Cassandra's Challenge

  Which brings him back to thinking about a daughter. How different it would be from a son? Victoria has already captured his heart. He couldn’t love her more if she was his own. How would it feel to hold his own in his arms knowing someday he’d have to let another man protect her?

  Deep in thought he enters their bedroom to find Cassandra putting away the clothes Javiera left on the bed. She’s changed out of her white outfit into a long black robe, belted at the waist pooling at her feet. The silky material clinging to her curves making his fingers itch to touch.

  “How long have you been back?” Walking across the room he sees the surprise in her eyes.

  “I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “You left the door open.” He reminds her.

  “Only the bedroom’s, not the suites.” She knows better than to leave the suite open.

  “I was in Victoria’s room.”

  “There’s a problem?!?” Cassandra’s eyes instantly fill with worry.

  “No, no problem. I just hadn’t seen it yet. I thought I should.” While the worry eases it doesn’t fully leave her eyes. “I promise, there’s no problem.” His promise erases the last of her worry.

  “And?” She raises an eyebrow.

  “It looks like a little girl lives there. Smells like a little girl. I didn’t realize there was a difference.”

  “Boys are stinky.” William’s shocked look makes her laugh. “They are, they’re sweaty and dirty, while girls are perfect and clean.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Yes. Now men are a totally different animal.” Standing on her tip toes, her sleeves fall down her arms as her hands rest on his broad shoulders, stretching she gently kiss his lips.

  The robe slides under William’s hands as they rest on her hips. “You need to rest before the King’s dinner.” He mummers against her lips.

  “I know. I was going to after I finish here. Rest with me.” Unbuttoning his jacket she slides it off his shoulders. “Did I happen to tell you how handsome you looked in this Admiral?” Walking over to the closet she hangs it.

  “I believe you did.” Returning to him she takes his hand, leading him to their bed.

  “Good. I’d hate to forget such an important thing.” Sliding across the bed she waits for him to join her. After sliding off his shoes and pants he does, pulling her into his arms.

  “You never forget. Now rest.” The beat of his heart lulls her to sleep.

  “Cassandra….” William’s voice whispers in her ears. “Cassandra, you need to wake up.”

  “Umm…what?” She opens heavy eyes.

  “It’s time for you to get ready for the King’s dinner.” William sits on the bed, gently rubbing her arm.

  “The King’s dinner?” Cassandra shoots up discovering William’s already showered and changed. “What time is it!”

  “It’s only 1730, you have time.” William enjoys her robe opening to expose a naked breast. Unable to resist, he caresses her. Leaning into his touch, Cassandra’s eyes begin to lose focus.

  “William.” She whispers.

  Regretfully, he closes her robe. “But we don’t have time for that.”

  “Oh really?” Cassandra’s eyes look into his.

  “Tonight, after the dinner, we’ll have all the time we need.” Giving her a hard kiss William rises from bed. Taking her hand he helps her up.

  “Go shower. We have things we need to discuss before the dinner.”

  “Things?”

  “Change first. Then we’ll talk.” Running the back of his hand down her cheek he turns, leaving the room.

  Taking her time in the shower Cassandra organizes her thoughts. Tonight’s meal is one more step. A formal meal, with the King and Assemblymen she’s met during the day. Including Dadrian. Dadrian….the second son….who wants to be King. She knows he is behind the attempts on Tibullus, knows it the same way she knows William is her life mate. But William still hoped there was another explanation. For Jotham’s sake.

  And now Dadrian is filling Kyle’s head with half-truths. William’s second son yet another connection, striking at William through his son, trying to distract the Admiral, so he won’t see what he’s doing. Well she’d see about that.

  In the bedroom she puts on the bronze eadai that goes with her gown. Along with the eadai she slides her legs into the bronze legging Kia made. In the closet she steps into her gown.

