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“I’m sorry you feel things are not proceeding as quickly as you would like.” Garrett said.

Max removed the hand she had been using to rub her temples in clear frustration and sighed, smiling at the Life Warden, “Don’t apologise. I get it, I really do. I’m unexpected and a real wild card – and so are my ideas. You have been functioning below the radar for millennia, guarding nature and its people, working tirelessly with no thanks. Your traditions keep you safe and ensure the world continues to spin, so I get it.”

Cali was damn proud of her new liege. It had been a little over six weeks since Max had been inducted into the International Domain Council and they had dropped the Custodian bomb. It had been a non-stop party of questions, interviews, interrogations, meetings and justifications. Max was the last person Cali would ever dream of calling patient but she had been surprisingly even-tempered, humble and quietly persistent over the course of the constant demanding questions. That was in public, of course, which is all that really mattered. In the privacy of their own home she was her usual snarky, eye-rolling self. But Cali knew she did appreciate the need for bureaucracy, politics and even traditions. It was just an uphill battle trying to convince people who were one hundred times older than her to try to change their perspectives and thought processes.

Max had been received with a mixed response from wardens and paladins alike. Many were disbelieving, thinking Max and their Order were on some kind of sinister mission to undermine the council or perhaps take over the world. Others had the expected response of shock and awe and would bow in deference whenever Max walked past or stop and stare as if she were some kind of alien. Then there were those who believed her and trusted her and were hopeful for a better, brighter future with changes and progress. It was the changes Max was suggesting that had her biting back her frustration right now, Cali knew. She kept getting shot down and it was starting to wear thin.

“But you are feeling frustrated.” Blu remarked in response to Max’s previous statement.

“Well, yeah I’m frustrated.” Getting the hang of politics, she may be, but subtle she sure wasn’t and never would be, Cali thought as she smiled to herself from Max’s blunt, honest response. “I just feel like we’re going round in circles. I say some of your laws are outdated; you say they’re necessary. I say chades are sick; you say they aren’t. I say wardens and paladins should be allowed to date for reasons other than procreation or recreation; you say it’s a distraction. I say I’m a Custodian; you say, hmm in that non-committal tone that drives me insane. Don’t you feel like we’re kind of wasting time here?” She asked, ending her evenly toned rant.

Garrett sighed, leaning his elbows on the table. “Yes, we are spending a lot of time discussing the same issues over and over again. But that is because we are yet to reach resolution on any of them.”

“Okay. So what can I do to help resolve them?” Max asked quickly.

“Give up on them.” Ravyn, the Beast Warden delegate, replied a little snidely.

Max merely smiled sweetly even as she sent an image of herself throat-punching the Latin beauty to Cali through their private thread. “Other than that.”

“Perhaps a demonstration would help?” Autumn suggested quietly.

“A demonstration?” Max frowned in the Earth Warden’s direction but Cali could tell it was only in curiosity. “A demonstration of what?”

Autumn glanced to her husband, receiving a small nod before continuing, “A demonstration or perhaps some evidence that it is actually possible to do what you are suggesting. Although we don’t like to think so, we are all rather stuck in our ways. We have thousands of years of evidence contrary to what you are hoping we’ll believe in regards to the chades. Some proof, or a demonstration of what you hope to achieve would certainly go a long way to convincing many council members as well as the general populace.” Autumn expanded.

Cali could hear Max’s thought process and felt her own head spin a little. Max was better at keeping the link open and balanced now. She always kept her promise to them to stay open so they could anticipate her needs and ensure she was protected whenever she was away from the house. But damn, the girl sure had a powerful mind. Being empathic to pretty much the entire world, she was incredibly sensitive to emotions, feelings and even the thoughts of others. The consequence was her mind was pretty much always active. Although not a genuine genius like Lark, Max was still incredibly intelligent and her mind moved at a rapid pace, considering every angle before ultimately settling on a decision. Right now Max could understand why the council would want proof. She demanded proof for things all the time, so fair was fair. But she also hated the idea of being the centre of attention and detested the thought of being a ‘performing monkey’. It had been the one point of contention over the past few weeks; the council had demanded evidence of her skills with all seven domains as well as wanting to do tests like blood samples and such. Max had repeatedly refused.

‘Max, I don’t think they want you to perform in front of a crowd or anything. I think Autumn is just trying to get some more practical information of how it might all work.’ Cali spoke telepathically directly to Max.

She heard Max’s sigh resonate throughout her head, ‘I know. And it’s a reasonable request. But even I don’t know how it will work. I need a chade to work with. But I’m not going to do it in front of the council, that’s for sure. What if I fail? They will never let me try again and I highly doubt I would nail it on the first go. I need a chade to play with.’

“That makes sense Autumn and I think you’re absolutely right. I do need an opportunity to try with a chade. Perhaps you would finally grant me access to one of the chade encampments managed by the Rangers?”

Cali watched as Garrett shook his head and felt her own frustration levels rise. Max had been trying to gain access to a chade prison for weeks – much to Ryker and Darius’s disapproval. But the council would have none of it. “I’m sorry Max. One such as yourself would be far too vulnerable in a place like that.”

“What about Ignatius?” Cali barely recognised the voice as Cinder’s given the uncharacteristically quiet tone and slight tremble. When Max had first begun attending the meetings, Cinder had been her usual snide and bitchy self, opposing Max at every turn. But she had appeared to mellow somewhat over the weeks. She was by no means Max’s biggest supporter and Cali knew she never would be, but she had stopped with the constant ridicule and disdainful looks every time Max spoke. That task was reserved for Ravyn now. The softly voiced question stilled everyone in the room, including Max.

“I’m sorry, Cinder. What about your grandson?” Autumn asked politely.

Ignatius had been deemed to have ‘gone off the reservation’ as the paladins liked to say (not something the wardens liked to say). He had been given ‘chade status’ – although in the early stages, and had been imprisoned in one of the ranger-lead encampments. His name hadn’t been uttered in weeks, which was always the way, Cali thought; out of sight, out of mind. Whenever a warden turned they were never spoken of again – just poof – like they never existed. Such a terrible burden on their families, Cali couldn’t help thinking as her mind wandered to her good friend Darius. He was such a good man and the very epitome of a knight, but the bitterness and rage he had carried ever since his brother had turned had been a devastating thing to witness when it had come to a head only months ago. Cali thought for sure they were going to lose him to his grief as he started snarling, picking fights and disrespecting everyone around him. It had been terrible and had actually hurt her to watch. It was then that she realised just how much she had come to care about the ragtag group of misplaced paladins living in the log house by the sea. Just when they had become her family she couldn’t say for sure, but they damn well were now. They were nothing at all like her old Order – and she so wasn’t going to think about that right now.

Thankfully Darius had been returned to the land of the living with a little help from a goddess and no doubt a lot of help from Diana. The two were so in love it was a little nauseating, albeit very sweet. They were perfect for each other and after centuries of lost time, Cali was thrilled they were being given the opportunity to be together – they deserved it. As she focused on the room once again, she rested her gaze on Cinder and saw that the older woman was indeed looking a little uncomfortable but resolved as she spoke again;

“What about Ignatius? You say they can be cured – the chades – and he is still in the very early stages. Wouldn’t it make more sense that they could be helped before the … condition accelerates?”

The council members and their paladins shifted somewhat uncomfortably. It was one thing to entertain the Custodian in the room – for that is precisely what they did most of the time – but it was another thing entirely to actively engage in what they all deemed to be a fruitless endeavour. But then again, perhaps it wasn’t so strange, Cali considered. After all, Cinder may be a bitch but Ignatius was her only grandson. There must be some love there … deep, deep down in her dark, dark heart. And now she was being unkind, she knew but it was mighty hard to maintain any semblance of civility when the Fire Warden’s entire family had pegged Max as being the top of their scornful hit list. What’s more, Ignatius had literally burnt Darius’s skin off only months ago. Cali could still smell the foul singe of human hair and flesh. She knew she wasn’t the only one.

Cinder was now looking at Max directly and Cali could feel her friend and liege wince internally, ‘What is it? I know Cinder is an unlikely advocate, but it’s a positive step that any of the council are asking about cures and demonstrations.’ Cali sent the thought directly to Max through the Order bond.

Max didn’t look in her direction as she replied – she was really getting the knack of it, Cali thought once again with pride. ‘It’s not that … she’s not going to like my answer is all.’

Max shifted so she was facing Cinder directly before she spoke, “I’m sorry Cinder, I genuinely am, but I can’t help Ignatius.”

Cinder’s spine straightened in a snap and any hint of warmth vanished instantly; “So you were lying when you said you believed they could be cured. Likely the same way you’re lying when you say you’re a Custodian – something we have yet to see any firm proof of I might add.”

Rather than becoming defensive as Cali figured she would, Max just shook her head and sighed as she responded. “No, I wasn’t lying – about anything – you misunderstand me. I can’t help Ignatius in that way because he is not a chade.”

Cali frowned at that; say what now?

Garrett leaned forward, “Max, I thought you had come to the understanding of exactly how a chade progresses. It can be slow or it can be fast but the outcome is always exactly the same. It’s true, Ignatius has yet to decline into a being who can kill wardens by draining them of their vitality, but he has more than demonstrated all the usual signs of that decline.”

Max shook her head and continued to focus on Cinder. “I’m sorry. Your grandson is sick … but not in the same way as a chade. I felt it the first time I met him and saw it when I looked deeper; he is charming, manipulative and narcissistic. He has no sense of right and wrong, is impulsive and seeks constant admiration. He lacks all empathy and has no conscience. He is sick, Cinder. But it’s not a sickness I can cure. I’m sorry.” She repeated.

The yummy, dark and mysterious Mordecai of the delicious accent pinned Max with his intense green eyes, “You just described a sociopath.”

Max nodded, “I know.”

“My grandson is not a sociopath!” Cinder spat out between clenched teeth and Cali could feel heat emanating from her from across the room.

“I’m sorry.” Was all Max said.

An uncomfortable silence followed for a few beats before Autumn spoke, “You seem very sure of your diagnosis.”

“I am. A psychiatric pathologist would be the best course of action in my opinion.” ‘Not that anyone in this society is trained or qualified to be anything other than glorified battery packs.’ Cali was very glad Max had kept that last part between the two of them.

“We don’t have those kinds of resources.” Ares, warden of the air stated, confirming Max’s unspoken opinion.

“I figured as much.” Max responded evenly. “So what do you do when someone needs counselling or antibiotics or rehabilitation?”

“We have no such resources, nor the need for them.” Ares assured her.

“So any warden that displays violent tendencies, anti-social behaviours, any signs of illness you just – what – lock them up? Write them off as chades?” Max’s voice was edging toward incredulous and from that perspective it did sound somewhat ludicrous, Cali acknowledged. Why hadn’t anyone given this any thought before? Why hadn’t she? It just demonstrated exactly how entrenched their society was in tradition and how little anyone questioned the ways of the council.

“That is not entirely accurate. Anyone incarcerated or executed for being a chade has undergone rigorous investigations and tests.” Garrett corrected with authority. “Wardens are held to a higher standard than your average person. They are trained and educated from birth in the ways of their duties and responsibilities. Violent tendencies, behavioural issues? They tend to go hand in hand with chades only.”

Max’s mouth had slowly opened wider and wider as Garrett continued to talk but she snapped it shut and shook her head when he finished before flashing her turquoise eyes around the room at large. If Cali knew her girl – and she did – she knew Max was using her bullshit-meter to see how many others in the room were of the same mind. A lot apparently.

“But … wardens are just people and people are arseholes.” Several snickers from the paladins in the room were quickly cut off as their lieges eyed them. “I mean, being a warden doesn’t change the fact that we think and feel how we want to think and feel. Not every warden is going to be a shining light of dignity and honour. Some are going to be …”

“Arseholes?” Blu contributed helpfully.

Max flashed her lone dimple in his direction; the old flirt had taken a real shine to the newest council addition. “Exactly. People make bad choices all the time and people get sick. That’s my point – people get sick. There’s no flu here; no colds, no allergies, no cancer. Don’t you think that’s odd?”

Ares was frowning. “No it’s not odd. Wardens are the guardians of nature, responsible for ensuring the balance of the world. We are direct descendants of Mother Nature herself and have an indefinite lifespan. We are above such human fallibilities as colds and cancer.”

“Wardens are human. The very first people to walk the earth. You can’t get much more human than that. Jeez, when did you all start thinking of yourselves as some kind of Gods? Because I hate to tell you, but I am literally a first degree relative of Mother Nature and I am very human. I used to have colds and headaches and all sorts of normal illness all the time.”

“That is because you were not receiving the energy, the vitality, you were supposed to. With seven bound paladins you no doubt no longer suffer from any of those afflictions.” Ares pointed out. Apparently he was set on acting as the spokesperson for the council.

Max nodded, thick, red messy hair swishing, “Very true. And what do you suppose would happen if I were to take away your paladins, Ares, and deprive you of that vital source?”

The council were frowning and Cali could tell they weren’t wholly on board, but they were following the conversation avidly and with curiosity. Cali could feel the cusp of real progress for the first time – and so could Max. She was trying darn hard to remain cool and collected when she really wanted to fist bump Cali. Cali also noted that she had opened up the link to the rest of their Order and they had all paused in their activities to listen.

“You’re trying to link this back to the chades,” Ares said, “but it doesn’t follow. Chades are not deprived of their vitality source. Their paladins are right there and always report that their lieges do not stop recharging. Indeed, they seem to take more.”

“Exactly. They take more and yet don’t get any benefit from it. So they take more and more but nothing seems to help. And then you take them and lock them away from their only energy sources, perpetuating their illness and intensifying their symptoms. Prolonged lack of vitality results in them reverting almost back to their natural state – their elements. That’s why they turn to water or bugs or leaves when they’re killed; wardens are nature at their very core. I’d say they become mindless in their desperation to attain vitality and that’s when they seek out the largest and most obvious energy source around – fellow wardens.”

Silence reigned for what seemed to be hours. Holy crap – Max had just laid out a reasonable, logical and sound explanation as to what chades were … and the council was listening.

“Girl, you rocked it! Did you see them? They were actually listening and I bet the paladins present will be sharing the conversation with the rest of their Orders. Great job!” Cali enthused as they broke up for the day.

“Yeah. It’s progress.” Max replied far too unenthusiastically for Cali’s liking.

“Why aren’t you more excited? This is what you’ve been working towards for weeks.”

“I know and I’m glad they seem to be listening finally. But they all move so darn slow! They’ll likely talk about these new suppositions for weeks and then come to the conclusion that they were flawed because it goes against thousands of years of history and nothing will change.”

Cali frowned and placed her hand on Max’s arm to stop her. She sounded dejected – not a typical emotion from her. “Hey, what’s up? You seem down.”

Max slumped her shoulders, “It’s no big deal. I’m just tired I think. I wasn’t made for this Cali – the constant bureaucracy. It really isn’t my thing. I don’t have the patience for it nor the diplomacy. It’s sucking the life out of me.”

Cali rubbed her arm sending vitality easily to her liege, hoping to perk her up. She did look a little pale and hollow-eyed despite the fact that she drew energy from all seven of them daily now. She watched as Max looked wistfully out the open window to the trees and ocean beyond. She felt Max’s desire to be outside, bare toes dug deep into the earth as she breathed in the salty fresh air keenly. Max needed nature. She needed the air and the trees and the critters to make her feel complete just as surely as she needed the energy-sustaining vitality her and her fellow paladins produced.

She had been locked away for days on end talking around in circles and hadn’t been able to play or relax. Of course Max felt like it was sucking the life out her! Cali cursed herself for not noticing just how unhappy Max was with the situation, it really drove home how unsuited Max was for this kind of work. She didn’t need the words or the laws; she needed nature. Max smiled wanly at her, obviously reading Cali’s thought process and gave a negligent shrug, showing her she felt there was no point getting into it.

“Well, you have the next four days off to recharge – we all do.” Cali said lightly, hoping to cheer Max up and more than happy to oblige keeping her silence. But she was going to make a point to talk to her Captain about it later; Max needed some playtime. And Cali could admit she was happy for the pause from council duty too. The council were breaking for a few days so they could address other matters and other responsibilities for their domains.

Their Order had been working on a rotational basis of who accompanied Max in the meetings. Usually there was a couple of them while the others fulfilled their duties at the Lodge. Yes, they were still working at the Lodge – much to the horror and disapproval of pretty much everyone else. That was something Max was not budging on. She’d had many a heated discussion with both the council and the whole Order as to why she didn’t want them to resign from their duties as trainers. They had all just assumed they would no longer be able to train the new recruits now that they had bonded with Max. Their job, hell, their calling was to provide Max with service, protection and energy until the day she died. But Max had been adamant; they loved what they did. Why shouldn’t they be able to keep doing it? Cali supposed Max was using them as a demonstration that paladins and even wardens could be something other than just bodyguards and guardians. Max believed that work brought them a sense of purpose, achievement and self-pride that was much needed for mental health. She was, of course, right on every count.

Cali loved working at the Lodge and training the new recruits made her feel like she was contributing to their society, ensuring the next generation were safe. It was important and she knew she would have missed it. But Max had insisted there was no reason why they couldn’t be in her Order full time and work part time at the Lodge as well. Ryker had been given grudging approval by the council to hire on a couple more paladins to fill in the gaps, allowing the Lodge to run smoothly and for there to be a minimum of four paladins at any one time with Max. Four was still plenty, Max had pointed out. Plus, she could take care of herself. Poor Darius had to fight back his natural sense of duty and the resulting horror that he wouldn’t be a full time paladin, but he had eventually come around. He couldn’t withstand Max’s charm any more than the rest of them.

“You’re right. Four glorious days where I don’t have to get dressed or be afraid to say fuck. I’ll write and draw and sex Ryker into a coma.” She said happily, before smiling her way, “And it’s your weekend off. Excited for some away time?”

That was another thing Max had introduced; time off. They were all given a weekend to themselves where they could go anywhere and do anything once a month. It probably didn’t sound like much, but to a paladin it was positively unheard of. On top of that, it wasn’t like Max was a demanding liege at all. They had plenty of time in the evenings to do whatever they wanted as well. Max had wanted them to have two days off a week each. Ryker had promptly shut down that idea, stating it just wouldn’t work. He was absolutely right and Cali plus all the others had unanimously shot down the idea. After much arguing and some pouting, a happy compromise was reached with two or three of them having a weekend to themselves once a month on a rotational basis. This weekend was her, Diana and Darius’s turn.

Refocusing on the here and now, Cali nodded eagerly, “I am looking forward to it actually.”

Max snorted at that, “I bet. You’re a mite itchy there girl.”

“Huh?” Cali still had trouble following Max’s randomness sometimes.

“Itchy, you know …” she gestured to her pelvic area, fluttered her fingers a little, “… itchy.”

“What, like I have thrush or something?” She asked in shock. She sure hoped not. She didn’t feel like she did but Max could see things Cali couldn’t, so maybe …

Max laughed drawing the eyes of most everyone in the room which was now flooded with the council’s full Orders as well as a bunch of other wardens. “No. Not like thrush. Itchy as in horny. I’ve been here nearly five months and haven’t seen you even hold hands with a guy. You’ve gotta be horny girlfriend.”

“Oh. That kind of itchy.” Cali mulled it over, doing some silent calculations in her head and nearly fell over in shock when she realised it had been over a year since she had last gotten laid and she hadn’t even realised. Holy crap – she was turning into a sexless spinster! “My Lady, you are absolutely correct as usual. I am indeed itchy. Very, very itchy.”

“My dear, dear Scandinavian Ice Queen. I had no idea you were so hard up. Why didn’t you say so? I’d be more than happy to act as your personal backscratcher.”

Instead of turning around and punching the moron in the gut for such a male comment, Cali grinned and blew her fellow paladin a kiss. Of all the people to overhear their conversation, it would have to be Axel. The man was a notorious flirt and a charmer to boot but he was completely harmless. She also knew that he was joking. They were great friends and she couldn’t have been happier when Ryker had asked him if he wanted to live with them a couple of years ago. He was funny, surprisingly sweet, great to look at, and gave the other male members in the household a run for their money. What wasn’t there to like?

“Please. As if you could handle all this.” She responded, running her hands from breasts to thighs. Axel’s eyes danced with mirth and although they followed her movements, she noticed they didn’t focus properly nor did they linger. He would have found that to be disrespectful. The man was all talk.

“We could always find out. It just so happens I have a little itch too …”

“So scratch it in the privacy of your own shower like the rest of us self-respecting single men.” Lark’s laughing voice sounded from behind Axel.

Cali hadn’t seen him approach because Axel was taller and broader than the earth paladin. Not that he wasn’t as equally as buff as the rest of them, but he was a more modest height at just on six feet and had the lean, rangy build of a runner rather than a bodybuilder. Cali found him to be just as delicious to look at as the other men in her Order. And here she was sizing up her fellow knights. Max was right – she was indeed very itchy.

Seeing the rest of her Order striding up and enquiring how Max was and how the latest meeting went, Cali eyed Diana’s perfectly outfitted body. She had been in the Lodge office for the day so wasn’t in the habitual black cargos and tee. The black-haired beauty always looked just so perfect and her wardrobe was a thing of true wonder. Maybe she would ask Diana for advice about what to wear when she went out on the prowl.

For prowling she was definitely going to do.

Max was restless. Ryker was beside her in their gloriously comfy bed, all bronze and smooth and perfectly handsome in his slumber. She sighed, as she often did whenever the realisation that he was actually hers struck. She fought the urge to reach out and trace her fingers over his beloved features, for she knew if he were to wake he would have her pinned beneath that muscled body and moaning in seconds – not that she would complain. But she was restless and it was the sort of restlessness that couldn’t be cured by a sweaty session between the sheets … probably … maybe … no, it couldn’t, she decided. Careful not to wake the sleeping giant, she climbed from the shared warmth and slipped into her tattered but favoured pyjamas that seemed to live on the floor – because that’s where Ryker always seemed to throw them.

“Babe?”

She didn’t jump but her pulse spiked for a moment before she turned to her very awake man. He didn’t miss a trick where she was concerned. “I’m just sneaking off to meet my lover. Nothing to worry about. Go back to sleep.” She told him.

He grunted good naturedly and rolled to his back, exposing his barred nipples to the beam of moonlight seeking entrance from behind the curtains. She had to force herself not to sigh again. “Is it Axel? Because that guy’s all talk.”

She smiled, shaking her head at his antics. You had to love a confident man. “It’s Lark actually. I like the smart ones.” Apparently unable to help herself, she leaned over and kissed him, indulging herself for a few seconds before pulling back. “I’m just a bit restless – can’t sleep. I’m going to go for a wander.”

Ryker pushed up, fully alert now, “Bad dreams?”

She shook her head, “No. No dreams tonight, I promise.” She knew her continued night terrors were a major source of concern for Ryker and the others as well. It was one of the only things she didn’t share fully now. Her mind was much more open and she knew Ry often got trapped in her nightmares with her but she did her damndest to keep him out. She had no real idea why she continued to be plagued by these visions and feelings and emotions. Oh, some of them were hers, she could acknowledge that, but not all – in fact not most. And that really seemed unfair. But that wasn’t on tonight’s insomnia agenda.

Ryker was frowning at her in a concerned way – not in that way that says he didn’t believe her, “I’ll come with you.” He said.

“No, that’s okay. I’m just trying to sort through a few things. I’m not upset or anything. Just … restless.” She assured him.

“This is about you wanting to find a chade to bring here.”

Her man knew her well, she’d give him that. But she also knew they were on opposite sides of the fence on this one and she wasn’t sure how to bridge it. She couldn’t fault him for his hate of the chades nor his reluctance to have one in his home or anywhere near his family. His first family had been slaughtered by chades. And he was trying to understand her perspective. She knew that. She could feel that. She didn’t want to push him before he was ready – or any of the others for that matter. Especially Darius, now that he was back on solid ground again. But she couldn’t shake the feeling – the knowledge – that she was supposed to help those cursed creatures. Or a select few of them anyway. She kept her thoughts carefully hidden, not wanting to hurt him as she answered truthfully;

“Yeah, it is. I just want to figure out a way to keep all parties satisfied. I’ll get there, Ry. And in a way that doesn’t damage anyone here.”

He smiled now, caressing a hand down her arm. “I’ve no doubt you will.” That was about as supportive as he was going to get on the matter … for now anyway. Max knew he’d come around. She just had to figure out a way.

She made her way outside through the library doors and into Lark’s amazing garden. That was the compromise Ryker had agreed to; she could have her thinking time chaperone-free and also with her mind completely removed from the Order as long as she ventured no further than the garden outside. Given the household was minus three paladins at the moment – she stuck to her guns about giving them time off on a rotational basis – she knew it was a reasonable request and a happy compromise. She was fairly chuffed with herself and her newfound ability to compromise actually. Historically, it wasn’t one of her strong suits.

So now she wandered, finding it hard to sit still. There was one chade in particular on her mind – one she considered a friend. And there was no way any of her paladins would ever group the word chade and friend in the one sentence, but that’s how Max thought of him. He had saved her butt on more than one occasion and she liked to think that she had saved his as well. She had run into many chades throughout the years – or phantoms as she had dubbed them in her clueless state. The vast majority all felt the same; cold, empty … nothing. But a small minority had felt different; conflicted, disgusted … tortured. Her little friend was one of those.

Whenever he was near, she could feel the raging internal war within him. He despised himself and he fought constantly to keep the monster at bay. It was a fight he had often lost and he had attempted to drain her on numerous occasions – wholly unpleasant experiences for both of them. But she couldn’t deny that after he had painfully drawn her vitality from her, he seemed to be more, well, human. He was never as grotesque as the other chades to begin with; he was pale with long black hair and black pits of eyes, but he was always dressed in decent clothes, was clean and he wasn’t emaciated either. The biggest thing though? He had a soul.

It still blew her mind to know she could see souls. She had always been able to see colourful doppelgangers and had learned to read those colours and features over the years but she hadn’t entertained the notion that they were souls. Apparently it was a custodian thing and it made so much damn sense now! She had to believe that those chades with an intact soul like her old buddy could be saved. In fact, it was something she felt down to her very core. She just had to get her paladins, the council and then the rest of the warden society on board. Easy right?

She snorted, “Yeah, it’s a fucking snap.” She said out loud. Although, the progress with the council the day before had been super promising she acknowledged. First point to her. She just had to consolidate that point. And the best way to do that? Hunt down her pet chade and fix him. “A fucking snap.” She repeated again.

A shift in the air had her narrowing her eyes in the direction of the ocean. A rustle of leaves and a tremble in the earth quickly followed and Max was a millisecond away from opening the bond and calling her knights when the devil himself stepped soundlessly into the little garden. Now, wasn’t this a big coincidence, she thought sarcastically. She had been thinking about him constantly for days and he suddenly appeared in her little slice of the world? She wasn’t a fan of coincidence but she was even less of a fan of Diana’s notion that she was somehow precognitive. No matter how she looked at it, she no longer had to go hunting for him and she had never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. He didn’t move, not a single inch and Max always found it so very disconcerting – that unnatural stillness. He also looked like hell, Max thought cringing. But then it had been over a year since their paths had last crossed and it hadn’t taken her long to notice that the more they saw each other, or rather the more he sucked the life-force from her, the better he looked.

He was dressed in old but clean clothes of washed-out denim and a black tee shirt. He didn’t have any shoes on, but then he never did, and as her eyes traced over his feet she noted they were completely clean despite the lack of footwear. He was very lean but definitely not scrawny and was as tall as ever, topping six foot three she would bet. He didn’t slouch like his counterparts but as she focused on his face finally, she saw that his eyes were as black as the night around them. That was always majorly disconcerting as well. His hair was as long as she had ever seen it, dark and much stringier looking than normal as well. His cheeks were hollow and his lips pale. Yep, he looked like hell, Max thought again. He also had a much more sinister air about him than usual.

Fighting not to shiver, she opened up her other sight and held her breath as she searched out his doppelganger. Her breath exploded in a rush as the shadowy figure began to form beside him. It was darker than she had ever seen and its eyes were as black as its master – something she had never seen before. Poor man. Poor, poor man, she thought, so much pain.

He still hadn’t moved and he was looking at her in … hunger, she realised, a deep, deep hunger there was no way she could assuage. But fuck if she wasn’t going to try. This was one of her only friends, one of the only people who had tried to help her over the years and she had never turned him away. She wasn’t about to start now when he was so clearly desperate.

“Hi there. Long-time no-see.”

He didn’t move, but his depthless, ebony eyes devoured. She took a deep breath, gathering her fortitude before holding out her hand. “Is this what you want?”

Again with the statue routine.

“Come on, you know you want it. I’m tasty.” She sang. “Num nums.” She had a second to regret taunting the raging beast before she found herself embraced in searing cold as he wrapped arms as strong as steel bands around her and laid his icy lips on hers. Oh, Ryker wasn’t going to like this. His jaw didn’t unhinge and leave a gaping hole for a mouth like other chades. But he always laid his mouth over hers in order to drain her life-sustaining vitality. A kiss, she used to tell herself, a creepy kiss sure, but a kiss nonetheless. But this? This was nothing like before. This could very well be the kiss of death, she thought as she struggled to maintain consciousness. The pain and the need emanating from him was crippling, and combined with the energy she felt leaving her in a torrent like never before, she couldn’t have called upon her Order even if she wanted to.

Too much, she thought, it’s too much.

And then she thought nothing.

Too much, he thought, it’s too much. But he couldn’t bring himself to stop. The strange little red-headed warden was like a lightning bolt of pure power. She was a beacon, a shining star to every foul and depraved creature around – including himself. Since he found himself sliding into ruin all those years ago, he waged an endless battle with himself and those around him not to lose the sliver of humanity he somehow managed to retain. It was a rather fruitless war, he knew, but despite everything, he couldn’t make himself forget all that he once was; a warrior, a protector of the air, a champion for the innocent. But his thoughts were becoming increasingly more jumbled and erratic, and it was almost impossible to ignore the hunger now. So afraid – he was so afraid he was going to fall off the very thin precipice and actually kill one of his old brethren. So desperate he had become that he had actually sought out the one warden to show him any kindness since his turning. The only warden who hadn’t tried to kill him on sight. He needed her – or rather the life-giving energy he was currently stealing.

He wasn’t sure how long it had been since he had last had contact with her. Time moved differently for him since he had become the abomination he was. He didn’t really measure days and nights anymore. It was all just pain, and cold, and hunger … and more pain. But it must have been some time for even in his confused and desperate state, he could feel a difference in her energy. She was once like a sieve, leaking vitality and drawing him and others like a moth to a flame. The first time he had pulled a chade from her as it attempted to feed greedily on what should have been for nature and its elements, the gratitude and compassion in those turquoise eyes of hers had captured him and held him hostage all these long years since. There had always been something special about her that he couldn’t identify, but now there was so much more.

More power, he thought. So much more power and it was dangerously, recklessly addictive. A frigid wind kicked up behind him almost in warning, bringing him to his senses somewhat. The air had long since forgotten their bond, leaving him bereft in a way that was even more cutting than the loss of his Order. He could see his domain but could no longer feel it or shape it. He could become it – a very odd sensation – but no matter how much he tried, he could no longer feel the air on his face. It was a cruelty beyond comprehension. But this tiny, icy draft was enough to drag his lips off the full ones beneath his own.

He cursed silently; she looked like death. Feeling frantically at her neck, he slumped in relief when he felt a faint but steady pulse beneath his fingers. Laying her down on the green grass gently, he swallowed dryly as he took in her pale, waxy features and sunken cheeks. She looked like she had aged ten years and her once vibrant hair was limp and dull.

What had he done? Why had he come here? How did he even know where she was? Their paths had always seemed to cross over the years, it was a strange twist of fate that he secretly yearned for and was endlessly thankful for. She always treated him like a person instead of a monster and had even given him a name. He had long ago stopped thinking of himself as the warden he once was and would never utter the name his parents had given him again. He would never dishonour them that way. Her energy was so unique that he could track it if he were close enough … and so could the others. And that was why – well, one of the unselfish reasons why – he had struggled to find her. He had to tell her, to warn her …

They were coming.

Too bad even his pitiful semblance of sanity had fled the moment he had laid eyes on her. What had he thought just moments ago? A beacon, a shining star? It was indeed what she was. Incapable of speech, for that had been stripped from him long ago as well, he had surrendered to his base yearnings and stolen from her. Although he now felt as human as he had in recent memory, he had likely drained her – Max, he suddenly recalled – Max was her name. He had likely drained Max past the point of no return. There would be little point in his warning if she were already dead. He glanced around, taking in the beautiful garden and the spectacular house for the first time. It seems his nutty little friend had come up in the world. Surely she lived here with others.

He remained crouched over Max as he considered what to do. Not a full second later a blur of teeth and fur flew out the door and launched itself at him. The thing was small but solid and damn fierce as it proceeded to launch an all-out attack on his denim covered leg. Scrambling to his feet, he denied his automatic reaction to shake the thing off. A monster he may be, but he recognised a puppy when he saw one, and this one was clearly protecting its master. He bent down to pry the mutt off … and that’s what literally saved his neck.

A scythe sliced over his head a mere inch from where it had been just moments before. A paladin, he perhaps vaguely would have recognised in his past life, barrelled through the doorway like the wrath of the Gods. Well, he supposed that answered the question as to whether Max lived alone. It also answered the question as to why she was suddenly more powerful – she was bonded. A whistle in the air proceeded a second scythe slicing towards him and he managed to dodge to the right, feeling a slight pressure along his left bicep that he didn’t bother acknowledging. He couldn’t be hurt like that anymore. The paladin didn’t seem to care, launching himself with bared teeth much like the dog had. Not interested in fighting an honourable soldier, he disintegrated as much as he could and fled.

He ran, or flew rather, his feet a mere blur as they cruised over the uneven ground of the bushland surrounding the very attractive log house. He heard no pursuit but didn’t want to risk it so he just kept going. It was still a strange phenomenon to him that he could almost become his element – floating on the wind as easily as the leaves. It wasn’t as pretty or as fun as it sounded though, for he was also as insubstantial as the air; nothing could touch him, he couldn’t feel, he couldn’t taste, and he no longer bled. Which was why it was so odd to have a stinging sensation coming from his arm. Slowing down, he glanced behind him and listened intently for a moment, hearing nothing but the normal sounds of the night. He kept moving forward nonetheless, knowing the relentless drive of paladins in their pursuit to avenge their lieges. His slower pace allowed him to study the new sensation and he almost fell arse over head as he saw wetness in the darkness.

Blood. It looked like blood. But that was entirely impossible, he knew. He was a chade. He did not bleed. Pressing his hand over the wetness, he brought it closer to his face so he could study it more in the dim light provided by the moon. Well, I’ll be fucked, he thought. It was blood. But how was that possible? He hadn’t bled in decades, not since one of his paladins had driven a scythe into his chest and they had both looked down in horror as nothing happened. That was the moment he finally admitted what he had become – an abomination.

He flicked his tongue out, cringing at the metallic taste. Definitely blood. And wait … he could taste! Another sensation thought lost to him. Interesting. Very, very interesting. An uncomfortable tightening in his jeans had him stopping altogether and looking down askance at his crotch. Now that was even more interesting, he acknowledged in bewildered amazement. He had a major hard-on – something he believed was no longer possible – and hadn’t that been a right shame? It had been years since he had felt any sort of normal bodily function let alone the urge to slake his lusts. It wasn’t from holding the curvy warden close either; he had never felt so much as a spark in that way towards her. No doubt it was the seemingly endless supply of power he had acquired. But what to do about it?

Looking around he unbuttoned his jeans – no point in wasting the fine gift, he thought, completely shameless. After all, he had no shame left now. Unfortunately, before he could so much as unzip, the sound of muted voices, laughter, and music carried on the wind. Seems he had travelled further than he had noticed as he was not far from a township … and a bar by the sounds of things. He gave one last wistful look at the bulge in his pants before buttoning up and making his way silently through the trees. It really wouldn’t do to be caught in the middle of the bush with his pants around his ankles and his hand on his dick.

As suspected, a small but lively town was but minutes through the dense trees and a deep yearning to be immersed in life, in people once again, filled him. Seemingly unable to stop himself, he walked as casually as he could, stopping when a face in a car window caught his attention. Raising a hand, he mapped the features that were still pale, still on the thin side, but no longer white and no longer gaunt. His hair was long, much longer than he had ever worn in it in his previous life, and it was a startling black where once it had been a rather nice deep brown that lightened in the summer months with the sun. But what had him fighting back tears were his eyes. They were no longer black but a rich mixture of green and brown. They were still much darker than they used to be but they were undeniably hazel.

So very interesting, he thought once again. Now, what do I do about it?

Cali groaned as she rolled over, her face coming into contact with a flat, hard surface. She reached out to poke and prod at the offender. It didn’t move but it was strangely cool … and strangely enticing. Her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own as they wandered over the smooth expanse of – oh shit! It was the smooth expanse of a naked, muscled back! She went statue-still as she ordered her brain to play catch up with the last few hours.

As promised, Max had given her and the new love birds the weekend to themselves. Said lovebirds had driven into the city for a night of good food, good wine and no doubt, even better sex. While she had decided to drive just a little further north up the coastline to a slightly larger town with a big tourist population. It was only an hour or so drive from their own little slice of heaven but it had much more diversity by way of nightlife; had to keep the tourists happy after all. There was a funky little bar that had a decent DJ and dancefloor that she liked to frequent … and liked to get lucky at. Max had been right; it had been far too long since she had indulged in the simple pleasures of a whiskey, a dark hotel room, and the company of a mysterious but hot stranger. Not that she was easy, she assured herself, but ever since the fiasco of her old liege, she much preferred to choose the who, the time, and the place for her sexual endeavours.

As such, whenever she felt an itch she made sure she kept all her liaisons casual. Sometimes she would see a guy a handful of times for a mutually beneficial relationship but more often than not, she would venture out and find herself a willing looker to spend a few steamy hours with. She would then hightail it out of there before she had to give out a fake phone number and even faker conversation. It was only one or two times a year – it’s not like she was a slut or anything. Besides, if it was good enough for the male species it was damn sure good enough for her.

But this here was very strange. She never fell asleep next to a stranger despite the fact that she could kick most anyone’s arse. She had her fun and then poofed before the sun rose, just like Cinderella … or okay, more like a vampire, whatever. So why was she still lying here stroking a leanly muscled back as the sun began to peek over the horizon? She had to have drank some bad whiskey … or bad vodka … or bad tequila. No matter what is was, it was clearly bad to have made her brain so fuzzy and her hand so wandery.

The back moved and Cali held her breath, praying to the Great Mother that he didn’t wake. Surely Mother Nature was on her side – she was a chick after all. Seems girl power was in the air for the back didn’t move again and she was able to slip out of bed and drag on her scattered clothes, sans bra – she had no clue where that was. Easing the door closed behind her, she sucked in air like a dying woman. She must have been holding her breath the entire time. Close call, Cali. Picking her way across the hotel carpark, she found the Order’s car easily enough and slid into the driver’s seat. Instead of turning the Dodge over though, she simply bashed her head against the steering wheel as the previous night’s adventures returned with a vengeance. She didn’t suffer the same affliction as her buddy Darius did when he drank to excess. She didn’t lose her memory completely but sometimes it took a while for her fuzzy brain to catch up. Although, that could also be due to the lack of caffeine in her system.

Coffee. She needed coffee like she needed air. Starting the car, she eased out in search of the closest McDonald’s. An image of herself throwing her unsuspecting victim against the hotel room wall as she practically shredded his shirt burst into her cerebral cortex. Goodness – she had been a little wild. Maybe she had waited too long to scratch that itch. Or maybe it had been due to the insane chemistry she seemed to have with the sexy stranger. The moment she laid eyes on him she had felt heat spark between them, almost tangible in its intensity. Now she’d felt sparks before but nothing to this degree. Perhaps that’s why she had taken him back to her room despite the fact that he hadn’t even been at the bar.

