Cloud Riders (Lord of the Planets) (44 page)

Aldebaran went back downstairs to a very nervous old friend.

‘Ald, they’re under my care. When their friends come looking for them what do I say?’ she asked.

‘That they left and you haven’t seen them since.’ He rolled his shoulders, releasing some of the stress he was feeling. ‘Tomorrow, I’ll take them to my castle for dinner. Because they’re under my control, they’ll agree happily. I’d take them now but I’d prefer to keep them here just one more day in case something goes wrong and they come looking for Kayden earlier.’

‘Why is she so important to you that you would risk having your star put out or your kingdom gone? This is insane,’ she argued. ‘Am I not enough, Ald? Please,’ she sobbed, tears running down her cheeks.

He went over and held her, the look of sadness and fear stared back at him. ‘You know how I feel about you, Aqua love, but she’s my daughter. I just want a little while to get to know her, to have her close and love her the way she deserves to be loved by a father. I’m sorry if you don’t understand that.’

‘But to kidnap them, even for a day? She’ll never forgive you and you’ll spend the rest of your life regretting that you may have been able to freely see her more often.’

‘Aqua, the last few months just watching her from afar has been killing me. I’m their enemy. She won’t be allowed to come back to see me again after this visit and you know it, just like last time. Kayden is smart and I know he will make her break all ties with me when they get back to business. He really has no other choice. I would do the same. He’s done this for her to make her wedding special, that’s all. Shit, you only have to look at the guy with her to see he would give her the moon if it were his to give.’ He sighed, went over and poured a nightcap. ‘Aqua, don’t fight me anymore on this. I’m tired and need you. Just give me the chance to get to know my little girl, please.’

Aldebaran felt worn out trying to convince her. If she fought any further, it would give him no other choice but to go up and take them now and she knew it. The ball was in her court. Aqua stood for a minute and he waited to see if she really did care for him. Did he have her loyalty as a friend? He was begging her and she knew it was not easy for him to have to ask for help. She walked over, slipped her arms around him and kissed him sweetly. He knew she had given in. He grabbed her and returned the love she deserved.
She’s my woman and I’m glad she’s chosen to stay that way.

Before they retired, he went in to check on them to make sure they were okay and that the potion he had given them was not harming their fragile, earthy bodies.

In the morning they both came downstairs hand-in-hand. Aldebaran put his book down to say good morning. They both acted laid-back so he knew the spell had worked. From today they would get up every morning until he decided otherwise, with no other thought but to enjoy the day. Time would be of no interest to them and their old life, for now, was a foggy nothing.
They’ll believe whatever I want them to.
This afternoon he’d be taking them home with him.

Feeling a twinge of guilt for deceiving them this way, he coughed and fidgeted but thankfully it was just a fleeting thought and was soon gone. He couldn’t think of any other way to keep them a bit longer.

The only drawback was that Orion was still out there annoying the hell out of him and he would have to refrain from any kind of retaliation for the time being. Yes, he considered thoughtfully as he took a sip of coffee, to continue the war will only bring the Cloud Riders to my doorstep before I’m ready to give her up. Even though they wouldn’t believe him at first, his performance that he would have to work on would make it look like he had nothing to do with their disappearance.
To convince them further I’ll offer my services to search relentlessly.

After hugging Cassandra before she sat down for breakfast, his heart was bursting with the sound of waking up to her chatter.
The years I’ve wondered how this would feel and now it is here. I’ve missed so much, but no more!
She was telling him how magical her room was and Aldebaran was glad Aqua had also assisted him with the decorating of her room in his home. In fact, since her first visit he’d made major renovations to the castle, hoping that one day she would visit again and maybe want to stay a while. He never dreamed that it would be so soon.

While they chatted together Aldebaran went over his plans, making sure he hadn’t missed anything that would remind them of their past. He had even taken their horses to his home world and hidden them. He knew that if Kayden or Cassandra mounted the magical beasts the horses might be able to break the spell. He sighed, hoping he hadn’t left anything out and frowned at the same time as Cassandra seemed uninterested in breakfast. He had noted she just drank a coffee and was instead itching to go out and have some fun instead. She was nagging at Aldebaran to hurry up with the breakfast thing so they could go back out to the water park and not waste the day.