  It was a simple dress, from the front, sleeveless, draping to show just a hint of cleavage. The back repeating the drape except it extended to the small of her back. Five strings of beads, representing the royal houses of Carina, accented the drape and helped keep the dress together. Sliding her feet into the matching three inch heels she checks her reflection in the mirror.

  The gown hugged her hips, the amber embroidery accenting the color of the gown. Taking a few steps the train flows gracefully behind her. Pulling her hair up she secures it with the matching clip Kia had proved, allowing it to flow freely. Checking herself one last time she goes in search of William.

  Staring out a window of the private living area William wonders how he’s going to tell Cassandra about the added names for dinner. Valerian she’ll handle, she’s already shown she could. But Kyle….how is he going to explain Kyle to her? Explain how she needs to handle him.

  His son, fuck he hadn’t wanted Kyle anywhere near this until after the Assembly. It is one of the reasons he hadn’t contacted him, he hadn’t forgotten. But Dadrian has made it a point to fill his head with rumors and half-truths the little foabhor. Now Cassandra would have to deal with being attacked by someone she’d consider family, his family. Lost in thought he doesn’t hear Cassandra enter the room. Her scent reaches him a moment before her touch.

  Watching William as she approaches, Cassandra can tell he’s troubled. The incident with Kyle troubles him she knew that, just as she knew he loved his second son. Kyle is going to have to become a priority; she won’t have William upset if she could help it. But for now all she can do is support him. Reaching out she touches the man she loves.

  Turning, William looks down into the brilliant sapphire blue eyes, he loves. In them he sees her love for him, her trust in him, her belief in him and just a hint of worry, for him. Running his hands up her bare arms, he glides them across her collar bones before cradling her face. Leaning down he gently kisses her. Here is his priority. Knowing she needs to be told, so she’ll have time to think, William starts to lead her to the couch only to stop when his hand touches bare skin.

  Taking a step back he looks at her, the deep topaz of the gown makes her skin glow, it is unadorned, the detailing of the material more than enough. Until you look at the back, which isn’t there. Five strings of beads held the dress together before the material rejoined at her lower back, accentuating her backside as it cascaded to the floor to pool behind her as she walked.

  “Cassandra….it’s beautiful. You look beautiful.” He can’t resist running his fingers down her exposed back. Turning in his arms she stretches up to kiss him.

  “Thank you.” She whispers against his lips.

  “We need to talk.” Regretfully he leads her to the couch. Tonight, after dinner, he would explore the rest of this dress. “There have been two additions to the King’s dinner.”

  “Okay.” She waits.

  “Valerian,” William watches as her eyes darken but says nothing. “And Kyle.”

  “Your Kyle?” Her voice reveals her surprise.

  “Yes.”

  “Well it’s not how I’d planned on first meeting him, but I don’t see a problem.”

  “Kyle is the problem. Cassandra….he’s not going to be…friendly to you.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” She puts her hand on his.

  “What do you know?” William demands. Cassandra’s slightly shocked at his tone.

  “I know that Kyle would’ve had a problem with me no matter what.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You…Me…Salish.
Kyle doesn’t want someone taking his mother’s place, her place with you.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Salish and I concluded our union over fifteen cycles ago. Kyle knows that.”

  “Yes, he knows, but that doesn’t mean he wants someone to take her place.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Lucas told me. He thought I should know Kyle would have a problem with me, with me being with you.”

  “When did he tell you this?” William surges up to stride across the room.

  “Right after we arrived on Carina.” She watches him.

  “There was no reason for him to tell you that. There are more important things for you to concentrate on.”

  “More important than you and your son’s relationship?” Cassandra knows she has to be misunderstanding him.

  “Yes.”

  “You intentionally didn’t tell him we were here. You didn’t just forget with everything going on.” Rising from the couch she isn’t sure she likes where this is going.

  “I’d never forget Kyle. I didn’t want him here, didn’t want him involved in this. This isn’t something he’s equipped for. Fuck!”