Although flying solo, she had spent a fun evening chatting and meeting new people. She had eaten, drank and just plain been merry. There were a few potentials as the evening wore on but as the booze began to settle a little uncomfortably in her stomach, she had decided to give up on the fleshy part of the night’s festivities and sleep it off. She had one night to sleep completely unfettered by the Order bond as Max always cut them off completely whenever she gave them time away. Not that Cali begrudged the bond. In fact, it was the opposite. The bond brought with it a real sense of comradery and of family, so very different to her old life. It was a comfort and a true privilege. She found herself eternally grateful to have met the gorgeous little goddess with her easy-going nature.

So, there she had been, walking a little unsteadily back to her room when she had seen Mr Mysterious across the carpark. He wasn’t her usual type – a little too rough looking. Not that she didn’t appreciate a rogue here and there, but there was just something about a man in a suit that really did it for her. So she was very surprised to feel that zing over the tall, lean stranger with the dark hair and dangerous air. Not surprised enough to turn him away though when he had eaten up the distance between them and all but devoured her without so much as a hello. Free with her body she may be on the odd occasion, but that was a little much even for her. Still, given she had woken plastered to that fine back this morning, she had clearly decided to loosen her morals a little.

Worth it. Totally worth it. She smiled a little wickedly to herself. Oh, she was so bad! She couldn’t wait to tell Max and Diana all about it. Thoughts of her liege had pain like nothing she had ever experienced slamming into her temples. She swerved chaotically and heard horns blaring around her. Max. Something had happened to Max. She managed to steady the wheel and do a quick and illegal turn back in the direction of their camp. While she had been rolling between the sheets with some strange man, her liege had been hurt.

Cali was alone with Max for the first time in four days. They were settled in Max and Ryker’s bed with a mound of pillows, a Vin Diesel movie in the background, and a very large tub of Neapolitan ice-cream. Max had been unconscious for the first two days and barely coherent the following day. She was by no means back to her old self – physically at least. Mentally she was firing on all cylinders and they were having a hard time keeping her busy brain occupied in her convalescence. They had been taking it in turns to keep her company as well as coaxing her to take vitality almost constantly. They usually did that in pairs or more and they all congregated in her room three times a day so she could draw on all seven of them at once. Max had given them a good scare and that chade was as good as dead as soon as they could go hunting.

“There’s something different about you.” Max stated abruptly, drawing Cali from her introspection. Glancing down she saw that her liege eyed her like a bug under a microscope. Her eyes weren’t doing that swirly thing they did when they peered right into your soul but Cali knew they were observant enough without that anyway.

What did she mean by different? Could she tell Cali was hiding something from her? She refused to let her mind wander to her underwear drawer, and the secret she was pretending didn’t exist, just in case Max picked up on it through the bond. She detested deception in any form and was a little sickened and ashamed that she was purposely keeping something from Max but a girl had to know when to pick her battles. And now just wasn’t the time.

“What do you mean different?”

“Underneath that thick layer of guilt from not being here when I got hurt there’s just something … something else going on. If I had my mojo back I’d have it figured out in no time.”

Cali winced at that because yeah, her guilt knew no bounds, and also because Max’s mojo as she put it had come dangerously close to being extinguished permanently. “About that. Max –”

Max raised a pale hand and pointed a thin forefinger in her direction with a decent amount of gusto, “Nope. Not going there. I refuse to let you wallow any longer. It’s been four days already. I am going to be just fine. None of you did anything wrong. Even poor Dex didn’t really do anything wrong for I’m positive he couldn’t help himself. You are entitled to your own time, your own space, and your own freedom. This changes nothing. Lark and Beyden will be going off on rotation as scheduled at the end of the month. I will continue to roam outside when I want as much as I want. Shit happens, Cali. Bad shit happens to good people every day and that’s just the way it is. There is no blame here, no fault, and no recriminations. You all need to get over it because it’s really starting to piss me off!”

Max’s tirade ended in a wheezy cough and one slumped little liege against the pillows. But her eyes continued to flash with their usual fiery spark of defiance and Cali found herself smiling for the first time in days. Although the situation wasn’t quite as black and white as Max seemed to think, she sure did have a way of cutting through the bullshit and hitting the bullseye of any given issue. “I figure I still have a few days of wallowing left in me before I move on. But …” she paused as she lifted a spoon of ice cream to her lips, “this sure helps.”

Max laughed at that. “I hear ya. So … not going to comment about me mentioning Dex?” She added on slyly.

Cali carefully blanked her expression. They had all been very cautious not to respond to any of Max’s words of defence over that frigging chade. They didn’t want to upset her further when her condition was so critical. Cali knew Ryker in particular was having a hard time over Max’s continued support of the creature’s innocence. She figured in a few more days the broken record that was Max would begin to receive a few more words other than ‘hmm’ and ‘uh huh’ on the subject.

“Ah, still no response. I must still look pretty miserable if none of you are willing to fight me on the whole Dex issue yet.”

You look worse than miserable, Cali thought silently but wisely kept her mouth shut. “Don’t worry. In a few more days I’m sure you’ll be overwhelmed with arguments over that motherforsaken chade.” Cali assured her.

Max smiled. “Good. I don’t like being treated like spun glass. And he’s not forsaken by the Great Mother. As I understand it, she’s very benevolent. He’s forsaken by his fellow people, which is a far greater sin in my opinion.”

Cali couldn’t argue with her there. Chades were forsaken, reviled and judged by all. It was a shame really. Although Cali didn’t feel the same hate as Ryker and Darius or even the same pity as Diana did, she did feel sorry for their families and the ones they left behind. Personally, she was a little more neutral on the subject; chades were a part of everyday life and her job was to ensure they got nowhere near the wardens. She accepted it just as the vast majority of society did. But she was beginning to feel ashamed for her potential ignorance where they were concerned. “You’re right.” She said to Max.

“I am?” She seemed surprised.

Cali nodded, reaching over to untangle a messy piece of Max’s hair. “You are. Turning your back on someone in need is a total dick move.”

Max giggled at that. “You know, I knew you and I were going to be friends the moment I saw you.”

Cali smiled. “Really? Friendship at first sight huh?”

“Definitely. My hate for your long legs and jealousy of your perky boobs was instant as well, don’t get me wrong. But there was also a sense of … recognition you could say. It’s the same with the others. It’s why I got into a car with three strangers and allowed them to drive me into the Australian bush.”

Cali actually felt the same way. There had been an instant sense of familiarity with the shorter woman. At first she had put it down to the natural bond that can be common between wardens and paladins but over the past few months she had begun to suspect it was something more. Something deeper. She knew the others thought so too. But talk of fate and revolutions made Max a little twitchy so she didn’t dwell on it for the time being. “And what about Ryker? Was he love at first sight?” She teased instead.

Her delicate liege snorted like a trucker. “Hell no! Lust at first sight for sure. I was a goner the second I saw those bars in his nipples. But love? No. The love came when the trust came. It came when he laid himself bare before me and allowed me to do the same to him. It came when he saw me, really saw me, and made the choice to love me despite what he saw. I’m so very grateful, Cali.”

Max’s eyes and voice were earnest and so sincere she could almost feel the words against her skin. Max wasn’t a romantic soul, Cali knew, she was too realistic for that kind of whimsy. But she was honest and probably the most self-aware person she had ever met. The way she had just described falling in love with Ryker sounded pretty damn perfect to Cali. She wasn’t convinced with the whole love at first sight thing either. “You think love is a choice?” She was curious.

Max nodded. “I do. I think love takes work and dedication just like any other thing that’s worth having in this world.”

“I’m not sure Diana and Darius would agree with that. Darius swears it was love at first sight for him – so does Ryker where you’re concerned.”

“And yet Diana and Darius both made a choice to ignore that initial spark – that initial potential – for over eight hundred years.” Max pointed out. “And Ryker? Well, he was seriously displeased with that potential and fought fruitlessly for a while before caving. That initial spark? It’s easy to give in to the lust but it needs to be tended, to be cultivated if you don’t want it to burn out.”

Cali mulled that over and decided she liked that theory. Her serious relationships were practically non-existent but they didn’t have to be. There had been a guy or two that she could have seen herself with long term. But instead of seeing them through and putting in any real effort, they had fallen by the wayside. It’s not like she had the luxury of being allowed to form real relationships in the past anyway, but still ... As nice as Max’s thoughts on love and relationships were Cali didn’t really believe she was built for a serious partnership anyway. She had a problem with commitment and with intimacy, thus her preference for one night stands. It was all Stefan’s fault – her previous liege – along with the medieval mentality of most of her old Order. Curious, Cali said to Max;

“You haven’t asked me about my old Order.”

Max replied with a simple; “Nope.”

“Why not?”

Max shrugged shoulders that still looked terribly frail. “Why haven’t you asked me about my time on the streets or my time working the streets?” She queried.

Now it was her turn to shrug, “It’s not really any of my business. I’m more than happy to listen – that’s what friends are for – but I figure you’ll tell me if and when you want to.”

Max smiled at her and Cali was pleased to see the usual spark of liveliness in her turquoise depths. “You just answered your own question.”

“My old liege was a misogynistic bastard who believed women were only good for one thing; sex.” Cali blurted out before face-palming herself with a sharp slap.

Where the heck had that come from? Did she really want to talk about this with Max? Diana was one of the only people who knew the full depth of what had transpired in her old Order. Oh, she was well aware most of the wardens and paladins around the world had an inkling of what went on – Stefan was never shy about his beliefs. She was also aware that she was still whispered about in certain pockets of the community for being not only a ‘paladin whore’ but also a whore who couldn’t perform her duties and had been dishonourably discharged from her Order. Stefan, the snivelling little prick, had spread around that she was terrible in the sack and couldn’t fight her way out of a wet paper bag. Thus, relegating her to uselessness in their society – until Ryker had come along of course. She had more than proven her worth as a soldier over the years at the training centre and she had been careful to never sleep with anyone in town. Even though it was perfectly acceptable for male wardens and even male paladins to be free with their affections. Hypocritical much?

“That was over fifteen years ago now, right?” Max’s question was spoken easily and casually as she dug around the nearly empty ice cream container.

Cali took a deep breath and decided Max needed to know who exactly she had allowed into her Order. And who knows? It might even help with her feelings of guilt over her most recent one-night stand, because the Mother knew she already had enough guilt issues when it came to sex. She really didn’t want to add to them. “Yes. I found myself evicted from my old Order just over fifteen years ago. I’ve been living here since then and helping train the new recruits.”

“Must have been a bit of an adjustment after living in Sweden for so long.” Max observed.

Cali laughed at that. “The weather sure is different.” And she could admit that she sometimes missed the pristine whiteness and the silent beauty of the softly falling snow. Maybe they would travel more now given their Order had been officially recognised by the IDC. She was sure they had many a task they hoped Max would be able to assist with around the world. Forging on, she continued;

“I was born in Sweden almost one hundred and fifty years ago to a paladin mother and a paladin father, who I have never met. Apparently he was no-one particularly special and my mother didn’t want him around. She didn’t particularly want me around either – we were never close – and I have no siblings. So after passing basic training I was more than happy to set out on my own. I didn’t join an Order for some years because no warden requested me. Male paladins were in much higher demand those days. But when I was just going on sixty a handsome, sophisticated Water Warden from an aristocrat family started paying attention to me. I was flattered and honoured of course and when he put in a formal request to the IDC for me to join his Order, I was ecstatic.”

“You wanted to serve your purpose.” Max stated quietly.

Cali nodded. “I did. I was a knight, a soldier. I know there are some paladins who begrudge their birthright and would happily choose not to fight or protect.” Like their very own Beyden and Lark, she added silently and with no recriminations whatsoever. “But I wasn’t one of them. I’d heard, read and seen wars waged and I desperately wanted in. Too bad I hadn’t seen or heard about the reputation of the Order of Neptune.”

Max rolled her eyes and snorted, “The Order of Neptune? Water Order, right?”

Despite the sick feeling in her stomach, Cali found herself smiling anyway. She knew Max hated their nomenclature system. She thought it was trite and clichéd. “Yep, water. I assumed it was one of the reasons why he chose me given I’m a water paladin. But no – it was the blonde hair, the blue eyes, the legs, and the tits.” She stated cupping said tits and giving them a depreciative shake before pressing on. “Whilst I was with him, my liege had two male paladins whose express role was to see to his physical safety at all times. He also had three female paladins whose only responsibility was to ensure he received vitality on a daily basis. I was female number four. The only way he would allow an energy exchange was through sex.”

“Excuse me?” Max’s eyes narrowed dangerously and somehow served to help Cali relax.

“Yeah, it’s pretty messed up. Years ago, vitality exchanges through sex was commonplace and readily accepted as the thing to do in society. It wasn’t really that big of a deal; paladins weren’t allowed to fraternise that much so at least they were getting laid somehow. And most wardens engaged in sex with other wardens for the express purpose of creating more wardens, so this kind of sex within Orders was the closest to recreational as it tended to get. Don’t get me wrong, not all wardens did this and most paladins didn’t much care. They considered themselves lucky their wardens wanted to sleep with them. But …”

“But you didn’t consider yourself lucky.” Max guessed.

Cali snorted, “Absolutely not. Well, in the beginning it didn’t bother me. As I said, he was very handsome and could be extremely charming. I actually thought I liked him early on and sex with him wasn’t a hardship. But after a while … I began to feel cheap. Like I was being used for nothing more than what was between my legs. Oh, and my vitality too of course.”

“And this was just accepted?”

“Yep.” She nodded.

“That’s insane! And completely disgusting! Who is this arsehole anyway?” Max demanded.

“His name is Stefan. He’s from a family that almost exclusively produces water warden heirs. Very highly thought of.”

“Highly thought of? A rapist is highly thought of?!” Max yelled.

“Whoa there. Stefan wasn’t a rapist, Max. If you were a part of his Order, then sex was just one of your duties. We all knew that, hell, everybody knew that. He didn’t exactly keep it a secret.”

Max’s lips were pursed in a thin line and Cali was beginning to think this was a bad idea. “When someone in a position of power over you asks you to follow their orders it is essentially emotional blackmail. You feel honour-bound to say yes even if you don’t want to.”

“But when it’s your boss, it’s just a part of the job Max.” Cali tried to explain, not liking Max’s conclusions. But Max was shaking her head;

“What do you think statutory rape laws are for? It’s the exact same thing. Underage girls and boys don’t have the emotional or cognitive ability to make such important decisions as informed consent. Even when they think they know what they’re agreeing to, there’s usually some degree of pressure or feeling of obligation from the older, more experienced person. That person is in the position of power and the younger person feels they have very little choice if they want to continue to be accepted and liked.”

Cali swallowed past the dryness in her throat as she listened to Max’s self-assured but gentle spoken words. “It’s not as bad as all that, Max. I was a piece of arse, that’s all. It’s why I vowed to never have a male liege ever again.”

“No Cali. You weren’t just a piece of arse. You were abused. That is abuse.” Max’s voice was vehement and Cali felt tears sting her eyes. Given her past she knew just what a gift it was to have someone in your corner you could count on. Thirty seconds of talk with Max was more cathartic than a hundred years of inner debate. Cali knew it was wrong – on a plethora of levels – that’s why she had gotten the hell out of dodge. But the rest of society hadn’t seemed to catch up yet and that made it hard to garner any kind of acceptance or empathy.

“I wish there were more people like you, Max.” She smiled at the sickly-looking but clearly enraged woman.

Max’s eyebrows rose comically, “Really? You think the world could handle more me’s?”

Cali thought about that for a moment and barely repressed a shudder, “Maybe not. Anyway, that’s pretty much why I’m not that interested in men too much and I restrict myself to short flings; I like to choose the who and the when and the how long. I don’t like to be pursued; I like to be the pursuer.”

“I get that. Cali, The Scandinavian Sex Predator.” Max said, making them both laugh.

“Yep. That’s me. I also wanted you to know, it’s one of the reasons why I respect you so much. You just accept us for who we are and how we act. You allow us to be who we need to be; you don’t care that Ryker is a cranky bastard, or that Diana and Darius are a unit. Freedom, Max. You give us freedom. And I’ve learnt that without it, I would wither and die. So … thank you.”

“Well, jeez. Now I’m going to blubber.” Max’s laughter was a little watery. “But I still want Stefan’s balls in a sling.” She added.

Before she could respond to that, Diana’s mass of black springs preceded the rest of her body clad in her usual classy but causal clothes. “Hi girls! I’ve come for some girl talk.” Cali coughed hastily, clearing her raw throat as Max seemed to give herself a shake to let go of her anger. Diana, being an astute female, paused halfway across the room. “Unless this is a bad time …?”

“No. You have perfect timing, as always.” Cali assured her friend. And it was true. Pretty much everything about Diana was perfect from her gorgeous face to her sexy body to her personality. If Cali didn’t love her like a sister she probably would have shaved her head in her sleep before now.

Diana hesitated for a moment more before taking her at her word and moving forward to settle herself on the other side of Max. “Anything I can help with?” She asked, obviously picking up on the remnants of tension in the room.

“Yes.” Max replied. “We’re going to go kill Stefan.”

Diana’s flawlessly shaped eyebrows rose sharply. “Are we just? Awesome! I’ve been wanting a shot at that man’s scrotum for years now. I figure it would sit perfectly in the palm of my hand for all of one second before I ripped it from his body in a bloody but oh so satisfying display of justice.”

Cali merely rolled her eyes as she watched Max silently raise her palm for a high five and for Diana to deliver. They were a blood-thirsty, crass bunch of women. Was it any wonder she adored them? “We’re not killing Stefan.” Cali asserted.

“We are.” Max’s reply was short and to the point.

“Not.” Cali added.

Max’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Fine. We’ll just maim him. A person doesn’t need a nut sack to live. See, I can compromise.” She ended smiling winningly.

Cali blew out a breath and looked to Diana for assistance. This had the potential to go back and forth all day if she let it and although Max’s words were perky, her voice was thinning and she was looking exhausted. Diana gave her a small nod, understanding perfectly; girl talk would be put on the backburner. They each placed a hand on Max who had actually closed her eyes. Cali thought she was asleep but then she spoke;

“I can feel you both pushing your go-juice at me.”

“I really wish you wouldn’t call it that, Max.” Cali sighed. “It sounds skeevy.”

“I agree. Especially the way you just worded it. Sounds like we’re ejaculating on you or something.” Diana added. Nope, Diana was anything but the lady of the manor she looked like.

Dex smirked as he watched the rangers, wardens and paladins hunt his cursed brethren. The group was fairly effective and quite skilled he had to admit, knowing that over a handful of chades had already been put out of their misery. But they weren’t that good. Otherwise they would have noticed him hovering in the dense shadows of the leaves high above them in the trees. After his reckless thievery of Max’s vitality, his newfound humanity with all the bells and whistles like an appetite, the need for sleep, and the need to piss – among other things – had slowly begun to wane. At first he had been able to track the days and nights as he once had but over the span of a couple of weeks he was slowly losing his humanity again and he could feel the desires of the chade creeping callously back. He was starving, cold, in constant pain and he no longer bled. The feeling of fresh air brushing over his face was becoming a foreign concept once again. His element was deserting him for a second time and his heart was damn sure breaking – if he even had one left.

He shouldn’t be surprised or disappointed, he reminded himself. His lot in life had been decided decades ago when he had first given in to his desires for more energy … for more power. He’d had eleven paladins pledged in his Order, a number not heard of in history before or since. He had been an extremely powerful Air Warden and had needed the constant recharging. But eleven paladins? That was a lot of vitality at his disposal. Had he really needed it? Or had he been predisposed to becoming a chade from the beginning?

After the Great Massacre his need to recharge had grown exponentially and he had become power hungry, drunk on the energy flowing through his veins. Many of his paladins had voiced their concerns and his second in command after his Captain had even been bold enough to call him out on it. Dex smiled a little at that. The little shit had never been afraid of him, not that he would ever want his paladins to feel that way. He had shrugged it off. After all, what was there to say; ‘I think I’m turning into an abomination?’. Then one morning he had woken, sheer starvation pounding in his gut. Splashing cold water on his face to snap his stupid arse out of it, he had raised his eyes to the mirror – and damn near passed out.

His eyes had been black.

They had been black ever since. Other than those miraculous few days from weeks ago when he had almost killed his little friend and unwitting saviour. He always felt so much better whenever he took from her. He had taken from other wardens over the years too – he couldn’t help it. At least he had never killed one … he didn’t think. He certainly didn’t remember ever killing anyone other than full chades.

But then, his mind declined into a certain madness and chaos whenever he went too long without stealing vitality, so could he ever be really certain? The energy from the curvy redhead with the swirling turquoise eyes was always different somehow. It was far more powerful to start with and always sustained him longer but it also felt different. Almost as if she wasn’t a warden. He never could place what her domain was either. She seemed to be able to draw on all the elements so he assumed she was bound to life. And it was a constant source of aggravation and even fear to him that she appeared to be Orderless and completely clueless on top of that. He couldn’t fathom how a warden as strong as her could be out in the world without knights but that’s how it seemed. Well, until recently anyway.

He rubbed his arm where the angry paladin had sliced him with his scythe. The mark was actually still there – faint – but he could still make it out about an inch long on his bicep. Wardens rarely scarred because their paladins provided them with vitality, healing most small wounds and even most big ones. But he didn’t have anyone to heal him so a small scar remained. He loved it. It was proof that he had been substance, that he had bled, even for a few days. He hoped it stayed forever so he could use it as a talisman of sorts when the hunger got to be too great.

He found himself curious as the smallest of the cloaked figures stopped almost directly beneath his hiding place. The figure looked this way and that and he saw a decidedly feminine hand grip her weapon more tightly.

“What is it Ivy?” He heard a bigger male ask.

“Do you guys feel that?” She queried.

“Feel what?” All four cloaked figures pushed their hoods back revealing their features and Dex saw that the short ranger was indeed female. Small and delicate with lovely features hinting at her Asian ancestry. Could she feel him? Perhaps they weren’t all as inept as he had thought.

The woman glanced around, even peering into the leaves where he was currently as insubstantial as the wind. He saw her dark eyes narrow in an attractive but expressionless face before she lifted her hood back into place and responded, “It’s nothing.”

“If there was a chade here, we’d know it Ivy. We have two wardens with us. No chade could resist the allure of all that energy.” One of her comrades commented.

No, Dex thought, none other than himself anyway. But that didn’t make him special. It just made him even more of a freak of nature than the other chades. He really should just jump down and place himself directly in the path of the four-man Ranger Unit. One swift swipe of their sickles – the rangers carried the long handled version of the traditional paladin’s scythe – and his endless misery would be over. So why didn’t he? It was a question he had asked himself many times over the years. He’d had plenty of opportunities to allow himself to be killed. But he just couldn’t do it. There was enough of his old self remaining that he couldn’t give up. It just wasn’t in him.

But where did that leave him? He was a half man-half chade living a half-life. He hadn’t made his way back to the large log cabin by the ocean where he knew Max still was. Firstly, is was too dangerous; her paladins would be slicing necks now and asking questions later. Secondly, given the large number of troops on the ground slaughtering chades left and right he felt confident that the council would be informed of the increase in numbers amassing in this area. That had been his primary purpose in seeking out Max – mostly; the chades were slowly but surely making their way in this direction. Dex knew in his gut that it had something to do with the powerful little warden. With the numbers thinning more and more thanks to the rangers here, surely Max would be safer now. So really there was no reason to put himself back into the path of temptation. What if he were to hurt Max again?

And what was worse … what if he begged her to let him?

Three weeks, Cali thought. It had been three weeks since the chade had attacked Max in this very garden and it had taken more than half that time for Max to recover fully. The IDC had not been impressed when Ryker had informed them Max wouldn’t be attending any more council meetings for the foreseeable future. They were pissed off of course. The only reason they were all still in the area was to try and sort out the whole ‘custodian thing’ and reconcile some of Max’s more interesting theories. They had insisted on coming to the house where they had been suitably taken aback at the sight of Max pale, listless, and so thin you could count the blue veins running under her skin. Lark and Beyden had remained with Max while Darius had politely offered refreshments in the formal dining area. They’d had no choice but to explain Max had been attacked in her own home – a horrible blight on their honour, as if they needed more. They received condemning looks from most but, Mordecai, Blu and Garrett seemed far more concerned in learning what had happened.

After a description of the events from Ryker the council had promptly called the local branch of rangers and ordered them to search the area with instructions to execute all chades on sight. They reported killing over a dozen chades – something that distressed Max greatly. It didn’t really distress the rest of them, especially Ryker. He had been a bear to live with the past few weeks – almost as bad as when she had first moved in. Not that she blamed him; Max’s prolonged recovery had scared all of them. But what had distressed Cali more was the fact that there were over a dozen chades in the surrounding region to begin with. There was no way chades should be this close to a warden headquarters and never in such great numbers. Reports had been coming in for months at the Lodge regarding increased numbers of chade sightings. Cali knew from sitting in on so many council meetings recently that the number of chade conversions was also on the rise again. She knew it made Ryker and Darius nervous. It was very reminiscent of the years and months preceding the Great Massacre; wardens changing, chades amassing in large numbers.

The rest of her Order was inside the kitchen under the pretence of making lunch. And a pretence it was, Cali knew, for she could still hear their very loud and passionate discussions ringing in her head. Pretty much as soon as Max had regained consciousness she had been trying to convince all of them of the merits of finding her pet chade and bringing it here. She had been excited rather than angry to learn that the chade had appeared to be at full strength when Ryker had launched his blades at it. To her, it cemented her idea that chades could be fixed – they just needed some ‘juice’. Of course, the rest of them were stridently opposed to seeking out the chade for anything other than taking its head. Max was stubborn, raising the subject over and over again at every opportunity and it was beginning to wear on everyone’s nerves – especially Ryker’s. Cali hated seeing the two at odds and although Ry had been giving Max some leeway due to how ill she had been, Cali knew his patience was wearing thin.

Thus, the passionate discussion – aka the argument – currently taking place inside the house. They were arguing about how best to proceed and how to get Max to give up on her fantasies. To most, the chade almost killing her was proof of its irredeemable qualities, not its redeemable ones. On the one hand, Cali was fully supportive of her Order but on the other, she trusted Max implicitly. Plus, there was that little nugget of evidence practically burning a hole in her pocket.

Clearing her thoughts so Max wouldn’t catch a glimpse of anything untoward, she smiled as she saw her liege sitting cross-legged on the grass with Zombie and Bert. Zombie was the first to spot her, yipping in welcome before tripping over his feet in his delighted rush to get to her. She laughed as she watched his antics – he was still so darn clumsy that he reminded her of a baby giraffe.

“Hey little man. You keeping an eye on our Max for us?” She gave him a few slow strokes to curb his excitement as she parked her butt next to Max on the grass. It was one of the first times everyone had allowed Max to venture anywhere alone in weeks. After lapping up the affection like the spoiled pup he was, Zombie returned to his tattered rope.

Max rolled her eyes. “I can take care of myself.”

Cali barely refrained from telling Max she sounded like a broken record – one with ample evidence to the contrary as well. “So what’s up?” She asked instead. Max had used their telepathic link to ask her to join her outside.

“I need you to do something for me.” Max told her without taking her eyes from the game of tug she was now engaged in with Zombie.

“Of course. Anything.” Was her immediate response.

Max sighed, the sound resonating with fatigue and … disappointment? Zombie must have picked up on the same vibes for he released his end of the filthy rope and climbed into Max’s lap. “Do you really mean that? Do any of you?” She asked.

Okay, this was obviously serious, Cali thought. “What’s this about Max?”

“I want you to be on my side. I need you to be on my side.” Was her answer.

Shit. This was about Max wanting to go after the chade that had attacked her ... again.

“Max. I am on your side. We all are …” She began but Max shook her head, stopping her. Her deep red hair moved freely in its typical messy fashion and Cali was pleased to see it once again shined with health and vitality.

“You’re not. Not fully. And that’s ok. You’ve known me for all of six months where as you guys are a unit, made and bonded over decades. I get it. But …” she paused and her unique eyes seemed to burn with that ancient knowledge they did sometimes, “… I am your liege, aren’t I? No matter the newness.”

“Yes. Most assuredly.” Her response was prompt, if a little nervous as to where this was heading. Max was still watching her, head tilted slightly to the side. She noticed Zombie held an identical pose and wondered if that was conscious on either’s part. Max continued;

“So tell me; in your old Order what would have happened if you defied the wishes of your liege?”

Cali closed her mouth abruptly at that – Max was serious. And it was tricky ground. Her old liege was a big believer in the old ways; his punishment would have been physical. She cleared her suddenly dry throat, “Most likely corporal punishment.”

Max nodded as if she already knew that, “And yet, you all seem to think it’s perfectly acceptable to defy me at every turn. Why is that?”

Cali struggled to form her answer. She wasn’t talking to her friend here; she was talking to her liege – a goddess. Even so, she couldn’t be anything but honest; “Because you’re not just a liege to us – to any of us.”

Max seemed to soften at that, “I know. Just as you’re not merely a battery pack to me. But that doesn’t change the fact that you have all sworn to follow me.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t.” She blew out a breath. This was why forming personal or intimate relationships between wardens and paladins had been banned years ago. Such relationships muddied the waters, caused distractions, and caused mixed loyalties and priorities.

“And now you’re thinking maybe the council was right to forbid relationships within Orders.” Max smiled, looking more at ease now.

Perhaps she had only needed to hear where Cali’s motivation was stemming from, Cali thought. After all, she had been so alone so long it was not surprising she was still a tad vulnerable. “Reading my mind?” She teased.

Max shook her head, “Don’t need to. But that’s wrong thinking. If anything the relationship should make it easier. The trust and loyalty should be organic if it springs from affection. I do think compromise is the key though – and patience. I think I’ve been showing you all that in spades. Problem is, I’m not seeing it reciprocated.”

Cali had to choke back her automatic snort at that statement; compromise, patience and Max were not three synonymous words. However, as she gave it some more thought she realised that Max had indeed been very patient with all of them. She always listened to their perspectives and although it must have felt like torture to her, she had been compromising with her need to be outdoors and their need to keep her safe inside. Max knew about all of their histories now and she was always careful not to say or do anything that may bring up bad memories. She always respected their individual needs and took them into account. Too bad they hadn’t been returning the same courtesy to her.

“Well, shit.” She said. “I’m sorry.”

Max shrugged, “All good. Learning curve. But now that you’re seeing my perspective a bit more …. I know you have Ryker’s scythe.”

She had just been starting to relax again when Max dropped that little bomb and Cali felt her heart jolt at the news.

Max smiled sympathetically now, “It’s okay. I know why you kept it and why you haven’t mentioned it. You’re loyal to Ryker. I understand, honest.”

Cali bowed her head in shame. She held a secret that could very well change how everyone thought when it came to Max’s attack and also to the chade whom Max was set on saving. Feelings of remorse and even embarrassment slithered their way in as Max sat patiently, legs crossed with a slater bug crawling over her hand and a puppy chewing a hole in the bottom of her pants.

The morning after the attack she had made her way downstairs and out here into the garden. She had been consumed with self-flagellation, kicking at the ground in futile anger when she had spotted one of Ryker’s scythe’s in the flower bed. It was the one he had lost after throwing it at the chade. She had picked it up with the intention of delivering it straight back to its owner but a smudge on the edge had caught her eye. Dried, yet bright red blood was along the curved edge of the blade and she remembered feeling her heartrate accelerate. She knew neither Max nor Ry had been injured. Only the chade had taken a direct hit, which had to mean …

She hadn’t believed it possible at first but there really was no other explanation. The chade had been injured and it had bled – real blood, real red blood. Cali knew it supported Max’s theory that they had the potential to become more human when allowed to recharge. So why hadn’t she ‘fessed up and delivered the veritable evidence to her liege and Captain? Because she thought her Captain might not want to know and she knew he was far too loyal and honourable to pretend he hadn’t seen it. There was also no way he would ever dream of lying to the love of his life either. It wasn’t that she felt more loyalty to Ryker than she did to Max. It was the simple fact that she owed Ryker; he had saved her.

The scarred, moody man who Cali had met fifteen years ago had saved all of them in different ways, Cali knew; Darius from hate and despair, Axel from a broken heart, Diana from the loss of her liege and Order, Lark from an abusive father, and Beyden from persecution. He had offered them all a home and a purpose when their society appeared to turn their backs on them. He acted as though it was grudging aid, as though it was no big deal and they all let him think that way even though they all knew it was anything but. He had saved her from a life as nothing more than a sex slave, and not just because he offered her a place to stay when she left her Order. When she had spoken to Max about her past, there was just one part to the story she had left out; Ryker.

Her old Order – the Order of Neptune – were notorious for being somewhat anti-social and for not travelling. Stefan was permanently in charge of a specific set of waterways high up in the Scandinavian Mountains. But they had travelled to the Australian training lodge right here fifteen years ago at the behest of the IDC when Stefan had formally requested another paladin to join his ranks. Although a local council could recommend and even approve Order members, the official ceremony was always conducted in front of the IDC whenever humanly possible. She had been excited to travel for her own sake, but more so because she was hopeful she would be awarded an opportunity to formalise a complaint against her liege in person. She had requested multiple times that she be allowed to leave the Order but Stefan had always refused. He had wanted his blonde little love-monkey where she belonged. She had also registered several complaints with the IDC via correspondence only to hear nothing back. She didn’t know if they had been disregarded or if Stefan or someone else in her Order had sabotaged her communications and they had never actually made it to the council. Either way, she had been stuck in an Order she hated and bound to a liege she despised.

Stefan had pranced into the Lodge on his invisible pedestal as usual, nose in the air and his customary smirk on his face. Most other wardens and paladins present had fawned as anticipated but she had been pleasantly surprised to see a few frowns of disapproval. Seems word of how he routinely recharged his vitality had gotten around and not everyone was impressed about it. The fiercest scowl had come from a tall, broad, dark-haired soldier with a horrendous scar down the side of his face. His warm chocolate eyes were decidedly chilly as he eyed her liege and her Order before snorting and shaking his head – clearly he found them lacking. The scar and his ‘fuck off’ aura should have made him ugly but Cali had thought him one of the sexiest looking guys of her acquaintance. Of course, most of that was likely due to the fact that he had stalked up to Stefan and reminded him with a few terse words that they were all scheduled to undergo their mandatory annual assessments while they were there. Stefan always tried to wiggle his way out of training – too soft.

So Cali had pit herself against the newest recruits, the super fine and wholly unexpected trainers of the Australian Lodge, and a handful of other knights. It had been darn cathartic for her. The brutal hand-to-hand as well as the weapons refresher had allowed her to expend some much needed temper. Unfortunately, the result of watching her get all physical and sweaty was Stefan getting horny and demanding. He’d had her pinned to the wall outside the training barracks, one hand on her breast and the other fumbling with his fly for a quickie when the big, scarred Ryker had rounded the corner. Although she hadn’t spoken a word, she couldn’t have hidden her blatant disgust, hate, and rage blazing from her eyes if she tried. Ryker’s eyes had flashed in awareness but he hadn’t even broken stride; “They need you inside.” He’d said directly to her. Stefan had stiffened and only managed an imperious, “You –”, before Ryker had growled one more word; “Now!”. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, she had scrambled to obey.

Not thirty minutes later, the ex-Captain of the Order of Ember had walked over to where she had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of her liege – he had yet to return – and thrust some papers into her hand;

“Seems you’ve been discharged from your duties as paladin for the Order of Neptune. Dishonourably discharged of course, but whatever.”

“I – what?” She had stuttered. But he had continued on as if he didn’t hear her;

“I have a camp. It’s not much and its getting a little crowded but you’re welcome to stay there until you get your shit together. And I saw you fight earlier, not bad. I could probably use you around here too if you’re interested.”

He had walked off, well stalked off really, leaving Cali open mouthed and completely speechless. Trembling, she had looked down at the papers he had given her and had found binding documents declaring her no longer a member of the Neptune Order and no longer bound to Stefan. Stefan and her Order – former Order – had bustled past her at that precise moment and Cali had the satisfaction of seeing Stefan’s perfect blue eyes blackened and full bottom lip split.

Ryker had never said another word about that day and neither had she but she knew he had somehow managed to beat the shit out of a warden and threaten him enough that he had let Cali go. How Ry had managed it without being executed she had no idea and she didn’t really care. All that mattered to her was that she was free.

And it was all thanks to Ryker.

Shaking herself back to the present, she found Max just as she had left her before drifting off down memory lane. “Max, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I wasn’t trying to be deceitful or malicious, I swear. It’s just that – Ryker …”

“Saved you. Ryker saved you. I know.” Max’s eyes swirled with colours and her hand seemed to warm where it rested on Cali’s bent knee. “I told you, I understand.”

Despite herself, Cali teared as she threw herself at Max. The much smaller woman was predictably stronger than she looked and she didn’t even sway under the force of Cali’s affection. “You’ve saved me too.” She whispered into the thick mass of red hair.

“Ditto.” Was the whispered response.

Cali laughed, making sure to wipe her eyes before pulling back. “How about I go get Ry’s scythe and give it back to him? He keeps whining about how naked he feels with only one.”

Max rolled her eyes, “Tell me about it. And that would be great. Things are getting a little … heated inside.”

“Oh?” Cali couldn’t hear anything from out here but if she focused on the open threads of the Order she could feel unmistakable tension. Looks like it was her turn to man up.

“And Cali?” Max called after her.

Cali paused and turned at the threshold of the house.

“Don’t worry, you won’t be too outnumbered. Darius will back you up.”

Darius will back her up? Now that was unlikely given his history, but Cali would be lying if she said she wasn’t intrigued.

Ry’s second scythe had been just where she left it – buried in her underwear draw – and she swallowed nervously as she made her way downstairs and into the kitchen. Nobody even noticed her given the decibel of their discussion. Seems everyone had an opinion and everyone thought their opinion was the right one. Backtracking a little, she placed the scythe on the hall table and decided her Order needed a stern talking to first. She had always admired Max’s ability to deliver her often scathing but always honest little speeches. Now it was her turn.

“We can’t do that, man. The IDC has expressly told us not to.” Beyden was saying.

“We have a responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure Max is kept safe and healthy. I’m with Ryker; let’s go hunting.” Lark spoke next.

“I agree.” Axel’s strident voice boomed across the room. “Max is better now. We can afford to leave half of us here and the other half can seek out that chade.”

Diana snorted rudely, tossing her crazy curls over her shoulder, “Yeah, because dividing up worked out so well last time.”

Cali could feel the anger and frustration mounting again and knew Axel wanted to snap back at the paladin of death.

“Maybe this is all a moot point anyway. Hopefully the Ranger Units have found and killed the chade anyway.” Beyden jumped in, ever the peace-maker.

“I don’t think so. None of the chades have matched its description.” Diana pointed out. “They’ve all been your typical filthy, skinny, creepy chades. Not clean and built like you described Ryker.”

“I didn’t say it was built.” Ryker growled.

No, they definitely weren’t the words Ryker had used, but they were Max’s. Seems Max had a wee crush on her pet chade. Not that Cali would ever say that out loud. She liked her head on her shoulders thank you very much.

“Are you going to hover there all day? Or do you have something to add?”

Her Captain’s question was clearly directed at her even though he didn’t turn around. She gulped, hoping he hadn’t heard her internal dialogue seconds before. Yeah, she had something to say; “I disagree with all of you. I agree with Max. We need to find the chade and bring it here – peacefully.” She added. Okay, so her and Max had a lot of things in common and lack of subtlety was definitely one of them.

Ryker spun toward her angrily and actually snarled at her, “What?!”

Not liking being on the receiving end of all that anger one bit, she took a fortifying breath and repeated; “I agree with Max. We need to find the chade.”

Chaos broke out from the peanut gallery; chairs were scraped back as big bodies heaved themselves up, voices were raised in anger and indignation, fingers were being pointed – largely in her direction. She raised her hand for silence and when that didn’t work decided to get in on the whole yelling thing, “That is enough!”

