Cloud Riders(155)

Lepius watched Kayden take the steps two at a time, not wasting any time in getting to Cassie. He turned, smiling as he led the other two warring parties outside where they could do no damage if it came to a fistfight. Once out on the patio, he poured them a drink and offered cigars all round. Fumes were pouring out of Ald and Lepius doubted if a cigar would help but he offered him one. He took it and lighting it up, walked away from them both. He had something else on his mind other than Conom and they both felt it and sat down, waiting.





My Sweet Love


Cassie heard Kayden’s quiet voice and felt the touch of his hand and she rolled towards him, putting out her arms. Finally, he’s come for me. She felt relieved as he gently scooped her into his arms, kissing her.

His kisses were such sweetness. She closed her eyes and let him sweep her away. She was dizzy from emotion by the time he released her.

‘I’ve missed you, gorgeous.’ He reclaimed her lips, sweeping her back into that joyful space where only he could take her. Pulling himself up on his elbow, he smiled down at her, tracing his finger around her mouth. ‘I have to stop kissing you, honey, before I forget where I am.’ Then he frowned and seemed concerned. ‘Not only that but your father is here and is very anxious about you. I should take you down there before he and Conom go at it again. You know Conom nearly put your dad through the castle wall. He was so angry that you were hurt.’

Cassie jumped up. ‘Jeez! Quick, get me to them before Pops turns him into a bug and squashes him, or worse!’

Kayden laughed, swung her up in his arms and had her downstairs in a flash. Putting her down and letting her walk the rest of the way, he chuckled. ‘Not sure what could be worse than being squashed like a bug, honey, but we’re here. Go do your peace-making thing.’ He smiled, gesturing to go with the flutter of his fingers. ‘Make haste, woman. Come find me when you are done because I have other plans for you when you’re done, sexy girl.’ He chuckled and she winked, turned and swayed her hips, her butt she gave a wiggle, making him laugh more.

Cassie decided to quit stuffing around and went in search of her father. He wasn’t hard to find. All she had to do was follow the smell of cigar smoke. She knew Aldebaran would be somewhere close to that. Out on the entertaining deck, her father was standing with his back to Lepius and Conom. He seemed to be looking out into space, deep in thought, the tension around him thick. Conom, Lepius and Covin were sitting on chairs pulled in tightly at the table as they quietly discussed something together: probably how to get Conom out of the shit with her father. He did seem in an unapproachable mood.

But I’m his daughter and he’ll talk to me whether he likes it or not. ‘Hi there, Pops,’ she said.

He swung around and gathered her to him, holding her with one arm while he used the other to find where she’d been hurt and to run his hand gently over her scars. There was barely a mark left and in a couple of days there might not even be that. He found them anyway, caring in such a way that it made her fret for all the times she had missed this type of concern as a child.

‘Pops, I’m okay really,’ she whispered.

He hugged her and growled. ‘I’ve been such a damned fool.’ His voice was deep and moving. ‘If something had’ve happ—’ He choked and let it trail off.

She squeezed him tighter. ‘See, I knew you still loved me, you big old grumpy bear.’

He threw his head back and laughed, letting her know she’d broken his mood. ‘Cassandra, you had me terrified. Next time if you’re going to get hurt in the line of duty, at least keep a wound so I can do my fatherly thing and fuss a bit. Your powers are taking all the fun out of it!’

It felt so good to hear him be just her father again and to be getting his warm, loving hugs. His worrying just proved what she had felt all along, that he did love his daughter.

‘My powers weren’t that tough,’ she grinned. ‘I cried the next morning and if you had’ve been here it would have been you I blubbered all over. The doc had to give me another needle.’ She showed him the bruise from the needle. ‘That’s how big of a sook your little girl was. It was Kayden and the team who healed me. I have nothing on my own in that department. In our future there will be plenty of scrapes I will need you to fuss over.’

He smiled again. ‘I love your tears as much as your smiles so I’ll look forward to going all paternal on you.’ He stopped smiling and scowled. ‘I hope that child-stealer has learnt his lesson and won’t pull a stunt like that again.’

She nodded. ‘You and he are so much alike, Pops. You both want to wrap me up in cottonwool. I think between you and Conom stealing me you have given my husband a few extra grey hairs.’