  “But now he is, because of Dadrian. Now he is and he doesn’t know the truth, the full truth, because we didn’t tell him. Now he’s on the wrong side, because he’s trying to protect you.”

  “That’s ridiculous!”

  “Is it? Why? Because he’s not military? Because he’s a thinker, a learner? Because of that you think he can’t protect the people he loves from harm. Is that what you really think William?” Cassandra’s eyes burn into his.

  “You’re not understanding, Kyle isn’t like Lucas, he’s....”

  “Like me.”

  “What?”

  “He’s like me, a thinker, a learner, someone who’s not military. Someone who’s much happier with a book then ordering people around.”

  Listening to her William realizes she understands Kyle perfectly. Saw him more clearly, having never met him, than his own father did.

  “That would be Kyle.” Walking over to her he rubs her arms.

  “He loves his family. He loves you. He’s lost his mother, he’s not willing to lose anyone else, not without a fight.” Cassandra looks into his eyes. “I fully understand.”

  “Cassandra, Kyle isn’t like you.”

  “Like me?”

  “You stand. For what you believe in for who you believe. For those you love. You’re willing to risk everything for those you love.”

  “And Kyle didn’t do that, coming here this morning, risking your anger, to tell you what he believed? William,” She lays a hand over his heart. “I haven’t done anything heroic, anything special. I was there the day Victoria was born. I watched her take her first breath. If we hadn’t been able to get her out of that fire…”

  “We didn’t, you did.”

  “No, it took all of us, together. You underestimate him William.” Cassandra’s eyes look into his.

  “Cassandra, you haven’t even met him.”

  “I don’t have to, to know he loves you. His coming here this morning proves it. It also proves he’ll stand. He’ll protect his family. In this case you, from the enemy, me. For that alone I like him.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” William lifts her hand, kissing her palm.

  “Why? Why are you afraid I’ll like him?”

  “Because that means he can hurt you. Cassandra….what he is saying, repeating. You open your heart to family. That means he can hurt you, badly. I won’t tolerate that. No one hurts you, not even my son.” William’s eyes begin to blaze.

  “Trust me William. He maybe your son, but that doesn’t mean I trust him. He’ll have to earn that, because in his trying to protect you, he hurt you, and I won’t tolerate that. No one hurts you, not even your son.” Cassandra throws his words back at him.

  “I trust you.” His eyes calm. As his portable comm rings he reaches into his pocket.

  “Zafar.”

  “Admiral, your detail is waiting at the door.”

  “Thank you Marot, we’ll be right down.”

  “Ready?” Pulling his head down, Cassandra gives him a deep kiss.

  “I am now.” Turning they leave the suite. As they start down the stairs, Cassandra smiles at William.

  “Aunt Cassie!” Turning to Victoria, her heel catches on the stair runner. One minute she’s turning the next falling.

  “Cassandra!” William grabs her, pulling her into the safety of his arms. Resting her head on his chest she tries to catch her breath. Her heart racing, she’d thought she was going down.

  “Cassandra, are you okay?” William’s voice is in her ear.

  “Yeah, my heel just caught.” Looking up she sees she’s scared him. “I’m fine, thanks to you.” She gives him a quick reassuring kiss.

  “Aunt Cassie?” The quivering voice has her look to the top of the stairs.

  “Hey baby, I’m okay.” She walks back up the stairs.

  “You started to fall.”

  “Yeah, good thing the Admiral was there, huh.”

  “Yeah, I wanted to tell you goodnight.”

  “We didn’t get to see much of each other today did we.” Ignoring her dress she kneels in front of her niece.

  “Nuhu.”

  “We’ll have to see if we can’t do something about it tomorrow then, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “So when we get back tonight, do you want me to come get you or are you staying at Amina’s?”

  “I want to sleep in my bed.”

  “Okay then that’s what we’ll do, but if Javiera tells you bedtime you go, understood?”

  “Yes Aunt Cassie.”