The room quietened instantly and she glared at the whole miserable lot of them. They were all flushed, chests rising and falling, posturing and carrying on like a bunch of children. Max had been totally and completely right – this was no way for an Order to behave.

“It’s enough.” She repeated much more quietly. “Have you all looked at yourselves? Do you see how you’re acting? Do you hear what you’re saying? If your liege was anyone other than Max, do you think this kind of behaviour would be tolerated for even a minute? Do you think any other liege would even ask their paladin’s opinions?”

Mouths opened and closed silently and flushes of anger quickly turned into flushes of shame. “Despite the fact that Max is our liege and we have no right to question her nor any right to defy her orders – it’s Max. Guys, it’s Max. We trust her with our lives remember? We trust her with the whole freaking world for fuck’s sake. We’ve all long since gotten over not believing her when she speaks. We all know that Max is a true miracle. Why are we even questioning her? We should be supporting her and grovelling at her feet for forgiveness.”

Diana was the first to break the silence and stillness, flopping into a chair at the table. “We question her because we love her and we want to keep her safe. Seeing her so ill terrified us.” She held up a hand, motioning Cali into silence. “And it’s no excuse I know, to forget my duty and my pledge. Not for an instant.” She added.

It wasn’t an excuse Cali knew, but given she had used almost the exact same one outside with Max just minutes before, she couldn’t fault her friend – or any of them really. Deciding to move right along, she thought back to what Max had said about Darius. “What about you Darius? You’re being unusually quiet.”

Darius’s hazel eyes bored into hers and she felt a tentative query flash through the Order link. It was almost like he was gauging the depth of her support on the situation. She sent a load of warmth and encouragement back and saw his lips curve in a smile. Max was right; Darius was most definitely on her side.

He shifted, eyes roaming around the room before settling on Ryker. “I agree with Cali. We need to find that chade – and in one piece.”

“What?” Ryker growled.

He held up a hand, forestalling more grumbles and arguments, “I’m not saying I’m fully on board with Max’s theory of a miraculous cure. And I’m also nowhere near convinced this chade is anything but a danger and a menace. But …”

“But what?” Cali asked when he trailed off, not wanting him to lose his nerve now.

He sighed and looked to Diana who promptly stood from her seat across the table and walked over to him. She ran her hand softly through his hair in a gentle but loving caress before claiming the seat next to him. Cali watched him smile again and couldn’t help appreciating just how handsome the man was. “But …” he began again, “Max is right about one thing; I know not all chades are created equally, so to speak.”

“Just why do you sound so sure when you have never mentioned it before?” Their Captain demanded.

Darius ran a palm roughly down his face, “Because Ry, I hated chades with a single-minded devotion for decades. My rage knew no limits where they were concerned. I chose to ignore what I knew in favour of blaming those pitiful creatures. It was easier than focusing on the reason why I felt such hate. But thanks to Max and my woman here …” He picked up Diana’s hand and kissed the back of it, “I don’t have an open wound festering with infection now. I choose not to ignore what I know.”

Ryker crossed those powerful arms of his, making his coat of arms move from the flexing of his forearm and biceps. Looks like she couldn’t help appreciating how handsome Ryker was either. But she was surrounded by the top specimens of masculine beauty on the planet. She didn’t think any red-blooded female would fault her.

“And just what have you been ignoring?” Ryker asked. Everyone in the room seemed to be as equally interested in Darius’s answer given the intent focus on the air paladin.

“I know they can talk. I’ve heard them.” Darius spoke quickly as though he were afraid the words would burn his tongue. Given he had been keeping that to himself for who knew how long, Cali couldn’t blame him.

Talk about your awkward silences, Cali thought. Several pairs of paladin eyes were darting back and forth from Darius, who was now sitting stoically, to Ryker whose brown eyes were boring holes into his second in command.

“You’ve heard one talk? When? Who?” Ryker fired out the questions in quick succession.

“I have.” Darius answered assuredly. “About forty years ago and the who was my brother.” He replied.

That took a little wind out of Ryker’s sails. He was their leader and he had every right to question them whenever something was integral to their liege’s safety but he wasn’t an arsehole. Well, he wasn’t much of one anymore, Cali silently amended. He had sympathy for Darius’s plight and she knew he hated seeing his fellow soldiers and friends in pain. “Will you tell us?” Ry asked instead of demanding.

Cali watched Darius look to Diana and completely disregarding decorum for once, he pulled her right onto his lap and wrapped muscled arms around her. Diana tilted her head, skimming a kiss along his jaw and Cali knew Diana must already know the tale that was about to be told. “Should Max be here for this?” Cali queried, although she figured Max must already have a suspicion at the very least given her encouragement to enlist Darius for aid.

Darius’s smile was a little strained as he looked at her, “She already knows.”

Ryker grunted at that, “Of course she does. Damn woman.”

Darius’s grin widened in genuine mirth now, “Well she did dip into my soul, remember?”

Another grunt from Ryker but his shoulders did relax. His eyes never left their intent scrutiny of Darius and Cali found herself leaning forward a little, eager to hear more tales of chades who weren’t chades. The return of Ry’s scythe could wait for a few more minutes.

“I know I haven’t talked about my brother much and none of you have asked – a fact I very much appreciate. I also know I haven’t needed to tell you about him; you all already know the history of the Order of Magne.” Darius began and Cali found herself nodding along with the others.

Everyone knew of the great Order of Magne and the most famous and prestigious warden in all of their history. The loss of the Air Warden to the path of the chades had been a shocking and scandalous blow to their society. It had been the talk of the town for years – behind closed doors of course. Darius’s liege and brother was never mentioned again in polite society. It’s just the way it was. Once a warden turned rogue they were written off, forgotten like they had never existed. All their years of sacrifice for the world and service to their domain vanished and dishonour was wrought to their family line. Cali had always thought it to be the height of cruelty to those left behind. Darius had been carrying around the burden of that stigma for years and although the IDC had chosen not to expunge his official title of Sir Darius, there were few who bestowed the honour of calling him that anymore.

Cali had struggled enough in the public eye with the scandal of her ‘dishonourable discharge’ from her old Order. She couldn’t even imagine how hard it must have been for Darius to continue to function publicly in their world and to hold his head up and continue to act with dignity and honour. Sure, he had a bone deep rage where the chades were concerned. Cali had seen him unleash on the unsuspecting creatures countless times. It was a scary thing to witness given how put together he normally was. But overall, Cali could only applaud how he had held himself together. Many of the other paladins in his old Order had given up entirely on life and on service. She knew Ryker had played a part in tempering that hate by giving him a purpose at the Lodge and a common shoulder to lean on. Ryker’s hate had been just as fierce, she knew. But overall, it had been Darius’s innate strength and will that had allowed him to continue on. It was the same with everyone else in the household too. They were a damn good bunch of human beings.

“My brother raised me when our parents died.” Darius continued his story, “Despite the fact he was only a hundred years older than me and a warden to boot. He didn’t delay his warden responsibilities at all, he just took me with him.” Darius smiled in remembrance. “It was natural for me to pledge my allegiance to him and join his Order. A thousand years of living together, fighting together and maintaining the domain of air together wasn’t enough to stop the inevitable in the end.” His voice was sad but not hard as Diana rubbed her hands down his arms soothingly. “We were here for the Great Massacre but not on the same battlefield as Ry. We were posted where the main council chambers once stood. I was a scholar even back then and somewhat of a historian, so the council had us looking into the Warden Chronicles.”

“The entire council chambers were burnt to the ground weren’t they?” Lark asked, speaking up.

“They were.” Darius confirmed.

“Along with all the records of our history from the beginning of time, including information on custodians and the research into chades.” Lark stated. It didn’t sound like a question but Darius answered anyway;

“That’s correct. Dozens of chades attacked at the same time as the others attacked the training lodge. Anyway, we survived the attack but I think that’s when Charlie started to change. He was always a happy, easy-going sort of a guy. Very modern despite his advanced age. He insisted on moving with the times right down to the changing lingo and slang. But after the massacre he became … quiet. More reserved. He also began drawing on the Order more readily for vitality. It stayed that way for years, before …”

Cali looked away as his voice finally cracked and although she saw Diana turn and place a soft kiss to his lips, she actively didn’t listen to the words of support she murmured in his ear. Glancing around, she noted the same was true of the others. “He came to me one morning, and his eyes were black. There was no colour at all, just deep pools of tar that I could see my reflection in. But he still spoke. He said; ‘help me’. Just that. Just; ‘help me’.” Darius finished.

“What did you do?” Beyden asked quietly.

Darius looked at him with sightless eyes. No doubt he was seeing something other than the room full of paladins. He still answered though, his grip on Diana’s hand looking painful. “I stabbed him in the heart. He didn’t bleed.”

“Then what happened?” Ryker followed up immediately, though not unkindly.

Diana rubbed her hand over his forearm and he sighed, giving her a small smile in thanks for the unconditional support. “I know what I was supposed to do – what I was duty-bound to do. But I just couldn’t do it.” He looked to Ryker, his eyes pleading, “I just couldn’t take his head. I let him go. I took my scythe out of his chest and I … let him go.”

No wonder Darius had been so torn up over the chades. No wonder he had carried around a rage that rivalled even Ryker’s. He had stabbed his own brother in the heart.

Diana’s gaze locked with hers and years of female friendship meant she didn’t need the Order’s link to be able to read her. Diana wanted a distraction so not all eyes were focused on Darius. Well, it just so happened Cali had a doozy of a distraction; “There’s something else you all might be interested in.” She said.

“Maybe now isn’t really the time …” Beyden began.

“Oh, it’s definitely the right time.” She assured him as she rose, feeling several pairs of curious eyes now on her back. It took her mere moments to walk into the hall and return with Ryker’s missing scythe.

“That’s my scythe.” Ryker yelled as he jumped from his chair.

Cali held up a hand, halting his rushed streak across the room. She barely refrained from rolling her eyes – a boy and his toys. “Yes, it’s your scythe. But I want you to wait a minute.”

Ryker stopped but frowned. It was still a little strange to see his frown pull smoothly. She had grown used to seeing the jagged scar pull tautly across his face. “Where did you get it?” He asked.

“I found it outside in the garden.”

“Outside? When?” He queried.

Cali winced, now came the tricky part. She had to explain the circumstances of the scythe and the fact that she had it in her possession for weeks and somehow not receive an arse chewing about it. She sighed, “The day after Max was attacked.”

“What? Why the hell wouldn’t you give it back sooner?” Ryker demanded.

“Yeah Cali. You know how hard it is for Ry to sleep without his binky.” Axel’s cheeky comment elicited a few chuckles which she knew was his entire aim. Trouble he most definitely was but also kind and very perceptive. He was also giving Darius time to regroup and trying to break the tension. Too bad Ryker didn’t seem to appreciate it if his scowl was anything to go by. It was time to come clean.

“Because of this.” She held the razor-sharp blade up where the light could glint off its shiny surface. Ryker took very good care of his blades. She angled it slightly to the left and heard several swift inhales of breath. They had seen the stain on the edge.

Ryker wasted no time in striding forward and practically snatching the scythe from her grip. He fingered the dried blood before asking; “Did you cut yourself on this?”

Her response was simple. “No.”

“I didn’t cut myself and it never touched Max.”

She raised her chin, “I know. It’s from the chade. You nicked it.”

“Chades don’t bleed.” Ryker’s voice was implacable.

“Up until a few minutes ago, we didn’t believe they could talk either.” She pointed out. She heard a chair scrape and saw Darius making his way over to them. Ryker angled it away slightly as if hiding it from view for a few seconds before handing it over to his second in command. Darius also fingered the obvious red stain before lifting hazel eyes to hers;

“You really believe this is from the chade?”

“Max does. She believes her vitality acted as a treatment of sorts, making it more human so it could bleed. I believe it too.” She knew her eyes were as hard as her voice now as she looked toward Ryker. “We need to find that chade.”

“Cali. A word?” Ryker said before stalking from the room.

The scythe had been passed around the room at least a dozen times in the past ten minutes. Not a lot more had been said but tensions were almost non-existent now and there seemed to be some kind of non-verbal agreement that the blood could potentially be from the chade that attacked Max. Cali had no idea what they were going to do about it but she figured Ryker would be holed up with Max in their room for the rest of the day. She received a few conciliatory looks and even a pat on the arm from Axel as she followed Ryker into the main living room. He was standing by the window scrutinising his blade in the midday light. She saw him scratch his thumbnail over the dried blood and watched as the red flaked away.

“Why didn’t you come to me with this sooner?” He asked without turning.

Shit, she thought, what to tell him?

“The truth will do.” His voice was stern as he finally turned, tapping his scythe against his cargo-clad thigh.

“I was worried about the repercussions I guess.” She shrugged.

“The repercussions of what red blood from a known chade would mean to society?” He asked.

She fidgeted where she stood under the intensity of his gaze as she felt heat infuse her cheeks. This was damn embarrassing. But she wasn’t a coward so she raised her eyes enough to meet his. “No. I was worried about the repercussions to you. I didn’t think you would want to know so I didn’t tell you.”

She was unprepared for his reaction. She figured he would rant and rave about duty and trust etcetera etcetera. But instead, a rosy hue flushed from his neck to his cheeks and he suddenly found the opposite wall exceedingly interesting. And then he stuttered. Something the confident man never did.

“You ah, I mean you um … me and you …”

Just what the hell was wrong with him? He was acting like he was embarrassed or … and holy shit, Cal thought. He thought she had the hots for him! That’s what that little school boy look was all about. Oh, this was good. This was real good. Under any other circumstances she would have taken advantage of his sudden awkwardness but now probably wasn’t the time ... probably. Okay, definitely not the time she acknowledged. But she couldn’t wait to tell Diana and Max. “No Ryker. I most certainly am not harbouring unrequited lust for my commanding officer.” She assured him.

“Ah, you’re not?” His chocolate eyes glanced at her before darting away as if scared to see if she was telling the truth or not.

“Definitely not.”

His shoulders seemed to collapse in on themselves, “Thank fuck.” The relief in his voice was palpable … and a little insulting. Before she could tell him so he continued, “Then what do you mean?”

“I owe you Ryker, we all do. I know what you did for me all those years ago. I know you saved me. I figured this was something you didn’t want to hear about given your history and also what it might mean for your relationship with Max, so I just didn’t tell you.”

He scowled. “You don’t owe me shit. No-one in this house does.” And there was the anger she had been expecting all along.

“Ryker –”

But apparently he wasn’t finished because he cut her off. “I mean it Cali. I don’t want to hear that nonsense. You saved yourself by surviving all those years with that bastard and then proving yourself day in and day out at the Lodge. You’ve saved yourself by being a part of this household, this Order, this family. Hell, everybody here has had to drag themselves from the gutters of their old lives. Now I appreciate the sentiment – I really do. But it’s bullshit thinking. Got it?” His voice was stern.

She firmed her jaw and refused to allow his kind words to make their way to her tear ducts, “Yes sir. I got it.”

He nodded. “Good. And that’s the last I want to hear about checks and balances. We don’t keep score here. It’s also the last time you get to keep something from your captain and your liege. Understood?”

“Understood.”

“Good. Now where is that devil woman of mine?”

The next day dawned bright and early and Cali found herself struggling with her morning coffee. Turning her nose up, she tipped the bitter brew down the sink, mourning the loss a little but knowing she was jittery enough and her nerves were already getting the better of her. Not much more had been said last evening on the topic of the chade and Max hadn’t made an appearance. Seems her liege and her captain had things to discuss. The question was; who was going to win and how were they going to solve the dilemma of the bleeding chade?

“Morning.” Max announced looking chipper and her normal self. Well, that answers the question of who won. Cali mused. Max had … naturally.

“Morning gorgeous.” Axel kissed her on the cheek as she passed, earning a dimple-flash from Max and a slap to the back of the head from Ryker who had entered behind Max.

“Stop kissing my woman.” He growled, stalking to the coffee machine for his own morning pick-me-up.

Axel simply smirked as he opened the milk carton and proceeded to drink half the contents down in one breath. Another slap to the back of the head – this time courtesy of Darius – had him choking on a spluttering cough.

“Stop drinking directly from the carton.” Darius warned – for about the millionth time since Axel had moved in.

Cali shook her head. This had become their morning ritual. It was pretty darn great. She caught Max’s happy smile and knew the scene of grumpy domesticity warmed her liege as well. Breakfast followed quickly but with none of the tension from the previous days. Although a sense of anticipation did hang in the air.

“Let’s all go into the living room. We have things to discuss and we might as well be comfortable.” Max announced as she began clearing the plates off the dining table.

Cali thought it was progress when nobody jumped up in outrage to snatch the dirty flatware out of the custodian’s hands. Liege’s of any description did not clear away plates, let alone a goddess, but Max had made it very clear to them all that she would not tolerate being waited on. They accepted it – to a certain degree. They allowed her particular domestic freedoms such as clearing the table and cooking. She was also still working – writing and illustrating for her graphic novels and earning an income from them. A job outside of caring for one’s domain was absolutely unheard of in warden society. Cali knew it made them all the more proud of Max but she couldn’t help snickering over the pained look on Darius’s face every time Max insisted on cleaning or cooking. His handsome face was looking quite pinched now as a matter of fact. That was, until Diana literally gave him a pinch … on his left butt cheek.

“Let it go, my love.” Cali heard her say.

Darius narrowed his eyes for a second, before simply rolling them and walking from the room. Diana chuckled, “His training is coming along nicely, don’t you think?”

Cali laughed, linking her arm with Diana’s as she steered them into the comfy main living room. “It certainly looks that way.” She agreed, in good humour.

It only took a few minutes for the seven of them to be draped over the brown leather and suede armchairs and lounges and for Max to perch herself on the edge of Ryker’s chair. That hint of nervous expectation was back and she couldn’t help glancing toward Darius. She hoped he would be okay with the upcoming conversation. He looked comfortable enough, she mused, with Diana practically in his lap and his arm slung casually over her shoulders, hand playing idly with an errant curl. Diana gave her a small smile and quick nod. She smiled back, relief filling her; Darius was apparently fine.

“Firstly, I just wanted to say thank you for taking such good care of me over the past few weeks. I know it’s not easy for any of you and I really appreciate it.” Max began.

Cali rolled her eyes at that as the others muttered and grumbled and cleared their throats; a paladin didn’t need thanks for performing their duty. Still, it pleased her to hear the acknowledgment all the same.

“I also want you all to know that I recognise how difficult it must be to have someone like myself as your liege.” She raised a hand for silence when objections immediately sprang up. “I’m not a traditional warden or custodian or whatever and I never will be. I don’t want to be. I also know many of you didn’t believe you would ever be in an Order again or at all. So I acknowledge the huge adjustment you are all making on my behalf. I especially recognise how difficult it must be for you to accept all my crazy ideas. I don’t want you all to blindly agree with everything I say, believe me, but I also need to know that you will consider what I have to say seriously. Even if you don’t like it.” She ended, making eye contact with each and every one of them.

Cali noticed the flushed faces of the men, clearly contrite for their lack of faith in Max’s ideas. “You’re right on all counts.” Beyden said, speaking up, “You’re not a normal liege. I never expected to be in an Order and didn’t really want to be, to be honest. And it’s very hard to try and accept new ideas and theories. Seeing you so depleted scared the crap out of us Max. And knowing it happened here? When you’re under our care? It’s shameful.”

“But …” Max tried to interject.

“No buts, Max. It is literally our birthright to ensure no harm comes to you. On top of that, you’re like a sister to me now. It doesn’t excuse our lack of faith in you, I know, but … that chade almost killed you. It took us weeks to restore your vitality and then you want us to try and accept that this chade is some kind of friend instead of a monster. It’s a tall order, sweetie.”

Max nodded, “I know. I know it is. But he isn’t a monster. I think a lot of them aren’t. You saw the blood? I think that’s possible because of all the vitality he took from me. I really, really want to know what he’s like now and what more I can do to help. But that means …”

“That means finding it – him.” Darius said, quickly amending his statement.

Max smiled at him, “Exactly.”

“And how do you expect to do that? What makes you think it will even let you talk? What if it just attacks again?” Ryker asked, shoulders stiff.

“He won’t just attack again – he rarely does. He’s a friend. He’s saved my life more times than I can count. He’s been the one constant presence in my life over the years. I know it sounds strange but I trust him. Even after what happened last time. I trust him.” Her voice was earnest and Cali really wanted to believe her but it was hard to reconcile a ‘trusted friend’ with a chade who had practically sucked her liege dry.

“So how do I prove it to you …?” Max’s voice trailed off and she tapped her fingers rhythmically upon Ryker’s knee in thought. “Holy shit!” She yelled, slapping Ry’s knee and making him wince, “I’m such an idiot. Why don’t I just show you?” She asked. “The IDC is big on demonstrations after all, it’s only fair that you guys should demand proof too.”

“Show us? What do you mean?” Lark asked. He was infinitely curious, Cali knew. Must be because of that giant brain of his.

“We’re all connected right? You can hear my thoughts and I can talk to you in my head. Why don’t I just show you my history with Dex? Let you decide for yourselves.” Max’s idea was met with stunned silence. It was so obvious in its simplicity that not a single one of them had thought of it.

Ryker cleared his throat, “That … that is a very good idea.”

Max beamed at him in thanks and Cali saw his shoulders relax before he leant over and kissed her softly on the mouth. “You are so smart, sweetheart and I am so sorry for my pigheaded behaviour.”

Max gripped his shirt before he could pull back, planting a much longer and much steamier kiss to his lips. “You’re forgiven. I happen to love your pigheadedness.” She pecked his lips again, whispered not quietly enough to be private; “Make up sex later, stud.” She glanced around the room, eyes halting on Darius. “Are you okay with this? I don’t want to upset you.”

He shook his head, “Max, you don’t need to be worried about my delicate psyche. You already fixed that, remember?” He smiled at her. “Besides, I happen to agree with Ryker – it’s a brilliant idea. I really want to see what I’ve been blind to all these years.”

“What we’ve all been blind to.” Axel corrected, obviously not wanting Darius to take the full force of the responsibility for their tight hold on traditions.

Max nodded and took a deep breath, “Ok. Well, no time like the present. Here goes …”

Cali sucked in a breath of her own; one moment she had been sitting on the lounge in the living room and the next she was outside in what appeared to be an empty field. She looked around and saw a very old, very run down planked house and a shed that looked as if one good wind gust would knock it over. She couldn’t see anyone else but somehow she could feel them. Not people, no, she knew what they felt like. This was something different, something … less. But how did she know that? Her affinity was to water, not to people. Looking down she gasped as she saw feet that weren’t her own start to walk in the direction of the house. Legs that were far too short were attached to the feet and hands that were smaller than hers appeared to be attached to her arms.

Cali gaped in confusion for a moment before shaking herself out of her head – or Max’s head rather. For that is obviously where she was. She couldn’t talk and couldn’t force herself to move. It seemed like she was only along for the ride, unable to change the proceedings. Which made sense she guessed; this was a memory, history, an event that had already taken place – there was no changing it. She couldn’t feel the others but figured the rest of her Order were experiencing the same out of body sensation that she was. She also couldn’t hear Max and figured Max couldn’t hear her. Maybe Max was just along for the ride too.

The feeling of unease intensified as the sky seemed to darken perceptibly. She shivered as she looked towards the trees then back at the house, judging the distance and deeming it fruitless to try to make it indoors. It wouldn’t stop them anyway. Sighing, she reached behind her and pulled the handgun from the waistband of her jeans. Checking the chamber and thumbing off the safety she shivered as the shadows lengthened and the ground gave a tremble. Her hand wanted to do the same – she was so fucking tired – but she firmed her jaw and tightened her two-handed grip on the butt of the gun the way she had been taught. The gun was all but useless, she knew that from experience but it brought her a measure of comfort and confidence. Besides, not all predators were phantoms that crept from the earth and the trees. Some were actually human and the gun sure did work on them.

Two pale beings sprang from the trees from one moment to the next – their hair was dark and stringy, their limbs so thin she wondered how they could possibly hold the creature’s weight, and their eyes were dark pits of … despair, she thought, even as their emotions swamped her with the force of a tidal wave. Hunger. Cold. Desperation. Desolation. She reeled from the shock and saw her gun waiver again. Toughen up Max, she told herself.

Cali found it hard to remove herself from Max’s thoughts and emotions. It was like she was experiencing them herself and she kept getting trapped in the tangled web that was Max’s extreme form of empathy. By the Mother, Cali couldn’t fathom living like this, feeling like this every day. It must have been like an endless nightmare for her liege. Forcing herself to stay as removed from Max’s mind as she could, she focused on what she was seeing instead. She was a bystander here, nothing more, she reminded herself.

Two chades made their way slowly but surely toward her, never picking up speed but never breaking stride. “Stop!” She yelled. Nada – no response. “Look, I know you guys are hungry but I am NOT food, ok? Not food!” Max rolled her eyes at herself. Why did she persist in trying to talk to them? They never listened and they never responded. She wasn’t even sure if they could understand her. Sick of wasting time, she decided to pull the trigger.

The bullet found a home dead centre of the phantom’s chest … but it didn’t stop. It didn’t react and it didn’t bleed either. Shit, shit, shit, Cali heard Max chant to herself as the first Chade reached her, grabbing her with frozen fingers that she swore she could feel down to her very bones. Max executed a quick knee to the genital area and though she was released briefly a second pair of hands grabbed her from behind. She thrashed futilely for a few seconds before finding herself caught in her own reflection from the black mirrored eyes directly in front of her.

Cali cringed. Max looked so young. Perhaps no more than twenty or so but lines of fatigue and strain already marked the young face. She saw hopelessness flash in her eyes for just a second before stubbornness replaced it. And there’s our girl, Cali thought proudly. Thickly gnarled roots burst from the ground beneath them, wrapping tightly around the torso of the pitiful creature in front of her. Its mouth opened silently as it was pulled to the ground and held securely. The arms behind her loosened as twin screeches met her ears. Pulling away forcefully, Max spun and saw the two magpies swooping and diving, aiming their sharp claws at the phantom’s vulnerable eyes and face. Bullets may not be effective against her enemies but her creepy X-men powers sure were.

Her two flying saviours squawked as they were batted to the ground by the now pissed off gothic wannabe. Oh fuck. It always hurt worse when they were pissed, Max knew. Its mouth gaped open unnaturally wide and even though she was now a few metres away, she could still feel that terrible pull, that tugging on her insides that left her bereft, sick, and with no energy.

Cali could do no more than gasp as the chade began to suck the vitality out of Max. The pain – oh Gods, the pain! It was crippling in its intensity, bitter in its coldness, and the rapid loss of energy felt like she was bleeding out even though she wasn’t losing a drop. Cali felt Max’s knees slam into the hard earth, rocks and debris biting into her even through the denim jeans she wore. The chade moved closer and the ferocity of the attack increased. Max slid sideways, crumpling in the dirt and just as her vision began to darken, horrifying Cali from her vantage point, the pain suddenly stopped.

Max watched through bleary eyes as a tall, lean man with straggly black hair much like the phantoms, forced the one attacking her to its knees before swiftly twisting its neck. She couldn’t hear the crack but swore she could feel it as its neck broke and it disintegrated into a shower of water droplets. A shadow behind her unexpected rescuer caught her eye and she yelled a garbled warning. He spun, wielding a machete and decapitated the creature before it could so much as touch him, a freezing wind the only sign it was ever there.

Forcing herself to her knees, she was just about to ask for a hand up when she noted the paleness of the man and the way his feet seemed to bounce off the ground instead of stepping on it. She had one second to make out a black iris through a veil of black hair before he turned abruptly, moving away from her.

Her rescuer was one of them.

But how was that possible? She had never met a nice one before. Determined to learn more she shouted at his retreating back, “Hey, wait!” He didn’t stop. Desperate now, she tried to rise only to fall on her arse. She knew it would be days before her normal strength would return. “Please.” She yelled anyway.

Cali was surprised that it was the ‘please’ which made the strange chade halt. For indeed, there was no denying it was a chade. This must be the Dex Max had been trying to tell them about. It had saved her life, of that Cali had no doubt.

“Please. Will you help me?” Cali heard Max utter, almost in a whimper, which was odd because Max wasn’t the whimpering type – even when she was at Death’s door.

The chade half turned again, being very careful to keep its face hidden in the shadows and behind that black hair, she thought. And Cali realised why Max was playing up her femininity and vulnerability. Seems the chade was a gentleman. The thought absolutely blew Cali’s mind. Chades didn’t rescue people, they didn’t just walk away from a vitality buffet, and they sure weren’t gentlemen.

“Get yourself a proper weapon. And some proper training!” It growled before turning again, leaving Cali even more flabbergasted. It talked!

“Wait! What are you … what am I?” Max screamed at its retreating back. The desperation in Max’s voice damn near broke Cali’s heart. So alone. She was always so alone.

The scene changed within the blink of an eye and Cali found herself in a carpark instead of a field. This must be a different memory, she realised. Cali watched keenly but far from impassively as the four chades attacked her tiny little friend. Max held her own a little longer this time and Cali saw that she wielded a machete just like the odd chade from before. Decapitating one and incapacitating another, Max was brought to her knees by the other two before her mysterious saviour swooped in, promptly killing all remaining three. But instead of leaving like it had the first time, Cali was horrified when it laid its cold, lifeless lips over Max’s and pulled the vitality from her. It didn’t last long, but long enough for Cali to feel Max’s sense of betrayal down to her bones. The chade laid a hand briefly on Max’s shoulder – an apology? – before streaking away.

What followed next was another half a dozen of Max’s memories. They played out much the same but Cali could see the progression of Max’s skills and the control over her elements as time passed. She could also feel the decline in Max’s health; the fatigue, the headaches, the seizures. It was debilitating. But Max had well and truly learned to take care of herself as much as she could with no knowledge of wardens and paladins and energy exchanges.

By the fourth memory, Max had her Japanese tanto sword and had successfully kicked some serious chade butt! She hadn’t been lying about the martial arts training. In every memory, her unlikely saviour appeared. Sometimes on its own and it would simply take vitality from Max but more often than not, it always saved her – before then taking a hit of Max. Cali couldn’t help but start to feel more and more comfortable with the chade and a feeling of recognition even began creeping in – especially when the chade planted its lips over Max’s. She also couldn’t help noticing what Max had been trying to tell them; the chade looked less pale, its hair shinier and healthier, and its muscles more defined after every ‘feeding’. Although it was always very careful to keep its face hidden so Cali couldn’t tell the effect Max’s energy had on the chade’s black eyes. But she had a strange feeling that those would change too.

Well, fuck. Looked like Max was right.

Again.

In the final trip down memory lane, Cali could feel Max’s exasperation and she even shared it. This was getting ridiculous! She had been walking back to her miserable excuse for an apartment after a quick trip to the shops when her friendly phantom had grabbed her from behind and laid those icy lips of his over hers. She had struggled briefly in reaction before recognising the hold … and the lips. She had relaxed as much as she could as she allowed him to take what he so obviously needed. Now she was sitting on her arse on the side of the road, watching his retreating back as he ambled away.

“Excuse me, phantom boy! A hello or a thank you would be nice.” It had been over a year since their last encounter as she had largely been out of the country. He slowed but didn’t stop. Max knew it cost him to turn and walk away. He desperately wanted to keep consuming her energy until there was nothing left to take. But he never did. He was strong.

“This is getting a little ridiculous, don’t you think? We’ve been playing this game for years now. Why won’t you talk to me? You did that first time.” Nothing but silence met her question and she sighed. “Fine then. Will you at least let me have a proper look at your face? You always hide from me – you don’t need to. Please don’t be ashamed of what you are.” She saw his shoulders move as if he was sighing too and an almost imperceptible shake of his head. A response! He had just responded! Wishing her legs weren’t like jelly from being sucked on just moments before so she could actually stand and walk over to him, Max continued;

“How about your name? Do you have one? I’m Max, remember?” Cali found herself smiling at that. Max had been sure to yell her name at this unique chade every time she saw it. How could it not know Max’s name?

“Well, I’m not just going to keep calling you The Friendly Phantom. How about Dexter? It’s a new show on TV about a likeable serial killer. It fits you perfectly.” Lean but masculine shoulders stiffened at that and Max smiled when he actually half turned. Is it possible he still had an ego in there somewhere? “Well, you do try to kill me nearly every time we meet but you also save me too. I like you. So Dex it is. Unless you have something else in mind?” She cajoled.

Cali watched from Max’s vantage point on the ground as the chade began to walk away without further acknowledgement. Before it could reach the trees and disappear from view, Cali felt Max struggle to her knees;

“Dex, wait!” The chade stopped and half turned again showing it was listening. “Will you come back soon … please?” The waiver in Max’s voice turned Cali’s heart over. The pure loneliness and the hope that her one familiar person in the whole world wouldn’t abandon her could be heard in every syllable. The chade must somehow have felt it too, for he actually turned fully.

He lifted his head and for the first time in all of Max’s memories locked his dark eyes on her. He bowed his head as if in deference, and certainly in assurance, before he turned and puffed away in a gust of air.

Cali barely registered the happiness and satisfaction Max felt upon the acknowledgement. She was too busy reeling from the realisation that this chade – that Max’s Dex – was Cali’s one-night stand.

No. It wasn’t possible. Cali’s mind was reeling – as was her stomach – and she fought to hold onto her breakfast when it decided to charge its way up her oesophagus. There was no way she had just seen what she thought she had seen. Forget the astonishing fact that some chades were actually not all bad, but that fleeting look from the tortured handsome face of the chade resembled her mysterious stranger from her one-night stand too much to be called coincidence.

Her stranger had a sharp jaw that held at least a day’s worth of stubbled growth, had long black hair to his shoulders and deep, dark hazel eyes. He stood at least four inches over her own five foot eleven and although he had definitely been lean, there had been rigid muscles outlining his entire rangy frame – including a very nice washboard stomach. He was clean, smelt like fresh air, and although his clothes were a little worn, they were definitely not rags. He did not, in any way, shape, or form bear any resemblance to a freaking chade! So okay, he was a little pale Cali thought. And quiet, in fact he hadn’t said a single word during their entire encounter. But that didn’t mean he was a chade! There had to be another explanation. Her mind was playing tricks on her after the whirlwind tour of Max’s chaotic head, that’s all.

The continued tense silence in the room was enough to bring her out of her insane introspections. Instead of a bunch of stunned faces staring at Max as Cali assumed – I mean, damn, that was a lot take in – there was a bunch of stunned faces staring at Darius instead. Ryker, Diana and Axel were looking at Darius as if he were a bomb about to explode. Lark and Beyden had the same deer in the headlights look that Cali bet she herself sported and Max was a little pale perhaps but Cali felt it was more nerves from their reactions than being unwell. She was frowning at Darius in confusion, her oceanic eyes darting around the room, gauging the other occupants. As for Darius, well, he looked like some kind of statue; still, silent and carved from granite.

A gambolling Zombie tripping over his own feet as he rushed into the room dragging his stuffed bunny succeeded in breaking the strange spell in the room. People shifted their attention to the pup automatically and he dropped his favourite toy, racing to Max and pressing against her legs. Seems the little guy picked up on the tension too.

“Darius? Are you okay? I’m sorry, that was too much. I probably should have censored more. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Max’s quiet voice rang with sincerity and finally had Ryker moving. He draped an arm around her shoulders, rubbing reassuringly.

“That’s not it, Max. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re amazing,” he kissed her quick but hard, “absolutely amazing.”

She smiled a little, picking up Zombie and patting his fuzzy head. “What is it then?”

“Charlie.” Diana replied, voice full of shock. “That was Charlie.”

Cali frowned. What was Diana talking about?

“Huh?” Was Max’s response.

Ryker leaned forward and braced his forearms on his knees, dark brown eyes fixed on Darius, “That chade was Charlie. Darius’s brother.”

What. The. Fuck.

Lark and Beyden looked as startled as Cali felt. Being much younger Lark and Beyden hadn’t had the opportunity to meet the famous Air Warden before. She hadn’t met him either given she had spent most of her first hundred years exclusively in Sweden with her old Neptune Order. Diana had known him fairly well and she knew Ryker’s old liege, Flint, had actually been quite friendly with him. It was how Ryker and Darius had first met. Cali wasn’t sure how Axel had known Charlie but he obviously had, at least enough to recognise his face for his blue eyes held sympathy as they looked at his fellow knight. Max’s mouth was hanging open as she looked from Ryker to Diana to Darius. Cali knew just how she felt. She hadn’t just screwed Darius’s long lost chade brother … had she?

“Your Charlie is my Dex? Are you sure?” Max asked in disbelief.

“I’m positive. That was Charlie.” Darius spoke for the first time and although it waivered just a bit, it was also strong and confident. “Unless your memory wasn’t accurate?” He asked and Cali didn’t know if it was hope or fear she could hear in his voice.

Max shook her head, “I didn’t change anything in any of the memories – I promise. That’s what Dex looks like.”

Darius swallowed and Diana tightened her grip on his hand, rubbing his arm soothingly much as Ryker had with Max. The couples sure had become tidy little units.

“But this is a good thing isn’t it?” Lark asked. “I mean; we all saw it. That was no ordinary chade. It helped Max over and over again. I don’t doubt that she would be very dead now if it weren’t for that chade.” He winced a little at that, “Sorry honey.” Max waved away his concerns with a flick of her wrist and Lark continued, “The fact that it’s your brother is just a bonus … right?”

Everyone looked at Darius, “Yes. No. I guess. Hell, I don’t know what it is.” He turned to his lover, “Charlie is alive.”

Diana smiled as she cupped his face, placing a tender kiss to his lips that had Cali turning away. It just seemed too intimate to intrude. “Yes he is.” Was Diana’s reply.

“Alive and not an arsehole phantom.” Max pointed out, reverting to her old title for the chades.

“But still a chade who almost killed you just a few weeks ago right outside these doors.” Axel pointed out, though not unkindly.

“But he couldn’t help it! It’s been over a year since we last met and I know now because he’s had a bit of a recharge he’ll be much more human again. He –”

“Why don’t we leave it at that for now? I think we should take some time – process. We have plenty to think about and plenty to talk about.” Ryker declared, interrupting Max before she could get too wound up. He stood, knowing he would be obeyed and at ease with it. “Take the day, all of you. There’s nothing on until the day after next when Max has to give her little show for the IDC.”

Max snapped her jaw shut, glancing at Darius one more time before nodding and scooping up a now wriggling Zombie. She passed him over to Ryker before taking his hand and leaving the room – after a touch to both Diana’s and Darius’s shoulders in support. Cali was so grateful she could have planted a big, sloppy one right on her captain’s lips. As a born potentate he was the only one of them able to maintain the bond among the Paladins in the Order without their liege’s assistance. No doubt he could also pick up on the turmoil and confusion roiling inside his team.

Process, Ryker said. How was she supposed to process the possibility that she just might have had sex with one of the most respected and honoured wardens in their history? A warden who just happened to be the brother of one of her best friends as well as her comrade in arms? Oh, and she shouldn’t forget that other little gem … he was a friggin’ chade.

Cali held her breath as she dived under the waves, popping up well past the breakers – she had excellent lung capacity. She began kicking strongly directly out to sea until she figured she was past the morning current and the weak rip that was present today. She then turned left and began swimming parallel to the shore. She was a little late this morning because she hadn’t seemed to be able to open her eyes. It was unusual for her because she was a morning person in general – well, after her morning coffee anyway. But lately, she had seemed more tired than usual. Although with the revelations yesterday, was it any wonder she’d had a hard time falling asleep last night?

A chade. She’d had sex with a chade. She had rolled Max’s memories around and around her head endlessly but no matter how she twisted the information, there was just one conclusion; the chade was the man she had slept with five weeks ago. But chades lost all bodily functions like bleeding, sleeping and eating. She sure as hell had never heard of a chade getting an erection before and her mysterious stranger had one impressive erection. He had also given her the best orgasm of her life. And how typical was that? The best sex of her life and it was with an abomination. She had managed to find the only male worse than Stefan.

