Cloud Riders (Lord of the Planets) by Debbie Behan

Woody wanted to see what Cassie could do. They all went outside and Kayden selected a few tree stumps that she could use to show off her skills. She had been trying to practice and hoped she didn’t make a fool out of herself since it was the first time she had their attention. Her hands shook as she put them up at Kayden’s command but nothing really happened, there was just a slight light force.
    Kayden’s voice cut the air. ‘Cassie, focus and stop mucking around,’ he growled in a grumpy, impatient tone.
    She closed her eyes, willing herself not to zap him instead! When she opened her eyes she threw up her hand at the stump instead of him. As they all focused back on the trees, their mouths opened wide as not just one but all three of the stumps blew to smithereens. All that remained was a grey powder that swirled up and into the sky above.
    ‘Yahoo! You go, girl!’ she heard the men say as they high-fived each other.
    Woody whistled and put his arm around Cassie. ‘I’ll be making sure I don’t get you angry, little lady,’ he chuckled.
    Kayden shrugged. ‘Told you she was powerful,’ he barked as he spun around and walked inside with the team following closely behind him.
    Woody kept his arm around Cassie as they walked in with the others and pulled out a chair so she could sit with him at the table. He was attentive and likable, sort of the way she had expected Kayden to be treating her. ‘Where did they find you? K and Jase must have had a bit of trouble trying to capture you with those powers.’
    Cassie’s smile was a little fake as she tried to keep her unhappy thoughts in check. She felt bitter and confused at the way Kayden had spoken to her and then stormed off even though she did what he had asked. She thought about lying and then a prickly heat ran over her skull as she watched Kayden still ignoring her.
    Maybe this will get his attention, she thought. ‘They ran into me with their truck and then threw me in the shed, dirty, hungry and thirsty, rendering me helpless until I gave in.’
    Woody burst out laughing and Kayden threw her a petulant look for saying it but at that point she didn’t care and ignored the frown he gave her.
    Woody turned to Jason, who also looked a bit guilty. ‘Tell me the truth, where did you find her?’ He seemed insistent.
    Cassie was surprised that they all knew nothing about her. When she’d made the statement, she thought they all knew at least some of it so she hadn’t been expecting Woody’s reaction. She thought that they may have been able to joke about it and she could show Kayden she was able to have fun with the past, but it was going terribly wrong. She did not want Jason to feel bad again. He didn’t deserve her stupid attack. After all it was Kayden she was really mad at.
    Jason put his head down. ‘Like she said, man. But we had no idea at the time just who she was.’
    Woody was angry. His face reddened and his eyebrows furrowed together, making his eyes look dangerously red. ‘You two have no idea how to treat a lady.’ He put his arm around Cassie protectively. ‘You’re coming home with me when we get back so you can see that some of us are actually civilised and humane.’
    Cassie looked over at Kayden’s grumpy face and seethed, then smiled sweetly up at Woody. ‘I might just take you up on that offer.’
    Kayden slammed out of the house and Jason went after him. She felt bad she had turned it into a tit-for-tat fight and excused herself, going to her room. She stayed there until the meal was ready and only came out because Woody insisted she did or he would carry her out. He was still all smiles, so obviously not scared of the monster Kayden.
    Kayden and Jason were sitting at the table, talking and laughing when Cassie came out, obviously over their bad moods. Woody was attentive and chatted to Cassie non-stop, ignoring the electrifying tension every time Kayden and Cassie locked eyes. She was getting more and more upset and as soon