Cloud Riders (Lord of the Planets)

by Debbie Behan

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.’

  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 lent 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.’

  He growled like a big ferocious bear and flew in after them.

  That’s devotion, Lepius thought and then recalled another little girl that came to stay with them most weekends and how with her, Covin and he acted the same. Their Angie, who came to play in his palace, was still only very young and not powerful like Cassie was. He couldn’t believe how she just threw Conom in the water. He was beginning to think there was so much more to her than the eye could see. Is this another message? He nudged Covin who was also watching, intrigued. ‘The magic of some females.’ Lepius glanced at Covin who agreed. ‘Angie.’

  ‘Well, if we can’t beat ’em, I reckon I just might join them. Feel like a spa, old boy?’ he asked, enjoying the good mood she had them all in.

  Covin put his drink down. ‘Why not? You know I haven’t taken time off in weeks. I‘m with you! Shit, she has such a bloody hold over me too—has done so since last night. Damned if I can fight it, so might as well give in to it and just enjoy myself.’

  It was a quite some time later before the others settled and joined them in the spa. Conom mentioned he was hungry and that set Cassie off again and it was kitchen detail for them all. She kicked the servants out and had them all mixing, baking and making coffee.

  They laughed and fooled around so much that Lepius was astounded food even ended up on the table. Although there they sat, consuming homemade cheese scones with butter, apple and cinnamon muffins, and pancakes with butter, lemon and icing sugar.

  ‘Yum, these are really great, Cass. You’re going to have to give the recipe to my staff,’ he said, enjoying every mouthful.

  Kayden laughed. ‘Don’t bother. Unless you make them with her they never taste the same. We’ve all tried.’

  Cassie looked so caringly at Kayden. ‘The recipe includes me to complete the mix,’ she smiled at him.

  There was barely a crumb left by the time they finished and settled back with fresh cups of coffee. Kayden said he needed to make a move; that Conom and Ald had him working today. Cassie went quiet for the first time all day. Every one noticed and watched her. How does she do that? Every mood was reflected in each of them.

  ‘Okay, Pops, ‘fess up,’ she said quietly after a deathly couple of minute’s silence.

  Ald put his head down and Lepius could tell it was not easy for him.

  ‘You’ve made a truce, haven’t you?’ she said, a bit unsure.

  He nodded, looking up at her with those fatherly eyes that took away the dark pits of anger they were so used to seeing. ‘I want you in my life and I can’t have that while I continue to fight against you. Conom and I worked out a deal and your husband’s going to take our proposition to Orion. If he accepts, it is over as far as we’re concerned.’

  She looked over at Conom and back at her father. ‘So, you won’t be our enemies anymore? We can hang out whenever we want to?’ she asked them with tears running down her face. ‘I love you both so much. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.’ She gave Ald little kisses all over his face, making him laugh. She hugged him and sobbed into his shoulder. ‘You really love me, don’t you?’ she sniffled. ‘Even though I’m a big sooky babe.’ She continued laughing now and wiping her tears.

  ‘Yes honey, with all my heart.’ He held her with the tenderness of a true father. ‘Even the sooky bits.’ He grinned at her.

  ‘We have to have a drink to celebrate, then. What are we still doing here?’ she asked, getting up.

  Picking up the plates from the table, she had them mesmerised as she almost danced around, cleaning up and talking. ‘We have to go back to your house, Pops. What say we go play loud music, drink and celebrate until we drop? We can invite some friends and put that new magical ballroom to good use. What do you think?’ She excitedly wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘Well, say something!’ she giggled.

  Ald shook his head and looked over at Conom.

  Conom grinned from ear to ear. ‘She had me at drink and celebrations.’

  Ald and Conom transported them all over to his place and the servants were summoned to get the ballroom ready to receive guests. The Cloud Riders were there waiting for Kayden’s return and were beside themselves to have Cassie back with them. Woody, Kayden and Ald all went off to visit Orion while Covin and Lepius helped Conom with the invites, calling the list Ald gave them. There was no way Cassie was letting go of them just yet, so they rode the waves and enjoyed the energy from her as did all of those who surrounded her.

  The guys arrived back with the truce and the drinks started flowing. Before they knew it, guests started to arrive and once the news of the truce spread, there were guests turning up from all over the galaxy. Even Zoren, Kayden’s boss stopped in to have a drink with Kayden and Cassie, congratulating them on another successful outcome. Covin and Lepius watched at one stage as Cassie walked around socialising, still having them by the balls, so to speak.

