Cassandra's Challenge (32 page)

“William!” She cries as the orgasm rips through
her body on William’s final thrust. Grinding her hips tightly
against he’s, his body shutters. With her forehead resting against
his she tries to catch her breath.

“Cassandra….”

“Don’t you dare ask if I’m okay!” Her satisfied
blue eyes have just a flicker of annoyance in them. “I love you
William. I understand your need to protect me. But I don’t need
protection
from
you.”

“Ten days ago you nearly died!” If they weren’t
still joined he would have stood.

“But I didn’t! Because of
you
! I’m not
going to let what Falco did change the way I live my life. Don’t
give her that power William.” Taking his face in her hands her eyes
plead with him. “I love you. I would rather live a short life
filled with you, then an eternity without. I’ve lived twenty-five
years without you I won’t live one more.” Leaning in she gives him
an impassioned kiss.

William’s rubs his hands up her back, pulling
her closer as he returns the kiss. She’s right about Falco, they
would live a full life together, a long life, he would make sure of
that. With the children she conceives with him, the thought causes
him to stiffen inside her.

Gripping her hips he pulls her up against him.
Releasing his mouth Cassandra groans gripping his shoulders.
William’s mouth begins to work its way down her neck as he leans
her back to access to her breasts.

Supporting her weight with one arm his hand
moves down to where they are joined, caressing her already
sensitive nub with his thumb.

“William!” She gasps.

“I will protect you Cassandra.” William’s eyes
burn into hers as his thumb continues its gentle torment.
Cassandra’s hips move against him. “You will have a child…soon.”
her eyes widen. “But right now I just need you.” As his thumb
increases its pressure Cassandra’s body tightens around him, her
eyes losing focus. As the orgasm hits her William finds his own
release.

With their breaths still uneven the comm center
rings. William pushes the intercom.

“Zafar.”

“Admiral, I have High Admiral Valerian on a
secured line. Would you like it transferred to your ready room or
come to the bridge.”

“I’ll come to the bridge. Tell the High Admiral
five minutes.” Pulling her robe on as William answers Quinn,
Cassandra stands.

“You have work Admiral.” Standing William
adjusts his clothing before pulling her close for one more
kiss.

“I love you Cassandra.”

“I love you too.”

Arriving on the bridge the Admiral goes directly
to his ready room where Tar is waiting. With the security screen
engaged he opens the comm to High Admiral Valerian.

“High Admiral, sorry for the wait.”

“The Dioscuri will be enroute to you in 24
hours. They should reach your location in four days.”

“Understood.”

“You still want to handle it this way?”

“Yes.”

“I will meet you once you dock in Carina.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good luck Admiral.” The High Admiral
disconnects.

“Quinn, get the Marat up here, I have a job for
him.”

Stretching on a chair to reach the top shelf
Cassandra takes down the last book. It’s a very thin volume that
seems older than the others with no title on the cover. Opening it
she starts to read, after several pages she realizes she’s reading
ancient Sumerian. Turning the book over in her hands she studies
it.

How can William have a book written in an
ancient Earth language?

Continuing to read she finds the book relates a
history of ancient Carinian. That nearly 2500 years ago two houses
were nearly torn apart, because of relationship between a man, from
the House of Protection, and a woman, from the House of Knowledge.
Neither is named. The book tells of how one night they simply
disappeared.

The House of Knowledge lost a daughter that to
be Queen. She was their brightest light, a brilliant woman whose
rule was much anticipated. With no direct heir, the Assembly
appointed a distant family member to the throne, one who carried a
faint birthmark, but not the Imperial mark of the Queen. She would
rule until the lost Princess or one of her decedents returned to
Carina.

The House of Protection lost two sons. The Third
Son, considered their bravest warrior, unbeaten in battle,
disappeared with the Princess. The First Son, who would be King,
died suddenly. It was believed he was killed by the Third Son. The
Second Son, Shesha, became King of the House of Protection. The
Third Son’s name was never spoken again, for he’d brought shame to
his House.