She laughed, almost sucking in seawater and reminded herself to focus on keeping her strokes even as she thought back to her night of bliss. He had looked healthier and not as sinister as Max remembered but then he had been hopped up on Max-energy hadn’t he? The totally insane notion of sleeping with a chade aside, she had to remember that this was also the person … thing … that had almost killed Max by taking her life-force. So what if he was Darius’s brother and had somehow been fighting off going full dark-side for years? He had hurt her liege and that made him her enemy. Goddess, she was such a mess. She hadn’t talked about any of this with the others. She hadn’t even told Max or Diana that she had gotten laid last month. Max had been so ill and they were all busy placating the IDC and ensuring Max returned to full health that girl talk seemed like small potatoes. But maybe talking about it would help clear her head.

Letting the water lull and soothe her frayed nerves, she lost track of time and distance. The water was like that for her; her comfort and her happy place. When she felt the water suddenly cool by a couple of degrees, she raised her head frowning. Although she couldn’t actively manipulate water like a water warden could, she could communicate with it to a degree and it with her. A sudden drop in temperature was usually a warning. Glancing around she saw that the shoreline was a mere dot in the distance. Damn, she must not have stayed parallel to the coast as was her rule and she had swum further than she thought.

Swapping from freestyle to breast stroke so she could watch the land more clearly, she paused for a moment, heart in throat when movement to her left caught her attention. The familiar sight of a grey dorsal fin threading through the water had her relaxing though. She smiled, treading water as she waited for the dolphin to come closer. Ever since Max had arrived, she had been sharing the ocean almost daily with the gorgeous creatures. They never came too close – she didn’t have an affinity with beasts after all – but they certainly were playful. Swimming circles around her, rolling and diving. She had been surprised by how large they were and it had made her a mite nervous at first but the water was like family and she knew it would provide her a measure of protection. As the fin moved steadily closer, she began to feel an itch between her shoulder blades – that was a big fin. Too big, in fact to belong to one of her mammalian friends.

The animal swam straight past her as she remained too frozen to do anything but breathe shallowly. The shadow underneath the water that accompanied the large fin was terrifyingly massive. That shadow was a shark. A really, really big shark. Sure, the water would never allow her to drown, that would be utterly impossible for a water paladin. But shark food was a whole different ballgame.

‘Max, Max, Max!’ She screamed through the Order link.

‘Cali? What’s wrong? Where are you?’ Came the immediate reply.

‘I’m in the ocean. I was swimming. Please help me!’ She yelled frantically.

‘I’m coming. We’re all coming.’ Max’s voice assured her. ‘Tell me what’s wrong.’

‘A shark. There’s a big freaking shark circling me. Please …’ She wasn’t too proud to whimper. She was bone-deep terrified. The water lapped at her gently as if reminding her of its presence and Cali calmed a little, noting the shark hadn’t attempted to come any closer.

‘A shark? Cool. What kind?’ Max’s voice was excited and Cali thought she might just have to kill her when she reached shore.

‘The big kind, you crazy woman! Please Max, focus.’

‘Okay, relax Cali. I’m sorry.’ She soothed, obviously sensing her distress. ‘I’m just stepping into the water so I can focus on the shark and speak with it. It’s all good.’

A splash had Cali squeezing out a thin scream but the beast didn’t come any closer. It was just flicking its tail. Was that good or bad? ‘Max?’

‘I’m already on my way, Cal.’ The deep voice was slightly accented and belonged to Beyden. ‘Max is calming it and you’ll be safe with me when it senses my presence.’ He assured her.

‘Why isn’t Max coming?’ It wasn’t that Cali didn’t appreciate Bey’s help and just as the water would never hurt her, it would be extremely unlikely for an animal – any animal – to want to hurt Beyden. But it sure would be nice to have a goddess in the water with her.

‘Because Ryker is being a big baby.’ Came the reply from her liege.

‘Because Ryker is being sensible and not allowing his woman anywhere near one of the best predators on the planet.’ Came the reply from her captain.

Cali couldn’t fault Ryker for his protectiveness but she was barely holding herself together here. She was well acquainted with lots of marine life and although she’d had a few bluebottle stings and some near misses with a sting ray or two, she had never had a close encounter with a shark like this. And certainly never one this big. Treading water and making her movements as tiny as possible, she squinted to track Beyden’s progress. He was making his way to her quickly, his big body moving smoothly through the water and Cali forced herself to keep her eyes on him even though she wanted desperately to know what the large sea creature behind her was doing. Bey was an accomplished swimmer and although he was by no means as fast as her – none of them could beat her in the water – he was still faster than most.

“Beyden!” She yelled breathlessly and launched herself at him the moment he was within reaching distance. She twined her arms and legs around him and did a fair impersonation of an octopus.

He chuckled a little but his grip was firm. “It’s okay, Cali. He’s not going to hurt you.” He turned to get a better look at the shark and she held on tight, not willing to give up her saviour. “Wow! Would you look at him. It’s a Great White. Isn’t he gorgeous?”

Cali lifted her head and shuddered at the sight of the huge dorsal fin and the tip of the tail peeking out of the water. Gorgeous is not what she would use to describe the terrifying animal. “Beyden, can we please go?” She asked.

“Huh? Oh yeah, sure.” He released her but she held on. “Cali, you’re going to need to let go if you want us to swim back.”

Did she really need to? The man was a giant. He would be strong enough to drag her cowardly butt through the water all the way to shore. And then he spoke again and Cali couldn’t release him fast enough;

“I just want to touch him first. Hi big boy. Aren’t you handsome …” He practically cooed as he moved slowly toward the shark.

She almost pissed herself when Beyden dived beneath the water to pat the one animal that hadn’t needed to evolve since the time of the dinosaurs. That’s how much of a perfect predator it was. The only thing that stopped her was that myth about sharks being attracted to your urine. She never peed when she was swimming.

Beyden’s head popped up, long hair slicked against his bare shoulders, grin a mile wide. “Wow. That was incredible. He must be at least five metres long. Do you know how old he must be to get that big?”

Bloody hell. He sounds like he’s talking about a kitten instead of Jaws! And she’d thought Beyden was one of the saner knights in the house. Illusion shattered. “I’m very happy you made a new friend but perhaps we could move along …?”

He sighed and looked a little longingly toward the shark that now appeared to be swimming in happy circles around them. “Of course. But considering how private it is at the moment … what’s up with you anyway? I know yesterday was a doozy of revelations but I thought we were all starting to get used to it by now.” Beyden commented.

“What?” Cali asked incredulously, eyes never leaving that huge dorsal fin. “Can we not talk about this now? There’s a huge motherfuckin’ shark within spitting distance.”

Beyden’s interesting amber eyes narrowed, “You shouldn’t swear like that, Cali. And I told you, he’s not going to hurt us. Max has spoken to him and he’d never hurt me anyway. He was more curious than anything. You’re pretty far out and this is his territory. You’re in his home, not the other way around.”

“Yes, yes. I know. I’m much further out than I thought I was. I was distracted.” She spoke quickly trying to get Bey moving. They were treading water and although she could do it all day with no problem, she really, really wanted to get out of the water.

“That’s my point; it’s not like you.” He pointed out.

Was he really going to continue to talk like they were at Sunday lunch? “I know it’s not. I just have a lot on my mind. I had a one-night stand a little while ago and the chemistry between us was insane. I can’t stop thinking about him.” She explained rapidly as she began to move. Hell, she’d tell him anything if it got him moving.

“Oh, well. I’m ah … probably not the best person to talk to about that.” He stuttered out, flustered over her blunt sex talk. “Let’s get back to shore and you girls can do your thing.”

Halle-fucking-lujah.

She lay sprawled on her back like a dead thing, arms flung wide. She had just survived a massive shark attack! And as soon as her heartbeat returned to its normal rhythm she was going to congratulate herself on handling the situation with grace, courage and aplomb.

Slurp! Cali screamed, a real honest-to-goodness scream as a wet tongue began enthusiastically licking her face. “Zombie!” She yelled, pushing the bouncy baby off herself. She didn’t have the nerves for this shit.

“Cali. Don’t be mean. You scared him.” Max’s voice came from directly above her.

“I scared him? I just survived Jaws out there! My nerves are raw.” She cried dramatically.

She didn’t need to see Max’s eyes to know she was rolling them. “Sheesh. And they say I’m dramatic. Bruce didn’t even graze you.”

Cali popped up, scowling fiercely. Only Diana and Max were left on the beach, the others apparently not finding her near brush with death noteworthy. Miscreants! “Bruce? Bruce? You did not just call that killing machine Bruce.”

“Sure she did. You know, like the shark from ‘Finding Nemo’.” Diana added, helpfully.

Max nodded eagerly, “How do you think I got him to play nice? I told him; ‘Cali is a friend; not food.’”

“Like the shark from ‘Finding Nemo’.” Diana felt the need to add … again.

Cali gritted her teeth, “Great.”

Diana finally laughed and sat down next to her, pulling her upright. “I’m sorry sweetie. I know that must have been terrifying. Why you insist on swimming so far out there alone though …”

Cali sighed, “Yeah, yeah. I was just trying to clear my head. Oh, come here Zombie. You look pathetic.” She told him, and he did. He was sitting morosely at Max’s feet, head down, avoiding all eye contact, successfully making her feel like a monster; his master was teaching him well. He perked up immediately, tongue coming out in a doggy grin as he flopped his way over to her. She smiled as she rubbed him all over, making his back leg twitch.

“Considering we’re alone and this is our last free pass until we need to start socialising with the IDC again, how about our belated girl talk?” She suggested. They were due to head over to Caspian’s tomorrow for Max’s little demonstration of her powers. She was going to prove that she held domain over all seven elements in front of the entire IDC, all their paladins and any other wardens who wanted to attend. Max was absolutely mortified about the whole thing.

“Oh, yes please. Anything to take my mind off that ridiculousness.” Max sat herself down on the damp sand too.

“Okay … that weekend I had off and I went up north? Well, I got me some action.” She revealed, immediately receiving looks of wonder and censure. The wonder was easily interpreted as the desire for gossip, and the censure was no doubt due to the fact that she hadn’t volunteered the gossip before now.

“Action as in dance-floor-dry-humping action? Or action as in D-in-the-V action?” Max asked immediately.

Cali grinned. Oh yeah, this is exactly what she needed. Why had she waited so long to share this? “Scenario number two.”

“What?” Max squealed as Diana offered her a comradery punch to the arm. “I told you there was something different about you. It was post-orgasm haze. How come you haven’t said anything before now?”

“Because I felt like shit, that’s why. I was getting my rocks off and you were getting sucked dry.” She explained to Max.

Diana shrugged at that, “I was getting my rocks off too ... and technically Darius was getting sucked dry.” She winked salaciously.

Cali choked, trying to breathe through her laughter. Oh, they were all so bad!

“Well, don’t keep us in suspense.” Max prompted once she stopped snorting in hilarity, “Did you pick him up at the club?”

“No actually. I was calling it a night when I kind of just stumbled upon him near the hotel.” She admitted, hoping they didn’t think she was a wanton slut.

“Really? He must have had some great pick-up lines to hook you then.” Diana was stroking Zombie’s belly making the pup’s bi-coloured eyes slide to half-mast.

“Ah, he didn’t actually say anything at all. It was just …” She made a noise like an explosion and blew her hands apart, “Instant chemical reaction. It was crazy.” And it had been.

“Lust in its most purist form.” Max nodded wisely.

“Exactly.”

“That level of lust had to have been pretty intense.” Diana commented.

Cali smirked at that. “About as intense as abstaining from the man of your dreams for eight hundred years had to have been.” Both girls sighed in appreciation as she continued, “I can honestly say it was the best sex of my life; passionate and fierce, filled with orgasms and longevity …” Too bad she’d never be getting the likes of it again.

“Oh, wow. How great. There’s nothing worse than going through all the fuss of foreplay only to get a dud at the end.” Max spoke with confidence making Cali think she’d had her fair share of duds in the past.

“What did he look like?” Diana asked avidly.

This was tricky as she didn’t want to describe a certain ex-warden and a certain brother in law. “He was tall and rugged; unshaven, dark hair, hard muscles. He was gorgeous, trust me, but I didn’t spend too long looking at his face. After a brief sprint against the hotel wall, we mainly did it doggy style.”

“Doggy style? Really Cali.” Diana scrunched up her nose.

“And what is wrong with doggy style, princess?” Max demanded. “I love that position and it was certainly a favourite of mine whenever I picked up in a club. That way you don’t have to look at their face.”

“Exactly!” Cali was in complete agreement.

“Why would you want to have sex with someone if you didn’t like the look of their face?” Diana asked and Cali rolled her eyes at her.

“Really, Di? You’ve never done it with a prawn before?” She asked.

“A prawn? What the hell is a prawn?” Diana asked curiously.

“You know; throw away the head, keep the body. A prawn.” Cali explained as Max nodded sagely next to her.

Diana seemed to think about that for a moment before bursting into laughter, “Oh, yeah. I’ve been with a prawn or two.” She continued to giggle, Cali and Max joining in.

“Thanks guys. I really needed this.” She twirled Zombie’s tail around her finger, the pup now fast asleep despite all the feminine laughter.

“You can come to me with anything, anytime. You know that right?” Max’s voice was earnest and seemed to hint at a hidden agenda. Could Max know more than Cali had just revealed? She hoped not – at least not yet.

“I know. Thank you. And how’s Darius doing? I’m sorry, I should have asked before now.” She said to Diana.

Diana smiled. “He’s doing okay. Very confused. I’m not sure he knows what to think, or feel for that matter. He and Charlie were so close and then Darius turned all that hurt and all that abandonment into such a deep hatred. Now Charlie might still be out there and might even be redeemable? He’s overwhelmed.” She revealed. “But not going off the deep end, no worries there.” She assured Max.

Max just shook her head. “I’m not worried about that. He’s as healed as anyone can get. But it’s nuts huh? What are the chances that my Dex is actually Darius’s brother? I mean, I actually met Dex first and now I’m bonded to Darius. Not only Darius but one paladin from each domain. And you all just happened to be in the one household. I don’t know whether it’s cool or creepy.” Max said.

Cali looked at Diana. They both knew what the chances of all that was and they were practically zero unless you factored in a fateful guiding hand. Cool or creepy? Now that was going to depend on the outcome, Cali thought.

Feeling his humanity slipping through his fingers like water, Dex had decided to finally grow a pair and go find Max once more, only to find what appeared to be the entire household piling into two vehicles and driving away. Damn it! Now what was he supposed to do? He could wait here but who knew how long they would be? And he was secretly afraid his newfound courage would leave him. Eyes narrowed, he gauged the speed of the vehicles and decided he could easily keep up with them in his chade state. Spinning quickly, he watched as the trees and the ground blurred as he began his fast movement, skimming the ground like a pebble skimming the surface of a lake. He kept some distance between him and the road, not wanting anyone in the vehicles to be alerted by his presence.

About twenty minutes later he found himself hiding amongst the trees on a piece of property close to where the ocean met the river. He was a little floored by what he saw. Instead of a picturesque beachfront property, he saw a small house that appeared to be undergoing some renovations and he saw land that had been completely obliterated by fire. The ground was scorched so that only a few strong blades of grass could be seen pushing their way through the earth. There were no trees or plants to speak of near the house, and there was a suspicious lack of wildlife. It was far too quiet.

As the two vehicles came to a complete stop, he noticed three men exiting the cottage-like home. His hunger notched up a level when he sensed the shorter man in the middle was a warden – a rather powerful one too. The two muscled men flanking him must be his paladins then, Dex thought. Car doors slammed and he saw even more paladins exiting the cars he had followed. The large black vehicles hid a lot from view but he could make out Max’s shiny red hair and laughing voice and he felt himself relax minutely; he hadn’t irreparably damaged her. His hunger spiked again as her energy radiated from her in waves. It was more subdued and far more controlled than he had ever seen but still unmistakable. It was also like torture to be this near to a source of sustenance and yet be unable to take from it.

He felt his eyebrows raise when he recognised not one but two familiar faces; Ryker and Axel if he wasn’t mistaken. Ryker had been the Captain in the Order of Ember and had served his liege with honour for over a hundred years, he knew. Dex had been fond of Flint, the Fire Warden, and knew the man had regarded Ryker as a brother instead of a servant. Axel was another story. Dex had run into the fire paladin one evening up north in Queensland outside of a local pub. It wasn’t common for wardens to frequent such establishments but Dex had been far from common. It seems Axel’s warden had been uncommon too for she appeared to be in a serious relationship with her sworn paladin. Dex had been more than happy to keep the couple’s secret and had run into them a time or two over the following years. Seeing no sign of Celeste, he assumed the relationship hadn’t continued. It was a shame, for the two were good together but not really a surprise. Intimate relationships between wardens and paladins were extremely frowned upon.

Two more males stepped into view, one huge dark-skinned man and a smaller, leaner man with auburn hair. Dex had never seen them before but there was no mistaking them for anything other than knights. Not only could he make out their scythes in their leather harnesses but their eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, seeking out hidden dangers. Could this be Max’s Order then? Thinking back to that night when a raging bull of a paladin had come at him from the darkness of the house, he realised that note of familiarity was because that bull had been Ryker. What an interesting turn of events – Max was fortunate in her Order indeed and he couldn’t have felt more relief.

Movement by the cars caught his eye and he knew more people were yet to reveal themselves to his pursuing eye. Surely they couldn’t all be Max’s paladins? Although he had an excessively large number of knights in his Order, it was very rare to have more than four. Only the most powerful wardens would need more and although he knew Max was very strange in her energy production, he doubted the council would allow a female warden to be surrounded by so many male paladins. But it was another male paladin who stepped into his field of view. And what he saw made him stagger in shock.

He didn’t register that he could no longer feel the rough bark of the tree beneath his palm or that he had potentially exposed his hiding spot by his abrupt movement. His whole being was focused on the broad, dark-haired man now talking and smiling with the male warden and Max. Darius. That was Darius. If his tear ducts were still functioning, he was certain he would have been bawling. His baby brother, the brother he had raised and cared for and fought alongside for centuries was standing just metres in front of him. He was standing tall and strong and proud too, just as Dex always remembered. Darius had been a joy to raise despite the fact that they had turned out to be complete opposites in the personality department.

After their parents had been killed, Dex had been devastated. He had been fortunate enough to have parents that truly loved him and had wanted children not for the continuation of their species, but because they had wanted to see a piece of each other in the form of a baby. They had raised him on the morals of equality, justice, courage and duty to his domain. They had taught him to fight but also how to read and how to play. When Darius had come along some one hundred years later they hadn’t even blinked when he had been born a paladin instead of a warden like Dex. They had loved him unconditionally. And it was exactly what Dex had attempted to do on their behalf after the tragedy of their passing. He felt he had done a pretty good job of it considering the noble knight Darius had become. Darius had stayed loyally by his side as his second in command, never questioning his choices to fight in the human wars. The International Domain Council had even honoured him with the title of Sir Darius – an honour bestowed on paladins only a handful of times throughout history.

When he had felt himself changing, his greatest grief had been what it would do to his brother. Darius was a rule follower and held his responsibilities above even his own happiness despite Dex always encouraging him to loosen up. The decline into the scourge of their society would not be something Darius could ignore nor forgive. Months before the point of no return, Darius had come to him as his brother, not as his liege, and expressed his concerns. Dex had done the only thing he could think of to preserve Darius; he had dismissed him, acting as regal and as pompous as the rest of the insufferable jackass wardens. Darius had fought for him at first but his continued cold treatment had eventually succeeded in pushing him away so that all which had remained was a warden-paladin relationship rather than that of brothers.

And yet in the end, Dex still found himself seeking his brother’s aid. Looking into the mirror and seeing nothing but black soulless pits for eyes had terrified him. He had still been thinking and functioning; he didn’t know something like that had been possible. His mad dash through the house and outside to find his brother had ended with Darius’s scythe in his chest. But it hadn’t been the curved blade in his body that had crushed him; it had been the look of pure malice and contempt on his brother’s face. It was one of the things he had never been able to forget throughout the long, pain-filled years.

His baby brother hated him.

Dex felt his eyes take in everything about the man in front of him … including the very large and very obvious tattoo snaking its way up his left forearm and disappearing under the edge of his tee shirt. What was that all about? Paladins weren’t allowed to get tattoos like that and Darius certainly hadn’t been the type to want to get inked up. Squinting, he tried to make out what the tattoo was but all he could see from this distance were a bunch of black and grey lines. Looking to Ryker, Axel and the other paladins milling closely around Max, he determined that they all had similar tatts as well. If Dex didn’t know any better, he would say these people were her Order and those dark lines was her coat of arms. But he did know better. Heraldries were never that big – ever.

He continued to watch in a kind of fascinated horror as car after car arrived bringing with them warden after warden. And not just any wardens either; it looked to be the whole fucking IDC! As a chade this was his personal nightmare come to life. Just what the hell was going on here? First was seeing so many familiar paladin faces, then his brother of all people was here, and now the council? Perhaps he had crossed over into some kind of alternate universe or maybe he had fallen down the rabbit hole because none of this was making sense to him.

And then she stepped out from behind the big black car. Tall and lithe, blonde and beautiful, it was the woman who had given him the best night of his life when he had discovered the perk of Max’s energy.

Fuckin’ A, Dex thought, looks like it was the rabbit hole after all because this shit is insane.

Cali greeted the council politely and smiled hello to numerous fellow knights as they arrived. She winced as she looked around, seeing dozens of wardens and paladins filling the sadly destroyed front yard of Caspian’s home. Seeking him out, she caught his eye and gave him a smile that was part sympathy and part reassurance. He smiled thinly back as Leo and Lawson gave her a small nod of thanks. No doubt this spectacle was the last thing Cas would have wanted. Just as Ryker’s house had become a place of refuge for her Order, this little slice of land positioned perfectly between the sea and the river was Caspian’s sanctuary. It was home and the one place he could be free to be with his lover without the scrutiny and hate-filled looks of others. Cali knew he had been completely devastated by the loss of his home and the horrific damage to the wilderness here. He was a guardian of nature after all, and the hurt to the earth and the water was an affront.

She was pleased to see the progress to the house though. Luckily, it hadn’t been written off by the flames Ignatius had propelled at it. There had been a lot of damage to the front of the building but they had all rallied around the likeable Water Warden and his two paladins and had seen to it that it was repaired. Turns out, the men were pretty handy with a hammer and nail. Unfortunately, the land here was another story. Being affiliated with water, Caspian had cleaned up the river and the beach in no time, ensuring the water was fresh and safe once more. But he hadn’t been able to do much about the earth, the trees, or the animals. He wasn’t well thought of by the community as a whole given he was outwardly gay and, shamefully on their part, there had been no influx of wardens offering their assistance. Max had made a start weeks ago before she had been stripped of all of her vitality but had been unable to help since. Although Cali was upset and disappointed on nature’s behalf, it turned out to be the perfect excuse for Max to demonstrate her abilities and prove to all those nay-sayers that she did indeed hold power over all seven domains.

Heading towards her liege, she was abruptly cut off by a masculine body. Had the impressive chest belonged to anyone other than Carlos, Cali would have roamed very appreciative eyes over its surface area. But as it was, Carlos was Marco’s brother – the Captain from Ignatius’s Order. Marco, along with the rest of the Order of Vulcan, had been imprisoned with their liege in one of the ranger encampments. Their stay would not be permanent – unlike Ignatius, who had been given Chade status despite Max’s testimony to the contrary - but she was unsure of their time of internment. Carlos had given her a touch of trouble in the past so she’d been forced to kick his balls into his throat one sunny, spring afternoon years ago. He had heard of her ‘reputation’ and figured she’d be up for some fun. The idiot man had been sorely mistaken. He had continued with his snide comments every now and again over the years but she hadn’t really been bothered by him. Since his brother had been publicly humiliated by Max and imprisoned, he had begun insulting her once more.

“I heard you were out on the prowl a few weeks ago up north.” He smirked.

Cali narrowed her eyes at his comment. Although she was always careful not to flirt or cast her net too close to town, sometimes word made its way around. It was the curse of a small town. Still, she hadn’t seen anyone she knew and she really hoped this slimy bastard hadn’t heard of or seen her midnight pick-up. Not bothering to reply, she let out a yawn instead.

Carlos ignored her pointed non-verbal insinuation that she found him boring and waggled his eyebrows, “You know, if those rejects in that house aren’t man enough to fulfil your needs, then you only have to ask. I’d be more than happy to show you how a real man satisfies a woman.”

Gross! She thought, but smiled sweetly instead, “I’d rather shit in my hand and clap.” His reaction was priceless; a stutter, a red face, and a rocking back onto his heels as if she’d done the testicle-kick once again. Total. Fucking. Idiot.

“You’re nothing but a sad, pathetic little slut. Everyone knows you were just a hole for your former liege to screw and that you’re no good for anything else. This charade that crazy redhead has going on won’t fool the IDC forever.” He spat out.

Cali continued to smile even though the sharp words caused a direct hit to her pride; she had been just a hole to her previous liege. But she wasn’t anymore, she reminded herself. She was a respected and wanted member of the most important Order in the world, no matter what this little twerp seemed to think. She knew there were many others out there who believed Max was a fraud and was conning the IDC for her own nefarious purposes. She and the others had been steadily cataloguing names and faces of those on team smart – aka, team Max – and those on team stupid. No need to guess what team Carlos was on.

“Is there a problem?” The deep and familiar voice of Darius spoke from behind her and Cali turned with a genuine smile this time; he was just so handsome.

“No problem.” Cali assured him. “Carlos was just offering me the opportunity to spread my legs for him … again.”

Darius blanched and coughed, “I think I just vomited a little.”

Cali giggled and took his left hand, leaning her head against his strong bicep. His sense of humour and playfulness was really making an emergence since his relationship with Diana had steadied. He was always the most gentlemanly and noble knight, but somewhere along the way he had lost his sense of fun. Diana was helping him find it again – along with Max of course – and Cali found him even more appealing now, if that were possible. He squeezed her hand and gave her a nudge in affection;

“I believe you have somewhere to be Carlos. As do we.” He offered Cali his arm, “Shall we?” Not even bothering to look in Carlos’s direction, she nodded and allowed Darius to lead her to their Order. “Are you okay?” He asked.

She nodded, “I’m fine. He’s such a cretin. He’s another one we’re going to have to watch.”

Darius nodded, “I know. The list is growing.”

“You’re worried.” She commented.

He looked down at her, “I am. Although Max has made some inroads with many wardens and paladins, the vast majority are sceptical at best and paranoid at worst. Being bound to the likes of us isn’t doing her any favours either.”

“Speak for yourself, Sir Darius.” She chided and loved the way his cheeks pinked. She waved off his apology before it could form, “I know what you mean. Hopefully today will help.”

“Yes. I hope so. But I hate asking Max to do something she doesn’t want to. Can you feel how nervous she is?” He asked.

Cali nodded. She could feel it. She sent a spark streaming through the bond directly to Max who immediately smiled at her. Six other bursts quickly followed and Cali felt her brand give a happy wiggle on her arm as if it were sentient itself. Cali sure hoped that wasn’t the case – that would be too weird. But given how little they knew about the large, moving coat of arms, she guessed anything was possible. Momentarily, Ry gave them all a nod, signalling the time to get the show on the road.

“Ready babe?” Ryker asked Max. Cali noted that he studiously ignored the disapproving hisses and looks sent his way at the endearment. The council had largely chosen to ignore the very obvious loving relationship between Max and Ryker. Cali would like to think it was because they were accepting and supportive of the couple but she knew they had just chosen to pick their battles. Still, Cali was hoping it may open doors for other couples in the future.

‘Do I have to?’ Max’s voice was somewhat whiney through the Order link but what bothered Cali the most was the unhappiness she heard as well. Like Darius, she knew Max hated to be put on display like this. For someone who had felt like a freak and had been punished for being different all her life, it was hard for her to feel comfortable putting on a show in front of others.

‘Unfortunately, yes.’ Darius responded. ‘But we have a treat waiting for you at home to make up for it.’ He added with a smile.

Max appeared to perk up at that. ‘Is ‘treat’ a euphemism for Ryker’s dick?’ She asked. The entire Order snickered at that, gaining great satisfaction from the redness spreading across Darius’s and Beyden’s face. Those two were still so easy to rile.

‘No Max. Jeez. It’s a euphemism for Nutella cheesecake.’ Darius informed her.

‘Oh. Well that sounds just as tasty.’ She smiled impishly.

‘Enough now devil-woman. Show ‘em what you got.’ Ryker said, caressing her arm lightly.

Max nodded and bent down to remove her shoes before walking barefoot into the middle of the yard where the fight had occurred a couple of months ago now. The ground was scorched and dry and she saw many of the wardens and paladins cringe at the carnage. Take a good look, Cali thought snidely. Not a single one of them had come to offer assistance and as a result, the natural elements here had suffered. A few shocked murmurs had her refocusing her attention on Max and she smiled as she noticed blades of grass springing up from beneath Max’s feet as she walked. This was nothing, Cali knew. Max wasn’t even trying yet.

Max had instructed them all to stay a decent distance from her. She was firing on full cylinders now and didn’t need them to recharge her even though she would be using an incredible amount of energy. Being the political genius that he was, Darius had convinced Max that she needed to show off a little to prove a point. And it’s not like she really needed to have physical contact with them to recharge these days anyway. Seems those wicked, moving coat of arms of theirs acted as a conduit within the Order. Max could tap into their vitality through the link alone – although she rarely did. They all preferred the traditional way of energy exchange through close contact. For herself and her fellow knights Cali knew the main reason for that was because it was still a little weird when her brand would start writhing on its own before she felt the familiar tug of Max taking energy. For Max, she knew the reason was simpler; she didn’t like taking without asking.

Max bent and laid a hand on the dry ground. She coaxed the earth gently, encouraging the already formed seeds beneath the surface to stretch and grow. Cali watched as the green stems stretched tentatively toward the sky, unfurling their delicate flowers in a slow display of colour. Lush, green grass sprang underneath the new blooms in an ever-widening circle as Max began walking around the large space. To Cali, it looked like the new life was rippling across the barren earth as if Max had dipped her toe in a pool of water. Native plants and shrubs grew from saplings before their very eyes to line the edge of the property, creating a natural border with the bushland skirting the house. Tufts of spiky sand-grass pushed their way through the sand on the outer edge of the beach and Cali saw Max smile and nod at a few small critters who were tentatively making their way into the new world of green.

Given this was Caspian’s front yard, Max and Cas had talked about his vision for it and Cali knew Max was trying her hardest to bring his dream garden to life. Going by the look of awe and astonishment on his face, Cali figured Max was exceeding his expectations. The earth trembled beneath their feet, but not in warning. No, it rumbled happily as Max commanded large, flat pieces of slate to reveal themselves before coaxing them to settle firmly in a winding path from the driveway to the front door. Damn. Max was even doing their paving, Cali realised.

Cali felt a slight warning resonate through the Order from Ryker, cautioning Max to dial it back a bit. They didn’t want Max revealing the true extent of her powers, hell, they weren’t even sure of the true extent of her powers. But Cali knew Max could literally have snapped her fingers with the same result. The walking around, touching things, deep looks of concentration? They were all for show. Cali felt Max’s acknowledgment of the warning and began winding down her performance by backtracking her steps and scrutinising her work. Her attention seemed to be focused on a still empty pocket of land to the left of Caspian’s house and Cali wondered what she was doing as she slowly made her way over to stand on it.

Max tilted her head as if listening to a voice only she could hear before abruptly turning to the crowd. The gasps were loud and numerous as wardens and paladins alike took in the swirling galaxies that were Max’s eyes. The power and the purpose behind those multi-coloured irises was unmistakable. Max’s eyes pinned Caspian as she spoke and Cali was relieved to hear that her voice was wholly her own – not the scary and awe-inspiring double-layered voice of a Goddess;

“There’s a natural spring running under here.” She said.

Caspian nodded but didn’t move, “Yes, I know.”

“Why haven’t you raised it to the surface?” She asked.

Caspian shifted a little uncomfortably as dozens of pairs of eyes focused on him. He merely shrugged and Cali saw Max’s eyes narrow. Uh oh, she saw a Max-rant coming on. “Could you do it, Blu?” Max asked the elder Water Warden.

A few murmurs abounded this time and Cali figured they were from the lack of formality Max had used when addressing one of the founding members of the International Domain Council. But Cali knew that not only was Blu a relaxed, affable man but he and Max had developed a very good working relationship that was spilling into friendship – oh and flirting. The old bugger was a huge flirt and Max lapped it up.

“Sure. I could do it without moving from my current position. It’s a large spring; deep and fresh.” He revealed – to no-one’s apparent surprise.

“Caspian does not have the power required to undertake such a task, Max. He is bound with only two paladins and although they are both water paladins, all three are young yet.” Verity spoke gently but with authority.

Max’s response was a simple; “Huh.”

“You are not convinced.” Verity followed up, frowning a little.

“No, I’m not. I have no doubt Caspian could part the ocean here if he so chose.” Max stated, her voice completely implacable.

Cali looked to Cas to see how he was taking all this. He looked decidedly uncomfortable for all the attention but could she also detect a small smirk gracing his lips? Leo and Lawson were standing at attention on either side of him but she could make out the laughter in their eyes easy enough. Yep, Cali thought, Cas could part the friggin’ ocean.

“Then why doesn’t he I wonder?” Blu asked innocently – too innocently in Cali’s opinion. He didn’t wonder shit; he already knew.

“Probably because people keep telling him he can’t do it. And speaking about him like he can’t hear us is very rude.” She pointed out. Ignoring the rising grumbling of the crowd, she held out her hand. “This is your home, Cas. If you want this lovely spring to run through your property, then I think you should do it.” She smiled.

Cali held her breath as Caspian warred with indecision. If he was indeed more powerful than even the IDC knew, then this would oust him. She could understand why he wanted to remain in the background but times were changing and it was time to be stepping up to the plate. Apparently, Cas must have thought so to, for he nodded and walked over to Max. In a move almost identical to Max’s, he bent and placed a hand flat on the earth. A low rumbling accompanied his movement and within a few seconds Cali could see water bubbling up and over his hand. Max joined him, pushing against the ground in order to create a hollow depression that became deeper and deeper as it filled with water. Cali shivered in awareness as the spring seemed to reach out to her – and no doubt all of the wardens and paladins affiliated with water. Within moments, the pool was several metres long as well as wide and Cali was itching to jump in for a swim. It looked so fresh and welcoming.

Max stood, dusting off her hands and patting Caspian on the back. “Looks like our job is done. Congratulations. I hope you enjoy your new garden.”

“You have my thanks, My Lady.” Caspian bowed low, showing his respect and appreciation. For once, Max didn’t pull him upright and tell him to knock it off with a roll of her eyes. She simply nodded her head and Cali was proud of her for going with tradition.

But as if unable to help herself, Max grinned and gave everything a final flourish by sending the air swirling up, collecting a few stray leaves and dust particles to billow away on a lovely warm gust of wind straight into the dense bushland behind them. The wind seemed to give a happy howl even as Max blew a kiss after it. A kiss? Really? Why would Max be blowing kisses in the direction of the trees? Cali darted her eyes around, noting that nobody else seemed to notice the strange act and for a second she could have sworn she saw the large outline of a man concealed in the shadows. Her breath caught; the shape and posture of that shadow resonated recognition within her. Holly hell! Was that Dex? Her startled eyes flew to Max and the crazy woman winked at her, flashing her lone dimple in a cheeky – and very knowing – grin.

By the Great Mother! Max’s insanity knew no bounds; playing with a fucking chade with half the warden population in attendance. But what was worse, Cali feared the insanity was contagious, for she couldn’t help the small sting of pleasure his presence brought, nor the large tingle of anticipation.

The anticipation was killing her. They had been home for nearly an hour and it had been spent debriefing and congratulating themselves on showing the IDC what Max was about. The general consensus was that Max had proven she could control all seven elements. People were still loathed to use the ‘C’ word but there had been a lot more respectful eyes in the crowd as it had dispersed. Max had conducted herself admirably, allowing question after question until Ryker had finally stepped in claiming their liege needed rest and recharging. That was partially true, for Max had indeed taken some vitality from all of them but largely her refuelling came from the decimated Nutella cheesecake in front of her.

Cali had declined her slice of the delicious dessert given her stomach was tied up in knots. Dex had been at Caspian’s house, she was sure of it. What he was doing there, she had no clue and if Max knew she didn’t seem to be in a hurry to share with the rest of the class. She was too busy licking her spoon clean – the Nutella whore. A bird chose that moment to land on the windowsill, tapping the glass imperiously with its beak. Cali wasn’t surprised. After Max’s display at Caspian’s she had found it a little tricky to dial back her energy. As a result, new flowers were popping up all over outside and there had been a steady stream of wildlife around the place. Cali saw Max smile at the bird and nod her head before it took flight.

“Were you all serious when you said you wanted to seek out Dex peacefully?” Max asked, completely randomly and startling every occupant in the room.

“Ah, yes. We were.” Ryker answered, brows drawn low.

Max smiled, “Good. Because he’s right outside.”

Large bodies sprang into defensive positions around their liege, scythes were unsheathed and a now very alarmed mongrel pup barked ferociously at everything and nothing.

“Would you all relax. You’re being dramatic.” Max told them.

“Max. You tell us there is a chade outside and you expect us to relax?” Axel baulked.

“It’s not a chade. It’s Dex.” Max’s answer was simple and to her, Cali supposed it was. Max considered Dex a friend and one who was in need. Simple.

“It may be Dex, Max, but he did essentially attack you just weeks ago.” Diana pointed out rationally. Her grey eyes were kind as they locked with Darius’s and Cali saw Darius smile a little, showing no offense was taken.

“He’s not going to do that again. He’s nowhere near as desperate for energy as he was then.” She assured them.

“And how do you know that?” Ryker growled at his woman.

“You mean other than the fact that I can feel it? Because he followed us to Caspian’s place. I may have given him a little extra energy when I was putting on my performance.”

“You did what?” Ryker yelled this time.

“Calm down. You didn’t even know he was there, so clearly he wasn’t there for sinister reasons. And he was starving again. I only gave him a little – just enough so he can hopefully control himself so you don’t go skewering him with your toys.” Max’s voice held clear disapproval.

“Max …” Level-headed Beyden began but their liege stopped him.

“Please try, guys. You all know who he was in the past and you’ve seen what he is from my memories. Give him a chance to become something else in the future.”

They were all wavering, Cali included. As desperately curious as she was to see Dex once again with her own eyes, she was still a knight first and foremost and her loyalty was to Max. If anything happened to her … “How are we going to do that?” She asked.

Max smiled her way in thanks, stroking a now-quiet Zombie. “I have an idea about that actually. I think if I give him my vitality voluntarily, it might just work longer, be permanent.”

Lark, who had relaxed somewhat against the counter, cocked his head in thought, “But it’s still the same energy Max. It obviously hasn’t had long-term effects in the past. What makes you think it will make any difference whether or not you give it to him or he takes it?”

“It worked with you.” She said, looking at Ryker before turning to Darius, “And you.”

Ryker opened and closed his mouth for a moment before deciding not to speak. He frowned instead; “You really think it matters?”

“I do. Remember on the beach when I told you that you had a choice? I honestly don’t think it would have worked if you weren’t open to it. It’s a soul healing guys. I couldn’t dabble with your soul without permission. I’m not the Grim Reaper … I don’t think.”

“And you haven’t tried to give him vitality in the past?” Lark asked, obviously seeking more clarification for that giant brain of his.

“No, actually, I haven’t. I was clueless, remember? I didn’t have the faintest idea what I was or what he was or what vitality was or what –”

“Okay, babe. We get it.” Ryker stopped Max mid-speech.

“I’m not talking about a big healing like with you two,” She said, looking at Darius and then Ryker, “It won’t work – at least not yet.” She added quietly as if it were an afterthought. “But just more of what I did back at Caspian’s. It clearly had no detrimental effect on me.” She pointed to the empty plate in front of her.

