I snapped us a blanket and we laid down. I asked, “What’s it like training to take over the army here?” Cayden smiled, “It’s intense, but I love it. I go on a lot of missions. All different types so I know when I start helping Uncle Bjourn decide….”
I laughed cutting him off, “It’s weird that he’s my uncle and yours too.” Cayden emphatically stated, “We are not related in any way. My aunt by blood married your uncle. He’s my uncle through marriage. He’s yours through blood.” I chuckled, “I know but it’s still funny.”
Cayden smirked, “Ok then. As long as that’s clear. Anyway, when I start helping decide who goes on what missions I need to know what I’m sending people out on. So, I take every type of mission. I have to know where I’m sending my people and what I’m sending them to do. I spend a lot of time training and fighting here. My men and women need to know who is in charge.”
Rain purred, “Yes, it’s so him. He IS in charge.” I agreed, “Yes, he is.” Cayden continued, “I fight and give pointers. We run drills and formations in preparation should we be needed to attack. I have to decide my squads and their leaders. For certain things, we may bring a portion of the army instead of the whole army.” I nodded, “I got it. You really are a busy man. Good thing I’m a fast runner and I can keep up.”
Cayden smirked, “That is a good thing.” I told him, “I do Uncle Bjourn’s cardio program too, Mr. Cayden Crawford.” Cayden asked, “What do you run in?” I snapped myself into my running gear. I usually wore mostly black yoga pants with a white stripe on them. With a V cut black sports bra with white stripes across the band. Aunt Lexi had given it to me for Christmas this year, and it was my favorite running outfit.
Cayden groaned, “Fuck me.” His lips were on mine in a second. He rolled on top of me so quickly I barely processed the movement. I ran my hands down his chiseled back. I could feel something hard poking my thigh. I blushed when I realized what it was.
Cayden cupped my breast and I moaned as he rubbed his thumb across my nipple. I pulled him closer to me. Then I heard someone coming. I groaned, “I hear someone coming.” Cayden ground out, “I will kill them.” He stood while I bit my lip. His shorts were definitely tighter and he was hung like a horse. How the HELL was that supposed to fit in me?!
Cayden caught my gaze and smiled, “If you keep looking at me like that, My Duchess, the last tether of control I have will snap.” I smiled, “I’ll be good.” Cayden laughed, “Why don’t I believe that?” I shrugged, “I can’t lie so that’s really on you.” He kissed me hard. He said, “You are mischievous, and the word good has many interpretations especially during sex.” I felt my cheeks flush and he kissed me again.
When we parted I asked, “Do you want me to go?” Cayden frowned, “What? No.” I frowned, “But you don’t want to talk to my dad until you get back from your mission. By the way it’s Jed that’s coming back. I can smell him. It’s the same scent that you were with before and I did hear you say his name.” Cayden rolled his eyes.
He yelled, “JED, GO THE FUCK AWAY UNLESS IT’S THE BEST GODDAMN EMERGENCY OF YOUR LIFE!” Jed stopped running. He muttered, “How did he know I was coming? Jesus, that guy is cranky.”
I snickered, “He’s wondering how you know it was him.” Cayden smirked, “So you have hearing like your brothers do?” I nodded, “Yup.” That gave me an idea. My brothers would know who Cayden’s girlfriend in high school was. That was too obvious though. My Aunt Astrid was the better choice. Or one of my uncle’s mates. No! Tory might know. She could get me the answer then I just had to make sure said ex was in my tournament. I would so kick her ass for cheating on my mate.
Jed was still debating, “Well, if it has to be the best emergency of my life I can’t go. Plus, he was in a MOOD earlier. I’ll just tell him later.” I got onto my knees and pressed back into Cayden. I told him, “He’s leaving.” Cayden trailed his fingertips down my skin causing goosebumps to form on my arms.
He rubbed his thumb on my face once he reached it. He whispered in the most seductive tone I’d ever heard, “Tell me all about you, My Duchess.” I asked, “What do you want to know?” Cayden smiled, “Everything.” I teased, “That’s a broad topic. Ummm so I’m Cassie. I once debated going by Veronica instead because I thought my first name was to honor my Grandma Cassandra. I’m really glad it wasn’t because I’d change it. I feel like a bitch for speaking ill of a dead woman, but I really didn’t like her. She didn’t like me because I looked like my mom.”
Cayden frowned, “Excuse me?” I sighed, “She had this whole thing with my mom…” Cayden interrupted, “I know that because I heard about it from Aunt Astrid. She was not a fan of your grandmother. It sounds like you’re saying that grandmother didn’t treat you well. If that’s the case, then SHE is lucky she is dead.”
I sighed, “She just didn’t like me because I look like my mom. I wasn’t sad when she died. I feel like I should feel bad about that, but I only felt bad because my dad was sad. My grandpa and my uncles were too.”
I snorted, “She died over something so freaking stupid too. Her damn garden. She couldn’t keep a garden alive if her life depended on it. She honestly caused far too many problems in the time I knew her. I know there was more my mom shielded us from.”
Vaguely my mind prickled with that time I was almost kidnapped. It seemed weirder to me now, but I’d never told anyone how Grandma Cassandra acted that day. She’d never have actually hurt me though. She just wasn’t going to try and defend me either.
I waved my hand, “Anyway, I’ve really wanted to get in touch with all sides of myself. That’s why I spent time in Faerie without leaving. I’m the most talented Earth Fairy in my family besides Julian. He’s the one that can turn people into trees. Or make the tree, for lack of a better description, eat people and spit out their pieces. It’s almost like an explosion.”
Cayden laughed, “I know what Julian’s powers are.” I smiled at him continuing, “My cousin Aiylee, is more like my best friend. She’s happily mated with Exsis and they are pretty cute together. I’m also close with my cousin Bea, who lives here sometimes with JP.” He smiled at me.
“I’m the proud big sister of eighteen really cool guys and one adorable, already incredibly mischievous, three year old little sister. I am REALLY good with samurai swords if I do say so myself. I think Angela will be too. We have so much of our mom in us. I’ve always wanted to meet my mate, I just didn’t advertise that lest my eighteen brothers, nine Hackura uncles, three wolf uncles, and my dad’s heads explode.” Cayden laughed again and I found I loved the sound. Rain was quite content in my mind right now.
I thought about it then added, “I’m also a Truth Seeker. I can also shoot sunlight out of my hands and call the wind. I can’t take air like my mom, but I can take air from the air itself and create a tornado. I can’t take people’s air though.” Cayden whispered as he nipped my ear, “Show me.”
I shivered desperately wanting him before I held my hand out and took the air from the sky and transferred it into a tornado. Just a small one. I quickly released the air, so no one started yelling about a tornado. Cayden clapped complimented, “Very nice, My Duchess.” I smiled until my phone buzzed then I groaned. I pulled it out.
EJ:Where are you?
Me:Around. Why?
EJ:Dad wants us to have dinner together since Wes and Max are needing family right now.
Me:When?
EJ:In ten Minutes.
Me:I’ll be there.
I sighed, “I have to go soon.” Cayden frowned, “I can’t say I care for that.” It was on the tip of my tongue to invite him to dinner, but he didn’t want to announce we were mates yet. Cayden took my phone and put his number in it.
I asked, “Is that your burner number?” Cayden smiled, “No, that’s my real phone. Text me later. I’ll memorize the number and contact you from my burner. We will talk every day, I swear. No matter what, I’ll call or text you.”