  “Alright, I need to go.” Giving her a kiss she rises.

  “Night Admiral.”

  “Good night Victoria.”

  Looking at Javiera, Cassandra sees the worry in her eyes. “I’m fine.” Watching them enter the suite she turns back to William.

  “Shall we try this again?”

  Approaching the King’s Wing the detail slows.

  “William?”

  “The King’s men will escort us the rest of the way.” William nods to Marat who steps aside allowing them to advance into the King’s Wing. Four guards, two on each side take their place.

  “Deffand.”

  “Admiral?” Deffand turns to the Admiral.

  “There is a step in the Royal Wing that requires attention. You’ll need to clear someone to repair it.”

  “A stair sir?”

  “The runner is loose. Cassandra nearly fell down the stairs because of it.” The Admiral’s eyes bore into his.”

  “Yes sir,” Deffand’s eyes flash to Cassandra. “I’ll contact the proper personnel.” Nodding the Admiral starts to advance only to feel Cassandra’s gentle touch.

  “Captain Deffand.” Cassandra addresses him. “I would like to personally apologize for the incident yesterday involving my niece, and to thank you for making sure she wasn’t hurt.” Deffand stares at her for a moment.

  “She’s a child. Who would hurt a child?”

  “You’d be surprised. But I have talked to her, she won’t do it again.”

  “That would be best.” Nodding Cassandra turns back to William.

  Chapter 16

  Kyle watches his father enter the room, the woman at his side not all what he is expecting. She is tiny, barely coming up to his father’s shoulder in heels. Her brilliant blue eyes scan the room stopping on him for a moment before turning to the approaching Assemblyman a polite smile on her lips.

  “Interesting looking isn’t she?” Dadrian comments, his eyes scanning the woman at the Admiral’s side. He’d definitely have to get to know her. “Easy to see how the Admiral’s become…distracted.” Dadrian digs at Kyle.

  Scanning the room, Cassandra recognizes the Assemblymen and their wives from earlier in the day. Valerian is there, as are two men, standing together across the room. One is Dadrian, the other
is obviously William’s son, Kyle. The resemblance is obvious even though Kyle’s features are more delicate, more like Salish’s she assumed. But his eyes were all Zafar. Pulling her gaze from him Cassandra turns her attention the Assemblyman Terwilliger.

  “Assemblyman Terwilliger, Madame Terwilliger, a pleasure to see you again.” Cassandra politely smiles at them.

  They proceed around the room, making small talk before proceeding on. Approaching Kyle and Dadrian, Cassandra can feel William’s fingers tensing on her back. She isn’t sure if its’ because of Kyle or Dadrian.

  “Cassandra, my son Kyle Zafar.” William introduces them. “Kyle, Cassandra Qwes Chamberlain.”

  “It’s nice to finally meet you Kyle. I’ve heard a great deal about you from Lucas and your father.” She offers the branch.

  “While I’ve heard nothing about you, from either of them.” Kyle’s voice just barely polite, Dadrian’s lips quirk.

  “Unfortunately that’s true. The need for security has created a great many problems, including allowing groundless rumors to flourish. Now that the Challenge has begun, those can be laid to rest.”

  “And how will that be accomplished?” Dadrian can no longer take being ignored. Cassandra’s sharp blue eyes turn to him.

  “By the truth coming out. And you are?” Dadrian stiffens.

  “Cassandra, His Royal Highness Prince Dadrian. Prince Dadrian, Cassandra Qwes Chamberlain, Challenger to Queen Yakira.”

  “Prince Dadrian?” Cassandra shoots William a confused look.

  “King Jotham’s second son.” William leans down to tell her, so only she sees the quick sparkle in his eyes at her jab.

  “Of course.” Cassandra’s gaze returns to Dadrian. “Your Highness.” She offers no apology. Dadrian is infuriated, as Cassandra wanted, before he can respond King Jotham’s arrival is announced.