by Debbie Behan
‘It’ll make your father think we’re being responsible,’ Kayden kidded.
Aldebaran stood at the doorway. ‘I heard that, son. And it wouldn’t hurt either of you to behave for one night.’
Conom and Aldebaran left to organise cinema food, arguing about just what Cassie would prefer and both acting like doting parents.
‘They’ve taken a real shine to you, honey,’ Kayden noted. ‘I’m pretty sure neither of them has ever cared about anyone this much, ever. Maybe you’re just what they needed to stop them worrying about what they want for a change, forcing them to think about someone else. Anything else.’
Conom knocked on the door and came in. ‘You guys right to move yet?’ he asked.
Kayden helped her to stand up. She wobbled a little as if she’d been drinking and giggled. ‘Come here, my delicate little flower,’ he said, lifting her into his arms.
‘I can walk,’ she tried to protest.
‘You’re as light as a feather, honey. You’re no bother, really.’
‘The joys of being married to a superhero,’ Cassie shrugged, glancing at Conom. ‘These powerful muscular brutes ended up with all the strength. It’s not fair. The only gift I got is to knock things out the way and blow things up.’ She poked fun at herself.
Conom looked fascinated. ‘Powers?’ he inquired.
Kayden reminded him of the first time they had met and of her threat if he was to hurt her friend.
He seemed surprised. ‘I thought she was joking, you know. Acting the tough little minx.’
‘No, that was definitely not a bluff. She could have put you through the wall,’ Kayden chuckled. ‘There might not be much of her but she sure packs a punch.’
‘The only time I’ve seen her is when she’s on the horse watching you guys. Ald told me she was gifted but never elaborated on what. He handles most of the battle plans. I just sign off on it. I’m on earth most days and miss a lot of the action up here. You see, once it gets out about her capabilities, it is her that will become the target. Really, K, it’s not safe for her out there at all.’
Kayden stopped at the doors to the cinema. ‘I try to keep her away from the danger as best I can but don’t worry so much, Conom. She can take care of herself. Trust me.’ He grinned and kissed her on the forehead. ‘Hey, cloud girl.’ He turned back to Conom. ‘And not only that, she is surrounded by my men and they would never let any harm come to her either. Between the five of us we guard her with our lives. My men have a real bond with her. Not sure how it happened but I think it’s her powers mixed with mine when I connected her to us as a group.’
‘What do you mean, connected her? How?’
Kayden smiled. ‘Top secret. But let’s just say we all feel her even if she’s not with us. We can tell she’s happy and okay wherever she is.’
In the cinema Kayden sat her on the twin recliner and she watched as Conom and her father seemed to be having a heated argument. They both had strong personalities and Cassie shrugged, turning back to Kayden. ‘Wonder what that’s all about.’
Kayden had an idea but just smiled. ‘I guess you’re shaking them up. Let’s not worry about them for now. You just worry about me and me and me.’ He grinned.
She laughed at him and he was right. He was so much more fun to worry about as he whispered what he would prefer to be doing with her rather than sitting watching a repeat flick with these twits. He just never stopped with the humour and she loved it.
The food started to come out and it shut Kayden up while he pigged out on mini hotdogs, hamburgers, popcorn, ice-cream and lollies.
After the movie finished, Cassie stood up, feeling a bit better. She stretched. ‘Anyone feel like a spa before we hit the sack?’
Aldebaran frowned.
‘Okay, Pops, alcohol-free I promise. Just a nice relaxing spa and hot chocolate after.’
Kayden stretched. ‘Sounds good to me. Conom, you in?’
He stood up. ‘I’m in. You don’t have to ask me twice to find a way to relax before bed.’
‘I might call it a night, kids. I didn’t sleep well last night,’ Aldebaran said.
‘Just us then,’ Conom said, making a move.
Chapter Fourty-Three
Melter of Hearts
After the spa, they sat sipping hot chocolate and Conom asked when Kayden and Cassie would be leaving.
