Lepius lit his cigar and sat at the table with Covin and Conom while the butler poured them a drink each. Conom refused at first. ‘Cass might wake and need me. I don’t want to go up there smelling like a bloody brewery and frighten the shit out of her,’ he said, aggravated.
‘Trust me, Conom. With the painkillers I loaded her up with she’ll not move until morning.’ He prodded him on the shoulder with the glass and made him take the drink.
Conom drank it down in one quick movement. ‘Shit, I can’t think straight,’ he said, getting up and pacing. He sat back, sipping the second.
Dinner came and went. During the meal, even though Conom ate very little, he entered into their conversation every now and then if something took his interest. Later they sat outside on the lounges and even though the maid kept a good eye on Cassie, Conom still checked on her himself a couple of times before he started to relax, realising that Lepius was right.
‘She’s barely moved,’ he said after he came back down the third time. He was becoming approachable and actually sat down, confiding in them the whole story. They were stunned to find out that Aldebaran had a daughter.
Covin leaned over the table with a warning gaze. ‘Jeez, Conom, you’re bloody game taking the wizard’s kid and knocking him out in the process! Why not take her back in the morning, apologise, and take on the chin whatever he dishes out. Leave it too long and it’ll be far worse. Stop being so stubborn, man.’
Conom leaned forward towards Covin so they were almost touching and Lepius felt by the glare between them, they might just have a go at each other. Not that it would be the first time his hot-headed Commander and Conom hadn’t gone at it.
Conom hissed. ‘They do not deserve her! She’s not going back to them until they can promise me that they will keep her out of danger. I don’t give a shit what they do to me and I told Ald so when I called him earlier.’
Trying to defuse the two hotheads, Lepius intervened, putting a different spin on it. ‘What do you think Cassie’s going to do when she realises she’s a captive and you won’t take her home? Will the hate in her eyes not be worse?’ Lepius asked, trying to make him see his actions were wrong on so many levels.
He spun his head around and considered the question, then breathed out heavily. ‘Then so be it. Sooner she hates me than be dead.’ He sounded exhausted and agitated. His voice had a lethal undertone. He put his glass down, stomping off back up the stairs to be with her.
Lepius looked at Covin and shrugged. ‘We can’t push him much further. He’s at breaking point and too worried about her for anything to make sense. Maybe I should call Ald and at least let him know she’s okay,’ he suggested.
Covin shook his head. ‘Stay out of it, Lepius. If Ald finds out she’s here he’ll bring an army and then I’ll have to protect us. Someone could get hurt. Let’s just play it out and see what happens. You said Cassie seemed more than what she looked. Don’t underestimate her. After all she is a Cloud Rider and as is their code, will want to sort this out peacefully. That’s what they do and they’re damned good at it. Kayden wouldn’t have had her join his team or married her because he’s only in lust. He is no fool. There is definitely a lot more to Cassie than just her good looks. Don’t get me wrong: Kayden’s going to be stewing good and proper and won’t be impressed with what Conom has done, but will have full trust in his soldier as I do in all of my men. It’s a different world she lives in. Just do what you’re doing. Give her a protected haven here to work through it.’
Covin was right as he always was when it came to matters of strategy. She’d have to be not just good at what she did, but outstanding for Kayden to have her join his elite team. He grinned at Covin. ‘Out of all the planets and stars he had to pick my door to knock on. As if we haven’t enough problems of our own!’
He shrugged. ‘Ah well, one more won’t hurt.’ He tried to stay good-humoured.
‘You got it in one, Your Majesty,’ he stirred him. ‘You have big shoulders and a sucker’s touch. Just like you to drag in another security risk. I’d better call the other officers together and get them to make sure we’re doing everything we can in the event of an invasion. Christ knows what Aldebaran’s sorcery will conjure up if he knows she’s here. You better hold on, King Lepius, we could be in for a bumpy ride.’ He was almost excited and looking forward to a test of their strengths.
Lepius raised his glass to him and laughed. ‘Just the way we like it. Bring it on, I say. This may be one fight worth fighting for: a woman.’ Covin laughed with him as they both sculled their drinks.