Cassandra's Challenge

  “You need rest.” Rolling onto his back he encloses her in his arms.

  “William….”

  “Sleep Cassandra, you need to sleep.”

  Suddenly she realizes what he’s doing. It’s just like when she’d been hurt in the explosion. He’s holding back, worried he’ll hurt her, her and their child. That carrying his child would hurt her. Sliding over she straddles him.

  “I need you.” Sliding the straps of her nightgown down, she lets it pool at her waist, leaning down to kiss him, her breasts caress his naked chest.

  William grips her arms meaning to lift her away, but her sharp gasp has him freezing. Looking at his hands he realizes he’s gripping her bruises. Immediately he releases her. “Fuck Cassandra, I’m sorry.” His voice full of regret.

  “Stop.” She rests her hands on his chest, looking into his eyes.

  “I hurt you.”

  “No, Dadrian did, and he would have done worse if you hadn’t been there.” She watches his eyes flare. “You have never hurt me, not like that. You never will.” She caresses his cheek. “But it hurts me when you pull away because you’re worried you might. You did it after the explosion. You’re doing it now.”

  “Cassandra, you are my love, my life, and now you’re having my child I can’t not protect you.” Staring into his eyes, she sees his love, his conflict.

  “I know, but I don’t need protected from you.” She lifts his hands to her breasts. “I just need you.” Sliding her hands down she releases him.

  ”Cassandra…” He groans as she takes him in.

  “I need you William.” She whispers against his lips. “I’ll always need you.” As she slowly rotates her hips his hands move to holding them still, thrusting into her to the hilt.

  “Ahhh…” She moans into his mouth. She hadn’t realized how much she needed this. To be close to him, like this, after Dadrian, locking her mouth onto his, she sinks into him, to the feelings only he can arouse.

  Feeling her accept all of him, demand all of him, makes William realize just how much he’d needed her too. He had been pulling back, to protect her, because he hadn’t. Dadrian made him fear his size, his strength, would hurt her. Her total belief, trust in him washes away the fear.

  Rolling her onto her back he rises above her, gripping her hands, he watches her eyes as he increases his pace. Watches them losing focus as she tightens around him, as he drives her higher.

  “Let go Cassandra.” His voice is thick with demand. “Let me watch you let go.”

  “William!” She cries as the orgasm rips through her, her eyes locked with his. It shreds his control, with one final thrust he empties himself into her.

  Resting his forehead against hers he tries to regain his breath. Lifting his head he watches her eyes, seeing her mind reengages. The love they hold undeniable, but he also sees the fatigue.

  Giving her a gentle kiss he moves to his back. Reaching for the covers he pulls them up as she settles in next to him. With his arms encircling her they both fall asleep.

  First sunrise is just beginning when Cassandra feels his touch, William’s hand gingerly caressing her still flat stomach. Staying still she enjoys his touch, knowing his thinking about their child, should she tell him it’s a boy? She has no proof expect Sabah, in a dream. Turning her head she gently kisses his chest, before looking up at him. The love glowing in his eyes flows around her.

  “Morning.” She says softly. He answers her by kissing her gently, his hand still on her stomach.

  “You’ll sleep longer.” He orders still seeing fatigue in her eyes.

  “You won’t let me sleep too late?”

  “I’ll wake you if it gets late. You don’t have anything until 1300.” He tucks a piece of hair behind her ear.

  “Okay.” She lets him slide away. “I love you.”

  Pulling the covers back over her, he tells her, “I love you too. Now sleep.” With one last kiss he heads for the shower.

  William works from the comm in the private quarters. He’s staying close to Cassandra today he needs too, for himself. The stakes have just gone up. She’s conceived, extra precautions will be needed, at every level. The gatherings will need to be spread further out so she can rest, eat properly. A doctor will be needed to make sure she is okay.