Kayden looked down at her. ‘We really need to get back, probably tomorrow some time. I have many unique horses and they are in constant need of attention. And even though you and Ald have not been causing us grief, the rest of the constellations still need protecting and I’ve had a feeling all day that something is not right in the universe. I’m afraid it’ll never end for us.’ Kayden threw an arm over Cassie’s shoulders. ‘Sorry, honey. Are you okay if we leave tomorrow?’
Before she could answer, Conom sat up in his chair, looking anxious. ‘Does Cass have to go? I don’t like this at all, Kayden. I know you like her with you but I wish you’d reconsider and realise how much danger she’s in out there.’
Kayden grinned. ‘You guys are the ones causing the most danger for her at the minute, Conom. Call off the war and it will be easier for her.’
Conom leaned into the headrest, defeated. ‘Ald is cross and that’s why he retired early. He’s angry I’m calling it off. Well, my part in it anyway. I’m afraid things have changed for me now that I know you both so well. It just feels all wrong.’
Kayden leaned back in his chair as if the wind had just been knocked from his sails. There were a couple of minutes of uncomfortable silence before anyone spoke. Kayden inhaled and breathed out with a whistling sound. ‘Well, you certainly threw me. I never expected you to be able to give up so much. Aldebaran must have been quite shocked when you told him.’
‘I think he was expecting it. After I took care of Cass last night we had words. We argued until it was nearly dawn this morning before we both stomped off to get some sleep.’
Kayden grinned. ‘It looks like she’s melted all our hearts in many different ways.’
Conom reached over and tickled her. ‘Are you using powers on us, you little melter of hearts?’ He laughed and released her.
‘Yes, I have a machine and it sucks out all the mean stuff and I jump in there and take its place.’ She joked with him.
Kayden stood up smiling, pulling her into his arms. ‘Then for goodness sake give me that damned machine so you’ll stop jumping in men’s hearts or I’ll end up with an army instead of a select group of loyal supporters.’
Conom laughed at Kayden’s kidding. ‘Well, it will be a long day with Ald if you are both leaving tomorrow so I’d better get some shuteye.’
He ruffled Cassie’s hair with his hand as he walked past. ‘Goodnight, stealer of hearts,’ he grinned as he left them.
Morning came too soon and Zoltan sent Kayden a telepathic message from Zoren as he expected. After a quick breakfast they went back to the star Aldebaran to collect Starburst and Zoltan. Cassie noticed her father was overly quiet and not once during the morning could she even get a smile out of him, no matter how much she tried. His face was expressionless and when he thought she wasn’t looking he had a constant frown.
This was the Aldebaran that she’d first met, having quiet, moody moments. She wondered if her father would come back to her to say goodbye. Had she already lost him to the battle of the stars? Was his mind on a strategy again, just waiting for her to leave? She just wished for one last time that she could have his big bear arms around her.
‘I love you,’ she said as they were about to mount the horses and leave. He never answered, just stood staring into space. She shook him. ‘I know you love me, Pops, so you can act as tough as you want.’
He looked down, giving her a weak smile and lifted her up onto Starburst. ‘Have a good trip home, Cassandra,’ he said and stepped back.
Kayden said goodbye, and getting the horses into space, they left. Cassie was sad her father had ended their stay in one of his moods. He was angry Cassie had made such an impact on Conom. That he had gone cold on the war if it meant fighting her and not only that, they were leaving early after promising to spend the last day with him.
Kayden also commented that it could just be a parent thing. He said that some parents were like that when they had to say goodbye to their kids the first time. They had to act all tough and uncaring or else they might fall apart if they succumbed to their feelings.
Whatever the reason, they had to leave things the way they were until they had time to come back and work it out with him. He was part of her now and she wanted him in her life. She would definitely be sorting it out. She knew he loved her because she could feel it when he hugged her. He just needed time to catch up and realise what she already knew.
