Cloud Riders(132)

He went up to their room and watched them sleep for a very long time. Then with a conscience ready to explode, he took the spell from them. He knew he had been wrong and that in the morning he was going to have to ‘fess up and beg their forgiveness. In just two days they had taught him so much about family values and he hoped they would not turn their backs on him as they had on her mother.





Family Secrets


Cassie woke up in Kayden’s arms and tried to remember the night before. She had really tried one on at the party and wondered how they ended up in bed. Everything was a little fuzzy. She knew they had ended up at her father’s and she looked around the room, admiring how much effort he had gone to making the place so nice for their holiday with him.

Kayden woke and said he felt a bit weird as well. ‘I think we’d better dry out today,’ he decided. ‘We’ve just been drinking far too much, that’s all.’

He suggested they go for a swim before breakfast to clear their heads. So as not to wake everyone they slipped downstairs quietly and out into the pool. The spa water was warm, inviting and felt like a bubbly hot bath. Lamar brought them coffee and as they sipped it they tried to remember how they ended up here when they were meant to be holidaying on Aquarius. Cassie was also amazed at all the renovations that had taken place since her last visit.

‘He would have done all this for you, Cass. He knows how much you love the water.’

‘Yes, I think he has.’

‘We’re meant to go home today, Cass but if you wanted to stay an extra couple of days to make your dad happy, seeing he’s gone to so much trouble, then it’s okay with me.’

‘What about Zoren and work?’

‘If there’s any trouble, Woody will let us know. We have our horses so we can just meet up with them at the location where we’re meant to be.’

Aldebaran finally came out, looking really worn out and waved to them.

‘We better go see what’s up.’ Cassie grabbed a towel each for them to dry themselves off as they walked inside.

He was sitting having a coffee and staring into space. Aqua was beside him, holding his hand as if she was comforting him.

‘Is everything okay, Pops?’ Cassie asked. He put his head down. Caringly, Cassie went over and pulled up a chair next to him. ‘What’s happened? Tell me,’ she said, reaching for his hand. He pulled it away.

He coughed as if words were choking him. ‘What I’m about to tell you is going to make you hate me, Cassandra and God knows my intention was never to hurt you. I couldn’t lie to you anymore.’

Kayden came and sat by her, putting his arm around her and bracing for bad news. If the bastard hurts her, I’m taking her away and never letting him see her again, Kayden thought angrily.

Aldebaran started from the beginning and when he finished telling them what he’d done, his eyes were red and his face was long and full of remorse. He gulped back his emotions and hung his head, disgusted with his little plan to kidnap them both.

Cassie stood up with tears stinging her eyes and walked outside. She needed a minute to cool off and discuss this with Kayden. She was too upset to think logically and needed him alone so they could discuss her dumb-shit father.

Kayden sat by the pool with her. ‘Honey, we both knew what Aldebaran was capable of doing. But to confess when he didn’t need to, has me a little rattled. In just two days, your love for him has made him turn a corner. He could have kept us here for months and we would have been none the wiser. Yes, his motives were selfish and he had to know I would never let him see you again. It was a crazy move and a big risk to take.’

Cassie calmed down and started to see the big picture. She finally had a parent who loved her and now she was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Together they thrashed out all the logic in the world—why they should just leave— but their hearts were pulling them in another direction. He had gone to great expense to stop his fighting for them while they went on a honeymoon and was willing to stop any fighting while they were with him. Then there was the remodelling of his castle for Cassie so she would feel happier in these surroundings and his grief at hurting her was just so evident. They came to an agreement and walked back inside.

Kayden spoke for both. ‘What you did was very underhanded and stupid to say the least, Aldebaran. If you had gone ahead with it, not only Cassie but I too would never have forgiven you. We trusted you. Your daughter trusted you. Yet you intended to throw that away like it is nothing to you?’

Aldebaran had his head down and was so upset that Cassie could feel the stress from where she stood. She wanted to go to him but Kayden held her firmly. He needed a dressing-down and knew she was too soft to do it.