Putting the book aside Cassandra’s mind is
racing. William had been trying to tell her about her birthmark
before the explosion. Were these the people he thought she
descended from? That they left Carina and had somehow made it to
Earth?

In her dream, Sabah had said they left behind
what others demanded they be. That while everything hadn’t been
perfect they found each other, trusted in each other, had made a
life together that they wouldn’t have had on Carina.

Gram’s had always told her listen to her dreams.
When she’d been in the dark, they’d all been there, back to
Sabah.

Sabah was the first, Gram’s had said, her
birthmark blazing white with rays of color shooting out of it.
Cassandra’s wasn’t like that.

Pulling up her pant leg she stills. Her
birthmark is changing. Its outline darkening and there is just a
touch of white starting at the bottom.

Why is it suddenly changing? She needs William.
Not letting herself think, she goes to the comm center calling on
his private line.

“Zafar.”

“Can you clear a couple hours for me, before I
pick up Tori?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Give me an hour.”

“I’ll be in your ready room.” Carrying the book
Cassandra sits in the Admiral’s chair to wait.

Turning back to Chief Marat the Admiral
continues.

“Your top ten men will make up a security detail
for one of the Royals. I want them trained on all aspects of
protection, including attempted assassinations. Hand to hand,
deadly force. They will have seven days to prepare. Anyone unable
to make the grade will be cut. Understood?”

“Yes Admiral.”

“This information is classified Marat, they are
not to speak of it to anyone outside the group. Anyone who does
will be severely dealt with.”

“Yes Admiral.”

“Dismissed.” The security shield is reengaged as
Marat leaves.

“Quinn, I’ll be in my ready room for the rest of
the day. Unless we’re under attack I’m not to be disturbed until I
notify you.”

“Yes sir.” Leaving the bridge William heads to
find out what Cassandra needs to talk about.

Entering their quarters he finds Cassandra
sitting behind his desk. The look in her eyes telling him she’s
concerned.

“What’s wrong?”

“Why do you have a book in Ancient
Sumerian?”

“What?” She hands him the book she’s been
holding in her lap.

“Kyle gave me this nearly eight cycles ago.”
William turns it over in his hands. “He found it in the archives
about to be destroyed, knowing I had an interest in history, he
acquired it for me. It’s Ancient Carinian.”

“Sumerian.” She corrects. “It was the first
written language on Earth. My fifth doctorate is in Sumerian. It’s
what I was studying when Tori was kidnapped.”

“You can read this?” William’s eyes widen.

“Yes. Can you? Do you know what it says?”

“Yes. It’s a story about the missing Princess of
the House of Knowledge.”

“Before the explosion, you were trying to tell
me about the House of Knowledge, about my birthmark, what you
thought it meant. It’s because of this book isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me.” Leaving his chair she walks to the
painting of the setting suns.

“The royal family of the House of Knowledge is
gifted with intelligence but the missing Princess was especially
gifted. They have sapphire blue eyes and a birthmark on the inside
of the right leg just above the ankle.”

“Just like my birthmark?”

“No. All rulers’ birthmarks change before they
take their throne.”

“There are two people in the story.”

“The man is the third son of King Tibus. He
disappeared with the Princess.” Cassandra turns, seeing the
judgment in William’s eyes.

“You condemn him for leaving.”

“He murdered his brother then ran away.” Walking
back to him she looks into his eyes. Does she tell him? Will he
believe her?

“Cassandra,” William can see the hesitation in
her eyes. “Tell me, whatever it is.” Knowing he has the right to
know she starts.

“When I was in the dark, before I heard you, saw
your light…there was another light.” Taking a deep breath she
continues. “In that light I saw all my ancestors. All the Qwes
women who came before, and I
knew
them William. I could look
at each one and know their name, what happened in their life,
everything.” Seeing that he’s listening she continues.

“There was one, she was tall, head and shoulders
above the others, standing slightly apart. She was beautiful, with
long black hair, pale skin, and these brilliant blue eyes that
seemed to glow.”

