Cassandra's Challenge (53 page)

“I can see that. It’s not too hot?”

“No it’s perfect!”

Cassandra smiles at her niece. It was nice to
see her happy and excited. Looking around the bathroom she finds
the shampoo and soap.

“Here you go. Time to get clean.”

“Okay.” Bubbles fill the tub.

Shaking her head she leans down picking up
Victoria’s clothes. Standing the room tilts. Bracing herself
against the wall she waits until it rights itself. Taking a deep
breath she quickly glances over, thankful Tori hasn’t noticed.
Continuing into the bedroom she puts the clothes away before
sitting on the edge of the bed.

Closing her eyes she puts a hand on her flat
stomach. William’s son rests here. She knows it. But she’ll wait to
tell him, wait until she has proof. He deserves that after what
Salish did.

“Aunt Cassie I’m done!”

“Be right there.” Standing she returns to the
bathroom.

“Goodnight sweetie. I love you.” She hugs
Tori.

“I love you Aunt Cassie. See you in the
morning.” Snuggling down into the fluffy pillows she’s instantly
asleep.

At the door Cassandra lowers the lights. Turning
she sees William entering the room. Without a word she walks into
his arms, sighing as he pulls her close.

“Asleep?”

“Just went down.” Closing her eyes she soaks up
some of his strength.

“You need to do the same.” With her still in his
arms he leads her to the bedroom.

“We both do. What time is it anyway?”

“2200.”

“Not so late.” She looks up. “Tomorrow Tori,
Amina, Javiera and I need to go to Pazel and Kia’s shop.”

“No.”

“William, it makes sense for us to go to them
instead of them bring everything to us. I can see all the material,
they can cut the gowns and get the first fittings all done, for all
of us.”

“Cassandra, there are security issues, in means
going into Pechora.”

“I know. But this needs to be done. Otherwise
there will be people in and out of here for a week.”

“Let me think about it.”

“That’s all I ask. How’d it go with Jotham?” He
stops beside the bed.

“He’ll be opened minded.”

“Really….”

“He knows he was wrong to listen to Valerian.
But that wasn’t about you.”

“It was, for Valerian. He wants the King to
doubt you, to attack me, for causing him to doubt you. He knows
you’ll defend me, like you did on the Retribution. If you did that
to the King….he could withdrawal his protection. In Valerian’s mind
if the King does that then you would stop thinking with your ‘dick’
and not protect me. That would leave me vulnerable to an attack
from the traitor, and then he could catch him.”

Listening to her William realizes she’s right,
he shouldn’t be surprised. That is exactly the way Valerian would
think.

“You’re right about Valerian.” He rubs her
shoulders. “Jotham realizes it too, that Valerian is trying to use
him. He won’t let it happen again, he’ll keep an open mind.”

Saying nothing Cassandra turns to the bed,
pulling down the covers.

“Cassandra….”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him the truth. You’re my life mate.”
William watches her. She looks at him over her shoulder.

“He believed you?”

“Yes.”

“But doesn’t believe you’re mine.” Straightening
she looks at him.

“He doesn’t think you understand what it means.
He doesn’t know you yet.” He gently caresses her cheek.

“And you still think he’ll keep an open mind?”
Her eyes question him.

“I know he’s hasn’t given you a reason to
believe in him. But I do.” He frames her face. “Believe in me.”

“I’ll always believe in you.” Gripping his
wrists she stretches up to seal her vow.

Gripping her tighter he changes the angle of the
kiss, his tongue sweeping into her mouth igniting the passion
they’ve had to hold at bay all day.

“William…” Her nimble fingers pull at his jacket
and shirt, her hands sliding down his front to caress him.

Breaking away from her mouth William’s eyes
blaze into hers, gripping her shirt he tears it down the front,
revealing heaving breasts covered by scraps of violet lace. The
sight incinerates his control.

Stripping her, she falls across their bed, eyes
burning into his. Naked he pulls her up, wrapping her legs around
his waist he plunges into her wet heat.

“William!” Cassandra wraps her arms around his
neck pulling his mouth down for a soul searing kiss as her hips
pump against his. She can’t think, can’t breathe. Her body
tightening around him, her heart pounding.

