Cloud Riders(48)
Walking around she let her fingers glide admiringly along the soft silks and the feathery cushions before continuing along the grooves of the furniture as she traced the creatures carved on them.
Kayden was leaning against one of the pillars watching her. ‘The creature is a griffin. On earth the legendary monsters build nests up in the mountains of India. Instead of laying a normal egg they lay an agate one, a coloured semi-precious decorative form of quartz, hence the pastels you see outside, a symbol of the beauty they create. The griffin’s instincts are to collect pure gold from the mountains where they live and will guard their treasure to the death. Their talons are so big that after they die the wealthy pay much for them, using them as cups to hold ambrosia—known as the wine of the gods. This world is the home of the griffins and the creatures are worshipped and adored by the Three Sisters who still control the majority of them. The griffins bring the gold they collect here and the sisters get it made into all the beautiful pieces you see before you.’
He pointed to a scroll hanging on one of the walls telling a story of old. ‘The only menace to the griffins was the one-eyed Arimaspians. They would kill the griffins and seize the gold for their own greed. The Arimaspians are the purple, one-eyed critters you see outside. For their crime the sisters had them captured and brought here where they will live out the remainder of their lives, turning the gold they tried to steal into what you see around you. That is their punishment for killing so many of the winged griffins on earth.’
Listening intently, Cassie had unconsciously sat down. She quickly stood up, smoothing out the cushions when the Three Sisters made their entrance. She couldn’t take her eyes off the women. They seemed to float into the room, their movements languid and elusive. Their evening gowns, although dissimilar in design, were all in a delicately spun sheer-gold material that flowed around them like lustrous silk. Gold jewellery dripped off their exposed skin and they even wore exquisite gold and quartz tiaras. They were the worshippers of the gold-loving griffins and were proud to wear the gifts the creatures bestowed on them for the love they received in return.
Kayden was by their sides within a couple of strides. The redhead was holding his arm possessively as he brought her over to Cassie, followed closely by the two other sisters.
‘Adora, Kewana and Dyna, I would like you to meet Cassie Wyatt, my newest warrior.’
Adora was the one she had glimpsed today with the incredibly long, red hair. Now looking at them, she doubted if they had ever been to a hairdresser. All three had unusually long hair. Kewana’s hair was straight like her sister Adora’s but Dyna’s hair was white and curly and fell in ringlets. It was the first time she had ever seen Kayden with another woman on his arm and she had to admit there was a part of her eager to pull that long, long hair and maybe even scratch those golden eyes out. She smiled as the thought popped into her head. As if I would.
Up here Kayden was her boss and had spent centuries forming bonds with these celestial rulers. She had to come to terms with stunning females hanging off him as he also had to get used to sharing her with the Cloud Riders who to him, were probably just as threatening: all bulked-up, handsome and very attentive to their newest member. His little comment, while in combat, laid testament to the fact that he was maybe a little on the jealous side. Good, a bit of payback, she thought as Adora dropped Kayden’s arm and the Three Sisters stood in front of her, bowing to Cassie as if she was their queen.
‘Cassie Wyatt, we are blessed by your presence and we are honoured you could join us.’ Adora’s harmonic voice pierced her guilty thoughts.
Well, maybe I might have been a bit judgemental. She grinned at them. These gals really are quite sweet, she thought as she decided to change her mind on the whole scratching and hair-pulling thing. ‘Thank you, I’m flattered but really I’m nobody special. I’m just one of the team and to tell you the truth, just winging it until they teach me. I still have so much to learn.’
Adora took Kayden’s arm again. ‘K, sweetie, you neglected to tell me how honest and delightful she is.’
Kewana and Dyna each slipped an arm through Cassie’s and giggled. ‘You sound just like us, Cassie. Let’s go get you a drink so you can tell us all about yourself. You are our hero, cloud girl,’ they said, giggling and dragging her into the dining room.
Woody went straight over to Cassie with a shot of rum that she drank straight down to help her relax as she followed him to the table. Kayden had already pulled a chair out that she gratefully took. The last thing she wanted to do was have to make up a story about herself. There was not much to tell and these chicks looked like they wanted to settle into a real girly gasbag. Woody sat on the other side of her and she breathed easier. Saved by my team, she thought and she watched as Woody poured them another shot each. He passed it to her. Kayden took it from Cassie and sculled it. ‘Easy mate,’ he said to Woody. ‘She’s not used to drinking like you men.’