Cloud Riders(92)

Pleased her father didn’t lie to her, she then focused on the other of her worries. ‘Is Woody back and how’s our Conor?’

He shook his head and looked at her a bit forlornly. ‘I’ll be replacing Woody. He deserted us, Cassie! He forced me to keep a secret from Zoren—who is not going to be impressed when he finds out. He could have indirectly killed Conor with his thoughtlessness. Also to stop Aldebaran from attacking anyone while Conor was healing, it put you in a most compromising and dangerous position. Admittedly it turned out okay with your father—but it could have been disastrous. I was imagining all sorts of scenarios. Most of all I hoped you would get home safely or we would have had to find a way to go in there forcibly to extract you. Not counting the constant worry I’ve been under having to leave you up there. It was crazy of me to even consider that mission with only four of us. I’ve already stood Woody down and I’ll be telling him tonight that he’s no longer a part of the team.’

Cassie put her cup on the table. ‘So you haven’t told Zoren yet?’

He shook his head. She felt relief flood through her, knowing that there was still hope for Woody if she could get Kayden to discuss it further.

‘But it turned out alright, didn’t it?’

Drinking the rest of his coffee, he picked up both their cups and put them in the sink. He wished they didn’t have to have this conversation. She obviously didn’t understand how Woody’s actions could have compromised the whole mission. He knew she wouldn’t let the topic drop and he’d missed her so much he really would sooner be holding her and loving her than getting into something he had already made a decision on. ‘Yes, it turned out alright. Aldebaran actually acted as a father should. He kept his word and you are back. But Cassie, you know it could have ended badly, very badly. I have a big responsibility up there and if things go wrong I’m the one held responsible. Earth is in danger every time they go to war. The human race is too important to have a member of my team putting themselves first.’

Cassie wasn’t going to give up. His argument was solid but his team was also important. Replacing a member at this stage, with her only a learner, scared her more than even the thought of what her father could do. He’d left a door open and she took advantage of it. ‘Kayden, what would have happened if, when you had fallen in love with me, I was the one with no powers? How would you have concealed your secret from me? You knew I was starting to work it out for myself and I knew there was something very weird going on. Would you have been able to walk away from me?’

He put his head down and clamped his hands together. ‘I’ve given that a lot of thought and I don’t know the answer.’

She touched his face and he looked up. ‘Would you have trusted me enough to tell me?’ she asked. ‘Because I know that I would’ve taken this secret to the grave. I loved you that much. I was away from you for three months and never thought I would ever see you again and yet I didn’t tell a soul—even after I knew.’

Kayden stared into her eyes. She knew he was working through what she’d just said so she continued. ‘Maybe in certain cases, like Woody’s, the partners could be taken into their confidence. That is, if it is serious and he loves her like you love me. What is the worst that could happen? She blabs! Yet who would believe her? Such a wild story! In Ella’s case we could justify it by saying it is the ranting of a spoilt little rich girl who is trying to seek revenge. The tale is so wild no normal person would ever believe it.’

‘It’s a big call, Cassie. The other guys don’t like her and neither do you so how can she fit in with us?’

‘I thought about that. I know Woody wouldn’t want her around all the time because he does like his freedom and she’s a jetsetter. If she understands what his big connection is with us, she may settle and not be so jealous and bitchy back at us, maybe preferring instead to just pop in when she’s in town. She’ll understand his commitment to the bigger picture and knowing her kind, I can guarantee she will actually feel quite proud of him.’

‘If you’re wrong we could end up with a situation,’ he said, concerned.

‘So, we all disappear for a while, live somewhere else. It doesn’t have to be here. Rent these two farms out for a while as you do when your neighbours start to notice you not getting old. When it dies down or she dies, we move back.’ She grinned a little deviously. ‘When Ella gets old, Woody will want her less and less. We’re a family forever! She’ll only be a thorn in our side for maybe ten or thirty years, tops. But I can guarantee she’ll do one of two things. She’ll stick around, as I said, until she gets old and he dumps her nasty self. Or she will be married in the next twelve months to someone she can own. She will always keep Woody as her lover which is all he really is asking for anyway.’