Cassandra's Challenge

  “I wasn’t speaking to you Admiral.” The King’s own anger is starting to show.

  “No, you were speaking to me.” Cassandra brings the King’s focus back to her. “You’ve obviously been in contact with Valerian. I surprised a King would make a decision without having all the facts, especially one involving a long time trusted friend.” Her tone’s the same she’d use on a disappointing student.

  “People are dying because Valerian has a personal agenda. An agenda, that’s allowed a traitor to operate in Carina for nearly eight cycles. He can’t accept that so he attacks the one who discovered the traitor. The Admiral. That you would doubt the Admiral because of something Valerian says amazes me. I would have thought you would have more loyalty. As for the relationship between the Admiral and myself….it’s none of the King’s damn business!” Her eyes blaze into Jotham’s.

  Jotham is stunned that this woman would speak to him in such a way. No one speaks to the King like that, especially one needing his protection. Her total defense of his friend also surprises him. It didn’t agree with Valerian’s opinion of her using the Admiral.

  “Cassandra.” The Admiral draws her blazing gaze from the King. His look telling her she’d said enough. Staring into his eyes, seeing his strength she calms.

  Jotham watches the silent exchange surprised at how the two seemed to communicate with just a look, it reminds him of himself and Lata. There is more going on here then what he’d been told.

  This woman―Cassandra―is right, as much as he hates to admit it. He hadn’t waited for all the facts before he made his decision. Something as King he couldn’t do, but he hadn’t been thinking like a King―but a friend―who knew someone had to be to blame for the damage to William’s career. Cassandra had to be to blame.

  But that’s not what he’s seeing here. William is obviously not being controlled by this woman… if anything he’s controlling her. If he took the obvious personal relationship out of the equation, looks just at the facts William’s presented, facts from a decorated Admiral in the Coalition, a Royal member of the House of Protection, and a trusted friend. Then everything the Admiral’s done makes perfect, logical sense. He needs to talk to his friend.

  “Cassandra, would you mind excusing us. I’d like to speak to the Admiral alone.”

  Cassandra says nothing.

  “Deffand will escort you back to your detail.”

  “No.” The Admiral tells the King. “Either I escort her to her security or they come here.”

  Jotham raises his eyebrow at the Admiral’s demand. That William feels the need to protect her, even within the King’s guards, is telling to Jotham. The King presses a button. Deffand enters the room.

  “Deffand, the Admiral will accompany you as you escort Cassandra back to her security detail. Then he will return here.”

  “Yes Majesty.” Deffand waits at the door.

  Realizing she is being dismissed by the King and that William wants her out of here she stands.

  “Majesty.” She nods to the King then turns to the Admiral. William put a hand at the small of her back, saying nothing he guides her to the door.

  “Marat.” The Admiral barks as they exit the King’s Wing.

  “Admiral.” The security detail closes around them.

  “Cassandra is to be escorted back to the Royal Wing.”

  “Yes sir. Are we to return sir?”

  “No, secure the Wing.”

  “Yes sir.”

  He turns to Cassandra, sees her eyes full of concern, concern for him. He puts a gently hand to her cheek, soothing her.

  “It will be fine.” He steps away. “Marat.” He waits until the detail is out of sight before turning back to Deffand.

  Reentering the room, William finds it empty, the door to the private area open. Passing through he finds Jotham sitting with a glass in his hand. Seeing William he motions to the chair across from him, sitting on the table a glass filled with Ale. Sitting William picks up the glass waiting.

  “What’s going on Will?” William looks and sees his friend.

  “We have a traitor Jotham.” He takes a sip.

  “You truly believe she’s in danger.” Jotham thinks of him not trusting the King’s guards in the King’s Wing to escort her.

  “I know she is and she’ll be protected whether she likes it or not.” The steel in his voice unmistakable.

  “She doesn’t think there’s danger?”

  “Oh, she knows there’s danger. She’ll make sure everyone else is protected. Her safety will be the last thing on her mind. It’s the first on mine. She’s first.” William watches his friend over his glass.

  “Why? I realize she’s young and beautiful, but you can find that anywhere.”

  “Did you? After Lata, did you find it?” Jotham pales at the mention of his Queen, Tibullus’ mother.

  “No one can replace my Queen.” Jotham’s voice is rough with emotion.

  “No one can replace mine.” William fires back.

  Jotham stiffens in his chair. “What are you saying Will.”

  “Cassandra’s my life mate Jotham, I will protect her, from whoever the traitor is. I will not lose her.”

  “William….” Jotham has to stand, this isn’t what he’d thought, what he’d been led to believe. William truly believes this woman is his life mate.

  “You don’t know her Jotham. I do. You know me. Believe in me, not Valerian.” William watches his friend struggle. He knew Jotham would have his doubts, if it was reversed he would too.

  “You can’t be sure of her. That it means the same to her.”

  “I can. It does.” Jotham really looks at his friend, seeing the conviction in his eyes.

  “I owe you an apology.” William raises an eyebrow. “For listening to Valerian, I know better, but for you to ask to return, because of a woman…even if she is your life mate.”