He shook his head as he stood up. She was like an excited child and her eyes flashed and glistened playfully as she spoke. Kayden was no help: he just glowed with love and was ready to pick her up and run with her if Aldebaran didn’t agree. He could see he was going to have his hands full trying to give her any kind of fatherly discipline. She playfully grabbed him with one hand and reaching out to Kayden with the other, kissed both on their cheeks. Her innocence always put a tingle through him as her lips touched his skin and yet she never once seemed to feel his evil, even from their first meeting.

Aqua joined them and all three were spellbound with Cassandra as she had them laughing and enjoying every minute of the park’s wonderment. They had a light lunch and sat back in the chairs, chatting. It had been a couple of hours since lunch so Aldebaran took that opportunity to suggest to Kayden that they take Cassandra home to his house for a rest before dinner. He was relieved when he agreed without question.

Cassandra hugged Aqua like she was leaving an old friend and he could see Aqua was quite chuffed to have made such an impression on her. He put his arms around both of them and transported them to his home star.

He had arranged for a few guests to come over for dinner. Feeling so proud of his new family, he wanted his friends to meet Cassandra and her new husband. The castle was still being prepared and wishing to surprise them, he took them straight to their room for some time alone.

The dinner party was being held in the newly renovated ballroom and the designers were just finishing it off. Aqua had been a shining star in his planning as she helped him make his castle into somewhere a young lady would be happy to be. He waited downstairs for the happy couple to come down after sending the servants to wake them up. He knew they had barely slept much on their holiday so they’d still be playing catch up.

He heard Kayden’s voice first and spun around to see him twirling her around and pulling her in for a quick kiss before heading down the stairs. Yes, magic was in the air tonight. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs he noticed their clothes had changed again. Tonight, Cassandra had on a gorgeous little cocktail dress that had layers to the skirt and spun out sweetly as Kayden twirled her around and danced with her to the music that was quietly wafting through the castle from the band in the ballroom. My friends are going to love them, he thought as he watched them. When they reached him he was surprised that Kayden swung her to him and he took her warm sweet hand in his and waltzed with her for a minute before sending her back to her man. Her eyes were alive and she smiled so angelically he wondered how he was ever going to set free an angel such as her.

At least that was a thought he needn’t dwell on tonight but he knew only too well that if they weren’t under a spell, tomorrow he would have to be saying goodbye.
And for the life of me I can’t have that happen just yet.

He took them both into the ballroom first and the precious expression that spread across Cassandra’s face as it lit up made all the tiresome planning and renovating so worth it. The long dining table in the middle of the room was fully set with silver, crystal glasses and fine china. The six, twenty-piece candleholders were alight and arranged along the table. The flicker of the flames danced around the room, reflecting in the mirrored walls and picking up the colours in the crystal chandeliers overhead. The floor, instead of being slate, now resembled a highly polished dance floor and the band was set up on the new stage that he would now use often to bring in entertainment for Cassandra’s amusement while she was his guest.

Big French doors took up one side of the room: these were now open and led out into the entertaining deck where you could view the twenty-metre pool, complete with waterfall and spa. It was all set in a tropical paradise that had green and blue spotlights strategically placed so they shone up on the lush vegetation and palm trees. He had enclosed the pool area to assist with the plant growth but tonight the auto roof was pulled back so they could view the real stars above. It was also the first time he had seen it lit up. He was impressed with the designers. They had excelled themselves and he would reward them well for the results.

‘I don’t remember the castle looking so enchanting, Pops. I barely remember what it looked like before but I’m sure I would have remembered this,’ she grinned.

‘After your last visit you loved the water at Aqua’s so much I thought I might put in a pool for you when you visited me next. The ballroom was just Aqua’s extra touch to give us all somewhere to dance when I throw my parties. I’m glad you approve.’

