to the bedroom. ‘I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. They may need to be a lot sharper when I’m not so tired,’ she fell backwards onto the bed exhausted.
Kayden shook his head at her. ‘Did anyone ever tell you that you are a hopeless night owl?’ he kidded as he changed her into one of his shirts to sleep in.
She giggled at him grumping at her. It felt like old times and she was just so happy to be home.
* * * *
It was still dark when Kayden guided her out to the car the next morning to check the horses. He had already made her a coffee that he put into her hand before taking off down to the paddocks. Cassie sipped the coffee and by the time they arrived, she was feeling awake and chirpy. The light was just starting to push across the sky when they pulled up, although low cloud cover was making visibility of the hillside poor. They both looked at each other, knowing what that meant.
‘Sorry, sweetie. I was hoping we would have a bit more time together before this happened.’
‘Your boss wants you?’
He nodded and hugged her. ‘I promise I have locked up the big bully that upset you last time, sweetheart. Will you give me another chance to prove to you that I’ve changed?’
‘I know you love me now, Kayden. I’m older, wiser and stronger and even if you growl at me and make me furious, I will stay just so I can growl back at you when the others have all gone home,’ she said, trying to soften the moment that brought them both unpleasant memories.
‘I hope you do, Cass. I don’t even care if you zap me to kingdom come. Just stay with me, alright?’
‘You’d better wear a safety vest in that case because one step out of line, buster and you’re toast,’ she joked.
He ran a hand gently down her face, loving that she had really forgiven him. ‘Just make sure you don’t aim below the belt or there will be definitely no make-up sex,’ he stirred her back. He stopped for a second and glanced back at her, smiled and tipped his head in an old-worldly gesture before he headed back down towards the horses.
Cassie smiled happily as she turned to Starburst who was already bucking and wanting to play. After a bit of fun with him she sat on the grass and her little friend stood beside her. They both knew the fog meant something big. ‘Pity you can’t come with us, boy. Maybe when I get more confident they might let me take you.’
He snorted and nodded.
They both watched Kayden and Zoltan. Kayden was standing still with his horse, both eye-to-eye. Kayden nodded, reached out to his horse and patted it on the nose and the horse nuzzled him back.
‘They must be speaking telepathically, Starburst. Do you think we’ll ever be able to do that?’
Starburst made a noise again and nudged her.
She patted his nose, still watching Kayden. ‘Yes, boy, I know we sort of do now but not like them. I can’t hear your thoughts yet but I promise I will try. Can you hear what they are saying, boy?’ she asked. ‘Kayden’s using Zoltan’s magic to help him link me to the rest of the team isn’t he?’
He threw his head up and down and stomped a foot.
Cassie giggled. ‘I take that as a yes.’
Kayden had barely moved from where he stood while checking the horses. They just came up to him one by one and once he had looked them over, they disappeared back into the fog. It was thicker now and almost eerie and soundless. Even Starburst stood quietly beside Cassie unless she spoke.
When Kayden came back to the truck with the selection of horses, he pulled Cassie to her feet. ‘Feel like a little ride in the clouds with me this afternoon?’
Chapter Ten
Life Above and Beyond
Cassie had only just come out of the shower when the men turned up. As she dressed and dried her hair, Kayden and Jason made breakfast while the others sat around discussing what a buzz they got when Kayden linked Cassie to them.
Cassie came out to a loving new family that ate and chattered happily together and the good mood continued into the day. Kayden never left her side and even downstairs in the satellite room where he was unable to hold her, he kept gently pulling her close to him while he spoke.
Kayden told them how the star constellation the Three Sisters, who were three very powerful white witches, had meddled in the war, conjuring up a little witchcraft to help Orion’s cause. The wizard Aldebaran and his mate the warlord Conom, had since found out and had just deployed three super-strength comets to take out the Three Sisters’ home worlds and wipe their existence from the galaxy.
Kayden addressed his men, telling them to make sure that if Cassie needed extra power, they were to give her what she needed if it came down to her joining the fight.
Cassie felt a sensation of power run through her. She realised that this must have been coming from them all and she started to understand why it was imperative to have the team connected as one unit. They all supported each other and for now it was her they were helping. She was terribly grateful. This whole adventure was daunting, yet she didn’t want to look weak before Kayden or his men. She straightened up, shaking the fear from her thoughts.
‘That’s enough for now. We need to rest before we take off.’ Kayden hugged Cassie possessively, understanding the concern and fear she would be feeling, this being her very first mission.