  A very slender, stylish lady arrived, escorted by a strange winged man she called Garuda. He had a really strong, male, golden body, a white face, red wings, an eagle’s head and beak and to top it off, a crown on his head. She made him wait outside while she entered to enjoy the night.

  Cassie went up and introduced herself and they heard the lady say her name was Aquil from the home world of Aquila. Lepius knew that the Aquila constellation is the sign of half-man, half-bird, now understanding the appearance of her bodyguard.

  She spoke very seductively. Her style was similar to the type of woman he would go for in a minute. Lepius wondered what Cassie was up to as his tongue hung out in lust for Aquil while Cassie was engaging her in conversation.

  She grabbed Aquil by the hand and took her over to Conom who was standing, checking out the ladies with Woody. Who else? he thought.

  She introduced Conom and put the woman’s hand directly into his, not giving him a chance to ignore her. Conom’s eyes lit up as he held her hand, seemingly unable to let it go. They spoke for only a minute before he walked out on the dance floor with her, still holding her hand. Conom was no fool. He nudged Cassie on his way past her. She had even found a woman to suit him. Words failed him. It was a gift from the heart for saving her and no doubt loving her.

  Woody chuckled and it was obvious that he knew Cassie well and put his arm around her. He whispered something to her and she started to laugh with him, pushing him playfully before making her way over to Kayden who stood nearby, talking to a couple of his team members. ‘All done now, honey?’ He looked down at her and smiled lovingly.

  She nodded, looking so frail, just as Lepius had seen her that very first day. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him the same way their Angie did when she had enough of something and was letting him know she only wanted him now.

  The transformation to what he had just been watching was startling to say the least. Her job completed, the only people she needed were now around her. Her protectors, the Cloud Riders, now all stood guarding her like knights, all of a sudden looking huge and threatening, even dangerous. Their guard was up while hers was down.

  Lepius noticed guests move in a fearful manner from the barrier you could feel radiating from them.

  ‘Well, team, our girl has had enough. Ready to go?’ Kayden gestured to Ald and he came over, the Cloud Riders only moving enough to let him through.

  Ald smiled. ‘My sweet Cassandra has finally worn herself out, son. I’ll give you a few days to get her strength back before I visit.’

  Lepius heard her speaking, her voice quiet and exhausted as she told him she looked forward to it and asked if he could come for the whole weekend as he and Conom had apparently promised to do. Ald’s laughter was melodic with joy as she suggested it and after kissing her goodbye, he went off happily.

  With that they left, flickering glances around the room, their worry for her safety apparent. There was an electric barrier working around them. Ald came over when he saw how confused Lepius and Covin looked with the sudden change in her team mem
bers.

  ‘What just happened, Ald? What did we miss, what was the threat?’

  ‘Cassie is very powerful. She could turn us all to dust with a flick of her hand and needs no protection when she’s on a mission. However after her work’s done, Kayden is all she wants. She trusts him like no other and now she isn’t on duty, she’s just a woman in love. She can be herself, nobody special, just his for the keeping. What you are seeing is all Kayden. While her powers are down he will destroy anyone who comes within inches of her. He’s not only deeply in love with her but she is a precious commodity to the universe and he will protect her now until she has her strength back and can fend for herself again. Our boy is no fool and he’s the only reason I’m able to now let her go and live her life. She chose him, fighting off every power I threw at her and then showing me why.’

  Ald smiled to himself and Lepius searched his features, waiting. He wanted the end of the story; needed it like a drug.

  He turned to Lepius and put a hand on his shoulder. ‘She holds the ones she loves in her heart. She holds the man she’s in love with deep in her soul but me, her father? Well, I’m the one who gets to hold her. She’s eternally here with me even when her body is not. I can close my eyes and she’s right here in the circle of my arms and if I need her I can even feel her jump into my arms and wrap hers around me. That’s her gift to me, a reward for ending the war with Orion and I only just figured it out tonight. She gave it to me days ago, obviously knowing the choice I would eventually make.’

  ‘Then what was tonight all about? I thought she was excited and like us, had only just found out.’

  Ald pointed to Conom and the new girlfriend he was cozying up to in the corner. ‘This is all about him. He’s now one of her knights and she’s rewarding his gallant efforts to save her. Mind you, if it was up to me the only reward the kidnapping shit would be getting from me is a good boot up the backside. However, my Cassie, she saw through the love-struck shit-head and only saw his loyalty and devotion.’