Richard gazed at the night, leaning against the window, pensive. It wouldn't be long before daybreak.
Two days. For two days he had roamed the forest and then the city streets without finding anything. Where would she be? It would probably be fine. It was clear she was fine. He would surely know if something had happened to the girl.
Curse! Women! It even looked like some kind of riot. And Cassie led. The death of Carol and Christina's father in the state he had been in... Philip would never be able to return to the family home with the women united and ready to start a battle.
He closed his eyes in agony. One more day. He had barely been able to sleep that night. His sleep was tumultuous and agitated by a ghastly plot of nightmares. He saw the wounded and helpless woman in the hands of her enemies. It had become torture. Imagining Cassie in Valerius' hands made him experience a new, disconcerting, unfamiliar sensation. Fear. It infuriated him. Cassie had slowly ended her calm, quiet, orderly life. Philip knew how to hit him with his greatest enemy...
The dream repeated itself like a bad omen. She was pregnant. She needed rest. Damn Philip...
Why hadn't he finally put an end to Padraic's gossip? Phil had plotted his betrayals and attacked from all sides... If it bothered her that much, she might naturally have asked. He would have explained. God, for a while he'd been casually dating the beautiful gipsy looking for sex. Hell. He was a man. He would never have imagined that he would have to explain that. It was a curse! It was also clear that he hadn't looked for the gipsy anymore after Cassie had taken over little Saor's motherhood.
"It was her fault, I shouldn't have left her alone..." Saor bellowed the most furious and restless baby revolted without her. He made everyone hell by refusing to eat.
Richard chided himself once more. Where could she be? He would never forgive himself if something happened to her. Rays! There was the unfortunate plague. The family was going through a difficult period without the support of the Armada... Vladimir might even have found it amusing. But Rick felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickling... The healer and visions of her... Twins? How was he going to support three babies like that at once? Life had changed with the force of a hurricane. Suddenly he was a father. Oh, Cassie was expecting twins? Soor was still so small...Two boys and a little girl? There was the issue of names...
Isabella… It was not a name she would choose. They would end up calling their daughter just by the nickname Bella. Cassie taking care of three kids… There was no way he would agree to his wife working outside the home. He was perfectly capable of supporting the house.
"God, don't think about it! Wet nurse? Diapers?"
The damn city wasn't that big. She was running from him. Again. He remembered the weeks spent in the cave while he recovered. Perhaps he could still explain that But Thalagar... Philip had spied Cassie's worst fears in his eagerness to get her away from him. He naturally feared for her life. Always so reckless. Naturally, the jealous woman had believed he had come looking for her only at Will's demand. In no way had he suggested that she terminate the pregnancy.
- Have you woken up or not slept yet? The question made him swear under his breath.
Rick sighed as he shook his head. It was not yet dawn. Michael should be with the recovering Christina in Lili's care and not worried about him. God, when Phil found out he would be furious. At least Chris and Carol were out of reach and protected.
-It's none of her business.- he said annoyed.-I should have told her that I didn't stay by her side just because of Will.- he despaired with remorse.
If he might have been honest with her, Thalagar wouldn't have been so successful in pulling her away from him. He needed to know she was okay. What had been different? She filled her life with joy and excitement that she never imagined experiencing again. The house is full of laughter... The woman challenged him without hesitation when many sailors aboard the Gaia preferred to remain silent. She was spirited. She was a huge emptiness that lived those miserable two days.
-I miss her. – the answer was simple.
It was little to express the need he had to have her again.
She was in his bed.
Rick could hear her passionate sighs as his mouth sought hers out, the small, delicate body beneath hers enfolding and temptingly welcoming him. It was much better than he could remember. Even with Katie the experience was not so pleasant.
She was his. Only from him. Her muscles tightened and he lost himself in her with the certainty that he was home, knowing the woman shuddered with satisfaction in his arms. Oh, Cassie...
He could never have imagined the complete union wolves experienced until she came into his life. It wasn't just physical satisfaction although the sex was heavenly with her. It was the communion of thoughts. He knew exactly what she wanted as she touched her satiny, silky-smooth skin. She was everything he wanted. Or he could have waited. He stroked the voluminous belly feeling the baby move...
The girl was smiling at him, sleepy and teasing in his arms, their bodies entwined after their lovemaking.
She was standing. She looked at him so surprised at the revelation that he didn't want the pregnancy that Richard might rage. Damned Philipe to all her offspring. The girl was backing away from him. Thalagar from a distance watched with satisfaction as Cassie started to walk away in pain, her huge, sad eyes too big in her drawn, haggard face. She was becoming just a diffuse and distant image.
No! Do not do this! It wasn't because of Will. It was never Will. Of course, I want the baby... I didn't say...
Her green eyes mirrored only hurt as she had turned away, turning her back on him to walk away.
He was going to explain. He hadn't expected to discover that the young woman who had saved his life was an independent woman capable of minding her own business. God, she handled swords and pistols as well as he did. How could he protect her like that if she didn't trust him and risked needlessly? If something happened to her...The girl was suddenly pregnant. Damn..right the first time?
- Cassie, don't go. I love you. I don't want you to go...
She was just gone. She had believed that marriage was just an obligation for him and she had decided to save him from a painful burden. He could no longer see her and Thalagar's laughter was outrageous as he made light of his pain.
Cassie!
She was gone forever. No way could he find her.
Richard woke up, startled and frightened, in the dark of the late dawn.
It was a curse. It was just a dream. Very vivid and erotic. His body was tense and heated, still aroused by the images that were slowly fading from his memory. He grunted annoyed as he sat up in bed. He had become a fourteen-year-old boy again. Just imagining the feel of that hot mouth on his body made him curse.
He looked around crestfallen. It was one more day. Without her. Even in the darkness, he was smiling as he remembered the details of the dream. Cassie always liked to tease him. She used the natural telepathy between them to surprise him, making his fantasies come true. Despite the emptiness that pressed down on her chest, the dream had been so real that he'd turned in bed uncomfortably.
She was hurting him and hurting him because of her. He deserved the pain that gnawed at him without any mercy.
He closed his eyes and went back to sleep. As soon as day broke, he would reassemble his men and go back to searching. Of course, he wanted the kids...
The cave was almost dark and the silence was peaceful and comforting. All he heard was her breathing calm and soft on her chest as he slept. In the morning they would leave. Rick imagined the brothers' reaction when he returned with a wife. As soon as he arrived in Scarlet, he would arrange for the wedding and a big party to celebrate. Only among the family. He hadn't been this satisfied or happy for years. That hadn't happened since… He wouldn't remember Katie. The family is complete and in harmony without Philip's frames...
He wouldn't sleep either. This time he intended to be waiting for Thalagar. The bastard wasn't going to have the opportunity to find Cassie alone and helpless to take her away by force. nor Philip with your damn frames...
For a moment his eyes closed and he shifted in bed disoriented. The bed is empty. Cassie wasn't beside him.
She couldn't have gone that far. Her screams echoed through the cavern walls and only the echo of her voice was the lone answer to her worst nightmares. The woman had disappeared. God, Thalagar was going to… Her breath hitched for a moment as she thought of what could happen to her. If Philip got his hands on his wife... If she had the damned nerve...
He sat on the bed panting. Another damn nightmare. He could hardly believe that the night was over and that the overcast day was starting to lighten in the cloud-filled, charged sky.
"You let her go. You left her alone...".
His reflection in the mirror was strange and distant as he scratched his stubble.
Where could she be? His sisters-in-law stare at him with accusing eyes. But of course, he was going to bring Cassie home again.