All the beds and couches in the house were taken up as if they had done this many times before. Cassie realised how difficult it must have been for Kayden to keep her a secret for so long. She thought it was very sweet as she nuzzled into him on the bed, glad this time he would be taking her with him. She felt Kayden draw her closer to him as he sent them all into a fog-like sleep together. Her last thought was of how remarkable he was because of the control he had over their minds.
When they woke, they joined the others on the porch and sipped coffee while waiting for the horses to ready themselves. The boys passed around the golden bridles as Zoltan led the other four horses out of the barn. Cassie’s eyes were wide with amazement as they lined up and stood like soldiers themselves in a perfect row with their heads held high. She could hear Kayden giving orders telepathically to Zoltan who in turn passed the orders to the others.
Woody leant against the house next to her, feeling her confusion. ‘Did you know your man’s mystical name is Ahearn? He is owner and lord of all horses. His gift allows him to communicate with them all; however he only chooses to speak to Zoltan. His horse controls the entire herd.’
Cassie was fascinated as she stood taking it all in, not wanting to miss a thing.
Woody grinned and ruffled her hair. ‘Now watch and learn, princess. You will have your own horse soon.’
Woody bridled his horse. Once the golden bridle was in place her mouth gaped open as she watched his horse magically grow wings and armour of multi-coloured beads and pearls covering its entire body. It was the most beautiful transformation she had ever imagined possible. She had watched movies about Pegasus and seen animated mystical kids’ programs but this was enchanting. Cassie quietly watched as Jason, Conor and Ethan slipped the golden bridles over their horses’ heads and the same thing happened. The four winged horses now stood, glowing with soft-coloured pearl armour. Each horse was identifiable by a marking of coloured pearl that swirled along their sides like a tattoo, entwined in the mother-of-pearl armour.
Cassie sucked her breath in at the beauty of it. When she finally breathed out, it was with the biggest smile. Kayden grinned back with a relieved sigh.
Woody and Conor mounted first and instantly a bright glow surrounded them. When it dulled, it left them dressed in black leather pants and boots with white T-shirts. The
T-shirts had slashes across the chests, exposing a lot of skin and even though the glow had gone, their bodies were still illuminated, making them look angelic and very handsome. Swords and daggers had also appeared and the two men watched her face, gauging a reaction.
Cassie jumped up, clapping with excitement. ‘Goddamn, you guys look hot!’ She almost danced over to them, poking at Conor’s skin to see what he felt like and then stroking his horse. ‘Feels like real pearls,’ she said, gently touching the wings and trying not to spook the horse.
Woody and Conor high-fived each other. ‘You heard her, mate, we’re hot.’ Conor was grinning.
Turning back to Kayden, she put both hands up to her face, now concerned. ‘Jeez! I hope my clothes don’t change to that outfit.’ She was aghast and unsettled. ‘What a peepshow. Hope you have a plan B.’
Kayden put his hand up and in it he held a jacket. ‘One step ahead of you, sweetheart. We’ve never had a woman with us before so I’ve told the guys not to look in case I have to cover you up.’ He didn’t sound too convincing as to what would happen.
While he bridled Zoltan, the men grumbled that Kayden was spoiling their fun but as instructed they all turned away politely while Kayden lifted her onto his horse. Cassie watched as everything around her lit up; the glow was quite intense. There was a moment of nothingness like she was floating, and then the light dulled and she glanced down, quickly making sure she was covered.
‘I look like Cinderella, only they forgot to add all the material. These horses are so naughty.’ She put her hand up to her mouth, stifling a laugh.
Kayden was in a trance as he watched her transform into the most gorgeous creature he had ever envisaged. Cassie’s gown was of the softest, sheerest of all materials: totally unearthly. The top of the dress was cut low and definitely showed off her perfect shape, making her perky and seductive. The dress fitted faultlessly, showing off her gorgeous slim waist, opening to reveal soft leather sandals that were laced and criss-crossed up to her thighs and showed off her long and shapely legs. Damn! Does she even have knickers on with this? It slit right up her thigh. He glanced back up at her face and hair. She looked like a model with perfect makeup and soft and silky hair that swept up into white-beaded clips. No way was he covering any part of her up. She was more than a little hot and the men would perve but so could he. It was in his arms that she would be.
Cassie turned pink with unease as she looked down at the scanty dress she had on. However, her shyness eased as she saw the approving look on Kayden’s face. ‘You look like an angel, honey. You look beautiful,’ Kayden murmured, mesmerised.
The rest of the team turned and gave her a few complimentary whistles.