  “I asked to return because there is a traitor. One who has made promises to the Regulians. One who is trying to kill the true Queen of the House of Knowledge, a Queen, who was on my ship, who needed my protection, being my life mate has nothing to do with it.”

  “Yet you’re letting everyone believe differently.”

  “No one needed to know who Cassandra was until she was safe on Carina, safe from the Regulians.”

  “Valerian doesn’t know you’ve claimed her.”

  “If he had, he’d never have allowed the Retribution to return. He doesn’t care about Cassandra or the House of Knowledge, only the traitor.”

  “His hate runs deep.”

  “Yes. It makes him willing to sacrifice the innocent to catch the guilty. Something I won’t allow.”

  “There will be talk. There already is. You may never command again.”

  “Do you remember what you said to me after Lata died?” William sees the pain in his friend’s eyes. “You told me that if I ever found my life mate that I was to do whatever was necessary to protect her, to keep her safe, because to lose her is to lose everything that truly mattered.”

  “I remember. It’s still true.”

  “Well I’ve found her Jotham. I nearly lost her, I won’t let that happen again, I will do what’s necessary to keep her safe and protected! Everything else is secondary.”

  “Including your command?”

  “Including my command.” William finishes his drink. “Give her a chance Jotham. Don’t judge what you don’t know. That’s all I ask. I need to get back.” Turning to leave he sees the question in his friend’s eyes and stops.

  “She worries about me.” William leaves slightly embarrassed.

  To having a woman worry about you, it’d been a long time, but he remembered how it felt. Jotham swallows hard.

  “Thank you Marat…gentlemen.” Cassandra enters the Royal Wing.

  “Mam.”

  “Aunt Cassie!” Seeing Tori and Amina at the top of the stairs, she smiles, time to switch gears.

  “Hey you.” Cassandra starts up the stairs. “What are you
two up too?”

  “We just got done with Pazel and Kia. Javiera is talking to them in their quarters.”

  “Let’s go there then.” Entering Javiera and Leander’s suite she finds the three laughing.

  “Cassandra, come sit down.” Javiera moves over on the couch.

  “I don’t want to interrupt.”

  “You’re not. Sit. You’ve been going hard all day.” She looks at her with a critical eye, seeing she’s slightly paler than normal.

  “Hutu sent up some snacks, eat.” Passing her the plate she waits until Cassandra takes one.

  “I’ve been talking to Pazel and Kia about the clothes Victoria will need. They’ve scanned everyone, that wasn’t necessary.”

  “Yes, it was. Tell me what’s been decided.”

  Pazel pulls up his screen, showing her the designs. Most were very basic, day to day clothing. But there were several that were more formal.

  “Those look fine, will you have time?” She looks at Kia, she seems to be doing the actual work.

  “We will have extra hands.” Kia replies. “But it would be helpful if you, all of you, could come to the shop, to pick out material, have fittings there instead of us bringing it all to you. It would save time.”

  “Kia!” Pazel exclaims. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why would it save time?” Cassandra asks Kia biting into what seemed to be some type of bar.

  “You could pick your material, we would then be able to cut, fit and start constructing the garment almost immediately. Instead of bringing you the material, leaving to cut it, returning to fit it, leaving to construct it, and then returning for the final fitting.”

  “It would be more efficient.” Cassandra thinks about it. “You could get everyone done at the same time?”

  “Yes.”

  “With all but the final fittings done in one day?”

  “Yes.” Kia sees Cassandra’s considering her request.

  “I will discuss it with the Admiral. If he is agreeable and security can be arranged we will be at your shop tomorrow.”

  “Yes, mam.”

  “I’ll let you get back to your stories.” Standing she holds her hand out to Victoria. “Time to go.”

  “Bye Amina, bye Javiera.” Tori slips her hand into her Aunt’s.

  “Javiera….what’s her story?” Pazal asks. Javiera turns to her daughter.

  “Amina, go get changed for bed.” She waits until her daughter leaves the room before turning back to Pazel.

  “Story?”

  “She’s challenging Yakira for the House of Knowledge. But who is she?”

  “She is the challenger to the House of Knowledge.”

  “Javiera… Where’s she from? How is she related to the House? She’s different from the other Royals.”

  “How?”

  “Well… she’s concerned, considerate, even…kind. She made sure I was served a meal!”

  “Those are good things.”

  “No Royal worries about their clothier. She’s giving me the rights to her dress designs!”

  “You would prefer she didn’t?”

  “Of course not! But it’s unheard of!”

  “Pazel…Cassandra isn’t like any other Royal. She’ll make a wonderful Queen.”

  “So, do you want to try out that big tub?” Cassandra looks down at Tori.

  “Can I?”

  “I don’t see why not. Why don’t you get it started while I change.”

  “Okay.”

  Entering their suite she groans sliding her shoes off. Her feet were killing her. She’ll have to remember to tell Pazel and Kia to lower the heel. Picking them up she walks into the closet. Changing back into her clothes from the Retribution she hangs up Kia’s beautiful outfit.

  It amazed her, the difference in the feel of the material. Leaving her feet bare she returns to Victoria.

  “Wow! You were fast.” Cassandra finds Tori already in the filling tub.

  “Aunt Cassie, I can almost swim in here.”

  “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.