William will have her, all of her. His tongue
plunges into her mouth. He will drive her mad, he must! This is his
life mate. Capturing her hips, he holds them still, as he continues
to drive into her, his thumbs torturing her nub.

Her body tightens like a vice. Unable to move,
to find relief, she implodes around him. William explodes with in
her. Minutes pass, with heavy breathing the only sound, Cassandra
finds she’s on her back, William’s head on her chest, not sure how
they got there.

Lifting a heavy hand she runs her fingers
through his damp hair. Cradling him against her. This is her man.
Her life mate. It didn’t matter what Jotham thought, it didn’t
matter what anyone thought.

William rises to his elbows, her hand falling to
his shoulder. Staring into her eyes he sees everything he’s ever
wanted. Leaning down he gently kisses her.

“I love you Cassandra.”

“I know.” She caresses his cheek. “I love you
too.” She starts to smile.

Seeing a thought pass through her eyes followed
by the smile William raises an eyebrow.

“I’ll need to let Kia know that I’m going to
need a lot of eadai.” William’s eyes flash at the memory of the
lace against her skin.

“You will, especially the violet.” After a hard
kiss, he stands. Picking up their clothing he carries them to the
closet. Watching, she sees him finger the lace that had been her
eadai.

Oh yes, she would definitely needed more. Before
she can rise he returns. Lifting her legs he slides them under the
covers, than slides in next to her. Dimming the lights he pulls her
close.

“Sleep.” With his arms around her she lays her
head on his chest, letting the beat of his heart lull her to
sleep.

William sliding away wakes her.

“William?”

“Shhh, go back to sleep.” Sleepy eyes see light
outside the bedroom windows.

“What time is it?” She sits up.

“Early, it’s just first sunrise.”

“First sunrise?”

“Carina has three sunrises.” William leans over
kissing her as he eases her back to the pillows. “Sleep some more.”
He can still see fatigue in her eyes.

“You’re up.”

“I need to see about security for Juruas’
shop.”

“You won’t let me sleep too late?” Her eyes are
closing.

“I won’t”

“Okay.” She mumbles. Watching her for a few
minutes more, he rises to dress for the day.

With the third sun rising so does Cassandra.
Searching for a clock she finds its 0700, time to start the day.
Entering the bathroom she heads straight for the walk in shower.
Last night she hadn’t been able to enjoy the multi head experience
that it offered. She’d been to nervous meeting the King. But this
morning she would allow herself the luxury of trying all it had to
offer. Thirty minutes later she emerges, deciding the waterfall
effect is her favorite, wondering how soon she could William under
it with her. Wrapping a towel around her she finds him entering the
bedroom.

“You’re up.” He quickly assesses her.

“Just a little bit ago.”

“You could have slept longer.”

“I’m fine.” Stretching up she gives him a gentle
kiss. “Good morning. I missed you.”

William’s arms wrap around her, pulling her
close for another kiss, his hands sliding under the towel. As her
head starts to spin he eases back, resting his forehead against
hers.

“I missed you too.” His portable comm beeps.
Releasing her he answers.

“Zafar.”

Turning away Cassandra walks to the drawer were
William had put her eadai. Opening it she finds he’s arranged them
by color. The thought of this large man taking the time to arrange
her underwear for her brings a soft smile to her face. Selecting a
blue set she moves to the closet. Once inside she dresses in one of
the outfits from the Retribution.

“Juruas’ shop has been cleared.” William tells
her entering the bedroom.

“Good. What time?”

“Security will be ready to transport you at
0830.”

“What! I need to get Tori moving, let Javiera
know. Have Hutu get breakfast.”

“Slow down.” He stops her from rushing past.
“I’ll let Hutu and Javiera know. You finish getting ready and wake
up Tori. There’s time.”

She looks into his eyes and calms. He is right.
There is time.

“Time to wake up Victoria.” Cassandra turns on
the light after having finished getting herself ready. “We have
things to do.”

Victoria rolls over, in the mound of pillows, to
look at her aunt with sleepy eye.

“What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to Juruas’ to get fitted for our
clothes. We need to leave in about forty five minutes so we need to
hustle.”

“Really? Is Amina coming too?”