‘Wow,’ Woody commented. ‘Who would have guessed a female would look that good? I would have insisted one come along every trip!’ he said, trotting his horse up beside them and poking her in the arm as she had done to them a few minutes prior. ‘Just checking she’s real.’ He chuckled, moving away, copping a playful punch from Kayden before he mounted the horse to sit behind her.
The glow he produced put a tingle through Cassie and he felt her quiver. The way she looked he wanted to make her do more than that. He smirked at the thought. When the bright glow subsided, Cassie twisted in the saddle and grinned. ‘You’re not just hot, babe, you sizzle.’
That’s my girl, he thought. Still likes me best. He grinned back at her and gave her a quick peck. ‘Now, let me focus, sweetheart or we’ll never get to our destination.’ He shook his head and tenderly pulled her back against him as he took the reins and trotted Zoltan back to the paddock where the portal to a new world awaited her.
Before they went through, Cassie turned with eyes lit up in anticipation. Her face relaxed and her lips parted slightly. ‘I’m ready to see your world this time.’
‘You’re one gorgeous looking woman, Cass. How I’m ever going to concentrate tonight, I have no idea.’
She giggled and wiggled comfortably into him—maybe a little closer this time—and he groaned quietly and closed his eyes, knowing her well enough to know she had deliberately done it.
‘You little devil woman,’ he whispered and the depth of his tone tingled through her. They both laughed quietly at their secret bit of fun as Zoltan headed toward the portal.
Silence fell around them and a strange sensation of going into another dimension took over Cassie’s thoughts. She watched as the clouds began to swirl into blue, green, red and purple laser-like shapes. A pattern emerged and changed; the colours twisted and turned into star shapes until finally a hole appeared in the centre of the star. She felt mesmerised as the colours all swirled into one, enlarging the hole until there was no star left, just a swirl of mixed colours and the opening which they glided through.
She whispered how incredible this was to Kayden. She’d never dreamed anything like this existed. They came out on a cumulonimbus cloud that extended up thousands of metres, and while gliding within the cloud, magic flashed before her, the explosion of pastels puffing out around her like cotton candy, soft and calming. After a while the colours ran together until another star shape as bright and pretty as you could imagine formed before them. The centre swirled as they moved closer to the opening; the circle enlarged and they flew out the gateway into the atmosphere where the stars were.
Cassie blinked her eyes, adjusting to the brightness and clarity that burst into her vision. Once her focus was clear she took the opportunity to look around, curious to see what earth looked like from up there. Gone were the clouds they had come on, replaced by a pretty night sky that sparkled and glowed with planets, moons and stars. The atmosphere was clean and fresh: it stimulated the senses.
Kayden pointed out the world they had come from and as Cassie thought, from up there it was just a shining dot in the sky. The galaxy of stars that were many thousands of miles apart sparkled like diamonds. The close stars looked just like planets, only not completely round; actually they were slightly bent out of shape. The only common dominator was that all of the stars up close to her had a glow around them. This glow highlighted to her the five points of the star that the guys used to position themselves when putting out the star.
She understood now how Kayden and his men could easily find their mark when taking control of the star. Kayden had told her she would develop many special gifts once he took her over, even controlling the way she saw things. His talents certainly went far beyond those she had ever dreamed an
other person could have.
Cassie suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed that he had chosen to love her alone, out of so many who would certainly be proud to stand beside such an exceptional man.
As they moved closer, the glow around the stars faded. Cassie was now able to see everything on the star with clarity.
Kayden’s mind cut off her thoughts.
The horses’ magical powers allow your eyes to transform so you can be this close and not suffer any glare. This is the same magic that also helps us breathe and keeps our body temperature constant. Once you adjust, Cassie, your own powers will take over and you will be able to do it on your own without the horse’s help. I must stress though that even while you can live up here, once the horse is de-bridled, you will find your powers weakened.
Cassie watched as they neared the stars of the Three Sisters. She thought how easy it was to pick the constellation from up here. They flew around the three stars while Kayden checked something out. He was quiet, not telling them what he was looking at and she thought the no-talking rule really sucked, especially when she wanted to ask so many questions.
She watched quietly and saw a current that seemed to crackle and spark out blue lights between the three stars. Kayden, obviously satisfied, moved them towards the middle star. As they flew closer, Cassie’s eyes widened as she saw the size of the enormous castles below them. Around the grounds, funny-shaped critters ran about forming lines and they stood like soldiers waiting to receive them.
Kayden tightened his grip on her and seemed nervous for her. When we pull up, stay with Woody and do as he tells you, okay sweetheart?