The whole room seemed to hold its breath as Ryker paced, kicked at the furniture, and grumbled to himself for a few minutes. “Fine.” He snapped. “But you stay next to me and Darius; Axel and Beyden front flanks; Lark, Cali and Diana; behind. I’m sorry Darius, but if he so much as twitches wrong, he’s dead.”

Darius nodded his head, his grip tight on his scythe and opened the back door without further ado. Looked like they were really doing this. Cali could hardly believe it as they all took up their positions surrounding Max and waited tensely for the appearance of a mythical chade.

No rustling of the leaves or disturbance in the air, alerted them to his presence. Just a shadow growing larger and Cali felt her stomach drop at seeing the usual sign of the chades. She always dreaded seeing those elongated shadows, sliding sinuously along the earth, because they always manifested into cursed creatures that stole and maimed and killed with a single minded purpose. So she was both surprised and relieved when the shadow merely preceded a wiry-framed man in jeans and a tee shirt.

This was going to be bad. Should she confess and tell the others that she had shagged the half-chade on a cheap hotel room mattress? No, definitely not, she decided. After all, she could be wrong. She’d been wrong in the past … once or twice. And even if she wasn’t wrong, he was some kind of weird chade-warden wannabe. His head was probably all levels of fucked up. What was the chance that he remembered her anyway?

She held her breath when those black eyes flicked over her, seeming to fixate on her breasts before rising again to meet her own. Oh yeah, he remembered her all right.

Talk about awkward.

Awkward. Awkward. Awkward. That was all he could think. He’d once been caught bare-arse naked on horseback by a King – a real-live King. But this was worse. The baby brother who detested the very ground he walked on was standing just a few metres in front of him; the one person in the whole world who had tried to help him and who he had tried to kill repeatedly was to his left; and his first and only lover in forty years was standing to his right. Yep, awkward summed up the situation well.

His hands flexed with the need to touch, the need to prove this was all real. What surprised him the most though, was that the need to touch the lovely blonde overrode his need to reconnect with his brother. What was it about the woman that pulled him in so thoroughly? She was physically stunning with eyes of pale blue and hair as golden as the sun. He had thought he had dreamed her up upon awakening from his first night’s sleep in years. If not for the evidence of their passion-filled night in the bedroom – the lovely lady had left her lacey bra behind – he might just have written it off as a figment of his imagination. But it was hard to argue when the proof was staring blue ice-filled daggers at him from mere metres away.

“Dex!” Max yelled, her smile as welcoming as always, and he couldn’t help shaking his head. The woman was unreal. How could she still stand there and grin affectionately at him after what he had done? He wished he could apologise. Hell, he wished he could fall at her feet and grovel for all eternity but something told him any move made on his part would result in him being six inches shorter.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” Her words rang with sincerity and Dex wished he could say the same and for the same altruistic reasons. But the monster snarling in his throat, coaxing him to feed, to take until there was nothing left to take, made a liar out of him. This was a mistake. A big mistake. He couldn’t be around her. Her energy was just too tempting.

“I wouldn’t move if I were you.” The warning came from Diana, the black-haired beauty. She had obviously seen his fight or flight mechanism kick in.

“No running, Dex. We’re going to try something. It’s dinner time!” She clapped her hands and he so wanted to smile. She had often referred to herself as dinner over the years. It used to horrify him but he now kind of found it amusing, a sentiment clearly not shared by the blade-carrying knights in his midst.

“Max …” The growled warning came from Ryker and Dex couldn’t believe the change in the man. After the loss of his liege and Order, Ryker had been a scarred, snarling bastard, deeply entrenched in his own pain and loss. Dex had seen the beginning signs of healing when he decided to join the training lodge and it seemed he had truly moved on, given his protectiveness of Max.

The woman rolled her lovely turquoise eyes and addressed Dex again, “I’m serious. I know you’re starving again and I’m going to feed that hunger. But this time, we’re doing it my way.”

What. The. Fuck? She was going to feed him? And in front of a group of paladins who were quite clearly her bound Order? What was wrong with them? Had they no sense of duty? The very thought of her offering herself to him in front of these honourable men and women was abhorrent to him. He may be an abomination and he may have stolen from her over the years, but he wouldn’t be some charity case to be publicly humiliated. He took a quick step back, only to find himself brought up short by two sharp points. The young-looking auburn-haired paladin and the striking blonde had moved incredibly fast.

“Take it easy, Lark, Cali. He’s no threat. Dex, you owe me. I’m calling in all your chips. You volunteer to let me do this and I’ll consider your debt erased. My Order here will let you leave and you have my word no-one will follow.” She told him. “But, if this works. I want you to stay so we can follow this through.”

Follow what through? He wondered. He really didn’t understand much of what she was saying except for the part where he owed her. He owed her his life and he knew it. Going by the looks of disdain on the faces around him, they all knew it too. He may be a despised creature of nightmares but his sense of honour was ingrained down to his very bones. If Max wanted his acquiescence for a task, then he could do no other than ensure he was pliable. He bowed low in her direction and saw the looks of scorn turn to looks of curiosity. Yeah, the beast has manners. Go figure.

Max didn’t move from behind her wall of muscled protection but he saw the difference in her demeanour immediately. Her eyes focused on him and began to swirl strangely with a rainbow of colours just as power seemed to turn the air electric. At first he felt nothing. The coldness remained, his appetite for energy a furious beat within him still. But imperceptibly, almost too slow for him to be able to pinpoint, the chill started becoming less and less until after a few minutes he could feel a pleasant warmth begin to permeate his skin. He flexed his fingers desperately wanting to touch something – anything – just to see if his sense of touch had returned. And then, blissfully, a warm breeze blew past his face and whipped his hair over his eyes. Wanting to smile and dance in joy, he carefully kept his face the stoic mask it was so as not to appear weak in front of all those soldiers. He did reach up slowly and brush the hair back from his face though. As he did, he heard several gasps so turned to see what they were for.

Him, apparently. Big surprise.

“Damn. Would you look at that.” Axel murmured.

Look at what? But he wasn’t left wondering long as Max grinned at him, “Your eyes aren’t that creepy black anymore. You have irises again. Score! It totally worked. I knew it would work.” Max’s voice was smug but also a little less perky than it had been and Dex noted that her cheeks no longer held the same vibrancy as before. The loss of energy had taken a toll. Nothing like in the past but enough for him to be concerned. Her paladins seemed to be concerned too for they closed ranks, practically cutting off his view of her as they all reached out to touch her anywhere they could. Max rolled her eyes at this but accepted the gift of energy from her Order.

“That is more than enough for the day.” Ryker spoke harshly and firmly, his brown eyes deep pools of distrust.

Dex actually agreed with the angry captain. He hadn’t spent this much time in such close quarters with people in years. The fact that these people also consisted of his brother and lover only made him twitchier to escape. Taking a step backwards, he quickly pulled himself up straight and to a dead stop. Several scythes had been raised and were now flashing sharply in his direction because of his movement.

“You can’t leave, Dex.” Max informed him.

Um, yes he could. And he was sure as shit going to.

“No, Dex. You are not.” Max responded as if she could read his mind. “Things are happening in this world – I’ve shaken a few things up. And although you are ignorant of that fact, you are definitely right in the middle of it. I need you to help me prove a point.” She informed him.

How the hell could he be in the middle of anything? He hadn’t been seen in society for decades. He flicked his eyes to Darius but the taller man was looking determinedly past his shoulder; there would be no aid from that corner.

“Max is right. You’re not going anywhere.” Ryker growled.

Max smiled and gestured him forward but Ryker stepped in front of her. “Oh hell no! It’s not staying in the house.”

It took all of Dex’s newfound control not to snarl over being called an ‘it’. He was very much a ‘he’ as he had proven just weeks ago, he remembered, a little smug with male satisfaction. Not that the ice princess seemed to remember if her blank mask was anything to go by.

Dex saw Max’s eyes narrow dangerously in Ryker’s direction. “Be polite!” She demanded. “Just where do you propose he sleep then? He’s not sleeping outside like some animal!”

Ryker crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s a chade. They don’t sleep anyway. It’s been outside for years. A few more nights won’t hurt it.”

Dex could hardly argue with that but apparently Max could, “He is not a chade and I guarantee you, he will now need to sleep. And I asked you to be polite. Him. Him, not it.”

Dex wished he could tell the curvy little warden that she didn’t need to defend him. He certainly didn’t want to cause rifts within her Order. But if the gleam in their eyes was anything to go by, it seemed Max and Ryker enjoyed the spirited banter.

“How about the gym?” The tall, bronzed paladin whom Dex had never met before, suggested. “It’s got a couple of cots plus a full bathroom and kitchenette. It also has the phone and intercom system. We can take it in shifts to watch over him there.”

Max smiled widely at the suggestion and Ryker gave a grudging nod. “We need it, err him, so we watch him every second of every day.” He said before turning hard eyes toward Dex, “We may need you and you may be something we’ve never seen before. But if you so much as blink in Max’s direction, I will kill you. Her displeasure over your death won’t stop me.”

No, he didn’t suppose it would. Looked like he was staying. Well, shit. He didn’t actually want to be this close to temptation. Knowing Max was just a few steps away from him, he was worried he wouldn’t be able to control himself. The perpetual hunger was assuaged for now but Dex knew it wasn’t gone. It was like an insidious beast, stalking its prey and waiting for the time when the prey was at its most vulnerable to strike. Dex was under no illusions that he was the prey in this scenario.

Even though all his prayers had gone unanswered for years, he still prayed now to the Great Mother that Max knew what the hell she was doing.

He was sitting on the beach, legs outstretched and leaning back on his elbows, more listening to the crashing waves rather than seeing them. It was pitch black and the moon wasn’t even half full. He imagined he must look pretty relaxed, and truth be told, he was feeling pretty damn relaxed. For the first time in more years than he wanted to remember, he actually felt pretty fucking normal. He was breathing fresh salt air, could feel the cool sand beneath his feet, wasn’t desperately hungry or frigidly cold, and … he could feel the air brush gently against his skin. The air – his domain, his burden, his friend – had returned to him.

Tears stung his eyes for a moment before his old friend blew past him, drying them almost immediately and making him want to chuckle. Most people would have no clue whatsoever that the air was actually a prankster. He imagined most humans wouldn’t give any thought to nature’s most miraculous happenings let alone wonder at the eccentricities of her creations. Unlike some wardens though, he couldn’t fault them for it. In his opinion, that was what the wardens were for; it was their burden and their joy. Over his long years, pre-chade detour, it had become more of a burden at times. Modern technology and the population boom resulted in an alarming amount of airborne pollution. And global warming was a real bitch. But the joy was something he had long stopped hoping he would ever experience again and he owed it all to a short redhead and her seven knights.

He had been here a week now and the odd little warden with the unbelievably powerful and unique vitality had been gifting him with her precious energy every day. It seems she had been correct in her theory of voluntarily giving him vitality. It seemed to be working much the same way as a paladin recharging a warden did – a painless, efficient energy exchange that resulted in him no longer presenting as a chade. Not that he was a warden, he reminded himself. No, he would never be that again. But it seemed he was no longer one of those cursed creatures, fated to forsake their birthright. He’d had no idea that a warden could even produce vitality in the same way as a paladin did – that’s what paladins were for. In all his years, he couldn’t think of a single time such a thing had been spoken of and he was sure the IDC weren’t aware either. Surely they would have told everyone. Whatever the mechanism may be, he was treating it as nothing short of a miracle. It was also a miracle that none of the extremely protective paladins in residence hadn’t taken off his head yet.

There were always at least two of them ‘keeping him company’ at all times. He still wasn’t permitted inside the beautiful log house but he had been allowed to roam fairly freely around the property and had been spending a lot of time inside the gym – where he was still sleeping – and on the beach. He figured it must be pretty late given the height of the moon in the star-speckled night sky, but there were still two knights keeping a careful watch on him as he lounged against the sand. The Lady Diana herself and the very young looking earth paladin, Lark, were on duty tonight it seemed.

He smiled, knowing no-one could see the curve of his lips, when he thought of Diana. The stunning knight with the slate-grey eyes and the head full of black springs was just as beautiful and just as fierce as he remembered. He and his brother had first come across her in the Battle of Lisbon over eight centuries ago. It had been funny as hell to see his straight-laced brother poleaxed by a pretty face. The attraction between the two had been instantaneous and undeniable and Dex could admit, he had been a little jealous that he hadn’t caught her attention first. But she’d only had eyes for Darius – a fact Dex had been more than happy to support. Unfortunately, Darius being Darius had been more inclined to follow the rules than to follow his heart even with all of his nudging. Dex had harped on and on about Diana for years to Darius, urging his stubborn, responsible, anal brother to take some happiness for himself. He would have loved to have seen Darius fall in love, make a home, create a family.

And now, after four decades of absence, it seems he finally had. One would have to be blind not to see the love and devotion shining in the handsome couple’s eyes every time they saw each other. They were never overt and he never saw any displays of public affection, but he would bet on his domain that the two were now a unit for life. It was clear the others all knew and accepted the relationship. Although nobody ever really engaged him in conversation and they were careful what they spoke of whenever he was within hearing distance, he had heard a few comments in jest aimed at the lovebirds. An Order followed the lead of the liege and clearly Max had supported the very taboo relationship. It was just another thing he had to thank Max for.

As for the others, some of them had begun making an attempt to be polite, if not friendly. His first few days had been filled with hard, distrusting looks and the sharpening of scythes in his presence. Ryker – the Order’s Captain – had been the worst, and still was. On top of the murderous looks, he also seemed to make a point of delivering a scathing comment whenever they crossed paths. At first, Max had come to his defence but now she merely rolled her eyes as if he was a mischievous puppy. But Dex wasn’t fooled. That man was nobody’s puppy – unless you were Max it seemed. That had been another revelation; Max and Ryker were also obviously involved. And unlike Darius and Diana, they weren’t shy about it. The chemistry between the two was red-hot and the Captain seemed to take great pleasure in throwing him a triumphant look of ‘fuck you, loser’ every time Max touched him. Apparently Ryker knew about all those ‘kisses’ and he wasn’t impressed.

As for the others – Beyden, Axel and Lark – the wary looks of distrust and even disgust had drizzled into stoic looks of soldiers and now even into smiles of greeting. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t admit how nice it was to receive a friendly look. The Mother knew his brother sure wasn’t giving him any. He had been praying night and day that Darius would come and talk to him but thus far his prayers had been in vain. Darius had been on watch duty the same as the others but where they had all shown those looks of suspicion and even curiosity, Darius had been very careful to never actually look him full in the face, let alone the eyes. It was the one blight on his happy new miracle life and it was damn sure breaking his heart.

The only other hiccup he could think of was a tall, slender, hot-as-fuck blonde. Cali; the water paladin and the woman of his dreams. For a guy who hadn’t been able to get a hard-on in forty years, he sure was making up for it. He only had to think of the woman’s name and he popped wood. It was damn frustrating considering he couldn’t do anything about it. Not only was he being watched twenty-four-seven, but she acted as if she hadn’t clamped those sexy legs of hers around his waist and almost snapped him in half. She was exceedingly polite to him, looking him in the eye when she spoke or delivered his meals. But her clear blue eyes were completely devoid of any emotion or recognition. It was pissing him off. All he wanted to do was throw her against another wall and remind her of the intense orgasms they had shared. It was all he could think about. She was all he could think about and it was beginning to get to him.

He’d had plenty of flings before with plenty of beautiful women. So why couldn’t he get this one out of his head? He wanted to think it was simple chemistry and proximity but he knew that wasn’t the full story. The more he saw of her and the more he heard from her, the more intrigued he became. She was funny, bold and articulate, caring and affectionate to her friends, and a damn good soldier from what he had seen from her sparring. When you added on that stellar body and those piercing ‘don’t-fuck-with-me’ blue eyes … it was a lethal combination – to him at least. The other males in the household seemed oblivious to the queen that was right under their noses. There was absolutely no sexual tension between any of them – a fact he was extremely grateful for. Not that any of that mattered anyway, he sternly reminded himself. It’s not like he had even half a chance with the lovely water paladin. He would be lucky if he had half a chance at a life, let alone a love life. And he sure wasn’t interested in dragging anyone else into his chaotic nightmare.

No. He needed to stop dreaming about brothers and blondes and Orders. Brotherhood, partnership and families were a dream long lost to him. But it was darn hard to do when he was sitting on this perfect beach here with the wind caressing his skin and the sound of waves creating a rhythmic melody in the background.

“Hey man.”

He literally jumped, disrupting the sand and sending it flying in all directions before he peered up in shock at the youngest member of the house. He had been happy getting friendly looks but had never imagined he would receive a friendly greeting any time soon. His shock must have shown on his face, for the young paladin smiled – a common expression for him, Dex knew.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. Do you mind if I join you?” Lark asked.

Still too shocked to do much more than nod, Dex scooted upright, brushing sand off himself. He wasn’t sure what was going on here but he felt vulnerable lying down as he was. Lark smiled again and sat far enough away that he wasn’t invading Dex’s personal space but close enough that Dex could reach out and touch him if he chose. None of them, save Max, had ever ventured this close to him and Dex held his breath – he had breath! – waiting to see if the unnatural hunger kicked in. But it didn’t. Not even the slightest twinge.

“Thanks. You looked so peaceful, I was sorry to disturb you. I did bring you a beer as an apology though.” He said, even as he held out a bottle of Pure Blonde.

Dex stared at it like it was a deadly brown snake. Was this some kind of a test? Or maybe the beer was poisoned. Unable to vocalise his thoughts, he narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.

Lark rolled his eyes and pushed the bottle into the sand at Dex’s feet. He then picked up a second beer Dex hadn’t noticed, uncapping it with the twist of a wrist before taking a long swallow. Dex was impressed – it wasn’t a screw top cap. But then, although Lark was the smallest in both height and stature of the male knights here, he was definitely not weak. In fact, Dex thought their frames were probably about the same size now. Although Dex was taller by a good four inches, his muscles had been regenerating with every hit of energy from Max, so that he now no longer appeared thin but had some decent definition going on. Lark’s lean frame was much the same by way of his swimmer’s build; although shorter in height, his limbs still appeared long with defined muscles that bunched and flexed when he moved and he definitely had lines of rigid definition from chest to abdomen. He was also really flexible. Dex had seen him doing yoga of all things – probably explained those long-looking limbs.

“Dude, I didn’t poison your beer. That would be blasphemy. I wanted to talk to you and figured it had been a while since you had one. Again – blasphemy.”

Well, he was right about that, Dex thought. He couldn’t even remember what beer tasted like. The knight seemed sincere and friendly enough but Dex was still cautious as he picked up the ice-cold bottle. But he was also curious. Why exactly would the earth paladin want to speak to him?

“I know you haven’t met me or even heard of me before like some of the others.” Lark began, “I’m only thirty-one years old. You’d already gone off the reservation before I was even born.”

Dex winced; he hated that phrase. But it had always been a favourite with all paladins. And he had no idea that Lark was that young. It was practically just out of the teen years in warden and paladin terms given their longevity. Obviously sensing his surprise, Lark laughed;

“Young right? Technically, I shouldn’t even be out of basic training let alone bound in an Order but like everyone else here, my history is a little different. Max does love her strays.” He smiled, his affection for his liege clear, before continuing, “I may be young but I assure you, I’ve heard things, seen things and lived through things that …”

Even as he trailed off, Dex doubted the young man had seen or heard much of anything. Although there had been a few human wars since the Great Massacre of their society, Dex knew that even those few wardens like himself who used to fight in human wars, had since ceased at the decree of the IDC.

“Don’t believe me, huh?” Lark chuckled. “Well, you may not have heard of me before but I’m positive you would have heard of my father – Isaac, potentate for Terran the Earth Warden.”

Dex felt his mouth fall open in shock. This happy, easy going young man was the son of the most vicious paladin in their history? Terran was of the same generation as Dex himself and the warden of the earth had also fought in many a human battle. Unlike Dex however, who had done it for altruistic reasons, Terran had enjoyed the bloodshed just a little too much. And the Mother knew, the middle ages were known for their bloodbaths. Terran’s right-hand man, Captain and potentate had always been Isaac, a very tall, very physically strong earth paladin. Isaac was formidable in battle, known for showing no mercy to friend or foe alike. He was also one of the biggest arseholes off the battlefield, known for being a bully and a brawler. After fighting alongside them in Wallace’s peasant army in the late 1200s and early 1300s at the Battle of Falkirk, he had become convinced that the two were sadists. They never killed cleanly, seemed to enjoy torturing their enemies, and Dex had seen them taking women against their will. Terran’s Order was a disgrace. Dex, along with many others, had reported their dishonourable actions and although they had been reprimanded and punished publicly numerous times over the years, they had never been imprisoned like they would have been in the human justice system.

In all the years he had known Isaac, he had never managed to throw any offspring – a fact Dex had been very grateful for. One sadistic, aggressive bastard who lived forever was enough. The world sure didn’t need any more of them, for he had been positive Isaac would raise his child to be just like him. No child would have stood a chance. So it was nearly impossible for him to believe this auburn-haired knight with the beer sitting casual and bare-footed on the sand was any relation to the Captain.

“Surprised?” Lark asked. “Yeah, I don’t look anything like him, nor have I followed in his footsteps – much to his eternal disappointment.”

Dex bet it was. Isaac was over a thousand years old and had never fathered any other children. He was very old-school and Dex imagined he would have valued a son only and also a son who was created in his image.

“So, I may not have fought in any of your great battles Dex, but I assure you, I’ve seen my fair share of violence … among other things.”

Dex bet he had – poor kid.

“I haven’t seen anything like you though.” Lark told him and even if he’d been able to vocalise, he wouldn’t have responded to that statement. After all, what was there to say? Dex had never seen anything quite like himself either.

“I also haven’t seen anything like Max before and I’d wager that you haven’t either, despite your many years and many travels.”

That was the truth. Since his time here, he had seen Max communicate with nearly every domain – an impossibility. And then there was the puzzle of her Heraldry. He had been correct in his earlier assumption that the massive sleeve of ink was indeed the Order’s coat of arms. But he was still ridiculously intrigued by it given its size – it was huge, denoting great power – and also by the fact that the freaking black and grey lines appeared to move. At first, he figured it was a trick of the light but now he wasn’t so sure and he found himself eyeing Lark’s brand in the darkness. Apparently seeing where Dex’s attention was focused, Lark ran his hand over the series of intricate patterns … leaving a writhing mass of lines in his wake. Yep, this is the rabbit hole for sure.

“Do you want to know why this brand pulses with power? Why you’ve never seen anything like Max before?” The younger man asked.

Duh! Of course he wanted to know! He was freaking dying of curiosity. But he was also highly suspicious of Lark’s motivation so he made sure to remain perfectly still with a perfectly blank face. It was his token expression now anyway.

Lark sighed as if exasperated with his reticence but spoke again nonetheless, “She’s a Custodian.”

“Wha …” Dex’s shock was so great that he almost uttered his first word in nearly four decades. A Custodian? Impossible.

“Right?” Lark barked out a self-depreciating laugh, “I know it sounds crazy but it’s true. We don’t know how or why but the truth is undeniable; she’s a Custodian, a daughter of Mother Nature herself.” Lark informed him. “Darius has been trying to figure out how she’s in human form. He’s not having any luck and it’s driving him insane.”

Dex could well imagine that last part was true in the very least. Darius was a very straight arrow who liked to put things in neat little boxes. Having a puzzle like this would be chapping his arse.

“It’s not all on Darius of course. We’ve all been investigating but answers are few and far between. It’s hard when practically all our records have been destroyed. We managed to get our hands on some remnants of the Warden Chronicles but so much was missing.” Lark continued.

This whole conversation was incredibly trippy. He was glad of the conversation and the company if he were being honest. He was also pleased with the level of trust Lark was showing him by revealing such a monumental secret. But why was he telling him all this? Unless the soldier was planning on killing him afterwards – which seemed fairly unlikely given his progress over the past week.

“You’re probably wondering why I’m telling you all this …” Lark said. “I have some questions for you but I wanted you to understand who and what Max is. And what she is capable of.”

With that, Lark took a long pull of his beer and Dex realised he had yet to open his own bottle, which was now bordering on warm thanks to his fierce grip on the glass. Figuring a little brew wouldn’t go astray right now, he twisted the top and chugged half the bottle in one go. Even slightly warm it was the best damn beer he could remember tasting. He was sorry it was already half gone. Lark smiled at his antics even as he spoke again;

“When we first realised what she was there were whispers of fate and revolutions – a higher purpose if you will. Now I gotta tell you, nobody here is fanciful but we’re all pretty much on the same page there. But the question I find myself asking is; whose revolution?”

A beat of silence followed where Dex became the scrutiny of intense green eyes. “Whose revolution, Dex?”

Oh, Dex thought, that wasn’t a rhetorical question. But why would Lark expect him to know? He was an abomination, a cursed creature, a – holy shit! Him – or his kind anyway. He wasn’t so narcissistic to believe Lark was referring directly to him. But he was clearly referring to his cursed brethren.

“I see the flicker of knowledge in your eyes. I don’t think she’s here to clean up the seas or grow some new flowers – although I’ve no doubt she can and will. I think her purpose is more specific to the chades.”

Dex didn’t understand how or why Lark would come to that conclusion but he was definitely intrigued. Although he had almost spoken one word in surprise before, he couldn’t find it within himself to talk again. The concept of speech was just still too foreign. So he turned questioning eyes towards his companion, hoping he got the drift.

“Why?” The astute paladin asked and Dex nodded. “Well, for starters, you’ve had a taste of her potential. She’s healing you – a chade. It’s a feat never attempted let alone achieved before. And also …”

Dex watched him pause, blow out a breath and dig his heels further into the sand. He gave his toes a wriggle, obviously content to have contact with his element. “Can I ask you a question of a personal nature?” He queried.

Dex was surprised all over again. He wouldn’t have thought anyone had any regard as to what he would consider private or personal. Hell, they had him followed day in and day out. They practically watched him take a piss. But it would seem there was personal and there was personal if the serious look on Lark’s face was anything to go by. Well, if this paladin could be polite enough to ask, then Dex could be polite enough to answer; he nodded in affirmation.

“What you feel, when you’re a chade … is the cold so frigid it feels like it has teeth? The hunger so deep, you know nothing can assuage it? You’re completely powerless to control anything – like you’re falling into a black pit and the plunge is an endless, silent scream into a bottomless abyss.”

Dex was shocked to hear the young, vibrant knight describe the horror and the terror so perfectly. What could he possibly know of it? He was a paladin and his affinity was to the earth. Even if he had been a life paladin, the extent of his empathy shouldn’t have been that deep nor that strong. So shocked was he, that he leant forward and nodded his head vigorously.

Lark nodded somewhat sadly and sighed, “I was afraid of that. It’s what Max dreams of, you see. Almost every night. And … it’s what I dream of – almost every night. Ever since we bonded her dreams have somehow been leaking onto me. I don’t know why, given I’m no empath like Ryker. I know they trickle through to Ry every now and then too but Max makes a concerted effort to block things like this from the Order. Why these dreams are not being blocked from me I have no idea. I don’t think she knows the bond is so open between us at night. She’s never said anything.”

Now that was very interesting. Links within Orders could be opened and closed at will by their wardens, it was true, but most left them very open at nearly all times so their Orders were always ready to serve as needed. He had been more than happy to allow his paladins their privacy for he valued his own. So he would often dim down the bond but closing it off entirely was a different matter. Not only was it extremely hard to do – it was rumoured that only the oldest and strongest could do it – but it was also relatively unheard of. The relationship between a paladin and a warden was symbiotic; paladins produced vitality that they couldn’t use and wardens used vitality to serve nature but couldn’t produce it. Therefore, not allowing an Order link to remain open was pretty counterproductive. On top of that, how was her Order supposed to be able to help her with these nightmares if they weren’t aware of them? He frowned in Lark’s direction, hoping to convey his confusion and unease.

“I can guess what you’re thinking and it’s not that easy for her. Taking vitality? Forming an Order? Sharing such an intimate tie to others? It’s not normal for Max. We take it for granted, having been raised in this society, but Max never knew any of this. She didn’t even know what recharging was or why she was so sick. When she first came here, her shields were practically non-existent and she was leaking energy all over the place. She’s made so much progress in such a short amount of time. We’re all really proud of her.” Lark informed him.

Dex had figured as much, having seen her clueless nature many times over the years. He had been flabbergasted to realise she had been unbound and had been sorely tempted to try to contact Darius or others in his old Order so they could aid her. Unfortunately, his humanity slipped further and further away from him, his thoughts often chaotic and his memory sporadic. Plus, he had been a coward, not wanting his old family to see him in such a state and positive they would have killed him on sight anyway. He was so very glad she had managed to find her way to these honourable knights and that they were teaching her what she needed to know. Having said that, if she was learning to control her shields and her energy input and output, she should be able to pick and choose the degree of empathy she felt. Which meant – no sensing the chades.

“Although her control of the bond is incredible, as is her power over her shields, she is limited due to her makeup. Her shields are made up of thousands of holes that just can’t be plugged no matter what we do – it’s like a filter or a net. I think at night, when she is relaxed and asleep she loses what ability she has to block those holes and the world’s pain seeps in. And I think the biggest sacrilege in nature at the moment is the chades.”

Either Lark truly was empathic or a mind reader, or he was far more intuitive than Dex had given him credit for, for he had spoken once again answering Dex’s unspoken thoughts. He had seen Max doing it over the past week and figured it was the link she had with her people but Lark and he had no such link.

“You want to know how I know what you’re thinking huh?” Lark grinned at him, flashing even white teeth in the darkness. “Don’t worry, I can’t read your mind like Max.” Wait, Max could really read minds? “But I can read your body language and your facial expressions. I’m, ah, I’m pretty smart. Picking up on small details is kind of what I do.” He shrugged and Dex thought it was in embarrassment. Really wishing he could speak so he could question the paladin further, they were interrupted by a shrill whistle. Turning, they saw Diana give a wave as Axel and Ryker joined her. Looks like it was the shift change.

Lark sprung lightly to his feet in an instant, “Changing of the guard.” He smiled. “You’re okay, man. A pretty good listener.” He held out his hand and Dex was shocked at the clear offer of friendship. He was more surprised though by how badly he wanted to accept it. Clasping the offered palm, he smiled tentatively and nodded his head in thanks. Lark gave a hard squeeze but didn’t release him and Dex’s heart sank a little, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“You’re okay and Max thinks so too. In fact, she loves you.” Dex looked away at that – he kind of loved the little trouble-maker too. “She’s given up a lot to help you; sacrificed her standing with the IDC to force the issue of chades, caused rifts within her Order, allowed herself to be the laughing stock of society despite her Custodian status. She believes the chades are worth it. She believes you are worth it. Just … don’t let her down.”

With that, Lark released his hand and walked away, leaving Dex’s mind once more in chaos.

One week. Dex had been practically living out of the gym for a whole week now and Cali had successfully managed to never be alone with him. It wasn’t too difficult given Ryker’s rule of at least two guards with him at all times but the proximity was beginning to get to her. He seemed to be progressing by leaps and bounds thanks to Max’s constant energy supply. The sinister air that used to surround him was no more and his eyes hadn’t looked black since that first day. Max reported that his soul was looking healthy and happy, although still not completely ‘right’ – whatever that meant. His physical appearance had also changed as the days went on; broad shoulders had filled out, dark hair was now shiny, arms were bulging with defined muscles …

And that right there was the problem, she told herself as she dived from the pool’s edge into the temperate water. She swam half the pool under the water before surfacing and beginning a swift freestyle as if she could outrace her troubled thoughts. She had found him irresistibly attractive, their chemistry electric all those weeks ago in that hotel room. It was far worse now, at least for her. He had been sexy before, now he was positively gorgeous. He was a walking advertisement for every woman’s bad boy fantasy; tall, dark, troubled and on the verge of redemption? Oh yeah, he was beautifully compelling and she couldn’t force her thoughts away from him. She was even dreaming about him and would wake up flushed and feeling very satisfied despite her solo presence beneath the sheets. She had never been one to have a lot of sex dreams and certainly none that were this vivid and this realistic. But holy hell, with the object of her lust sleeping just below her bedroom window, she was feeling hornier than a cat in heat. And apparently that heat extended even into unconsciousness.

But it wasn’t just his outstanding physical attributes that appealed to her either. No, it was also the courage she saw in him, that fight to survive. It was the daily battle to try to be a better person, despite the horrific circumstances thrust upon him. For there was now no question from any of them that becoming a chade wasn’t a choice as they had all believed. It was definitely an affliction, at least for some of them like Dex. His heroic effort now coupled with the rich gallantry of his warden history, stimulated Cali’s mind and heart as much as his lean waist stimulated her in other places.

Abruptly, she found herself slapped in the face by a tiny wave of water. Scowling at the offending liquid, she was gearing up to give it a stern lecture when movement at the end of the pool caught her attention. Speak of the devil; Dex was standing there in all his redeemed glory; worn jeans, black tee shirt, bare feet. She shivered a little. Why did the bare feet make him so much sexier? She gave herself a mental slap; she needed to keep her shit together and portray the cold bitch she had been all week. She couldn’t allow him to know how much he affected her.

“What are you doing in here? Where are Beyden and Lark?” She demanded, knowing they were on watch this morning. Naturally she received no reply. Although he appeared very much human now, he still hadn’t spoken a word that she knew of. Luckily for him, his eyes were eloquent enough and she felt her nipples stiffen behind her bathing suit as his heated stare seemed to penetrate the water and caress her every curve. Damn, he’s potent.

She cleared her throat, “You’re not supposed to be in here.” She informed him. “I suggest you leave now while you can still walk before I call the others.”

He simply crossed his arms over his chest and raised his eyebrows as if daring her to call them. Cocky bastard. She loved cocky men … dammit! “I mean it Dex, you –” She broke off with a gasp as he suddenly dived into the water. He surfaced and shook out his hair, flinging water in all directions before commencing a leisurely breast stroke.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She demanded, but the breathless quality of her voice wasn’t from fear – it was arousal. Given his connection was to air, he looked damned fine in the water with his black hair slicked back and water glistening on his skin. In fact, to Cali he looked like a mythical Irish selkie; selkies were dangerously seductive, handsome males with the ability to seduce any woman with a mere look. Well, he was looking … and she was feeling pretty fucking seduced.

His expression didn’t change as he made his way slowly to her in the water and she held her breath as the water rippled around him, not heeding his progress in the slightest. Traitorous water. She was on the edge of no return here and her own element couldn’t even help her out? He came to a halt a mere breath away from her, his dark eyes mapping her face as if committing it to memory or searching for something. He reached out a hand slowly and picked up a tangled piece of her blonde hair, now a shade darker from the wetness, before tucking it behind her ear. Her lips parted and she saw his eyes zero in on them. His pupils dilated and she felt herself leaning forward.

This was a bad idea, she knew, a very bad idea. But hey, he was a baddie, so who could blame her really?

Dex grunted as the sleek female launched herself at him – much the same as she did their first night together. Luckily, he was more prepared this time and didn’t find himself pushed backward into a thin wall. Not that there was a wall to break their fall anyway. Just the calm, warm water obviously heated and naturally salted from the ocean. Even warmer lips parted his own as their tongues duelled for dominance. She was such a hot piece, he thought in excitement.

He couldn’t believe he was here with Cali in his arms once more. What had possessed him to sneak out of the gym bathroom as Lark and Beyden completed their morning workout, he couldn’t say. But the two men had been giving him more and more freedom and that morning they had said their hellos before immediately entering the gym and hitting the equipment. He had opened the bathroom window, hearing the whisper on the wind that the lovely Cali was heading to her morning swim. The woman was almost compulsive about her swimming he had noticed. Taking the whisper as an encouragement instead of a warning, he left the two paladins to their weights and slipped into the indoor pool area.

His newly returned breath had left his body the moment he got his first good look at her; she was like a seal in the water, all sleek and graceful. And she filled out her plain navy swimsuit to perfection. Taking the onslaught of her body against his as tacit permission, he manoeuvred them towards the edge of the pool, pressing her back against the cool surface. Not even hesitating – he felt half mad in his need – he slipped the straps off her shoulders and almost drooled at the sight before him. Her breasts were high and firm, not large, but they fit perfectly into the palms of his hands. She moaned, arching her back and he sacrificed holding one glorious mound in order to roam his hand over her ribs and trim waist.

She was long and slender, not the curvy handful of Max or even the statuesque build of Diana, and as her subtle curves moulded to his frame, he couldn’t help but think she was perfect in every way. Her slim thighs rubbed against his denim clad legs as he cupped her butt, drawing her closer. She twined her arms around his neck and sucked a path to his ear before nibbling on his earlobe. He was unable to stop the automatic thrust of his hips against hers as her mouth played havoc with an erogenous zone he didn’t even know existed. The wet denim was beginning to become a hindrance to his ever-growing manhood and he wondered what he had been thinking, jumping into the water fully clothed. Wet denim was a bitch to peel off.

A slender hand on his zipper had his thoughts fleeing once more and he allowed a groan to escape as it was slowly and carefully lowered. An efficient twist of the woman’s wrist had his button undone and his erection bursting free in less than a second. He hissed when his sensitive flesh came into contact with the water – it may be heated but his flesh was far hotter in his current state.

“I like that sound. Let’s see what other noises you can make, shall we?” Cali’s voice was huskier than normal and it went straight to his dick, making it jerk as it bobbed in the water. The sensation had him releasing another groan and caused the sultry minx in front of him to smile in satisfaction.

She ran her hands over his chest, stopping for a mere second to tug on his nipples through his wet shirt. Busy hands then reached under his shirt to scrape and claw at his overheated skin. He was being seduced as surely as he was breathing in the humid air and he couldn’t believe his luck. Not wanting the fantasy to end, he stayed completely still and completely at her mercy. It had been so long since he had shared any form of human contact, let alone this type of intimate seduction, that he was more than willing to let her be in the driver’s seat … at least for now. He fully intended to allow his hands to reacquaint themselves with her soft skin. Just as soon as she finished, he assured himself.

Cali couldn’t believe how bold she was being with the silent male in front of her. Nobody could blame her for one night of debauchery six weeks ago – she hadn’t known who or what he was. The same excuse wouldn’t hold true now but she couldn’t seem to bring herself to care. Not when she had such a pretty specimen of manhood in front of her … and in the palm of hand. That night had been a rush of torn clothes and getting each other off as quickly – and as often – as possible. They had both been a little crazed in their lusts and she really hadn’t given the man her best when it came to foreplay. Knowing what she did now, that it had been years for the poor deprived man, she found herself wanting to give him something more.

Unfortunately, given their circumstances and the fact that his absence could be discovered any minute, she really didn’t have that luxury. One day, she promised herself. So instead of continuing her slow torture, she took his hardness into both hands, giving several good strokes as she licked the saltiness from his Adam’s apple. He grunted, thrusting more forcefully into her slippery grip and she found herself entranced by the sounds he made. What she wouldn’t give to hear him talk …

She gasped when she suddenly felt strong hands gripping her waist and lifting her onto the pools edge. She sat, breathing heavily, with her breasts out and her swimsuit rolled down to her belly button. Oddly enough, she didn’t feel exposed. She felt sexy and powerful as if she were the most alluring woman in the world. She knew that all-consuming look in his eyes was likely only the result of years of celibacy and her being convenient but she didn’t care. Right now, all she wanted was his hands and mouth on her. She didn’t need to wait long as he planted both hands flat on the edge of the pool and heaved himself up and over her in one strong motion. She found herself lying flat on her back against the cool stone with a dripping Dex flush against her from head to toe.

He dipped his head, taking a pebbled nipple into his mouth and she threaded her fingers into his long hair, bringing him even closer. His hands were busy, pushing aside her swimsuit but not removing them, before broad fingers danced over her sensitive flesh. She moaned, shuddering as they began a swift plunge and retreat into her core. There was no way this was going to last minutes, let alone the long hours she wanted to spend discovering the man. Reaching down, she found her own prize easy enough and began a steady stroke, matching his movements as if they were racing each other towards that invisible finishing line. She had been thinking of him for weeks and dreaming of him for days, yet her peak remained just out of reach. That was, until he spoke;

“Cali.” He whispered roughly against her neck.