Chapter Fourty-Four
Hydra
As soon as they appeared in the paddock, Kayden summoned his team. The men received the message and were waiting at the house for their return. As soon as they trotted into the barn, Kayden knew there’d been a shift in their dynamics. Only Ethan and Conor came out to meet them. Jason and Woody were inside waiting, which was highly unusual. Once the horses were taken care of, Kayden followed them into the house. Jason and Woody both had their girls. Jason, the little surprise package, had proposed to Sonia and she was now part of their secret too. But they had kept the girls inside until Kayden had given permission for them to view the team in their magical form.
Business came first with Kayden so the men and their issues would have to wait. Jason and Woody left the girls to chat and have a drink while they followed Kayden and the rest of the team down to the satellite room. Kayden was in no mood after Aldebaran had upset Cassie. He felt sure in Aldebaran’s state of mind, that he would be planning something to coincide with the mission they were now being sent on and wanted to be ready for anything he might throw at them while they were up there.
While Kayden worked on coordinates, Cassie filled her team mates in on their trip away. Even now Kayden felt blown away at the work she did up there and yet knew she really had no idea what she had accomplished.
Conom was a real threat to the universe and when they had first come out of the trance, he was almost the same man they had all met in Sydney. His features were hard, eyes black as coal, deep-set and, angry-looking, his body rigid and pumped, ready to battle with Kayden at any moment. How Cassie was able to see through that and not be frightened of him was beyond him. In fact it was so disturbing that he nearly brought her home, but she refused to leave because she couldn’t see the way he saw the situation. She had laughed at the way he perceived the warlord and accused him of just being a little over-possessive.
Well, hell yes I was! He punched harder on the keyboard and the guys stopped talking and looked over. He took a deep breath and smiled to show them he was cool. He watched as they went back to their conversation.
In the end he’d caved in and given her a couple more days to see what she was capable of doing. Hour by hour he had watched as the most ferocious-looking character mellowed and in the end practically bowed at her feet, swearing his allegiance to her, to be in her life in whatever way she would have him, never taking up arms against her again.
The boys will go ape-shit when I tell them later, privately.
He tuned in on Cassie talking about her dad and even though he liked the guy when he was around Cassie, there was a side he saw before they left that he just did not want to cross. His adoration for Cassie could not be denied. Yet maybe it was because they were father and daughter that her power didn’t work on him. She was wearing him down but had not won.
The fight in his eyes when we left showed me he is the strongest son of a bitch I have ever met and it is just going to take a bit more time for my stealer of hearts as Conom calls her to get her dad to lay down his sword against her as well.
Kayden switched on all the monitors and called for quiet. Woody as always stood with his arm around Cassie and Kayden was glad he now had Ella and would leave Cassie the hell alone. Not that I’m jealous of course. Much! He grinned. She might be a stealer of hearts but her body and soul belong to me. And here with my men I’m not going to share her ever again. Well, not unless the bastards steal her. Then I’ll just kill ’em. He almost chuckled at his thoughts. He smiled at her, loving his little lady with all he had to give. He just wanted to get this out of the way so he could snatch her away from them and hold her possessively until it was time to leave.
She grinned up at him as she took a step away from the boys and giggled, making him laugh more. The little bitch knows she’s stirring me up and knows exactly what I’m thinking. His men wanted to know what was so funny and he told them with an amused expression to mind their own Goddamned business.
‘Well, its official,’ Woody chuckled. ‘The turncoat has dumped us for married life.’
Kayden laughed louder. ‘You bet I have, so keep the hell away from my woman or I’ll replace you all with robots.’
They all couldn’t stop laughing. They had their boss back and loved it. Pulling himself together, he turned back to the screens. ‘Okay, enough fooling around. Let’s get this out the way.’ He became serious and so did they.