Lamar the butler came out to let Aldebaran know the guests were arriving. Not wanting to leave his friends unattended, he went to greet them, leaving his daughter and son-in-law to soak up and enjoy the new surrounds. He had only just finished introducing Cassandra and Kayden to the couples who had arrived early, when Conom arrived with his entourage. Aldebaran was excited for them to meet his closest friend. Conom looking surprised and a little amused when introduced to Cassandra. He took Aldebaran aside.

‘I can’t believe you, Ald! You have her under a spell,’ he hissed.

Aldebaran shook his head as he stood. ‘What do you mean? Have you lost your mind man?’ he growled, trying to act innocent.

‘Ald, it just so happens I played cards with this little minx just a few days ago and she is very intelligent. And believe me she would have remembered me for what I put her through.’ Conom looked annoyed that Aldebaran was hiding something.

Conom had caught him out so he dragged him away from prying ears. ‘Okay maybe just a little one so I can have a few extra days with her. Can you blame me? I’m her father for Christ’s sake. I just need a bit more time with her. Why is that so hard to understand? Shit, I’ve copped it for days from Aqua. Not you too!’

Conom shook his head and smiled. ‘Okay, settle down, big guy. Yes, I understand but with this playful little soul you may be biting off more than you can chew. She’s a bit of a handful.’

Aldebaran couldn’t believe that Conom had already met his daughter. What were the odds she was talking about Conom when she told him about the card game she’d played in Sydney? ‘I’m still getting my head around you being Mono. She told me about your game but I never connected the name. I can only imagine what it would have been like with you two at it. Neither of you would have liked to lose. And yes I agree she can be quite a handful and quite ruthless when it comes to winning.’

‘Ald,’ he said quietly. ‘She came across as the hottest hottie I’d ever met and she was lucky I didn’t kidnap her myself. I had a hard time not getting up and kissing that sexy mouth. I am sorry if that offends you but she was something else. I’ve been in lust with her ever since and yet looking at her now, butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. I find it hard to believe the two are the same girl.’

Aldebaran threw his head back and laughed. ‘You keep your devious little hands off my daughter.’

Conom put his hands up in a submissive gesture. ‘Hey man, well warned but you can’t stop me having fun with her. She’s a blast. What’s big lug hubby like when he’s not plotting against us?’

‘The son-in-law I always dreamed for her. You’ll like him, Conom, give him a chance. Okay?’

He patted him on the back. ‘For you, I will try and that’s all I can promise. But hey, good luck with the rest of it because I wouldn’t want to be you when she wakes up from this spell.’

Aldebaran looked at him seriously. ‘When this is all over and I send them home, Kayden will make her break all ties with me like last time, regardless of what I do here today. So I hope you’re right, old friend and she does challenge me because it will be better than never hearing from her again.’ He looked around and saw them both getting into the tequila slammers. ‘You’ll have to excuse me. The kids are getting into it early and if I don’t slow those two down you’ll be seeing a lot more of the Cassandra you saw the other night.’ Aldebaran grinned as he walked away.

Conom laughed. ‘Bring it on, I say! This place could do with a bit of livening up.’

He is so much like me
,
just wanting excitement in his life
. Aldebaran would normally agree with him but this was different. This was his daughter who had pushed his buttons and he could feel himself change the minute he looked into her eyes. He magically felt so much older and now wanted to be the best father he could be to her.

He went over and Kayden passed him a slammer. ‘Come on, Dad, join us?’ he asked, stirring Aldebaran and waiting for him to slam and raise his glass with them. Aldebaran was so shocked that he called him Dad that he slammed with them and drank it down. Cassandra put her glass down and passed him a beer and he sculled that as well.

‘Go Pops,’ she giggled. He shook his head and smiled. ‘Now, you two, go mingle. You won’t last the night at this rate,’ he chastised them and watched as they laughed like two naughty kids and wandered off, chatting to the guests.

Aqua finally arrived with the twins Gem and Mini from the Gemini constellation. Conom was quite partial to both girls and unable to decide between them, generally left with both. Cassandra was excited to see a face she knew and walked around with Aqua and the twins as they went from guest to guest, mingling.