The gruff, scratchy voice was deep and raspy with disuse and acted as a detonator, causing a series of explosions throughout her entire body. She cried out, biting down on his shoulder as she shook and shuddered her way through a viciously long orgasm. She felt an answering shudder from the hard body aligned with hers as her hand continued to work his hard length. Although he made no sound, his breath came out in rough pants against her skin, causing her damp flesh to prickle. Finally, after what seemed like forever, her body relaxed back against the stone paving and she dared a peek at the man above her.

He looked like he had just won a war; self-satisfied, flushed, and triumphant. She couldn’t help but wonder if this is how he looked after all those battles he had fought in the past. She also felt an irrational burst of jealousy over the countless women he must have celebrated his victories with. She reached up and traced his lips with a fingertip; “You can talk.” She stated.

He frowned in concentration or confusion as if her words made no sense, before biting down on her finger playfully. Oh, he was going to be more trouble than she had anticipated. “I like your voice. You should use it more often.” She informed him. And wasn’t that the truth? One word from him and her orgasm had practically blown the top of her head off.

To her disappointment, he pushed himself up and away from her before discreetly adjusting himself and re-zipping his jeans. Not feeling particularly exposed – she had a healthy attitude about her body – she still figured she had better get dressed also. It wouldn’t do to have someone walk in on them in their current state of disarray. It would be obvious what they had been up to and they would slice Dex’s head off first and ask questions later. There was no sense in causing more problems for the reformed chade – not when he was starting to make some headway with the others.

Dex waved his hand and a lovely warm breeze swirled to life within the enclosed room. She gasped as the air seemed to act as his personal hairdryer, drying his clothing, skin and hair in an instant. He turned to her and cocked his head; “Air Warden.” He stated in a halting voice, before ducking his head as if in embarrassment.

She realised the whole talking thing must be very new, for even in his chade-like state, he had always appeared strong and confident. This unsure man in front of her was an anomaly and although she found it to be rather endearing, she wanted to put him at ease more. “Of course. Must be handy. It takes me forever to dry this mess.” She smiled, wringing water out of her long hair. Warm air danced around her playfully before sweeping her hair up and drying it in record time. She fluffed it around her face, “Yep. Handy.”

He smiled a little but it didn’t reach his eyes. Why did that bother her so much? “Thanks for drying my hair. And for drying your clothes. It wouldn’t do for the others to find out what went on in here. And if we walked out dripping water, it would be fairly obvious.” She told him and was alarmed and disappointed to see his entire face shut down into his usual stoic mask.

He turned in the direction of the exit and she ran to catch up to him. “Wait a minute. Where are you going?”

He clenched his jaw and nodded in the direction of the gym. She merely raised her eyebrows, “Really? Reverting back to the days of the caveman when grunting and pointing was the preferred form of communication? I don’t think so. You can talk. Answer me properly.” She demanded. She wasn’t trying to be a bitch but talking was a huge positive step. The others would want to know and want to hear. Plus, his voice was sexy as hell.

He sighed as if she were the bane of his existence instead of the one person willing and able to provide him with orgasms. He must have read something from her glacial look for he opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before answering slowly, “I am going back to my …” he paused and smirked a little, “… quarters.”

Ah, so the man had a sense of humour. Good to know. “Well, your quarters can wait. Don’t you think it’s time we all had a little chat?”

“No.” His response was swift this time.

“Why not?” She asked. She would have thought he’d be chomping at the bit to tell his side of the story. She knew she was dying to know everything about him – for purely scientific reasons of course.

“Because … nobody will … listen … anyway.” His words were a little too spaced to be considered normal syntax and Cali figured a few decades without talking would be enough to slow someone’s brain to mouth connections down a little.

She shook her head, loving the way her hair seemed to fall right back into place. The man could make a decent living as a hairdresser if he needed a new career. “That’s not true. And even if it was – so what? You make them listen. You make yourself be heard. If you won’t fight for yourself, who will?”

He had been fighting an invisible force for decades, she knew. A force none of them knew anything about. She hated the thought that he would give up now when he was so close to salvation. He was wavering, she could see it. She could also see the vulnerability in his eyes and the defensive stiffness in his posture. No doubt he was terrified to talk, to explain, and to also deal with the repercussions of that explanation. But the fact was, Max had gone out on a limb for him and those of his kind. The IDC were not patient at the best of times and although her little display sufficiently proved her mastery over all seven domains, it hadn’t succeeded in gaining her favour with them in relation to her thoughts on the chades.

Cali thought they were intrigued by Max’s theory and they seemed willing to indulge her to a certain extent. But that indulgence would have its limits and the more vocal Max became in the defence of the chades, the less tolerant the council was going to be. Max risked losing her standing in their society and Cali feared what the council would do to someone who had proven themselves so powerful. At the moment the IDC viewed her as an asset. But it would take very little for them to view her as a threat. So they needed answers and they needed proof. She didn’t want that proof to be in the form of the sexy but troubled male in front of her, but that’s the way it was. She would do everything in her power to ensure Max remained safe as was her duty and her privilege. Hoping beyond hope that it resulted in Dex staying safe and healthy as well was just an added benefit.

She looked directly into his eyes before speaking again; “We need answers. It’s time for you to give them to us.” She held out her hand, “Please. Come inside.”

Much to Dex’s frustration, Cali had been quick to drop his hand the second they were within eyeshot of the house. She had also seemed concerned about their clothes being wet and the others knowing what they had been up to. He couldn’t blame her for it but he couldn’t deny that it stung. She had once again given him an experience of a lifetime and he was now convinced his unusually strong attraction to her wasn’t because of their circumstances. No, it was because of the woman herself. And just where did that leave him? Up shit creek without a paddle, he bet. It’s not like he had any real chance at a future with her. Hell, the woman didn’t even want to be seen being friendly with him in front of her comrades. Besides, he was probably being marched to his death anyway. There was no way the others were going to just accept him into their home. Cali stepped inside but he remained poised on the threshold – story of his life. The loud and happy breakfast scene came to a resounding end when all eyes spotted him.

“What the fuck is he doing here? Cali, explain yourself.” Ryker demanded as he and several others reached for their scythes.

Yep, he was dead.

“Calm down, Ryker. We need some answers and Dex is ready to give them.” She stated.

Dex sure as hell was not ready to give them.

“Good morning, Dexter.” Max sang, skipping over to him and pulling him into the room. “Beyden and Lark were sweating bullets, thinking you’d run away like a naughty puppy. But I explained you were with Cali.” She assured him.

Did she now? And just how did she know he was with Cali? She gave him a saucy wink as she pushed him into a chair at the large dining table. It was then he remembered that not only was she essentially a goddess, but could apparently read minds. He made sure to keep his mind as blank as possible. It shouldn’t really be that hard, given how blank or chaotic it had been until recently. She patted his cheek as if he were indeed a mischievous puppy – much like the one now sitting at his feet. The rather ugly young dog had not tried to attack him again since their first meeting but Dex knew the animal wasn’t convinced with him yet. Smart animal.

It seemed he was willing to reconsider now though as he sniffed around his feet, giving one sharp bark and leaping onto his lap. He was shocked enough to grab a hold of the squirmy mass as it tried valiantly to lick his face off. Okay, maybe it wasn’t so ugly after all. He chuckled and pushed the raspy appendage back behind pointy little teeth. He picked up the dog’s paws and raised an eyebrow; “Going to be a big thing, aren’t you? Look at the size of these paws!”

It was the deafening silence in the room that had him looking up. Right, he was in eminent danger here. He should really focus.

“Dude, you really can talk.” Axel exclaimed, sheathing his blade in its holster.

Oh … he had just spoken out loud.

“He can. So let’s hear what he has to say, hmm?” Cali’s ice-blue eyes narrowed in warning and he watched in awe as the rest of the men shuffled a little before also sitting down. Women seemed to rule the roost here.

“You have two minutes. Convince me not to kick your arse right out of my house.” The gruff voice belonged to Ryker, naturally. He was going to be a tough nut to crack.

He glanced around the room, studiously skipping over Darius. He didn’t want to see hate on the man’s face. The dog – Zombie – gave him a lick to the back of his hand as if in support. What the hell, he thought;

“I believe chade numbers are growing exponentially once again. I believe the chades are amassing and are headed in this direction. I believe the chades are plotting another coordinated attack.”

Silence reigned.

“Whoa, Turbo. No voice for a few decades and suddenly you’re talking chade-mayhem.” Axel’s laugh sounded a little strained.

Dex simply shrugged. They wanted to know why he was here and what he had to say? Well, that was it. That was why he had sought Max out all those weeks ago in the first place.

“Chade numbers do look to be on the rise – not that the IDC has announced that fact to the general population.” Diana concurred.

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean chades are plotting anything more sinister than dinner time.” Axel pointed out.

“There is a precedence for the chades attacking en masse. The Great Massacre.” Beyden said.

“That is the only instance in history; never before or since.” Axel insisted.

“And once was more than enough.” Ryker said. He turned to Dex, “You’re talking about the chades as if they have higher reasoning. Planning attacks? Amassing in numbers? They don’t think that way.”

Some of them did, Dex knew. “You’re sort of right.” He replied. “Full chades? They only have one drive – hunger. But believe me, that hunger is a high enough instinct for them to seek out the most powerful resource.”

“And you think Max is that resource.” Lark stated, eyes narrowed in thought.

Dex merely nodded his head once. He hadn’t spoken so much in years.

“But I’m shielding so well now. Right? I’m not leaking vitality anymore …” Max’s eyes darted around the room, seeking reassurance.

“You’re doing great, Max.” Cali assured her. “But you can only do so much – and so can we as your bound Order. You’re limited by your nature. And that’s totally kick-ass.” Cali winked, softening the words.

Max was still frowning, however. “So chades are going to be drawn to me no matter what?”

Most definitely, Dex replied silently.

“Very likely.” Cali replied out loud.

“You said ‘full chades’.” Lark said, breaking the tense silence, “What do you mean by that?” He asked, looking directly at him.

It was a well-known fact in society that ‘a chade was a chade was a chade’. It was what he always believed but his eyes had been opened over the years. Not just because of himself, but because of others he had met along the way. “It’s a regression. Some regress quickly with no hope of return. Others are slower, they retain some higher reasoning even if they don’t know how to express it. Even those who can’t communicate tend to flock together.”

“Flock together? Like a pack? Why do they do that?” The ever-curious Lark inquired.

Dex shrugged. He knew why but wasn’t going to say. He didn’t think it would be received in good humour and he didn’t want to have to defend the cursed creatures. But Max spoke;

“I know why.” Her lovely eyes looked at him and swirled with colour for a brief moment before she spoke again, “Comfort. They flock together for comfort.”

Dex swallowed convulsively. Bless her empathic little soul, she was absolutely correct. Chades were pitiful, morbid creatures, housing no soul and conscience. He had seen them sucking the life-force from wardens, leaving them nothing more than withered carcasses. But he had also seen them gather close to each other in the dark, seeking safety, comfort and security from their own kind. Even the foulest of monsters could crave peace. The sight of so many hopeless beings, huddling together, staring blankly as if they didn’t even know the reason why … it always broke his heart.

“So, you sought out Max weeks ago with the intention of warning her about the chades? You think their numbers are growing and they are somehow planning another attack.” Cali asked, in summary and clarification.

He nodded and Zombie, who was now on the floor, leaned into him as if in thanks.

“Thank you, Dex. I know you risked a lot coming here.” Max blew him a kiss and his newly beating heart skipped a step. He was so glad she didn’t hate him and so grateful for her continued support. He nodded in her direction – causing Ryker to snort rudely. Seems he was yet to convince the Order’s Captain of anything.

“Be polite.” Max chastised. “I think we should invite Ivy here. I want her to hear this.” Max then announced to the room at large. Dex had no idea who Ivy was but Max’s comment garnered surprise from every other occupant in the room.

“Who is Ivy?” He asked.

“She’s Bey’s sister.” Was Max’s prompt reply.

He was confused, “Why would Beyden’s sister need to hear this?”

Max’s response was full of confidence; “Because she’s a Ranger.”

Dex stiffened and barely refrained from leaping to his feet. A Ranger? Why the hell would Max want a Ranger here? A warm palm to his bare forearm had him glancing down;

“Easy. It’s okay. Nobody is throwing you to the wolves.” Cali reassured him. He wanted to believe them, hell, he wanted to believe in all of them. But past history – recent history – dictated that he couldn’t rely on anyone but himself.

“No. We are not.” Max assured him firmly. “Ivy is a friend as well as Beyden’s sister. She’s very knowledgeable about chades as you can imagine. She also has the ear of the council, so knows what is going on there too. We need to know if there have been similar rumblings within the council or if this is new information. And if we deem the council needs to be informed of your theories – or even informed of you – then we may need her.”

“That’s a lot of faith in someone you just met, Max. What makes you so sure you can trust her? No offense, Bey.” Cali said, looking guiltily at the large man.

Max was silent as if mulling something over for a moment. Eventually she sighed, glancing at Ryker who merely shrugged. “I trust her because she’s my secret squirrel.”

“Your secret squirrel? What does that mean?” Beyden asked in obvious confusion.

Max made a vague motion with her hand, that resembled absolutely nothing, “My squirrel. You know? My eyes on the inside.” She extrapolated.

“Dear Mother! You have someone spying on the International Domain Council?” Darius jumped up, speaking for the first time. Although he wasn’t even looking in Dex’s direction, Dex still lapped up the sound. He was such a needy bastard.

Max nodded eagerly, sending that thick, dark hair flying in all directions. Dex had always been a little in awe of her hair; it was so dark it looked almost black in some lights, but in the sun it was actually a very deep, very rich red. Perhaps her parents had had a mixture of black and red hair … “Of course. The IDC are dodgy as fuck, Darius. Something is going on with them. Ivy is in the perfect position given she’s a ranger. She hears things they won’t tell us and sees thing we can’t see. She’s a great squirrel.”

Holy Mother, Dex thought. Max was betting his life on someone she referred to as a squirrel! The others in the room didn’t seem wholly convinced either if the stunned looks and gaping mouths were any indication. Poor Darius looked like he was going to stroke out any moment. The notion that their governing body were somehow dirty or involved in a conspiracy would be abhorrent to him. Dex obviously hadn’t dirtied him up enough when he was raising him. The man had too much honour for his own good.

“Trust Max everyone. She knows what she’s doing.” Ryker intoned, earning a dimpled smile from his lover. He caressed her back before looking directly at Dex, “If we’re going to believe you, if you’re going to stay here, and if we’re going to be bringing a ranger around, then I think we need to test if you can recharge your vitality like a normal warden again.”

Say what now? Ryker wanted him to do what? Of course he couldn’t recharge like a normal warden. He wasn’t a warden. “I can’t.” He croaked.

Ryker crossed his arms over his chest and Dex noted the way his central rune in his heraldry seemed to catch the light, looking almost three-dimensional. It was darn strange. “Have you tried?” He demanded, rather than asked.

He wanted to ignore the rude paladin but there were too many inquisitive eyes on him. “No.” He admitted.

“Then how do you know?” Max asked, much more kindly than her Captain. “I think it’s a definite necessity and very much a priority.” She stated before he could formulate a convincing excuse. “Volunteers?” She asked the room at large.

Shit. Looks like they were running with it. Dex shifted uncomfortably. Not only was he nervous as hell as to whether he could recharge or not, but he was also terrified nobody would volunteer … and terrified that they would. He studiously avoided looking at Darius, wishing with everything within him that his brother would stand up to the task. He desperately wanted to reconnect and knew the familiar mode of energy exchange would be a starting point. He saw movement from the corner of his eye and raised his head, watching as Cali stepped forward offering her hand. He gulped audibly and felt his heart skip a beat; the woman of his dreams trusted him enough to share her life-force with him.

But before he could reach out and grasp her hand in return, Max stepped between them; “Not you Cali.”

He saw Cali toss her liege a shocked look filled with a hint of anger. Dex wasn’t angry; he didn’t blame Max for not wanting one of her paladins to touch him. But then, why had she supported the idea in the first place? Before he could think on it further the very large and surprisingly gentle beast paladin stepped forward;

“I offer myself freely.” He stated, bowing slightly.

Dex glanced around, trying to gauge the level of anxiety and tension in the room. Yes, the atmosphere was tense but it was a more nervous tension rather than a distrustful one. Other than Cali that is; she still looked annoyed. He stepped forward and bowed his head in thanks before grasping the bigger man’s arm in a loose hold. He gave a very tentative pull on muscles long ago atrophied and felt … nothing. A big fat nothing. Clenching his jaw, he turned apologetic eyes to Max who was watching the show with her head cocked to one side. Zombie, her faithful companion was at her feet in an identical pose. An abrupt jolt to his arm forced him forward a step, directly in front of Beyden. The man was scowling – an expression he was pretty sure was uncommon on the soldier.

“That was pathetic. You need to do it like you mean it, man.” Beyden grabbed his hand and placed it on his own forearm directly over Max’s heraldry. Completely horrified, he tried to break the man’s grip and was surprised when he couldn’t. Seems the gentle giant was a strong bastard.

“You’re being ridiculous.” Beyden informed him. “Just focus on my energy. It’s animal based – natural and primitive. It’s warm and gentle, loyal and loving, but also fierce and dangerous, strong and cutthroat. Beast energy is always neutral – both predator and prey. Tap into those things and take them. Quit being so dainty about it.”

Dex scowled at the last bit; he was not now nor had he ever been dainty. He had also never heard a paladin describe their vitality in such a way before and found his respect climbing. A man who was as self-aware as Beyden would be an asset in any Order. For all his sworn paladins, he had actually never had a paladin affiliated with the beasts and couldn’t remember if he had ever recharged from one. Squaring his shoulders, Dex clasped Beyden’s forearm and felt it reciprocated with confidence. He focused on Beyden’s words, picturing the simplicity of the predator on a hunt and complexity of prey in its fight to survive. He thought of the gentle, loving nature of animals with their tireless loyalty and affection and their intrinsic viciousness when it came to protecting themselves or their young.

A gasp escaped him when he felt a flicker of awareness shoot up his arm. It was nothing like the intensity of forcefully taking from Max or other wardens but was reminiscent enough of the good old days when he was a normal warden that he allowed a small smile to curve his lips. Beyden smiled back and nodded his head, encouraging him to keep going. Dex focused hard and felt a wonderful warmth replace the almost constant coldness – despite Max’s massive energy boost. He could feel the vitality slowly seeping into his molecules and although it was a glorious feeling, he didn’t actually feel the need to keep going or drawing on that power.

He could stop.

Deciding he had to prove that to himself as well as all the others in the room, he released Beyden’s arm and stepped back. He barely resisted the urge to pat himself all over and rush to the nearest mirror to see if the exchange had wrought any further changes to his appearance. He felt warmer, that was for sure, and thought maybe his arms weren’t quite as pale either.

“You did it!” He heard Max crow right before he ended up with an armful of curvy redhead. He allowed himself to pat her once on the back before hastily moving away from her. He didn’t need his head removed from his shoulders right when he was starting to have a little hope again. Looking around the room, nobody seemed quite ready to deck him for touching their liege and he began to breathe a little easier. He smiled tentatively at Max and once again bowed in thanks to Beyden.

The knight was grinning as he slapped him on the back, “Good job Dex.”

Dex almost ploughed forward from the strength of that friendly back pat. Big, strong bastard, he couldn’t help thinking once again. But he was damn grateful for that fact.

“Max, can I talk to you for a minute?” Cali asked before walking from the room. The display in the other room had solidified all her hopes where Dex was concerned. There was now a real chance that he could reclaim a life. But that bright spot was marred by her liege. She stopped by the bookshelves in the library, thrusting her hands on her hips;

“What’s the deal Max? Why wouldn’t you let me help Dex? Don’t you trust me to do my duty?” Cali was pissed and hurt and confused. When she had seen the vulnerability in Dex’s eyes as he glanced around the room, hoping someone – anyone – would step forward and offer their vitality, she had felt herself melt a little more for the once proud warden. Stepping forward, she had not expected to have been essentially slapped back by Max. She hadn’t outright told Max that Dex had been her brief bed partner over a month ago but she figured Max had likely worked that out given the pool scene, the constant sexual tension … and oh yeah, the fact that she could see their damn souls. She was incredibly disappointed in her liege that she appeared to be so disapproving of Cali. It was just one night of sex.

Max sighed and took a seat on the couch near the door to the garden. “Of course I trust you to do your duty. And I want Dex to get help any way possible, especially regarding his ability to recharge.” Max held up a hand for silence when Cali would have jumped in, “But not by you and not in that way. At least until I can figure out if it’s okay or not.”

“What does that mean?” Cali frowned. “If it’s okay for Beyden then it’s okay for me. We are both paladins.”

Max nodded, “You are indeed. But you have something Beyden doesn’t have.” She said cryptically.

Cali snorted rudely. “What, a vagina?”

She saw Max wince, “Yeah. Pretty much.”

Cali stopped her angry pacing. Really? A vagina? Max had never been sexist before. What was going on? Obviously this had something to do with her sleeping with Dex. Maybe she should have been more upfront about that. “Is this about me sleeping with Dex? I know you know.” She added when Max whipped her head up.

“It is. But not in the way you think. I think you two would be great together if you’d both be willing to work on your baggage. He’s strong, Cali, and so very noble. Imagine the type of ingrained strength it must have taken to survive all these years on the cusp of hell and not give in to temptation? I think a man like that would give everything he had to the woman he loved. And you have so much to offer a man, even though you don’t believe so; generous, warm, fun, loyal, strong, stubborn. I think you could make him whole like nothing else could.”

That was all just a little too deep for Cali. She had slept with the guy once – well one and half times – and although she would love the opportunity to have another taste of the sexy beast, she was by no means thinking in terms of permanency. “Then what is it then?” She asked, genuinely perplexed but no longer mad.

Max focused her eyes seriously on Cali’s, searching for something Cali had no clue about, before finally answering; “It’s because of the baby. You’re pregnant.”

Say what now? She was pregnant? Max was telling her she was pregnant? She wasn’t sure what Max was playing at but her wackiness had just reached a whole new level – a level that quite frankly Cali didn’t appreciate. It was absolutely impossible that she was pregnant. She hadn’t had sex in nearly a year … and Dex didn’t count. He was a freaking chade for crying out loud! “That’s not funny, Max.” She told her.

“No,” Max sighed, “I don’t suppose it is.”

Cali narrowed her eyes at Max as she pulled out a chair and moved it closer to Max’s so they were practically touching. “I’m not pregnant Max.” She said firmly.

“I’m sorry this is unexpected, Cali. But you most definitely are.” Max’s response was just as firm and Cali felt herself start to sweat a little.

She began counting back to her last period in her head but found she couldn’t focus over the beating of her heart. It was impossible. She was on the pill and had been for years. Sure, she missed a few here and there – what woman didn’t? But she had never even had so much as a scare before. She took a deep breath to calm herself and began counting again. Her last period had been longer ago than she had thought but that was only because she had decided to skip the sugar pills last month when Max had been hurt. She hadn’t wanted to worry about cramps and chocolate cravings when her liege and her Order had needed her. So technically, she hadn’t missed a period, she had just skipped one. Heck, she was still taking the hormone pill every night. As soon as she stopped those for more than two days in a row her period would return right on schedule.

“It’s been eight weeks right?” Max asked, drawing Cali back from the brink of her pill calculations. “Two weeks after your last period, you slept with Dex. You would have been due for another two weeks later but it never came. Because you’re pregnant Cali.”

“No.” Cali shook her head. “I skipped the last lot of sugar pills. That’s why I didn’t get them.”

“Oh, no wonder you didn’t notice then.” Max said, “But sweetie, you wouldn’t have gotten your period anyway. That was four weeks ago. You are now eight weeks pregnant – six weeks since conception.”

Dammed if Max didn’t sound very sure of herself and her information, Cali thought. And it was really starting to freak her out. Periods aside, she would know it if she was pregnant. There would be signs … right? “I have no symptoms. I’m not sick. I’m not pregnant.” Maybe if she kept repeating it, it would make it true.

“Not everyone gets sick as I understand it.” Max replied. “Besides, you do have at least one symptom; your boobs are bigger.” Max pointed out.

“What? No they’re not.” Cali palmed her breasts, testing their weight. They did feel a little fuller – a little firmer too. Axel chose that moment to enter the room and his handsome visage morphed into a wicked grin as he eyed her holding her breasts.

“Ladies. Anything I can help with?”

“Out Axel. And make sure the others stay out there as well.” Max responded instantly.

To his credit, Axel quickly nodded his head and left, ensuring the door was firmly closed behind him. Cali squeezed her boobs one last time, noting a mild sensitivity that she hadn’t noticed before and looked down at her flat stomach. She had been more tired than usual but that was to be expected given the craziness going on. She had also been off her morning coffee, she admitted. Usually the dark, bitter brew was a morning staple but lately she hadn’t been able to stomach it. “Max …” Her voice quavered.

The short woman made quick work of the distance between them, pulling Cali into a hard hug. “It’s going to be okay, Cal. It’s just an itty bitty baby. Nothing to be scared of.”

Cali’s laugh was a little hysterical and a little watery. “Are you sure Max? Really, really sure? I’ve only slept with one person in the last year, so it would mean …”

“It would mean that Dex is going to be a father.” Max finished.

“But how is that possible? He’s not … normal.” And that freaked her out even more. What if there was something wrong with the baby? What if it was like the devil’s spawn or something?

Max laughed and punched her arm, “It’s not the devil’s spawn. It’s just a baby. I know Dex isn’t your run of the mill warden but at the time he was juiced up enough by my energy to be able to bleed and … do other things. I’m thinking his bodily functions were normal enough to get the job done.”

Cali swallowed convulsively. “Are you sure Max?” She asked again.

“I’m sure, Cali. About two weeks ago, I noticed an extra little light emanating from you. It’s all soft blues and greys, very delicate and new. It’s a new soul, sweetie.”

“A new soul?” She looked down and lifted her shirt but all she could see was skin.

“Yep.” Max said. “A perfect, innocent little soul.”

Before she could respond to that Axel barged in again, his eyes going straight to her stripe of exposed flesh, “Okay, I’m not sure what you girls are doing in here and I really wish I had time to explore this further but alas, I don’t.”

Cali rolled her eyes at the notorious flirt and covered her stomach with her top. “What is it Axel?”

“Just thought you might want to know that Ryker and Dex are in the gym fighting.”

“Fighting?” Max and herself yelled simultaneously before running for the gym.

Sure enough, Ryker and Dex were stripped to the waist in the centre of the workout mats.

“What’s going on?” Max demanded, her eyes never leaving Ryker and Dex who were slowly circling each other. Ryker had a scythe in either hand.

Darius shrugged, looking wholly unconcerned for the welfare of his brother. “Ryker needs to know Dex isn’t a chade anymore. And I think Dex needs to know too.”

“So they’re going to beat each other up to prove it?” Max’s voice was incredulous.

“Would you prefer they sit around and discuss their feelings for the next week like a couple of chicks?” Axel snorted, receiving death glares from the three ‘chicks’ in attendance. “A couple of punches, a few body slams and they’ll be over it. This is much more efficient. Trust me.” Axel added with an excess of charm.

“And you’re okay with this?” Cali asked Darius. The man was his brother after all. Where was the loyalty?

Darius merely shrugged, his hazel eyes never leaving the two opponents. “Maybe I need to know more than anyone.”

Fantastic, Cali thought sarcastically. Her immediate superior, good friend, and saviour was going to beat the shit out of the father of her non-existent child. Could this day get any better? She refused to let her hands cup her stomach in that classic gesture all pregnant women seemed to do. There was no need for that nonsense anyway because she wasn’t pregnant, she told herself. A bit of nipple sensitivity and the word of a goddess were hardly proof, she assured herself.

Dex did his best to ignore the number of spectators in the room and instead focused on the very lethal paladin in front of him. When Cali and Max had left to have their little chat, the male posturing had begun. Ryker had asked him even more questions – questions he had no answers to – and had demanded an itinerary of his past forty years; Where had he been? Who were the other ‘half-chades’? Where could he find them? Even if Dex knew the answers, there was no way he would disclose their locations. This was all still too new and although he trusted Max implicitly, he wasn’t yet sold on the others.

And they were clearly not yet sold on him if the gleam of anticipation in their eyes was anything to go by. They had all seemed more than happy at the turn of events when Ryker had asked him ‘if he wanted to go a round’ with him on the mats. At first, he had cringed – nope, he most definitely did not want to spar with the very cranky, very aggressive paladin with the massive chip on his shoulder. But the taunting smirk on the dark-haired man’s face had pushed all of Dex’s buttons. He thought he could beat him did he? Well, not only had he been fighting in wars for centuries before Ryker was even born, he had been fighting creatures of nightmares for the last four decades. He had never been a typical, helpless warden who allowed his charges to fight for him. He was a soldier and a warrior in his own right and he could beat the pup with one hand tied behind his back. Besides, if they were inviting a ranger to the house, he needed some practice.

A quick glance at Darius had revealed an indifferent façade bordering on boredom as if he couldn’t have cared less that Dex was about to get the shit beat out of him. And maybe he didn’t. Maybe all hope of a real relationship was truly lost. Or maybe he needed to prove his worth to his brother, prove that he was no longer an aberration of nature. He could be just as vital as any of them once again. He had proven that earlier that morning in the pool with the delectable Cali, he remembered fondly. And yeah, maybe teaching Ryker a thing or two would also help Cali’s opinion of him, so it was a win-win. At the very least, he could unleash some of his frustrations on the big goon.

“So, Freak. Ready to dance?” Ryker taunted.

Dex’s expression didn’t change, nor did his relaxed stance. He’d had years to cultivate patience and although his wasn’t as legendary as Darius’s, he still had more than enough to outwit the paladin.

“What’s the matter? Chade got your tongue?”

Okay, that one stung a little. Talking was something he had closely associated with his humanity. Every time it was lost to him, he had felt his humanity eroding more and more. Still, he waited for his opponent to make the first move and was impressed at the speed such a large man was able to achieve. He moved in low and fast, sweeping out a leg at ankle height. Dex easily jumped the appendage, landing lightly on his feet a good metre away. He saw Ryker’s eyes narrow a little and knew he had obviously forgotten that Dex was linked with air – he was incredibly light on his feet.

Deciding to get things moving, he made a small motion to the left and watched Ryker mirror it before quickly pivoting to the right. Obviously, Ryker believed he was feinting or bluffing and that the true attack was going to come from the right. Dex grinned in satisfaction when his swift left-hook landed solidly against a hard jaw. Dex never bluffed.

Ryker grunted, bringing up his hand and wiggling his jaw before giving a small smile and charging back in with a spinning round-house kick that landed heavily against Dex’s shoulder. He followed up the kick by arcing the scythe in his left hand directly at Dex’s head. Dex grabbed his opponent’s beefy forearm, stalling the slice of a blade across his neck and placed a steady foot on Ryker’s right knee. One quick, hard twist of the captain’s wrist at the same time as he exerted pressure on his knee, had the big man down and his scythe dropping to the floor. Dex immediately swept it away with his foot and they both watched as it skidded across to the edge of the mat. He released his hold and stepped back, watching as Ryker eyed him as if waiting for him to pick up the discarded weapon. Dex had no intention of doing that. The scythe was the weapon of paladins – he had no right to touch such a blade. He had always fought with swords and fists and that wasn’t about to change now.

Ryker stood and raised his eyebrows, “You don’t want the blade?”

“It doesn’t belong to me.” He replied, seeing a hint of grudging respect in the other man’s brown eyes, before he continued, “Besides, I don’t need it. Unlike some people …” Yeah, he was taunting Ryker now, but with his heart pumping and his blood beginning to flow as sweat beaded on his forehead, he was beginning to feel truly alive.

Ryker grinned, surprising him as it was a genuine smile, lacking the usual sneer and disdain. He bent and placed his second scythe on the mat before kicking it away as well. “Now you’re talkin’.” He said and crooked his finger, “Bring it.”

Dex was all for a bit of friendly banter but … “Bring it? Really?”

Ryker merely shrugged, “I live with Max.”

And that explains that, Dex thought in amusement. He had been on the receiving end of her quirky and rather morbid sense of humour dozens of times over the years. He could only imagine what living with her was like. No doubt she was contagious. People that vibrant often were. Getting his head back in the game, he rolled under Ryker’s extended arm, coming up behind him and giving him a swift and insulting kick to the rear-end. The man growled and rounded on him, landing a blow in the exact centre of his chest. The blow knocked the wind out of him momentarily but he was still able to remain standing. He watched as Ryker took a step back instead of following up and his eyes narrowed;

“You’re pulling your punches.” Dex said. He didn’t know why and he didn’t care. It was fucking insulting. “Stop it.”

Ryker flicked his eyes over him before shrugging, “Okay.”

The next five minutes were spent trading blow after glancing blow with the larger man. So okay, maybe he had been a little too cocky about the fight, Dex admitted, barely blocking a kick to the face. He had forgotten who this man’s father was and also his previous liege; they had been renowned and respected knights. And when you factored in the man was now the potentate of the only custodian in existence and also that woman’s lover …. Well, no wonder the man had lethal skills. He managed to bring Ryker to his knees but quickly found himself in the same position, as he was dragged down with him. Now they were face to face on the mats.

Figuring he could incapacitate him and potentially end the battle by a well-landed blow to the neck, he was caught off guard when Ryker moved at the last second. The man really was very spry. Unfortunately, now that Ryker was standing instead of kneeling, his punch landed solidly – and painfully – with the other man’s junk.

Ryker went down hard, coughing and wheezing as he cupped his offended jewels.

“Shit, man. I’m sorry. That was a total accident. I –” His bumbling, but heartfelt apology, was interrupted by a large fist to the nose. “Fuck!” He yelled, also falling back on his arse as he cupped his nose, which was now spurting blood. He glared at Ryker.

Ryker spared him a quick grin before it turned once more into a grimace, “Hey, at least your blood’s red.”

Dex looked down at his hands; the fresh wetness was indeed a rich, vibrant red. Suddenly his nose didn’t hurt so much anymore. Unlike Ryker’s balls, he thought a little evilly. The man was still cupping them, muttering something about how they had better not be broken.

Turns out the ‘round’ had been a good idea after all.

Watching Dex and Ry fight had proven to be very stimulating. The bunch and flex of masculine muscles, the glistening flesh from the hint of sweat, even the drops of blood scattered over naked torsos was arousing. Dex may not have been able to formally train for years but it had been clear his skills as a warrior were not forgotten. He was one of the few wardens who had insisted on learning to fight alongside his paladins and she knew he had fought in many a bloody battle no matter if it was warden-related or not. Unfortunately, because of her previous isolated Order she had never had the pleasure of seeing the famous man in battle. Now that she had, she had only one thing on her mind. The same thing as Max if she wasn’t mistaken. Her liege was currently mauling her Captain as they made a hasty exit. Cali hoped Ryker was still up to the task given that final blow.

“Dex, could I have a word?” She asked levelly.

He had proven himself to the rest of the Order and although his acceptance was still fragile, it was a start. The men had charged the mats and subjected both combatants with slaps on the back and manly jeers. Darius had been careful to avoid contact with his brother but his shoulders had lost their rigid set as he offered a hand to Ryker, pulling him to his feet. Ryker had then offered a hand to Dex – which had been accepted. And that appeared to be good enough for the Order. Perhaps Axel was right about fists solving some problems – at least where male egos were concerned anyway.

Diana had dragged Dex’s head down in order to wipe his face free of blood and to check out his nasal appendage. The soft look of gratitude in his eyes had melted Cali. He truly was no longer just a chade. He wasn’t a warden either, she knew, and likely wouldn’t hold that title ever again. But he had more than proven himself to be a man of honour … and prowess. And she wanted another piece of that prowess.

Dex had looked over at her question, seemingly very surprised by her direct and public approach. After a quick glance at the other occupants – who hadn’t bothered to move or interject – he nodded and began following her as she led them from the gym.

“Be careful man.” Axel called from behind them. “She said those words to Max not half an hour ago and I walked in on them exposing skin and cupping breasts.”

Cali stopped where she was and took a few deep breaths so she wouldn’t turn and kill her fellow paladin. She reminded herself that Axel was a damn fine soldier and an even better friend. The house needed the levity he brought and she actually loved his flirty nature. Being on the receiving end of it in front of a new lover was a little different though and not as funny as the others seemed to think it was if their laughter was any indication. So she didn’t even deign to glance back as she kept walking out the door and directly down the beach. There was a little hidden alcove not far from here that would be perfect for her plans.

Dex walked silently beside her and her quick peeks in his direction showed him smiling, face raised to the air. He looked a lot like Zombie did when he stuck his head out the car window. They walked in silence for five minutes until they reached the bend where the house disappeared from view. There was an outcropping of rocks and a small cliff that cut their portion of the private beach in half when the tide was full. Cali eyed the ebb and flow of the waves on the sand and figured they had about an hour before they were washed away. Perfect.

“So,” Dex spoke, “Was Axel right? Is there going to be breast cupping?”

Cali shivered as the roughness of his voice seemed to rasp over her skin. There was something to be said for not speaking for forty years if that sexy voice was the result. “As a matter of fact …” She answered before launching herself at him in what could only be termed an all-out assault. The last couple of times she had attacked him in such a manner there had been a wall or water behind him to break their fall. The same couldn’t be said this time and she found herself plastered to his front as his back and the sand broke their fall. He let out a breathless chuckle and she found herself entranced by the sound as much as the lightness in his eyes. He was so very handsome. Putting her plans into motion, she began divesting him of his pants. They were the only article of clothing he was wearing anyway.

Half way through her very important task, a thought struck her; would a good, sound fucking hurt the baby in any way? She wasn’t sure. She didn’t really know anything about babies except that she found them to be darn cute. Besides, she wasn’t even convinced there really was a baby, she reminded herself. Max was crazier than a bed bug and was likely making the whole thing up for her own sick amusement. Of course, she was also a custodian and her best friend and would never lie about something so very serious …

No, Cali decided. She was going to live in blissful ignorance until she saw those two little lines show up on one of those little plastic sticks. Until then there was no miraculous baby conceived from a drunken one-night stand with a sort-of-chade. There was only a sort-of-chade now quickly divesting himself and her of their clothing like the things were on fire. It took only moments to be standing naked before each other, the crashing waves at her back and a pleasant breeze at Dex’s. Hmm, talking about breezes …

“That wind thing you did to dry my hair and your clothes before …” She began.

His brow quirked and she wanted to trace it with her tongue. “What about it?” He asked.

“Can you do something like that to blow away this loose sand? I’m not after sand in inconvenient places.” She explained, gesturing to the miles of sand around them.

The slow smile that appeared on Dex’s handsome face alarmed her a little. It was full of cheek and charm; “I can do better than that.” He said, before a small gust blew into their hidden piece of paradise, blowing away the loose sand and appearing to compact it at the same time.

She knelt down and reached out, prodding the very clean looking sand. It was firm to the touch but not hard and as she drew her hand away she noticed that no small pieces cling to it. Pretty cool. Not that it would have been a deal breaker if he hadn’t have been able to use the wind to his advantage. She fully intended to be on top anyway. Unfortunately, it seemed Dex had other ideas for he picked her up briefly before laying her out flat on the sand like some kind of ancient sacrifice. She saw his lips move but couldn’t make out the words before gasping as a mini tornado seemed to come to life in the palm of his hand. His eyes met hers as if seeking permission for something. She had no idea what but she was game. She nodded her head and his visage morphed into what could only be described as male satisfaction.

She kept still as the small whirlwind landed lightly on her bare stomach, tickling and arousing at the same time. The feeling of air rushing over her sensitised skin was amazing. She had been with a few wardens in the past but none who had played with their elements in this way. To say she was intrigued was an understatement. The tornado crept up her torso, swirling over her breasts and making her gasp as her sensitive nipples beaded in the cool air. It was like being caressed without even being touched. Much to her disappointment the boob-play didn’t last long, as the wind moved up her arm. It seemed to grip her wrist somehow before pinning it to the compacted sand above her head.

