Cloud Riders(159)

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 members.

‘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.’

Covin and Lepius laughed at his attack on Conom’s virtue. ‘We thought you were taking it all too well, Ald. Not like you at all. Glad to see the love for your daughter hasn’t blindsided you.’