Kayden nodded and closed his eyes, willing himself to her and covering them in a magical cloud. Her childhood flashed before him, giving him a glimpse of how scared and rejected she had felt. Being unloved by all that surrounded her impacted on him like a wave of pure heartbreak. He felt the stinging of her beatings and afterwards, when she would hide and fear for her life. He caught a picture of her as a child, trying to understand and always running and hiding from strangers, parents and not long ago, from him. The pictures burned into his mind. He quivered as the impact of her sadness, her uncertainty and then her joy and love for him rocked his body. The atmosphere cleared and he sighed deeply. The sharing of so much emotion unconsciously reduced him to tears that streamed down his face.
God! Can even ten lifetimes of joy ever make up for such acts of cruelty towards her? No wonder she thinks she doesn’t deserve me or anything I offer her. What a lifetime of unnecessary turmoil!
Opening his eyes, he found her lips and kissed them gently. How he wished, while he was in there, that he could have taken all that horror from her and thrown it out into the universe so that she would never feel hurt again. Yet he knew it was a part of what made her the person she was today.
She was quite pale now and even though there were so many things he was aware of now he knew it was not the time to discuss them. What he did know was that she was still his fragile Cassie and she was still every bit the girl he fell in love with. She had just become more powerful, using her newfound gifts to get her through the tough act. No wonder she was so exhausted. She had nothing left after using so much magic. Then she’d come to him for strength and to draw from his power to rebuild hers. All that time he had thought she was just sick of playing and he was her boring safe harbour.
What a fool I’ve been, wasting months thinking she never loved me enough and yet all along, I was the one . All this is so that she can toughen up and be with me always, trying to mould herself into the person she thinks I need.
Emotionally unable to articulate the right words, he pulled her into his arms and laid her tired, power-depleted body on the bed. Slipping a pillow under her head and pulling the covers over them both, he just wanted her to rest. She cuddled into him, her body delicately wrapping around his.
‘Are you angry now you know I’m not as tough as you thought and it’s only magic that gets me through the hard stuff like tonight?’ she asked sleepily.
He ran his hand gently up and down her back to relax her. ‘Sweetie, I’m not mad but things are going to have to change a bit now that I know. What you did tonight to protect your teammates, your friends and me, were admirable. However to deliberately get the guys to play games with you to desensitise your fears is ludicrous. Shit like that only makes me angry and does bugger-all when it comes to toughening you up. It’s in your personality to be the way you are and that is who I happen to adore. Quit trying to be someone you’re not and let us just love the woman you are.’
‘What I want most of all now we’re married is for you to help me because nothing I’m doing is working. I’ve tried so hard, Kayden and I’m done. What you do with me now, even if you take me out of the Cloud Riders because you think I’m not strong enough in character, is up to you. I just want to be your wife and be the best one I can. Nothing is more important to me.’
Kayden lifted her chin and looked into her drowsy eyes as she battled to keep them open. ‘You’re not getting kicked out of anything. Right by my side is where I want you and I always have. And I promise that next time you play the heroine I will understand it is all an act and will be right there to catch you when you fall.’ He smiled as she touched her lips on his and purred out a thankyou. ‘Sweet dreams, beautiful,’ he whispered as her eyes dropped and sleep claimed her. As for him, it took many hours for him to calm down, unable to control his emotions at what he had uncovered. Cassie’s hidden garden that she had taken him into had opened up to him her most precious secrets. He thought of all the nights he anguished over unnecessary issues and yet there it was, so easily staring him in the face: with everything she did, her desire was to try to please him. She lived for him, would die for him and he could clearly see, his woman was just so in love with him.
He watched her angelic features as she slept. The creamy flawless skin, cute button nose, perfectly shaped lips and long lashes swept across her slightly flushed cheeks that still glistened with tears she had shed with him. He kissed them gently, feeling the damp softness and she groaned ever so quietly in her sleep. He knew she felt him and the sides of her mouth quirked up in a little smile. ‘You’re my angel,’ he whispered softly to her. ‘All mine. You hear me? Mine,’ he squeezed her softly, feeling so happy he could have thrown his hands up and jumped around like a madman. God, I am so very, very much in love with this woman.