Wait … he was restraining her? Kinky, kinky boy. She smiled, licking her lips and was gratified by the catch in his breath. A twirl of his hand had another small whirlwind emerging and she soon found herself tethered to the ground by the softest and most ticklish ropes in existence. She inhaled sharply when he moved, aligning his body with hers and pressing her into the sand at her back. She could feel his pulsing length against her thigh and although she wanted to stroke and caress and drive him wild, she was also revelling in this playful side of Dex.

He laid his lips against her own and she allowed him access to explore at his pace. He was a damn fine kisser. He then kissed a path down her neck and over her left breast, before locking his lips over her pebbled peak. She cried out, arching her back as tingles of sensations spread throughout her body. She pressed herself against Dex’s talented lips wanting more … and getting it. He laved a rasping trail to her other nipple before paying it equal attention. His smooth palm cupped her now lonely breast, kneading the flesh and plucking at the taut nub there, ensuring it didn’t stay lonely for long. Tugging at her hands, she let out a sound of frustration when she remembered how she was bound.

Dex raised his head and smiled, blowing out a small breath that somehow managed to caress every inch of her skin, leaving a series of goose bumps in its wake. She writhed against the onslaught, her legs scissoring in agitation, and apparently gaining his attention. He smoothed his palms over her calves and up her thighs, pushing them apart and devouring her with his eyes … before devouring her with his mouth. He managed to wring two orgasms from her before she heard him offer a filthy curse and her tornado restraints fell away. It seems the man’s control had finally snapped.

As he gathered her hips in his hands, she wound her arms around his neck, getting a good grip. Dex slammed into her, the full force of his body behind him and she didn’t bother holding back her cry of ecstasy. He filled her perfectly and began a swift rhythm with each thrust more forceful than the last, until Cali could feel herself being propelled up the sand. She tightened her legs around his waist and met him thrust for thrust, scraping her nails down his back and biting down on sinewy shoulders. His harsh grunts and deep groans assured her of his approval, and barely ten seconds later, she felt him stiffen up as his release poured from him.

No, no, no, she chanted internally, feeling very gypped that he was finished first and worried she was going to miss out. She needn’t have worried for it seemed Dex was a considerate lover. Even in the throes of his own ecstasy he had the presence of mind to reach down and rub her swollen clit, sending her into her third orgasm of the afternoon. So she was a little greedy – sue her.

They lounged in satisfied silence for a few minutes, neither really knowing what to say. She sure didn’t and she just wanted her little bubble of bliss to last a touch longer. Unfortunately, cold water lapped suddenly at her feet and she realised the tide was coming in – as was reality. Watching Dex dress in silence, she really wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do with him. And if there really was a new little soul hitching a ride in her uterus? What was she supposed to do with that? She was a soldier, a knight. Not a mummy. But that was Future-Cali’s problem she assured herself, picking up her sand-free clothes. Too bad Future-Cali seemed to have a lot of problems.

Poor Future-Cali. She kind of felt bad for her.

It was two days before Ivy could join them at the house and in that time Cali had taken to going for a nightly ‘swim’. Her ‘swim’ consisted of getting Dex naked against every flat surface available. It was safe to say he was fully back in the land of the living and any doubts she’d had that he was somehow walking a tightrope between chade and warden had been firmly dismissed. In addition to their physical play, they were also talking. And talking. And talking. In fact, Cali didn’t think she had ever enjoyed another man’s company quite as much. Turns out Dex was warm and funny and smart and totally hip. He was up on all the latest lingo and slang and even knew about the latest movies and books. Turns out, he would melt into the shadows and peer into human households.

Okay, Cali knew that sounded a little creepy out of context but he had explained that humans didn’t tempt his endless hunger and he felt relatively safe being around them. So he had made a concerted effort to remain up to date and also hoped that the contact, even in abstract, would help maintain his own humanity. She had quickly discovered where Darius’s unflinching loyalty came from. It came from the man who had raised him. Dex was loyal and his sense of honour and duty was as deeply entrenched in him as it was in Darius. It was still a little strange to think she was sleeping with Darius’s brother and essentially father figure but … meh. She was choosing to ignore that slight discomfort in favour of Dex’s company … and Dex’s body. Dex had more than filled out nicely and his sleek muscles and tapered waist were exactly to Cali’s taste.

As for Dex, he was soaking up the companionship like a sponge given his forced sexual sabbatical and lack of voice. Cali couldn’t fathom that such a kind, jovial man with so much history as a warrior had been forced to live in hiding, feeling nothing but shame and pain. It really pissed her off in fact and she couldn’t believe how short-sighted she had been, as well as everyone else in their society. All it had taken was one short, out-spoken female to turn history on its head. And she had never been more grateful for that woman than she had been just minutes ago when she had finally plucked up the courage to pee on a stick.

Two lines. There had been two lines on the home pregnancy test. Which meant she was most definitely pregnant. The past two days of sexed-up haze had helped keep her mind firmly away from Max’s assertion that Cali was housing a whole extra soul in her body. But the more she found herself liking Dex, the more she found the thought of a baby creeping in. She also hadn’t been able to ignore the fact that her breasts were indeed fuller, she could no longer tolerate her much-loved morning coffee at all, and she had an unusual smattering of hair sprouting on her stomach like a fine pelt of fur. Max had somehow procured a box of five pregnancy tests and left them subtly underneath her pillow.

So now she was waiting on pins and needles for Max to come downstairs, hoping she had time alone with her liege before Ivy showed up. What she was going to say, she had no idea. She also had no idea what she was going to do with a baby. A baby had never really been something she had considered given her profession. Other than knowing one hundred percent she would never have a child only to ignore it or place it in one of the warden/paladin group homes because it turned out to be affiliated with the wrong domain. That was about the extent of her previous contemplation. She also had no idea what Ryker would say. He had made it very clear that everyone’s priority was Max’s safety and welfare. Although she had never dreamt of having a baby, she knew it was going to be a priority for her. She was clueless and scared absolutely shitless but she was going to make sure her child felt wanted and loved.

So as it turned out, she wasn’t freaking out about growing another human being inside of her, but she was terrified to tell her Order. And the thought of telling Dex was yet another matter entirely. She had no idea what his intentions were now that he was essentially back to his old self. She also had no idea what Max’s intentions were in relation to Dex but it made sense that they needed proof to provide to the IDC that chades were treatable and curable. Dex was that proof. The thought made her stomach churn. What would the IDC do to a redeemed chade? Very likely the same thing they wanted to do to Max; test her. Cali was positive they wouldn’t be so polite about it with a warden turned chade as they had been with a possible daughter of Mother Nature.

She placed her hands on her stomach and sighed. She had caught herself doing that many times over the past couple of days. Why did pregnant women feel the need to do that?

“Oh good. You’re here.” Lark’s voice preceded his body, quickly followed by Axel, Beyden, Diana and a reluctant looking Darius.

“That I am. Is Ivy here?” She asked.

Bey shook his head. “No. Not for another hour at least.”

“Okay. So what’s up?” They were all looking shifty. She glanced at Diana and received an eye roll. Ah, so this was a man-idea. “What’s going on?” She asked again.

“It’s an intervention.” Axel informed her cheerily.

“A what?” She was shocked.

“A Dex-sex intervention.” Lark informed her. “I thought of the name.” He added proudly.

“It’s snappy.” She told him through clenched teeth and Lark grinned and nodded.

“We are concerned because you are clearly banging our prisoner. It’s a conflict of interest to say the least.” Axel informed her.

Cali gritted her teeth. It really wasn’t surprising they had noticed her ‘banging the prisoner’ and although she hadn’t advertised it, she hadn’t really been hiding it either. She wasn’t ashamed of her relationship, as strange as it was to call it that, and refused to regret her choices. When she made a decision she stuck by it and backed herself.

“I assure you, the fact that I’m having sex with Dex is by no means impacting on my duties.” She informed them primly.

Beyden’s amber eyes widened, even as he blushed. “You’re not even going to deny it?”

Her own eyes narrowed at that. “And why should I? Do you think I’m ashamed to be sleeping with a renowned knight in our history? Or should I be ashamed to be sleeping with a man who fought against a terrible disease for decades alone and still managed to come through the other side intact and whole? Maybe he should just be my dirty little secret.” She suggested. Okay, so she was getting a little riled. But like she said; when she made a decision she stood by it. She was not going to be embarrassed over her sexual choices. Not ever again.

“It’s not any of that. It’s just …” Axel trailed off.

“It’s just what? Okay, I know this is probably really weird. It was weird to me too. But he’s not anything other than a man who’s been dealt a bum hand. And I’m sorry Darius. I know this must be extra strange for you. But … I kind of like him.” She admitted.

The one blight on Dex’s continued recovery was his brother’s continued ignorance to the fact. There were only two topics of discussion that Dex had declared off limits; his time as a chade and his brother. Darius had not once approached Dex or tried to speak to him. He barely even looked in his direction. It was breaking Dex’s newly beating heart. But the man had no intention to do anything about it. It was almost as if he didn’t want to talk to Darius either. Although, the covert looks of pride and longing whenever Dex looked at Darius told another story. Cali could understand where both men were coming from but it was hard seeing them both struggle.

“I’m glad he seems to be making progress. But I don’t think it is wise to form any sort of attachment to Dex.” Darius’s words were spoken with no emotion.

“In case he leaves, you mean?”

They all spun as Max and Ryker entered the room. Clearly both had been listening in, either through the Order or from the other room. Cali ignored Max’s comment in favour of assessing her Captain. His eyes were wary and concerned but he gave her a small nod, holding his tongue. She breathed out. It seemed he wasn’t going to kick her off the team … yet.

“Dex won’t be going anywhere. The IDC are going to be shown the error of their ways, Dex is going to allow me to cure him completely, and he is going to find a home here with us – his family.” Max informed the room at large.

To others, her speech may have sounded immature and wishful thinking but it sounded just about perfect to Cali. She only wished it was a premonition of things to come rather than a hope.

“You all don’t believe me. That’s okay.” Max said. “Dex doesn’t believe it either yet, and until he does, it will remain out of reach.”

Okay. That sounded much more like a premonition, Cali thought.

Max gave Cali a warm smile. “I also wouldn’t tell him that other news yet. I’m thinking he’s undergone a very large and very quick lifestyle change. He needs a bit longer to adjust, otherwise he’s just going to cock the whole thing up – just like a man.”

And now everyone was looking at her once again. She cleared her throat, “Ryker? What do you have to say about me sleeping with Dex?”

“Me? Seems what I think in this Order doesn’t matter.” He replied sulkily and grunted as Max elbowed him. “But if I did get a say, I would reinforce that everyone has pledged themselves to serve as Max’s paladins. Emerging feelings and relationships aside, I would hope you all remember that. Whatever doesn’t get in the way of your duties, will be a non-issue.”

And that was as close to approval as she was likely going to get from her Captain. She knew Diana had received a great deal more sentimentality in his support of her relationship with Darius. But Cali was going to take what she could get.

The only other issue to discuss now was the small matter of a eight and a half week old fetus …

Ivy arrived right on time, less than an hour later and was greeted with hugs from her brother and Max. Cali knew the latter perplexed the ranger. It didn’t perplex her. Max had well and truly adopted the slight female. Zombie bounded over to her and Cali saw her reach down and give him a scratch between the ears. All hope was not lost, if a woman could pat a dog. They congregated in the dining room, as was their usual place for a pow-wow. They had decided to be as honest with Ivy as possible, given Max seemed to have hired her on as a spy or something. But they had also agreed that Dex would remain hidden. No sense in dangling temptation in front of the ranger’s face.

“Let’s begin, shall we? The chade population is growing once more and they seem to be taking on specific missions. We think they are amassing for something once again and that they may be headed in this direction specifically. Oh, and they can be cured.” When Max laid her cards on the table, she didn’t mess around.

Ivy’s exotic features remained impassive. “And where exactly are you getting this information from?”

“Directly from the source.” Was Max’s prompt response.

“From the source …” Ivy repeated, glancing at her brother. “The source, as in a chade?”

“Sort of.” Max hedged.

“You’re sort of getting your information from a chade?” Ivy queried.

“No. We’re getting our information from a sort of chade. There’s a difference.” Max assured the ranger.

Ivy’s eyes narrowed, searching the room. Although not all fully on board the Dex-train yet, nobody moved an inch. Their loyalty and their alliance was with their liege.

“I see. And just how did you attain this information from a ‘sort of’ chade?”

Max raised her chin. “Torture.”

“Full body torture.” Axel added with a wicked grin in Cali’s direction. She wished she was closer so she could kick him.

Ivy’s eyes narrowed for a few seconds before she actually snorted and smirked in amusement. “Even if I believed that – which I do not – there is no way the council will.”

“You sound very sure of that.” Darius intoned from his place by the kitchen door.

“I am.”

“And why is that I wonder?” Lark asked, sounding mighty suspicious of the earth ranger.

Cali watched as Ivy glanced towards him briefly before clearly dismissing him. She didn’t miss the way Lark’s green eyes narrowed and his shoulders seemed to stiffen at the noticeable dismissal. Interesting.

“Because you’re being spied upon.” Ivy admitted, calmly.

Ryker narrowed his eyes dangerously, “And just how do you know we’re being spied upon?”

“Because I’m one of the ones doing the spying.” She answered casually before smirking at him, “I’d suggest moving some of your more extracurricular activities back indoors for the time being.” She raised a hand for silence, before continuing, “Unfortunately, I’m not the only one watching. I can omit a few things in my reports, overlook a few details here and there. But the two others assigned to watch over you? They won’t be doing that.”

“You’re saying you’ve been watching us and reporting back to the council? And you’ve been deliberately omitting some details?” Beyden asked of his sister.

“That’s right.”

“Ivy – that is so dangerous.” He picked up her hand and Cali watched as Ivy patted it in comfort but remained silent.

“And what have you been omitting?” Cali asked. She needed to know exactly how much Ivy had seen.

“I’ve been a ranger for fifty years. I know a chade when I see one – when I feel one.” She answered bluntly, looking at the doorway into the living room as if she knew Dex was just beyond the door listening. “And I’ve seen one walking around freely here.”

“He isn’t a chade.” Cali’s retort was instantaneous and firm.

Ivy snorted rudely at that. “Sure he is. He may not be a typical one, killing and maiming and wreaking havoc on the elements, but he’s a chade.”

Dex chose that moment to walk in with Zombie in his arms – Zombie had well and truly taken a liking to the reformed Dex. If he wasn’t with Max or Bey, you could bet he was yipping after Dex somewhere. Still, Cali had no idea what he thought he was doing. They had agreed he would stay hidden.

Ivy barely glanced at him, before looking at Max, “Yes. His torture has obviously been extensive.” She intoned, drolly.

Zombie yipped, giving Dex a lick to the neck and receiving an absent pat before he was placed on the floor. “I’m Dex. And you are half right about me.” He said.

“Which half?”

“The chade part. But –” He held up a placating hand to the crowd, “you were wrong about the tense. I was a chade; past tense. I was a chade for a very long time, perhaps on the cusp of no return. I admit this freely.”

“But you’re not anymore?” Ivy tilted her head, eyeing him from head to foot. Cali was very glad the ranger had left her weapon on the kitchen counter. The full length sickles of the rangers were a nasty and lethal weapon. They were also creepy as fuck.

“No. I’m not anymore.” He answered. And damn if Cali didn’t like hearing those words. It was good to hear him say them for she knew he had reservations – big ones – but it was time he started believing in himself.

Ivy sighed, “Clearly, there is more going on here than I know or understand. And you definitely don’t act like a chade. But it’s not enough. Not only do you look like a chade with that dark hair and those dark eyes, but you also look remarkably like a fabled warden who was officially reported by his brother as converting to a chade about forty years ago.”

Cali sucked in a breath over that news as Dex looked closer at the Asian ranger, “I don’t believe we’ve met before.”

“We haven’t.” Ivy assured him. “But we spend a whole week studying you during our ranger training. Your battle strategies have saved my life more than once.”

He looked completely embarrassed and horrified by that revelation. Clearly he’d had no idea he was a scholarly topic. Surely Cali couldn’t add humble to his list of growing assets, could she? The man really didn’t need to be any more appealing.

“Wait. Why would you be studying Dex?” Max asked, in total confusion.

“We don’t study Dex.” Ivy asserted. “We study the warden he used to be; Charlemagne.”

“Charlemagne?” Max screeched. “Wait. The Charlemagne? The Charlemagne who united Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire? The Charlemagne from the Twelve Peers?”

Dex winced, blushing adorably. “Many of those accounts have been greatly exaggerated in the history books. But … yes. I was once known as Charlemagne.”

“Dude, you’re a freaking legend!” Max crowed. “That is so awesome. I can’t believe you never told me. All these years, I was hanging with royalty and I didn’t even know it.”

Dex just shrugged, notably avoiding looking at Darius. Darius had fought alongside him in all those battles and was also in the history books, albeit under a different name. Roland was the name the humans had given him. It was their many shared and noble victories that had engendered Darius with the title of Sir.

“Look, I’m not going to pretend I know what’s going on here.” Ivy said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “And it’s true you sure don’t act like the reputed chade that you are – or were. But the fact is, you still look enough like one on the precipice that the others have noticed and reported it to the council.” Her eyes were serious as they travelled around the room;

“There’s a hunting party coming.”

Max crept soundlessly through the house as she left a thoroughly satisfied and debauched Ryker in their bedroom upstairs. She had plied the man with enough sex to leave him comatose for days. The underhandedness of the act didn’t bother her in the slightest as she made her way down the spiral staircase, using nothing but her familiarity with their home to guide her. She had a meeting to attend – one Ryker wasn’t invited to. In fact, none of her paladins were invited – not because they weren’t an asset in every occasion – but because they wouldn’t approve.

No, Max thought, Darius would lecture; Ryker would cross his arms over his nipple-pierced chest and glower; Lark would try to think of an alternative; Beyden would suggest anything but violence; Cali would narrow her eyes and be all practical; Diana would follow up Darius’s lecture with one of her own; and Axel, well, Axel would likely hold the door open for her she admitted. But that didn’t matter. She wasn’t involving any of them, no matter what. This was her choice, her business, and her right. After all, wasn’t she entitled to protect them just as much as they protected her? They were hers after all, every last one of them and she loved them all dearly, including the newest addition to their eclectic family.

Although a strange friend to have, Dex had still been a good one over the years and she valued everything he was from that time when they had both had no-one and nothing to rely on. She valued him even more now, knowing the strength and courage he had shown in order to turn his life around and to have a future with her best friend. Eyes hard, Max vowed that Dex and Cali would get that future, the council be dammed. And so here she was, creeping through the quiet log house in the dead of night like a ninja. A freaking good ninja, Max thought a little cockily as she reached for the doorknob. She was a ninja … she was a shadow … she was stealth incarnate … she was –

“Busted.”

Max squeezed out a thin scream as the deep, slightly accented voice behind her startled the ever-loving shit out of her. She clutched her chest as the kitchen light was flipped on, illuminating a deceptively casual looking Beyden in the doorway.

“Going somewhere?” His amber eyes seemed to glow momentarily as her own eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. He was dressed in comfortable-looking faded jeans and a pale blue tee shirt that stretched deliciously over his delicious chest. The Spaniard was damn potent to the senses – even to a woman madly in love and still feeling the twinges from a recent sex marathon.

Quickly trying to regain some dignity, she stood up straight and looked him in the eye, “Yes, actually. I’m having trouble sleeping so I thought I would just take a stroll outside – get some fresh air.”

Those cat eyes of his narrowed as he pushed himself away from the wall and all but stalked over to her. Leaning in, his eyes roamed her features for a full ten seconds before he gave up with a frustrated grunt. “You know, even though I know you’re lying, I still can’t pick it. You have one hell of a poker face … I’m not sure a Goddess should really be that adept at lying.” He added, almost as if it was an afterthought.

She smiled a little thinly but it was still in satisfaction. When she had first arrived they had all thought her face was an open book – that her face held all her thoughts and feelings. It was one of the reasons why most of them had trusted her so readily, she knew. It was also exactly what she had intended. She knew people underestimated her because of her size and her youthful appearance. She was good at looking innocent – even though she was anything but. It had taken them a bit of time but they had all pretty much figured that out by now. Still, she felt a sliver of guilt lying to Beyden. The man was so sweet he could make your teeth ache. But she was a woman on a mission, so she raised her chin;

“I’m adept at a lot of things – you should know that by now. So if I am lying to you then you should trust that it is for a good reason.”

“I trust that you think it’s for a good reason. Too bad for you I don’t happen to feel the same.” He shrugged broad shoulders.

Now it was her turn to narrow her eyes; Beyden was serious. Sweet as sugar he may be, but he was also a warrior to the bone and had a protective streak that could rival even Ryker’s. There was no way he would let her out of the house on her own without an explanation. “Okay, okay, you got me. I lied. I have a meeting I need to attend.”

He cast his eyes to the left and the wall that held a lovely old cuckoo clock, “At one in the morning?”

“Yes. I really can’t miss it, Beyden.”

“Why don’t you tell me who you’re meeting and why? That way I can decide whether or not I can take you or if I need to wake up everyone else.” He said, quite reasonably.

It was the reasonable part that made Max twitchy. “How did you hear me anyway? I was in stealth mode.”

He smiled at that. “Stealth mode? Honey, I’m a paladin. I’m just that good.”

He did look cocky, Max thought, not a usual look on the man. Too bad the moment was ruined when she spotted a mottled, furry paw behind Beyden’s denim-cladded leg. “You little traitor!” She hissed at the bedraggled pup as he popped out from behind his hiding spot, tongue lolling and a happy doggy grin on his face.

Beyden bent and picked up the little offender, “Now, don’t blame Zombie. He did the right thing, coming to me like he did. He loves you too.” Bey pointed out.

She rolled her eyes but felt her heart melt; man and dog were just too adorable in their sincerity to maintain any semblance of anger. “I’m not mad. But I really do need to go, Bey. It’s important.”

Beyden studied her for a moment, his strong fingers idly stroking Zombie into a light slumber. She was unsure if it was the wonder of his touch or his affinity with animals that made it so easy for Zombie to relax and trust – probably a little of both. She couldn’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t be reduced to purring under those deft fingers.

“This is about Dex.”

It wasn’t a question but Max answered anyway. “Yes. It’s about Dex.”

“Fair enough.” He bent down and placed a now slumbering Zombie in his bed by the table. “I’ll drive and Axel can ride shotgun.”

“Axel?” She cringed at how shrill her voice sounded.

The tall, lean, muscled mass of Axel strolled from the dark hallway into the light-filled kitchen, dimples flashing merrily; “You called my name, m’lady?”

She barely resisted the urge to yank on her own hair. “How long have you been there?”

“Oh, since about the time you went into stealth mode.” He winked, grabbing her jacket from the hook as he passed. “Come on, my fiery little Goddess, into the coat. It’s either the two of us … or we go wake up the whole house.” He added warningly, obviously correctly interpreting the gleam in her eyes.

Figuring she was already pushing her luck that no others in the house had yet heard them, she snatched her coat and opened the door quietly even though she wanted to rip the things from its hinges.

Damn sneaky paladins!

“You’re waiting in the car.”

“We’re going with you.”

“You’re waiting in the car.”

“We’re going with you.” Axel repeated, “Hey, this is fun. I could do this all night.” Axel grinned broadly back at her from the front seat and Max had to resist the urge to twist his ear like a toddler.

“How about this; I keep my link with you guys open. That way you’ll know if I’m in any danger and you can ride in on your stallions, swords glinting in the firelight, saving my tender, virtuous self from the dastardly villain.” Her voice was like syrup but she knew her eyes were not. She was wasting time.

“Don’t get mouthy Max.” Axel warned, all semblance of frivolity gone. “Do you know how many rules we’re already breaking for you? What do you think Ryker is going to do to us in the morning when he finds out we left the house without him?”

She lowered her head at that. He was right but when the shame wanted to slither in she reminded herself that she was doing this for Dex and Cali and her tiny little nephew who was growing safe and snug … which really meant she was doing it for all of them. They were all family.

“How did you get past Ry anyway?” Beyden asked. “You didn’t use any Custodian mojo on him, did you?”

“I guess that’s one way to put it … I fucked him into unconsciousness.”

“Good God, Max!” Bey’s ears burned a deep red and she couldn’t help but grin.

“Awesome.” Axel’s grin kicked up again.

“You let me worry about your Captain. And I really do appreciate what you’re doing but I really do need just ten minutes with my contact. I swear to you, I will call for you if he so much as breathes wrong in my direction.”

“He? Who exactly are you meeting?” Questioned Beyden.

“Nikolai.”

Max let out a breath as she walked into Dave’s Dive. The only other occupant was an elderly fellow snoring quite comfortably in the corner which meant she wasn’t late. Dave was in his usual position behind the scarred bar … polishing glasses that were already clean. She walked across the ancient floorboards and parked her butt in the same stool she had all those months ago and couldn’t help marvelling over the drastic changes in her life since. The first time she had sat there she had been miserably sick physically and bone-tired mentally. A comforting sea breeze had also brought with it three handsome strangers that had turned out to be the brothers she never had. She traced her finger over an especially deep scar in the once rich mahogany of the bar and sighed in sentiment. Turns out she loved this scarred piece of wood in this derelict, hole-in-the-wall pub.

“Getcha somethin’?”

The gruff words returned her focus to the present and to the hairy bartender that had somehow managed to worm his way into her affections as well. He was a solid, grizzled fellow with a pelt of fur covering every expanse of exposed skin. His mono-brow was a thing of art and disconcerted her greatly as it seemed to move independently, as if it were sentient or something. But despite the fact that he was a big, hairy bastard and owned a bar deliberately called a ‘dive’, he was a good guy. And a loyal one to boot. After spending some time there getting drunk and also on a few occasions of down time, she had realised that he had some kind of long-standing friendship with her man. So much so, that Ryker had told her to go to Dave’s if she were ever in trouble and he would help her. He hadn’t extrapolated much more at the time and she had been a touch beyond tipsy so she hadn’t pressed for more information. Eyeing him now, Max wished she would have asked some more questions.

“Ice … with some vodka, please.” She finally answered in response to his earlier question. He grunted as he moved to grab a shiny glass – he was a man of few words, very few. Which is why she was so surprised when he spoke again;

“On your own tonight? Where’s your horde?”

“My horde?” She smiled, “I like that. I’m flying solo tonight. Sometimes a girl needs some alone time.”

“Alone time my arse.” He narrowed his eyes as the door opened, bringing with it a hint of sea air … and one very tall and very built Ranger. Ivy had told her that Nikolai was the man to talk to. Apparently, he was a good friend to Ivy as well as being her superior and Ivy trusted him. That was good enough for Max.

The Commander of the rangers sure was a vision, Max acknowledged silently. He exuded masculine power with every long stride, his lean but muscled body ate up the distance to the bar in no time. He had brown eyes that rivalled her own man’s, short-cropped brown hair and a goatee that managed to make him look sinister and hip at the same time. He took a seat next to her and held up one finger – the apparently universal, non-verbal sign language for a shot of whiskey.

Max picked up her own drink in order to stop her eyes bugging out at the man … and promptly spat it back out. She scowled at Dave; “This is water.”

“And?” The creepy caterpillar on his forehead rose half an inch.

She scowled, “And I ordered vodka.”

Dave picked up a clean glass and whipped the white rag off his shoulder, “You’re in here at one thirty in the morning without your man. In walks some wannabe hippy biker. You’re drinking water.”

She was left uncharacteristically speechless as Dave ambled to the other side of the bar to complete his polishing ritual.

“Friend of yours?”

Max finally closed her mouth and turned to meet Nikolai’s eyes for the first time. “Apparently.” She muttered. She wondered if Ryker had put the hard word on Dave to make sure she was looked after when she was in the bar or whether the bartender had taken it upon himself. Either way it was just what she needed; another testosterone-filled protector.

“Do I really look like a wannabe hippy biker?”

The pouty question startled Max into a laugh – Nikolai’s masculine outrage was plain to hear. She eyed his dark denim jeans, black biker boots, leather jacket and silver earring hanging from his left ear. He looked more like a hot biker pirate to Max but she wasn’t about to say so out loud. His apparently amiable demeanour was a little surprising. The Rangers were the boogeymen of the warden society and they were notorious for their cutthroat natures and lack of warmth and compassion. But as she let her ‘second sight’ free and saw his soul emerge on the stool next to him, she saw he was anything but. His soul was a delightful starburst of warm autumn colours and was decidedly … jolly, she thought. It even gave her a cheeky salute as she gaped.

“Yoo hoo. Are you with me?” The Ranger in question waved a sturdy hand in front of her eyes before picking up her drink and sniffing it. “Are you sure this is just water?” He grinned at her before replacing her glass onto the bar.

“Why are you a Ranger? It doesn’t suit you at all.” She blurted out, unthinkingly.

His smile faded instantly as he glanced to his right as if seeing what Max was seeing before turning back to her. “Because someone has to be. Because I can handle it. Because I don’t like bullies. Take your pick.” He listed for her. “But I don’t think you asked me here to quiz me about my career choice.”

Max shook her head; dammit Max! Get your head out of your arse! She lectured internally. “You’re right, I didn’t. And I apologise – that was rude of me.” She saw his eyebrows skyrocket and she tilted her head, “My apology surprises you?”

“Well, yeah.” He shrugged, causing his leather jacket to creak appealingly, “As I understand it, you take great pleasure in being rude.”

Now it was Max’s turn to be surprised – and it wasn’t a pleasant one either. “I do not!” Good God, is that really what the public perception of her was? She was suitably horrified. “Is that really what people think? You know what, never mind.” Max rushed on, not really wanting to hear his answer. “I assure you, I do not take pleasure in being rude – well, most of the time I don’t anyway. Why am I explaining myself to you?” She grumbled out.

“I’ve no idea. You’re a custodian. You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone.”

“If I’m a fabled custodian why do I need to sneak behind the council for secret meetings? Why don’t they just do what I tell them without question?” She asked.

He sipped his drink, eyeing her over the rim. “Do you want them to?”

Max snorted, “Fuck no!”

He smiled, brown eyes lighting up, “But you do want them to listen to you in regards to a certain chade.”

“He’s not a chade.” Max’s denial was instant.

“Are his eyes black?”

“Yes.” Sometimes …

“Does he bleed when wounded?”

“No.” Sometimes …

“Can he recharge vitality like a normal warden?”

“No.” Barely …

“Has he tried to kill you by draining you of your life-force?”

“Yes.” But she forgave him …

Nikolai shook his head and upended the contents of his glass. “He’s a chade.”

Max didn’t bother disputing him, nor did she bother correcting his tense into past instead of present … yet. She wanted some more information first. “Ivy says there are degrees of chades; that sometimes the progression is slow.”

“I didn’t hear a question in there.” The Commander pointed out and Max felt a spurt of adrenalin from the challenge; he was smart and this was going to be fun.

“It wasn’t a question; it was a statement, a fact. Kind of like this next part; chades aren’t evil beings who choose to become murderers … they’re sick. I believe they can be cured.”

His swoon-worthy eyes bored into hers as he sipped his whiskey, “Sick, huh? And they can be cured, you say.”

“Yes.”

“My powerful deductive reasoning skills allow me to conclude you think the chade currently in residence at your home is one of the ones who can be healed.” He leaned nonchalantly on the bar as if they were having a casual chat between friends rather than deciding the fate of a family member.

“That’s right. He is no threat. That’s why I wanted to talk with you. I understand you and your team are set to descend on my little slice of paradise. I’m asking you to come peacefully – to meet with Dex and talk with him – rather than attacking first.” She held her breath, hoping Ivy was right in her assessment of her boss.

He ran his tongue over his teeth in silent contemplation before shaking his head, “Sorry. No can do. I don’t know you and I have no idea what your word is worth. I have a team of people I’m responsible for as well as a duty to the council. When they say ‘jump’ I pretty much say ‘how high’.”

He was lying. She knew he was lying. He wasn’t the type to follow anyone blindly, just like Ivy. Was he testing her? Well, unfortunately she was just about out of patience. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to find out what happened when she was deliberately rude. “Don’t lie to me. It offends me.” She informed him – and it did. She hated liars.

He shook his head; “I can’t help you.”

Growling, because it seemed her stealth mode was a big fat waste of time, she pushed back from the bar and stood. This is what she got when she listened to her Order and tried to be diplomatic. Let the pirate and his rangers come. She’d soon show them the errors of their ways. The hand on her arm had her pausing and arching an eyebrow at the tall man. She let out a tiny jolt of power, no more than millisecond, to get her point across. Smart man as he was, he slowly peeled his hand off her arm.

“Powerful little thing, aren’t you?” He murmured.

Suddenly feeling beyond tired, she fell heavily back onto the stool. “So they say.” She picked up her drink, forgetting it was water as she took a healthy swallow. “Fucking piece of shit water!” She fumed, throwing eyes filled with daggers at Dave – who pretended not to hear her. A warm chuckle beside her had her glancing at Nikolai.

“I think I like you.” He informed her.

Really? He liked her? And he was still yanking her chain? She blew out a breath; it was a good thing he liked her. Maybe she needed to throw in some more charm. She smiled, “I think I like you too, but …” she paused for a heartbeat before continuing, “if you come after what’s mine, I won’t hesitate to gut you where you stand.”

“I bet.” He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “And what about the council? Would you gut them too? Would you really deny the world of wardens when it is in such need of their vital gifts?”

She raised her eyes to his and let them swirl with promise and power, “I would see the world rent in half before I would let my family be hurt.” She stood again and spun, her stride confident and determined as she made her way to the exit. She wasn’t wasting any more time.

“I believe you.”

Max heard the quietly spoken words and the truth behind them but she didn’t slow or stop. She meant what she said; she did like him, even though he annoyed her with his obtuseness. So she was genuinely hoping he wouldn’t come knocking on her door looking for Dex with his sickle at the ready. Because she had also meant the other thing she had said; the whole world could go to blazes if she couldn’t have her family.

The robed figures appeared at dawn. Dex had to admit, they presented a formidable and somewhat scary front. Their cloaks were long and dark and their hoods hid their faces. They had their sickles out and were standing at attention at the edge of the driveway. Now familiar with Ivy, he could make out the much shorter ranger at the front with a tall – and also familiar looking – man. The house had been a bit of a shambles that morning, having learnt of Max’s duplicity the evening before. Ryker had roared and raged and Dex had heard him all the way from the gym. An apologetic, but definitely not contrite Max, had managed to calm the situation just by being her. It was hard to stay mad at someone who acted from love and loyalty. She had also taken two of her paladins and it was Ryker’s rule that she has at least two with her at all times. So, she hadn’t really broken any rules – as she had primly informed him.

Max had divulged the contents of the discussion she’d had with the Commander of the rangers. Dex was humbled and grateful and honoured, and everything else it was possible to feel over her staunch defence of him. It hadn’t surprised him to learn that Nikolai had been a touch shady. Although not a shady character by nature, he was a thinker and a strategist. He would feel the need to scope Max out – and the situation – before making any final plans. He was also a damn fine leader and held the safety of his team in priority. In his past, Dex had actually known the man well. In fact, he had considered himself to be good friends with the Commander of this local branch of the Rangers. He had delivered more chades to Nikolai than he could count. Over time they had begun talking, then swapping war stories, which led to the natural progression of drinking together. You never really knew somebody until you got drunk with them; he had really liked the affable paladin. And he really hoped the man wasn’t here to kill him.

Relying on their shared familiarity and shared history, he took a step forward. They had discussed what would happen and he had refused to hide behind the good people in this house. The hunting party was here for him. He would take responsibility. He cleared his throat, hoping it didn’t come out gravelly from nerves, “Hi Nik.”

The rangers appeared a mite startled upon hearing his voice but didn’t break ranks. The tallest member of the party did step forward in a rush and push his hood off his head though. “Charlemagne?!”

Dex winced, more from the use of his old name than from the incredulous pitch of Nik’s voice. “Hi Nik.” He repeated. Lame, he chastised himself. So lame.

“What the fuck?!”

Nikolai’s response made Dex sigh and rub the bridge of his nose with his forefinger. If Nikolai didn’t believe them, he was screwed. Movement caught his attention and he saw Nikolai moving forward in his usual long-limbed grace. Rumbled words from the cloaked peanut gallery behind him had Nikolai throwing back a short but stern command to hold their positions. Dex could tell the other rangers weren’t happy but they heeded the command of their superior. More movement beside and behind him had him smiling slightly; Max’s paladins sure did present an intimidating force of support and strength. It took everything in him not to glance at Cali – he could feel her warmth at his back and he felt himself settle even more. What a miracle she was.

Apparently Nikolai wasn’t intimidated in the least for he marched right up to him, ignoring all sense of personal boundaries, and … sniffed him. What the hell? “Nik, really?”

Nikolai took one last whiff at his neck and eased back a measly two inches. “Charlemagne, is it really you?”

“It’s Dex now.” He corrected automatically.

Nik grunted at that. “I thought you were a chade?”

“I told you there were no chades here.” Max pointed out from beside him.

Nik nodded his head once in assent, acknowledging, “So you did,” before proceeding to poke Dex in the chest – repeatedly.

Dex made no move to stop the annoying poking but did grumble out a disgruntled; “Come on, man.”

Nikolai ignored him. “Interesting …” Poke. “… very interesting.” Poke. “You don’t look like a chade … you don’t feel like a chade … do you react like one?” He asked inexplicably before abruptly slapping him across the face – hard!

Dex felt his neck snap sharply to the side from the force of Nikolai’s slap. He felt Cali stiffen behind him and Darius ready himself to attack. Although he was no longer bonded with him as liege and paladin, Dex would always be able to read his brother. He only hoped they could forge a new relationship after all this was said and done. He glanced over his shoulder just enough to make eye contact with Darius, pleading with his eyes for him to stand down. His brother’s eyes were chilly and his jaw set stubbornly but he nodded minutely. Dex then flicked his eyes to his warrior woman and felt his body stir quite inappropriately. Her arctic blue eyes were flashing with fire and she had her hand gripped on her scythe – although it was still sheathed. He knew she would take Nikolai’s head, consequences be dammed, if he took such liberties again. What a woman. A small shake of his head had her narrowing her eyes and nodding hers. Setting his jaw, much as his brother had, he shook his head again. A huff and breaking of eye contact was his only answer and he hoped it meant she wasn’t about to gut the Commander of the Rangers.

Turning back to Nikolai, he asked, “Satisfied?”

Nik shrugged, “I’m not sure yet.”

Dex saw Max’s thick mass of red wine hair swing in his periphery before he saw the intent in her eyes. He had no time to dodge as she proceeded to slap him from the other direction. “How about now?” She asked, grinning at the Commander.

Nikolai chuckled, “Getting closer.”

Dex gritted his teeth and reminded himself that Max could smite him with her little finger so he really shouldn’t pick her up and shake her like a rag doll. Besides, Nikolai as well as the other rangers did seem a little less tense. Dex shook his head before turning back to Nikolai. “Well?”

“Well, I say we have some talking to do.”

They had decided to settle in the large living room where all the rangers could keep a watchful eye on him through the large bay windows as well as monitor all the entries and exits. Only Nikolai and Ivy remained inside and Dex was hopeful of a good outcome once again. They could potentially talk a touch more freely without ears around. Max had taken the lead and described their history as well as the events of the past week and Nikolai had listened openly, asking relevant and intelligent questions. He seemed genuinely surprised by the turn of events and kept looking his way and shaking his head. Dex saw his fingers twitch a time and two and thought he was probably itching to slap him again.

“… And that’s where we left off last night at Dave’s. With you annoying me.” Max tacked on, quite unnecessarily in Dex’s opinion.

Luckily Nik didn’t seem offended and even offered Max a cheeky wink before turning to him once more; “Are you willing to submit yourself to the council for examination?” He queried.