  A baby….he leans back from the comm. He’s fifty cycles….to be a father again….for Cassandra to give him a child…will it be a son or daughter? A daughter would be the heir to the House of Knowledge. He lets that thought settle in his mind. His daughter would one day be Queen of the House of Knowledge….as her mother will be…he’d never fully considered that. Hearing a door open he sees Victoria walking sleepily to him. Lifting her into his lap, she burrows in.

  “What are you doing up so early?” He rubs her back.

  “I’m hungry.” She tells him still half asleep.

  “What would you like Hutu to make?”

  “Flatcakes.” Picking up the headset William connects to Hutu.

  “Hutu, Victoria would like flatcakes this morning.” He listens. “Just for two right know I’ll let you know when Cassandra is ready to eat.” Taking off the headset William looks down at Victoria.

  “It’ll be here in a little bit.”

  “Okay.” Victoria looks at him now with alert eyes. “Admiral?”

  “What?”

  “Are you and Aunt Cassie getting married?” William stills.

  “What?”

  “You and Aunt Cassie, are you getting….it’s not married here it’s called…”

  “A Union.”

  “Yeah, that. So are you?” She watches him with curious eyes.

  “I think that’s something for your aunt and me to decide.”

  “That’s what Aunt Cassie said too.”

  “Why are you asking Victoria?” He watches her, sees she’s trying to decide what to say.

  “Well if you married Aunt Cassie, I wouldn’t have to call you Admiral anymore.” She raises hopeful eyes to his. “Everyone calls you Admiral. I could call you Uncle. I’d have Aunt Cassie and Uncle William.”

  He’s surprised at what she wants. She wants to have a special claim to him, to be able to call him something no one else did. Uncle. For it to be a special relationship just between them, for him to truly be part of her family, for her to be part of his. Touched he pulls her closer.

  “I would like that Victoria, to be your Uncle William. But Cassandra and I have to decide that.” Avid green eyes look into his.

  “But you’ll think about it?” She raises a disarming eyebrow to him. Oh she’s going to be a handful as she grows up. He’s going to enjoy being a part of it.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Why isn’t Aunt Cassie eating with us?”

  “She’s going to sleep awhile longer. She had a busy day yesterday.”

  “You promised she was okay.”

  “She is she’s just going to sleep a little longer.” A knock on the suite’s door stops Victoria from questioning further. “That’s Hutu with first meal, should we go let him in?”

  “Yeah.” Sliding off his lap she leads the way.

  “Cassandra…” Feeling William’s touch on her cheek, she rolls towards him. “Cassandra, you need to wake up.”

  “Don’t want too.” William smiles, she sounds like Victoria.

  “But you need to its 0900. I promised I wouldn’t let you sleep to long.” He rubs a hand down her arm.

  “0900?” Heavy eyes open to his.

  “Yes, I’ve called Hutu, he’s bring up flatcakes for you.” He gives her a hard look. “You’ll eat.”

  “I can do that.” Sitting up she kisses him. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.” He returns the kiss. “You have time for a shower. Victoria’s already eaten and is over at Amina’s”

  “Really? Sounds like you’ve been had a busy morning.”

  “Not really. I enjoyed it.” He helps her out of bed. “Go get in the shower.” Steering her towards the bathroom he kis
ses the back of her head.

  “You’re not joining me?” She gives him a playful look over her shoulder. William’s eyes flare at the thought of joining her, with her in the shower. Whipping her around, he gives her a long hard kiss.

  “Later.” He promises then turning, he leaves her breathless.

  The shower feels wonderful, lathering up her hair Cassandra lets the heat cascade down her. It will have to do in place of William’s hands. She feels amazing this morning. No queasiness, not light headiness. Maybe on Carina it’s evening sickness when you’re pregnant. She’d have to ask Javiera.

  Finishing up she steps out of the shower to wrap a soft towel around her, drying her hair she looks in the mirror. Her eyes are clear and bright. She looks rested and happy. She is going to have William’s baby, his son. Grinning at herself she goes to get dressed for the day.