Knowing she doesn’t realize she’s just described
herself, William gently caresses her cheek, bringing
her
amazing blue eyes back to him.

“Her name is Sabah. She is the first, the first
Qwes woman. The look she gave me was like she was trying to tell me
something, that I should know or remember something. Then she
looked down at her leg, at her birthmark.”

“It was different than mine William.” She frowns
slightly. “It was this glowing white tower of light and at the top
there were rays of color coming out, violet, red, amber, green and
blue. I was going to ask but then I saw your light, heard your
voice and suddenly I knew what Sabah had been trying to get met to
remember. You. So I turned away from them and came to you.”

Enfolding her in his arms, pulling her close
William can’t speak. This woman, this strong amazing woman, his
life mate, is the most precious gift he’s ever received.

“William?” Easing slightly away she looks up at
him, shadows in her eyes she asks. “Do you believe me?”

“Yes. Yes Cassandra I believe you. You had an
encounter with your ancestors.”

“Gram’s always said I should listen to my
dreams, that they’d tell me what I need to know. I wasn’t sure if
you’d believe that.” Here was one of the many subjects they hadn’t
had time to explore together.

“On Carina, some believe in dreams and visions,
some don’t.” He tells her. “The House of Protection believes
strongly in them, I believe in them. I believe you Cassandra.”

“Tell me what it means. That Sabah’s birthmark
is different than mine.”

“That she
is
the lost Princess. It is the
birthmark of the Queen, Cassandra. You descend from the House of
Light.”

“How does that affect us?” When he starts to
pull away she tightens her arms. “You’ve had time to think about
this, to pull it all together. You were the first to realize the
Regulians were searching for something…me…that someone on Carina is
involved, probably from the House of Knowledge. I need to
understand William. I can’t help if I don’t understand.”

“I know.” Giving her a quick kiss he steps out
of her arms. Wondering how much he can tell her and still protect
her.

“Three days ago I contacted High Admiral
Valerian, telling him my belief in the Carinian traitor, its
connection to the destruction of Earth and the House of Knowledge.
I requested that he send the Battle Star Dioscuri to replace the
Retribution so that we could return to Carina and resolve the
matter.”

“Why replace the Retribution?”

“I believe the Regulians will cease attacking
the fleet if the Retribution is gone.”

“They’ll follow the Retribution, follow me.”

“Yes.”

“Because you’ll make sure they know that the
‘Imperial Light’ is being protected here.”

“Yes.” He shouldn’t have been surprised she’d
put it together. She walks back to the painting.

“So what will happen when we get to Carina? What
have you planned?”

“I’ll meet with the High Admiral. Steps will be
taken to ensure your safety until the Assembly can meet. They will
decide between you and the reigning Queen for who has the most
valid claim to the throne. Once they chose you, you’ll be
safe.”

“But William…my safety isn’t the issue.” She
turns to look at him.

“It’s the only issue that matters.”

“No. The murder of seven billion people is what
matters. Justice for them is what matters.”

“You can give them that once you’re declared
Queen by the Assembly.”

“How would they decide that?”

“Since the death of Queen Gevira, the Assembly
has appointed the Queen of the House of Knowledge. The current
Queen is Queen Yakira, she’s from the Nacar family they have been
the royal family for the last two hundred years.”

“Why them? Why her?”

“She carries the most significant
birthmark.”

“Darker than mine?”

“No. You realize yours has gotten darker
recently.”

“Yes. So a bunch of people will basically
compare our legs then decide who will be Queen.”

“Yes.”

“You said the birthmark changes before they take
the throne. Queen Yakira’s didn’t?”

“Only the true heir’s will change, then there is
never any doubt who is Queen.”

Sitting in one of the chairs next to the
Admiral’s desk, Cassandra leans back sorting through all this new
information.

Sitting in his chair, William watches as her
mind replays everything she’s just been told, processing it,
organizing. He loves seeing all the thoughts cross her face,
knowing her guard is only down for him.