‘The long feuding between the constellations Corvus, Crater and Hydra has come to a head.’ Cassie looked unsure of that particular feud. Kayden smiled at her, knowing she needed to know the full story to understand. ‘This is for you, gorgeous one. The story goes that Apollo sent his raven called Corvus to get water in the god’s cup called Crater but on the way the raven saw a fig tree and stayed on it until the fruit ripened. He then ate all the figs before returning with the water. When he did return, in one hand, the crow had water in the cup and in the other, a water snake called Hydra. He blamed the snake he carried for being so late. Apollo was furious and knew the raven was lying. As punishment he banished the raven into the sky with the snake, the cup of water and until this day the snake keeps water from the eternally thirsty raven. They now make up the constellation Hydra, Corvus and Crater.’
She nodded, liking these little stories from the sky.
‘Anyway, the raven made friends with the ruler named Leon from the zodiac Leo constellation. Leon and the raven have since joined forces, deploying a white dwarf Supernova to destroy Hydra. Corvus’s strategy is for the nova to partly explode, just before it reaches Hydra, causing the outer casing to shoot away injuring the snake, leaving only the core. This will then hit the snake at full speed and with Hydra already weak from the smaller blasts, the snake will be disintegrated.’
Kayden opened up a wider image of the area and showed them a simulation. ‘In theory, what they’ve planned sounds feasible. However, Zoren’s team are pretty sure the explosion will be big enough to reach and destroy the constellation Pyxis as well.’ They all watched as the simulation and recreation of the explosion did damage much more than Leo or Corvus had predicted. ‘As you can see, we could have more than just one constellation in trouble out there.’ The last position he charted was the location where they would need to be to prevent it from happening. ‘By information received from Alpha base we must intercept here.’ He showed the team. ‘This is where we have to destroy the Supernova before the outer case explodes. Are there any questions?’
‘We leave earlier than usual?’ Woody leaned toward the last screen, reading the distance on the monitor.
Kayden nodded. ‘Sorry. It won’t leave you much time to say goodbye to your women and this being the first time, I would have liked them to feel a bit more comfortable about all this. Regardless, it is what it is. At least they have each other once you and Jase have gone.’
After further discussion on the line of attack and everyone was satisfied, he switched the equipment off and taking Cassie’s hand in his, they headed back to the house to
get organised.
Jason couldn’t wait to show them Sonia’s ring and said why they couldn’t wait for them to get back before proposing. He described how Sonia’s folks were not going to let her leave home and just go live with someone she hardly knew. He’d up and asked for her hand in marriage right then and there without another thought. He looked so happy holding her that Kayden couldn’t help but feel pleased for the over-impulsive fool. Shytzer, who am I to talk? Cassie did the same to me. He smiled as he looked down at the remarkable lady in his arms with her angelic smile. Yes, love sometimes finds us in the most unusual places. He snapped out of his soppy, love-struck mood. He really needed to talk to someone and pulled Woody and Jase aside.
He told them how Cassie had befriended Conom to a point where he practically bowed down at her feet. Filling them in on all the details, he gave them the picture to see if he was being rational in his thinking. Could he have dealt with anything differently? More than anything he was looking for support, maybe even a little advice on how to proceed from this point onwards.
‘Bloody hell,’ Woody scoffed. ‘He already had his tongue hanging out when they first met, I could tell. Now you say the man has laid down his arms for her?’
Kayden frowned. ‘He’s really taken to our girl. I nearly thought I would have to run with her. As we had all felt his rage, one could also feel his passion for her. I’m no fool and have to be mindful what this very powerful warlord would do if I was to take her away from him permanently at this stage.’
‘What has Cassie said?’ Woody inquired.
Kayden ran his hand through his hair. ‘She only sees him as a friend, someone kind and gentle. She has no fear of him at all and doesn’t see him at all the way we all do.’ He sighed and leant back against the wall. ‘I trust Cassie that she’ll sort Conom out and break the spell or whatever it is she has over him when she’s ready. I honestly believe the universe is using her as a key player in a game to tame these ruthless individuals. I can think of no other explanation.’