  “Thank you Hutu.” The Admiral watches as he lifts the cover to check the plate of flatcakes he’d brought up for Cassandra. “She’s going to enjoy them.”

  “I hope so sir, she didn’t eat last night.”

  “I know. She will today. She’s going to start taking better care of herself.” Hutu sees the Admiral’s eyes harden.

  “Yes sir.”

  “Also, the fudge torta….” The Admiral smiles. “She really likes it, so does Victoria.”

  “I’ll make sure to have some on hand sir.”

  “Maybe just for one meal. Victoria had three pieces yesterday.”

  “Three….”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on it sir.

  “Thank you Hutu.” As his portable comm rings Hutu leaves.

  Standing in the closet Cassandra tries to decide what to wear. It needed to be something with sleeves, the bruises on her arms were even darker today. Choosing the black pant outfit, with sapphire camisole, she’d worn to meet Jotham she dresses. Deciding against the shoes and jacket just yet she walks out to the mirror to fix her hair. Pulling it back she hears raised voices in the outer room.

  “Zafar.”

  “Admiral, King Jotham and Barek are on their way up.” Marat tells him.

  “What!”

  “Sir, I couldn’t stop them.”

  “Is Deffand with them?”

  “They were alone sir.”

  “Contact him make sure the King’s security is allowed in.”

  “Yes sir.” Disconnecting he heads for the suite door, knowing this isn’t going to be a pleasant meeting. He’s still in the hallway when he hears them.

  “Zafar!” Jotham storms down the hallway toward him. “What the fuck is going on!”

  “Majesty, Barek.” The Admiral nods. “Won’t you have a seat.” He gestures back to the private area.

  “You will explain!” Jotham’s eyes are blazing. “Explain why you lied to me! To ME!”

  “I never lied to you, Majesty.”

  “Then you did to me.” Barek’s eyes are just as angry. “You told me my father was being kept informed.”

  “He was. He was given all the information he needed.”

  “He didn’t know if I was dead or alive!”

  Cassandra enters the room, her eyes widening as she sees Tibullus, he isn’t supposed to be here for another two days. Hearing his last comment she quickly assesses the situation.

  “But you are. Alive that is. You can thank the Admiral for that. Now.” Her eyes are hard as she stops next to William, looking at both Barek and Jotham. She isn’t going to let them talk to him like this. Both men suck in a breath at her tone.

  “You may leave Princess, this doesn’t concern you.” Jotham dismisses her, turning his attention back to his friend. In doing so he misses the cold fury in her eyes. Barek doesn’t.

  “I think not, Majesty, and it does concern me. When my life mate puts himself on the line, calls in favors, all to keep a promise he made to you, it concerns me.”

  “He kept my son’s condition from me!” Jotham turns toward her. William tenses.

  “He kept him alive!” Cassandra moves just a step. “I must have misjudged you Majesty. I thought you cared about your son. That having him alive would be more important to you then knowing he was alive.”

  Jotham sucks in a sharp breath at her accusation.

  “You know nothing!”

  “I know that nearly twenty nine cycles you ask William to protect your son if you couldn’t. That’s what he’s done, whether you like the way he did it or not!”

  “Cassandra.” William puts a gentle hand on her back, telling her enough.

  “There was no reason to keep his status, secret.” Jotham fires back but with less heat.

  “Everything you told me,” Barek looks at his second father. “Was true, to a point. The Regulians were trying to stop Cassandra from reaching Carina, but not only her.”

  “Correct.” William answers Cassandra watches Tibullus mind work.

  “There were assassination attempts.”

  “Yes.”

  “Not only against Cassandra.”

  “No not only against her.”

  Jotham follows the conversation between his first born and the man he’d asked to be his second father. A sick feeling grows in his stomach.

  “There were attempts made against Barek? The Regulians were trying to kill my son?” Jotham stares at William. “And you didn’t tell me.” William stares at his friend saying nothing. Cassandra knows how he struggled with this.