“Yes. Now get up and get ready.”

With Tori dressed, they enter the private living
room to find Hutu setting up breakfast.

“Thank you Hutu, I know it is short notice.”

“Not a problem mam. I will prepare a meal for
all of you and deliver it to the shop.”

“I…thank you Hutu.”

“You’re welcome.” Smiling at Tori he leaves.

Tori digs into the plate of flat cakes like it’s
her last meal. Shaking her head Cassandra starts in on her own.

If she closes her eyes she can almost see
herself sitting in her father’s kitchen, eating pancakes with him.
He always managed to burn them. Her father had been a lousy cook.
Smiling at the memory she takes another bit of Hutu’s perfect flat
cakes.

The Admiral enters the room as they are
finishing.

“Morning Admiral.” Victoria runs over to give
him a hug.

“Good morning Tori.” The Admiral drops down to
return the hug. “How was sleeping in that big bed?”

“Good. Did you know we’re going to Juruas’ shop
to get new clothes?”

“I did.”

“Everyone’s going.”

“Just about.”

“Victoria, why don’t you go wash your hands and
face before we go.”

“Okay.” As Victoria heads to her room, Cassandra
asks William.

“Did you eat?”

“Yes, with Tar and Marat.”

“Tell me what’s going on.”

“Marat, Leander, Lucas and four guards will go
with you to Juruas’. You’ll be traveling in two Limisins that the
King has provided. Hutu will make you a meal and deliver it to the
shop.” William’s eyes bore into hers. “You will go nowhere
else.”

“Where else would I go?” Walking over she puts a
hand on his chest, understanding his concern. “You’re not
going?”

“No.” Taking a deep breath William pulls her
close. “There are things to arrange here. There are no events
scheduled for tonight but tomorrow Jotham has a small dinner
planned, here, with about twenty members of the Assembly from the
House of Protection.”

“That’s small?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll make sure Kia knows I’ll need a gown for
tomorrow. What else.”

“There will be some gatherings during the day,
smaller groups to meet, around the palace.”

“Okay, several outfits.”

“Yes.”

“Have you heard from the Judgment?”

“They’re still four days out.” He gentle
caresses her cheek.

“But safe.” She scans his eyes.

“Yes.”

Knowing William’s concerned about how Jotham is
going to react when Tibullus gets to Carina she lets it drop.

“I assume I’m not getting my goodbye kiss in
front of everyone.”

William raises an eyebrow.

“So I’ll take it now.” Rising to her toes she
pulls him down to her, giving him a heart stopping kiss. “That
ought to hold me until I get back.”

“It won’t hold me.” He sweeps her back into a
kiss that has them both breathless. “That might do.” He says
watching her eyes come back into focus.

“It might.” She agrees.

“I’m ready.” Victoria comes skipping into the
room.

“Then let’s go.” The Admiral escorts his two
ladies downstairs.

Entering the formal foyer they find everyone
assembled.

“Marat, we’re ready.”

“Yes Admiral.” Marat opens the exterior doors,
his guards closing around the group, Cassandra and Victoria in the
middle. After they pass through Colonel Tar secures the door,
before rejoining the group.

To Cassandra’s surprise they don’t travel far
before they turn into a garage of some sort. Waiting there were
what appears to be two white cigar shaped vehicles except they have
no wheels. They seem to float above the ground. As they approached
one of the King’s guards lifts the door open.

Marat’s men part allowing the group to enter the
first vehicle, Cassandra turns to look at the Admiral, knowing
their being watched.

“Remember what I said.” The Admiral’s voice is
brusque.

Nodding her understanding Cassandra turns and
enters the vehicle. As the door shuts she looks at the interior.
Leander, Amina, and Lucas sit facing her while Javiera and Victoria
sit next to her.

“Aunt Cassie, this is like a limo at home.”

“Pretty close I’d say. What’s it called here?”
Cassandra asks, after several seconds Lucas answers her.

“A Limisin.” He looks at Cassandra then slightly
nods his head towards Javiera and Leander.

Looking at her two friends she realizes
something is wrong. The tension between the two is palpable. As the
Limisin starts to move she raises an eyebrow to Lucas.