  “Majesty. Tibullus, sorry Prince Barek. Let’s sit down, there’s a lot you need to know.” She gestures to the sitting area.

  As they sit, she goes to pour four glasses of Carinian Ale. They’re all going to need it before this is done. Setting them on the table she sits next to William.

  “You believe this Glitter Man, this Carinian traitor who is trying to stop Cassandra’s Challenge, is also trying to kill my son.” Jotham asks William.

  William looks at his long time friend. How does he do this to him? How does he tell him? Cassandra gently touches his leg.

  “No, no he’s not.”

  “Then who?” Jotham demands.

  “You think there’s a second traitor.” Barek’s mind is racing.

  “Yes.”

  “One interested in the House of Protection.”

  “In who will be King, yes.” William confirms.

  “If you knew this why didn’t you bring Barek back with you on the Retribution!”

  “Because at the time, I believed all the attacks were aimed at Cassandra. She’s the one who uncovered the transmissions, discovered the attacks against Barek, against the Sentinel.”

  “You have transmissions?”

  “The Retribution has been recording all transmissions since the first one was found from the Regulians to Carina concerning Cassandra.”

  “That’s weeks’ worth of transmissions.”

  “Yes.”

  “No one person could listen to them all.” Jotham accuses.

  “You don’t have to listen to them.” Cassandra speaks up. “You just have to find similar senders and receivers.” William is amazed at how simple she always makes it sound.

  “That’s impossible you would have had to break Coalition coding.” She just raises an eyebrow to the King.

  “You broke the codes?”

  “Depends on your definition of breaking, I understand what the codes are saying. They really weren’t that difficult.”

  “What do you mean?” Jotham demands. Cassandra looks to William wondering how much she should reveal. With his nod she turns back to Jotham.

  “Coalition transmission codes have basically three levels. The first is comprised of sixteen lines of coding. It’s your basic transmissions. Ship to ship, news reports, nothing of major importance. The next is eighteen lines of coding. This is your more secure information. Orders from High Command, normal fleet locations ect. Then there are your nineteen lines of coding. Highest security. Used during battle and for the highest ranking members of the Coalition and Royal families.
At the second and third levels of security either the sender or receiver must enter a code to open the transmission.” Cassandra pauses to see if Barek and Jotham were following her.

  “Go on.”

  “I can tell you what personal code was sent to another and how many. In some cases I can even tell you who one or the other is.”

  “But not all?” Barek asks.

  “No. Once you hit nineteen lines, you have to have the personal code.” Cassandra looks at Barek. “And then there are the twenty line transmissions.” She lets that hang.

  “What! There’s no such thing.” Jotham tells her.

  “There were two recorded by the Retribution, sent from Carina to the Sentinel, each lasting just over two minutes. Within ten minutes of each, the Regulians received a transmission that contained only numbers.”

  “The fleet’s location.” Barek’s eyes are hard.

  “Yes.” The Admiral confirms.

  “Who.” Barek wants to know who’s responsible for the death of his friends.

  “You tell us.” Cassandra speaks so William won’t have too.

  “What do you mean!” Barek demands.

  “You received both transmissions.” She stares back at him.

  “Fuck that!” Barek surges out of his chair. William puts himself between him and Cassandra. After last night he’s taking no chances.

  “That’s impossible!” Jotham agrees, watching William’s defensive move.

  “Prove me wrong.” Cassandra stands, touching William’s arm, stepping around him she moves to the comm center. Typing in a series of commands she pulls up the search results she wants. “This is your personal transmission code is it not?” She turns the screen so it faces Barek and Jotham.

  Barek eyes widen as he sees his code. “How did you know this was mine?”

  “I compared the twenty line transmission signatures to all other signatures the Retribution had recorded. Colonel Tar contacted you to transfer to the Retribution regarding the Falco matter. The signatures matched.”