“Examination? You mean experimentation!” Cali’s words were furious. “No. He is not!” Dex was warmed by her outrage.

“I’m afraid you’re probably right about that.” He nodded to Cali before pinning Dex with his somber gaze, “The council will want to learn what makes you tick. We rangers are in charge of interrogation and examination of chade-converts, as well as investigations into possible causes and cures. Experimentation is a very apt word for what occurs.”

You had to give the guy credit; at least he was honest.

The room was warningly quiet as Nikolai and Ivy received angry, disgusted looks from everyone in the room. Dex was glad that even Darius appeared upset by the news. But it wasn’t news to him. Non-rangers were not permitted inside their gaol systems but Dex had often heard sounds carried on the wind when he had dropped off prisoners. They were enough to make his toes curl. He really didn’t want that to be him. He looked around, seeing the pitying gazes but also the resigned looks too; they all knew he didn’t have a choice. It was a miracle Nikolai was even allowing them to have a conversation about his future instead of taking his head on sight.

“Run.”

Dex closed his eyes. How could one word hold so much meaning and have so many repercussions? If he left, if he ran, then he would indeed be safe from the council’s dangerous judgements. He was essentially cured now, although he wasn’t sure if his recovery was permanent were he to be away from Max and her endless supply of unique energy. But if he ran, he would at least have a chance. It would mean giving up the tremulous relationships he had begun to develop with the paladins here … and with Cali. But it wasn’t any of that which was forefront of his mind right now. It was the unspoken sign of support, trust and affection that came hand-in-hand with that one small word; run. It showed him that he had truly been accepted here, that he had been forgiven here, and that knights once more had his back in battle. For the word had been spoken by Ryker – his biggest opponent. The word couldn’t have meant more to him if it had come from his brother.

Turning to the Captain of the Order of Aurora, he opened his mouth … only to quickly shut it again when Ryker spoke gruffly and angrily, “Don’t look at me like that. We protect our own here. I figure we can hold them off for a few days at least. The hippy here and his band of hooded boogeymen might give us a bit of trouble but it’s nothing we can’t handle. Run.” He told him again. “Give Max some more time to win over the council. She’ll do it; she has a way about her.” He smiled slightly at the end and received an adoring look from his lover.

Dex swallowed hard and looked around the room, seeing looks of fierce agreement on each and every face – even his brother’s. He focused on Cali’s face last and felt his heart turn over in his chest. Her blue eyes were blazing, her chin held high as her sunny blonde hair fell in a straight waterfall of silk over her shoulders. She looked bold and strong and ready to fight for his very right to live. Could he be in love with her? He wondered. She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head in the direction of the door, gripping her scythe tightly in a very non-subtle way of saying; get the hell out of dodge. I got this. Oh, yes. He could most definitely be in love with her.

“Who will fight for me if I won’t fight for myself?” He questioned her. “You asked me that weeks ago. It seems I have my answer; all of you will. And I … couldn’t be more grateful or humbled. But it’s not enough.” He looked at Ryker; “I won’t run.” He then turned to Nikolai who had been conspicuously quiet, not rising to the bait of Ryker’s earlier assertion that they could take him on. In fact, he looked rather amused by the whole affair. “I won’t run.” Dex repeated for the ranger’s benefit.

“But –” Cali began but he cut her off;

“I am perhaps the only person alive who can help provide answers to questions that have plagued us for centuries. What made me turn? Why was I susceptible? Why didn’t I lose my soul? Why can I be cured?” He listed question after question. “There are others like me out there – I know there are. They’re out there right now in pain, starving, suffering in their isolation and suffocating in their shame. They believe there is no hope. But there is. I owe it to them to stay. I owe it to them to stand up and offer myself as proof of redemption.” He turned his gaze to the room, making eye contact with each and every person, including Darius. “It is my duty and my honour to guard my domain faithfully and to ensure balance is maintained in nature. Right now it isn’t. Nature is disrupted by its guardian’s turning against it. They have no-one to fight for them. I won’t forsake them.”

And he wouldn’t. He had fought tirelessly over the years in hundreds of battles and wars, always fighting for the underdog and the downtrodden. His parents had taught him that justice was not reserved for the rich or the privileged. That the truth was the truth – no matter the source. So he had guided and guarded his domain of air and had been a strong presence in the warden community. But he had also fought for those people – those humans – that had needed justice and a helping hand. He knew most wardens didn’t concern themselves too much in human affairs. They believed their affairs were exclusive to nature and the elements but Dex had figured out early on, it was not as simple as that. If they wanted to survive as a race, if they wanted to fulfil their purpose as Mother Nature demanded, then they had to work alongside humans – not apart from them. Now it seemed, a new race had emerged; the chades. And they needed their truth to be told too.

No. He wouldn’t be running.

Cali watched Dex prowl around her room. He had never been in her room before and they had never slept together in her bed. Although Dex had proven he was able to recharge from paladins and he was more than in control of himself, Ryker had still insisted he stay out in the gym. No guest room for the reformed chade. However, after Ry’s overt support of Dex in front of Nikolai, Cali was sure that had changed. After the group of cloaked figures left, there had been very little discussion before everyone broke apart to do their own things; Darius, Diana and Lark were headed to the Lodge to work and the rest would stay here with Max … and Dex. For she was positive, her family was now willing to take up arms in his defence.

The rest of the meeting had proven rather uneventful. Nikolai had agreed that Dex was not a typical chade, confirming that Dex was indeed the long lost Charlemagne from the history books. He had even allowed Dex to recharge from him, proving that he was no longer subject to the pull of power. He had further agreed to talk to the council on Dex’s behalf and try to manage the situation as best as he could before it escalated further. The guy wasn’t half bad – for a ranger. He had stipulated though, that he could not in good conscious leave a chade – even a reformed one – alone without supervision. Hence the reason why they now had a tiny ninja gaoler staying on premises. Ivy had volunteered to stay and watch over the dastardly Dex and Nikolai had agreed, clearly having faith and trust in his second in command. It seemed Max had been right about Ivy and where her loyalties lay. For some as yet inexplicable reason to the rest of them, they appeared to lay with Max.

“Are you okay?” The question startled her and she turned to see Dex watching her quietly with his dark eyes.

That was a very hard question to answer, Cali thought. She had planned to bring Dex up here and tell him about the baby. Time was ticking away and she really needed to discuss her pregnancy with Ryker and the others for practical reasons as well as for personal ones. She wanted to share her news with her family. She had become progressively more comfortable with the idea of a baby as the days went on. Sure, she had no idea what to do with one but she had no doubt she already loved the little hitchhiker. At first, she hadn’t been sure whether or not to tell Dex she was pregnant with his baby. Although the chemistry between them was explosive and the emotional connection was also there, that didn’t mean she trusted him enough to be a father. She didn’t feel a hint of guilt or remorse over that either. The fact of the matter was, the baby’s well-being was her main priority. It wasn’t Dex’s feelings or sense of responsibility, or even her feelings on the matter. She had needed proof that Dex would be a good father – not just a sperm donor.

Well, she had it now didn’t she? When the man had started to talk about his sense of duty to the chades, wanting to help them by stepping into the public arena even when it meant physical danger to himself? She had melted. Just plain melted. A man who refused to forsake their race’s greatest enemy because it was the right thing to do? Surely such a man would be a wonderful and formidable father. Besides, he had already proven his ability to raise a child well. He had raised Darius and he was one of the finest men of her acquaintance. In addition, she also had his word that he wasn’t planning to go anywhere – not voluntarily anyway. So perhaps, she could take a chance and put her foundling feelings on the line.

“Cali?” Dex asked, walking over to her and running his hands down her arms. Her brand leapt at the touch, rising to the surface of her skin and warming a fraction as if in support. “That is still the weirdest thing.” He commented.

She smiled. “I know. And yes, I’m okay. I was just thinking.”

“Do you want me to leave?” He asked, obviously misinterpreting the direction of her thoughts.

“No. Actually I want the complete opposite.” She saw him smile and was tempted to jump his bones right then and there. His smile was all the more potent to her because she knew he had gone so long with no reason to smile. Hopefully, she could give him another reason or two. “Did you mean it when you said you’re planning on hanging around and seeing this through with the council?” She asked him.

“I did.” He confirmed, seemingly implacable. “What is happening to the chades is unfair, it’s unjust. People need to know the full facts so they can make up their own minds about them. It’s time the council increases their transparency with their people. I am one of the only people who can help provide them with answers and evidence. The chades are victims. They need someone to fight for them.”

So this was the fabled Charlemagne from the history books of humans and wardens alike; noble, passionate, and brave. He was a warlord, a strategist – fighting for the rights of others when they couldn’t fight for themselves. She placed a hand against her stomach, almost believing she could feel the tiny life there even though such a thing was yet impossible. “What about us?” She asked abruptly. “If you’re staying, what would you like to see happen with us?”

He opened and closed his mouth for a moment, obviously taken aback at the question. “Well, I don’t dare believe what I would like to see happen with us.” He told her.

“And if you could believe it?” She questioned further. He moved closer so they were within touching distance and searched her face with those still dark hazel eyes. She wondered if they would ever return to their normal lightness for she knew his eyes had been the same shade of hazel as Darius’s. She hoped they didn’t. She had become very partial to the dark intensity of that gaze. Sometimes, in the throes of passion, they darkened even further so they were almost black. You would think she’d despise eyes that black given her occupation but she didn’t. In fact, they were a massive turn on for her.

“If I had the luxury of believing I had a chance with you, a real chance, then I would take it. Hold on tight and drag you along for the ride until I convinced you of the merits as well. But I don’t have that luxury. It’s not fair to you. I can’t ask you for a relationship when my future is so uncertain. We don’t know if these changes are permanent or if I’m going to regress again. We don’t know what the council are going to do. It’s not fair to you.” He repeated.

All she heard and all she cared about was him telling her he wanted her. The word ‘relationship’ was enough for her. She grabbed him by the ears and pulled him down for a long, passionate kiss. “I want a relationship with you too, Dex. For as long as it lasts, for as long as we have. I want you.”

“You do?” The poor man seemed completely flabbergasted. Perhaps that was for the best.

“Yes. That means starting from tonight, you sleep in here.” They had to make a stand sometime and she needed the small show of commitment.

“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea. I haven’t slept next to anyone in years.” He said, glancing at the bed. But she thought she could see longing in his eyes as he looked at the large, comfy four-poster bed and the brightly decorated room.

“Look, I’m not exactly used to sleeping next to somebody either but if we’re actually going to try and have a real relationship, then we’re damn sure going to be falling asleep in each other’s arms.” She informed him, hands on hips. “Preferably after some mutual orgasms, after which time there will be snuggling.”

His lips twitched; “Sex, snuggles, then sleep huh?”

“That’s right. So get naked.” She had been planning on telling him about the baby before they slept together again. But his noble declarations coupled with his assurance that he indeed at least wanted to try to have a relationship with her, was enough to set her blood racing. She wanted him. And she intended to have him. The baby news wasn’t going anywhere. Caught up in her internal thoughts, she failed to see him advancing in her direction and was up and flying through the air before she could blink.

Seems she wasn’t the only one whose blood was on fire.

“What are you doing?” His woman asked breathlessly.

“Well, I’m not exactly used to this whole relationship thing,” he said, repeating her own words back to her, “but if we’re going to try and have a real one, then we’re damn sure going to make love.” He informed her.

If the situation wasn’t as important to him as it was, he would have chuckled at the way her face seemed to pale, making her ice blue eyes appear crystalline. “Make love?” She squeaked.

“That’s right.” He bent his head, nuzzling the graceful length of her neck and inhaling her unique fresh scent; she always smelled like the freshest of streams. Although a little early in the relationship to be declaring his love, he didn’t regret it, for it was the truth. He was most absolutely, without a doubt, in love with the water paladin. He’d never been in love in all his long years and the emotion was foreign as well as fragile in its beauty. But he had no doubt of what it was.

Slender hands pushed him away and he sighed, allowing her to scoot back up the bed in an almost mad scramble. “Who said anything about love?” She asked, her voice at least one octave higher than normal.

Well, technically he hadn’t actually said anything about love out loud yet. He had been planning to wait until he worshipped her body. He wanted to show her how a man in love treated his woman. But apparently his woman was skittish. He crawled up the bed, settling next to her and gripping her chin gently in his hand, “Cali, you are the most beautiful, most loyal, most intelligent woman I have ever met. You trusted me with your body and your mind when I couldn’t even trust myself. But you fought for me anyway because you believed in me – and in yourself. You are a true knight. You’re affectionate and fiercely protective of your family and you’re devoted to your liege. You looked at me and saw more than a monster, more than a freak. I’ve not seen pity in your eyes once when you look at me – just hope. You’re everything Cali. How could I not love you?”

“Shit.”

Dex dropped his hand and reared back. That really was not the response he had been expecting.

“Shit, shit, shit.” Cali repeated, looking down at her lap.

Luckily, years of life coupled with the experiences lived in those years, had given him a sturdy constitution, and instead of being offended by her lack of reciprocation, he was amused. “Geez, sweetheart. The romance of the moment is overwhelming.” He grinned when she glared at him. Who knew eyes that coolly blue could heat so fast.

“Not funny, Dex. This is serious. You can’t go throwing those words around. Especially to a girl who has never heard them before. She’s liable to believe you.”

His amusement fled then. His lovely, strong Cali had been treated poorly in the past. He knew who her old liege was and he knew the reputation of her old Order. One day soon he was planning on tracking down the reclusive Stefan and breaking his cock in half. He also knew despite her tough attitude and sharp tongue, she was just as vulnerable as the rest of them. He took her hand, marvelling at the hidden strength under the fine bones, “I’m hoping she does believe me. I don’t say things I don’t mean, Cali.” He assured her. “And I’m saying I love you.”

She tugged her hand away and he felt himself shrivel a little. But she didn’t pull away, instead she began tracing his fingers and the blue veins running underneath his skin. “There’s so much you don’t know about me, Dex. You can’t possibly love me.”

“I can possibly,” he guaranteed her, “but if it will make you feel better, tell me what you think I need to know. Nothing will change what I feel.”

“Dex …”

He saw that she was wavering and he gave her another little push, “Come on. Tell me some of your favourite things.” He sang.

She narrowed her eyes, “Was that The Sound of Music?”

He grinned and shrugged. Whatever worked.

“You know I’m from Sweden right? The Sound of Music was set in Austria. That is a common and annoying misconception.” She informed him primly.

Damn. She was so hot when she lectured. “Come on,” he urged, “tell me more about yourself; things you like, your past, anything you want.”

“It’s not things or even my past that I’m worried about. It’s something that’s going to happen in the future.” She told him, looking positively sick in her nervousness.

“Hey.” He said, rubbing her shoulders. “Whatever it is, it won’t matter. I promise. But I don’t want to pressure you either. If this is such a big deal for you then you don’t need to tell me. It’s fine.”

“No. You need to know. But I want you to know that you don’t owe me anything and I’m not asking for anything. I also won’t hold you to your declaration.”

“Cali …” He was beginning to feel nervous himself.

“I’m pregnant. Almost nine weeks pregnant. The baby is yours. I conceived that first night we were together at the hotel.”

That sure turned off his flowery poetry, Cali thought. Max had once wondered if it were possible for someone to become comatose whilst standing. It sure looked like they could do so whilst sitting. Either that or Dex had somehow turned to stone for he was sitting so still, unblinking and not even breathing in Cali’s estimation. This is going well, she sighed.

“Dex? Are you okay? Like I said, there’s no pressure for you to say or do anything. I just thought you should know.”

Still nothing.

“Dex! Snap out of it! It’s a baby, not a nuclear bomb.” She said in exasperation – which was all well and good for her to say now, considering her extended denial phase.

Finally, the man blinked, his attention returning to her face … then her stomach. “A baby?”

“A baby.” She confirmed.

“Are you sure –”

“Yes, I’m sure. It’s definitely yours.” She assured him, and was surprised when his eyes softened and he shook his head.

“I wasn’t going to ask that. You already told me it was mine. I believe you.” He stated simply, making Cali’s heart lurch. “I was going to ask if you were sure the baby was okay? I mean … I’m not exactly normal …” He frowned, looking very anxious.

She was quick to reassure him, “Max says the baby is fine – perfectly normal and healthy.”

Dex nodded. “She would know … right?” He asked, as if seeking reassurance.

“Yes. She would know.” He nodded again and silence descended once more. It was only fair to give the man time to process. This was a huge deal. But she was going out of her mind. Patience, Cali. You pretended the little hitchhiker was mythical for days.

“What do you think about the little hitchhiker?” She blurted out. Okay, so she wasn’t great with patience.

He looked at her quizzically, “Hitchhiker?”

She just shrugged. It fit.

“I think … I think I don’t know what I could possibly have done to deserve such a miracle. I think I’m scared to go to sleep now for fear of waking up and this all being a dream. I think that if every second of every day of every year I spent as a chade was leading me to you, then it was worth it and I would willingly choose to relive it again. I think fate works in the most mysterious and wonderful ways. And I think I love you more than four minutes ago when I loved you beyond measure.”

She shook her head as tears overflowed. That was not what she had been expecting to hear. He was supposed to be a typical male and piss his pants in terror over the responsibility as he secretly applauded his balls for working. He was not supposed to love her and want her and the baby.

“And I also think, it is past time for me to make love to you.” He had settled directly next to her once more without her awareness of him even moving. Before she could respond, he had his mouth over hers in a languorous, steamy kiss that spoke of promises and hope. She desperately wanted to believe in that kiss and although tomorrow she was sure she would regret it, for tonight she decided to believe.

She gave herself over to him and allowed him to remove her clothes one piece at a time. He leaned down to kiss and caress every inch of skin as it was exposed, tickling and arousing at the same time. Air blew over her heated flesh, providing a delicious contrast as he cupped her ribs and laved her breasts. She tangled her fingers in the dark strands of his hair when he traced around her belly button, laying a gentle kiss to her still flat abdomen.

She arched and moaned, shuddered and pleaded, when he used that same mouth to bring her to peak before backing off in a wonderful form of torture. Gripping her hands and linking their fingers next to her head, he kissed first one eyelid and then the other, nudging her legs wide with his knee. The hair on his thighs was yet another erotic sensation, causing her breath to hitch in anticipation of feeling him fill her to the brink. And did he ever; one smooth glide and he was buried to the hilt. Her legs wrapped around his lean waist of their own accord as his hips began a sinuous rhythm.

Long minutes later, she felt her orgasm break over her in a wave, crashing at her system and battering at her emotions. Her body shuddered as her womb clenched and she gripped him tighter, wringing every drop of pleasure she could.

Had anyone ever felt so cherished and desired before? She had been having sex for over a hundred years; she had been pawed at, used, and done the deed by rote for the simple relief it brought. But she had also had fun, heated, and pleasurable times. But nothing had prepared her for this intensity, this intimacy. Tomorrow she would be scared. Tomorrow she would question. But for now, she would cup his head against her neck and stroke his sweaty, messy hair tenderly as his breath laboured against her skin. She would stroke his back as he came down from his high and hold him close as he slept next to her for the first time.

And she would allow him to do the same for her. Tomorrow would come soon enough.

Dex walked quickly and with purpose away from the log house by the sea and away from the woman he loved and the fragile new life she housed lovingly in her body. After making love to Cali as promised and lying awake for hours marvelling and stressing over the news he and his woman had made a baby, he had finally fallen asleep with Cali draped over his chest. Only to be awoken by nightmares about endless days filled with pain and hunger and violence. But they weren’t just nightmares – they were his life. And therein lay the problem.

Not wanting to wake Cali, he had gone into the bathroom to splash his face with water and get a hold of himself. His reflection in the mirror above the sink had frozen his heart; black. His eyes were black. Sure, it was dark and he hadn’t turned on the light, but the image of those black eyes staring back at him had been enough for reality to break through his little dream world. What had he been thinking agreeing to stay here? To have a relationship with Cali? He was dangerous, deadly even. He had no right to be around decent people let alone someone as vulnerable and needy as a tiny little baby. He was leaving.

“Going somewhere?”

Dex closed his eyes upon hearing the voice from behind him. Out of all the voices in that house, it just had to be that one.

“I said; are you going somewhere?”

Dex turned to face his brother. Seeing the stiff set to his shoulders and the clenched jaw, he suddenly felt very tired. Forty years fighting to maintain his soul had damaged him but being in the same house as the brother he had raised and constantly being rejected? It exhausted him and left him feeling dejected as nothing else ever had or ever could. He turned back around, unable to see the constant disappointment in the familiar and much-loved hazel eyes; “Yes. I am going somewhere.” He threw over his shoulder as he began to walk away. The air kicked up around him a second before a large, broad hand clamped on his shoulder, spinning him around.

“So, what? I’ll just see you in another forty years then?” Darius sounded furious and as close to the edge as Dex could ever remember seeing him. Darius was notorious for his control but Dex knew, should that control snap, his temper was a force to be reckoned with. Dex was actually the easy-going brother. He was happy to go with the flow, happy to forgo traditions and break the rules. Such notions were like nails on a chalkboard to Darius.

“Yes, Darius. Maybe in another forty years.” He snapped, pushing his hand off.

“Am I really that easy to walk away from?” Darius demanded.

Was Darius serious? “Easy? Is that what you think? You think I chose to leave you all those years ago? That I chose to become this despicable creature? That I chose to forsake a thousand years of service? You really think I would do that to you? That I would do that to mum and dad’s memory?” He shouted, incredulous.

“Yes! That is exactly what I thought!” Darius yelled back. “What was I supposed to think? Wardens who rejected their calling and sullied their elements, revelling in their power over nature – that is how a chade was made. That is what we were always told, what I always believed. I saw you deteriorating. I felt the extra pull on your powers. I tried to talk to you and you shut me out as if you didn’t care. Yes, I thought you chose to abandon me.”

“No. Darius, no. I never would have willingly left you alone, would never have left any of my Order. I didn’t have a choice. I was sick and scared. I couldn’t risk hurting any of you. I’m sorry, my brother. I truly am. I’ve been heartsick at the thought of leaving you all these years.” He was earnest and he prayed that Darius believed him even if he didn’t believe anything else. It was vital that he didn’t believe Dex had left on purpose.

Darius huffed and looked toward the ocean, softly illuminated by the glow of the moon. “I know that now. I was an ignorant bastard along with everyone else.” The relief Dex felt made him a little giddy. “But that doesn’t excuse you leaving now.”

“I have to.” He firmed his jaw.

“No you don’t. It’s a choice, remember?” Darius shot back.

“What do you want from me?” His voice was strained, his body felt depleted of energy.

“I want you to keep fighting.” Was the immediate response.

“I’m tired, Darius – so tired. I don’t think I have any fight left in me.” Dex admitted.

Darius snorted. “Bullshit! You are the strongest and stubbornest person I know. You were made to fight. What about all that stuff you were spouting about defending the weak and serving justice?”

Dex had meant every single word of that and he still wholly believed in the cause, but … “What do you care anyway? You’ve made it abundantly clear you want nothing to do with me. I know you’re ashamed of me. I know you can’t forgive me.”

The anger on Darius’s face dissolved instantly to be replaced with shock. “What? You think I’m ashamed of you? That I can’t forgive you?”

“What am I supposed to think? I’ve been here for weeks and you can’t even look at me.”

Darius’s face paled and he shook his head, “No. Charlie, no. You’ve got it all wrong …”

“Dex.” He corrected. “I’m Dex now.” He would never be Charlemagne again.

Darius nodded quickly, “Dex then. You’re wrong; I can’t bear to look at you because I’m ashamed of myself. I can’t forgive myself. Not you.”

“What? I don’t understand.” He shook his head.

“By the Mother, Dex. I stabbed you! You raised me, you were my liege and you came to me for help. And what did I do? I stabbed you in the chest.”

The stark pain in Darius’s voice and the self-loathing painted across his face caused a pit of ice to form in Dex’s stomach. He wanted to comfort him so much.

“All these years, I convinced myself you had abandoned me. I’ve been angry, Dex. So very angry. I hated chades with such an intensity that it made me physically sick. I literally shook when I thought of them. Because they took you away from me. Because you chose them over me. But you didn’t. You didn’t abandon me – I abandoned you. And I’m sorry. So sorry. I can’t look at you, brother, because I’m terrified of what I’ll see; that you hate me, that you’re disappointed in me, hurt by me. I don’t hate you Dex. I hate myself.”

“Darius …” Dex took a step toward his tormented brother but Darius quickly retreated.

“No. I know you. You’re going to tell me that it’s okay, that you forgive me. But how can you? I let you down when you needed me the most. I’m sorry. Please don’t leave. I know I have no right to ask anything of you, but please don’t leave me again.” His voice cracked and his chest pumped with every agitated breath as tears gathered and overflowed down his cheeks. He didn’t even fight as Dex gathered him close, holding him as securely as he had when he was a small boy.

Minutes went by, spent holding on to each other for dear life and Dex could feel old wounds healing and scars forming in their place. There was nothing wrong with a good scar; it showed a battle fought and won. Pulling back, he gave Darius a nudge and a smile. “I’ve missed you.”

Darius wiped his face, clearing his throat. “I’ve missed you too. I’m so glad we have a second chance.”

Dex cringed; there would be no second chances for him. He was still leaving. Apparently forty years away from each other didn’t amount to dick when you had a brother who could read you like a book;

“You’re still leaving.” Darius said.

He nodded. “I have to.”

“Why? Why are you running away?”

“It’s not safe.”

Darius frowned, “I know you’re worried about the rangers and the IDC despite your intentions to identify yourself to them. You don’t need to. You have Ryker in your corner now. Once he commits to someone, he’s loyal for life. He’ll protect you – we all will.”

His brother spoke with such sincerity and Dex couldn’t believe how much he had missed seeing such open concern. “I appreciate that more than you know. But it’s not what I meant. It’s not safe for you or for Cali. I’m not safe.”

“Charlie – I mean, Dex.” He corrected himself. Dex couldn’t blame him. Darius had spent a thousand years calling him Charlie. He had been the one to give him the more affectionate nickname. Charlemagne was a mouthful for a toddler. “What do you mean, you’re not safe? You would never harm anyone here.”

Such faith. Darius had so much faith in him. How had he missed seeing the signs during his stay here? “But I would Darius – I could. I can feel it, that insidious shadow inside of me. It’s like I can feel its frigid breath against the back of my neck, waiting for any hint of weakness so it can pounce.” He explained, feeling ashamed.

Darius didn’t argue with him but he did respond in his usual practical and factual way; “So make sure you’re never weak.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“But you’re recharging normally now …”

“It’s not enough, Darius. It’s not going to be enough. I had eleven paladins and it wasn’t enough to hold the monster at bay. Yes, I can recruit vitality from a paladin now instead of a warden, but it’s weaker – dilute. It’s not going to be sustainable.” Voicing the truth made his stomach clench with regret over the last few hours. He had told Cali he loved her, that he was going to have a relationship with her, that he was going to be a father to their child. But he had lied. He couldn’t risk her that way. “What happens if I lose control in my sleep, Darius? I could hurt Cali.”

“Cali is a paladin. She was born to recharge a warden’s vitality. You won’t hurt her.”

“No. I can’t risk it.” He blew out a breath, seeing the desperate look on his brother’s face. Darius wanted him to stay but Dex knew that was impossible now and he needed to make him understand. “Cali is pregnant.”

Darius blinked several times as if trying to compute what he had heard, “She’s what?”

“Pregnant. With a baby. So you see, I can’t take a chance on her or the baby’s safety.”

“A baby?” Apparently all Darius had heard was the word baby. “Your baby?” He asked, hazel eyes wide.

Unable to deny his own child but feeling as though he didn’t have the right to accept it either, he simply turned his head away and began walking again. He had to leave now before his feeble resolve shattered completely.

“Wait, Dex. Your baby? Is Cali pregnant with your baby?” A slight nod was all he could manage. “I’m going to be an uncle?” Dex did smile at that; Darius would be an amazing uncle. In fact, the poor kid was going to be surrounded by overprotective uncles and aunts. “You definitely can’t leave now. You’re going to have a baby!” Darius yelled.

“No. Cali is going to have a baby.” He corrected sternly. “I will not endanger any child, let alone my own. Haven’t you been listening? I’m not cured, Darius. That part of me that is susceptible to becoming a chade? It’s lurking, waiting.”

“So get cured.” Was Darius’s infuriatingly calm suggestion.

“Oh, sure. Just get cured. Why didn’t I think of that?” He asked, sarcastically.

“Max –”

“She’s amazing. Truly a miracle.” Dex interrupted. “And I’m so desperately grateful to her and what she has managed to do. But it’s just not enough. I’m sorry, Darius.”

“Ask her for more.”

Dex was startled; “More?”

“Yes. She’s been treating your energy, Dex. Not your soul.” Darius explained.

“My soul? You think the root of the chades lies within the soul?” Darius shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. “And you think Max can manipulate a person’s a soul?” He pressed further.

“I know she can.” His brother’s voice rang with absolute certainty.

“What makes you so sure?” He had never heard of anyone being able to manipulate a soul. Not even Life or Death Wardens could do that.

Darius smiled thinly at him, “You’re not the only person who has needed healing, Dex.”

Sensing more to that story but not wanting to intrude, he asked instead, “Do you really believe Max could cure me permanently?”

“I do.” He nodded his head once. “But what I believe doesn’t matter. It’s you who needs to be believe it. And it’s you who needs to want it. If you decide you want a new life – friends, family … Cali and a child – then go to Max … and ask.”

“Just ask?”

Darius nodded. “Just ask.”

Well, he had asked. He had returned to the house just as the sun was peeking over the horizon … and under the watchful eye of a short but dedicated ranger. Ivy had startled both himself and Darius when she had stepped from the shadows, her sickle held in a loose grip. Seems he may have had more of a fight on his hands other than just his brother if he had chosen to flee. Ivy had been there the entire time. But for right now, he was alone with Max. The first and only person to offer him support, comfort, and friendship during his years of exile. And hopefully the one person in the world who could relieve him of his burden.

“So … you want to be better? Like, forever better?” Max asked, as they slowed at the bend, the house disappearing from view. She sat down on the sand and he followed suit, not seeing an alternative.

“Yes. Like, forever better.” He answered.

“Why?”

Really? She wanted to know why he no longer wanted to live in agony and shame day-in and day-out? The wind blew over him in a sudden gust, whipping his long hair that he had decided to keep; Cali seemed to like it long like this. It was a cold wind, quite bracing in its intensity. Get a move on, take this seriously, it seemed to say. He took a deep breath; “Because I want my life back. Because I didn’t choose this. Because … because even though I have my element back, even though I have my brother back, and even though I’m in love with an amazing woman, I still don’t feel complete. Something is missing …” And it was, even if he hadn’t realised it until that very moment.

“Not missing.” Max assured him, “Nothing is missing or broken. It’s just been hiding – trying to protect itself. It’s what saved you, why you’ve been able to hold on all these years.”

He swallowed. She sounded so sure. “What’s been hiding?”

Her eyes became unfocused pools of liquid colour as she peered behind him, “A part of your soul of course.” Her eyes returned to him and she moved to kneel in front of him. “Shall I retrieve it for you?”

He looked behind himself but could see nothing. Trusting that Max knew what she was talking about and what she was doing, he simply nodded his head. The smile that bloomed on her face was breathtaking;

“Close your eyes.” She told him.

“Why?” He was already nervous as hell, he wanted to be able to see.

“Because I told you to.” Was the response he received.

He huffed but did as she bid – she was attempting to play hide-and-go-seek with his soul after all. Two seconds after closing his eyes, he wished he hadn’t. He was sucked into a vortex of black and bitter cold. He could feel himself falling and the air should have been whipping at his face but it wasn’t. His element had abandoned him again. He felt hungry and tired, sick and sore … and there was a monster snapping at his heels. Oh, Great Mother, he prayed. He was a chade again. No, he whimpered. He didn’t want this, he didn’t choose this, it wasn’t fair. The starving beast embraced him like a long lost lover and he felt himself begin to embrace it back.

‘Don’t touch that. That isn’t for you. Take only what you came for.’ The voice he heard was somehow everywhere at the same time – including inside his very own head. He didn’t understand what it was talking about, for he could barely think through the chaotic starvation pounding in his brain.

‘Here Dex. It’s over here.’ The voice was more distinct this time, and coming from in front of him, although he still couldn’t see a thing. The voice did sound familiar though … if only he could think through the pain pulsing throughout his system.

‘Dex … here.’ The voice urged again. ‘Here’ where? He couldn’t see anything; there was nothing to see in the endless black. Panic began to set in a moment before he saw it; a small, silver smudge of light. Focusing on the tiny blemish, he forced his way through the sludge of inkiness, trying to ignore the falling sensation and the frigid cold seeping into his bones. Reaching out, he grabbed the fuzzy silver spot only to find himself back on the beach, flat on his back, perspiring and breathing like he had run a marathon.

Max was hovering over him, face concerned. “Are you okay?”

“No.” He growled. “That hurt like a bitch!”

She rolled her eyes, offering him a hand up so he was sitting once more. “Of course it did; healing hurts, Dex. Nature demands compensation for her gifts. We must fight to heal; we must suffer to prove ourselves.” She looked pale and a little sad, as if pain and suffering were commonplace for her. And they were, he knew. She was attuned to the world itself and all of its pain was her burden to bear. Wow, he was an insensitive, ignorant jerk. Before he could say so though, she grinned;

“Ah, there it is. All clean now and pretty as a picture.” She assured him looking to his left.

He swallowed, “My soul?”

“Yep. It’s completely intact. Congratulations, Dex. You’re whole again.”

He searched inside himself frantically and although he didn’t feel like he was suddenly a new person, he no longer felt a shadow behind him. He was free. “Max …”

But she simply patted his shoulder like he was a reticent child; “You’re welcome. You did all the hard work anyway.” She titled her head and her smile turned wistful, “He’s going to take after you, you know.”

“What? Who is?” She often changed topics like this.

“Your son.” She smiled and stroked his cheek tenderly. “He has your colours.”

“My son?” Cali was having a boy?

“He’s already so beautiful, Dex. Do you want to see?” She inquired, looking into his eyes.

He nodded his head dumbly and immediately had a vision of a tiny life, skin still translucent and no more than an inch long. But he had arms and legs and miniature fingers and toes. His small body jerked with uncoordinated movements but what held Dex utterly spellbound, was the tiny flicker in his chest. His heart was beating. Dex had a son and his heart was beating. He blinked away the moisture in his eyes and immediately saw a swirling cosmos in Max’s. Holy crap – the woman really was the daughter of Mother Nature. He stood, dragging her up with him, before going down on bended knee;

“I hereby swear fealty to you Max, Custodian of nature. I pledge infinite service, protection, loyalty and honour to you. This is my solemn wish and I do so freely without reservation.” The words were an amended form of the paladin’s pledge to their liege but they seemed fitting nonetheless. What else could one say when faced with a Goddess who had just saved your soul?

Max bowed her head in acknowledgment and he felt a tingling warmth seep into his left bicep. Looking over, his mouth dropped open in shock; there was a black brand weaving its way into his skin. He held his breath but the dark lines didn’t continue down his arm like Max’s Order. Instead, he saw seven distinct symbols forming a circle. Touching the druidic symbols for life, death, earth, air, fire, water, and beast, he didn’t know if he was relieved or disappointed when they didn’t move.

“Um, Max? Is there a little something you forgot to mention?”

She reached out, laying a small hand over the newly etched markings. “Huh. Very odd. Who knew?” She looked surprised and sheepish at the same time.

“You don’t know what this is, do you?” Unbelievable.

“Not exactly. But I’m pretty sure it won’t hurt you.”

Boy, that was reassuring – not.

“You pledged your allegiance to me, with faith and sincerity. You meant it.” She said.

“Yes, I did. And of course I meant it.” He would be her faithful servant for the rest of his existence. She had delivered him from the shadow haunting his every step, had healed his soul, and had shown him his son. He was hers to command.

She smiled, “This is proof of that, that’s all.”

He stroked it, proud beyond measure but also a little worried what the others would say. Not to mention the council.

“The council.” Max gasped.

He nodded. “I know. This could be problematic.”

She gripped his arm, bruising him from her strength, “No. The council is here.”

The council had indeed come, Dex thought as he watched the entire house be surrounded by wardens, paladins and rangers. He made out many a familiar face, including Nikolai and nearly every person on the council. Nik gave him a small nod in greeting and Dex saw his eyes seek out his second in command. Ivy was standing with the rest of them, acting as his guard he assumed. As for Max and her Order, they were once more lined up with him, presenting a united front.

“Garrett.” Max called out. “We weren’t expecting you.”

He saw Garrett smile, a knowing smile before he replied, “Oh, I’m sure you were.” Garrett was a Life Warden and could read auras as well as people. They were counting on him being able to read Dex. “Charlemagne. You look remarkably well considering we all thought you were lost to us.”

Dex stepped forward, revealing himself to the entire gathered crowd. “Thank you, Garrett. It’s good to see you. I’m feeling very well, and with quite the story to tell.” He added, angling for a peaceful resolution to this encounter. Any fight now would result in disaster.

“Oh, I bet, I bet.” Blu commented. “You don’t seem much like a chade to me.”

Dex smiled, he really liked the aging Water Warden. “I’m not. At least not anymore.”

“But you admit that you were?” The incredulous voice belonged to the female Fire Warden – Cinder. Dex hadn’t had much to do with her but he had never been particularly fond of her all the same.

“I do admit that, yes.” He responded, frankly.

Abrupt movement to his right had them all tensing as a ranger broke ranks, releasing his sickle in a hiss. Max’s Order unsheathed their scythes as wind whipped the air and clouds rushed in. A number of sinister looking hawks lined the trees and their wings shook in agitation. Max stepped forward just as the earth rumbled giving everyone a solid jostle. Had she just done that?

‘This has the potential to get out of hand very quickly. I suggest we all calm down and think.’

He’d recognise that voice anywhere – it belonged to Max. But how was he hearing her in his head? He wasn’t in her Order. Apparently he wasn’t the only one though, for he saw all seven council members open their mouths in shock, shake their heads and look around them as though it were some trick of sound. Dex saw Mordecai’s eyes narrow as he took in the stubborn line of Max’s chin and the swirling energy that seemed to surround her. He quickly whispered in Garrett’s ear, who nodded in assent.

“Ares.” Garrett placed a restraining hand on the arm of the Air Warden. “Ravyn.” He did the same to the Beast Warden. They didn’t seem happy about it, but they released their powers, allowing their elements to return to their natural states. Garrett wrapped an arm around his wife and smiled at Max in true warmth as if he were a proud papa. “What do you suggest, My Lady?”

Dex felt Max relax a little and the frenetic energy surrounding them began to dissipate, although the air still felt charged. Had he been in his chade-state, he would have been salivating from the power in the air. Max took another step forward, only to be followed by her entire Order. She may have relaxed somewhat but her Order had not.

“Coffee?” She suggested.

“Sounds lovely.” Was Autumn’s reply. “And will you be joining us Charlemagne?”

He bit his tongue so as not to correct the very nice Warden of the Earth. He had known her and Garrett well and had been good friends with their late son who had sadly died in battle. They had never had any more children. “Yes, Autumn. I would love to.” He replied as was expected and required.

Murmurs met his words and he found himself the centre of attention as all eyes looked at him. He wished the earth would open up and swallow him. This was one of his worst nightmares. A cool hand brushed his and he dared a glance at Cali. She wasn’t looking at him but he felt her support nonetheless. A gentle breeze carried the familiar note of Darius and Dex knew his brother had his back as well. He would make this work, no matter what. He had far too much to fight for now.

They had demanded proof in the form of blood. To his annoyance – and Cali’s rage – they hadn’t been satisfied when Nikolai had sliced a shallow cut across his forearm. Damn near all of them had demanded equal proof and insisted on cutting him themselves. Ares, Cinder, and Ravyn had even squeezed the wounds in order to pull more of the red stuff from him. Blu was the only one not to bother with the show, instead giving his hand a hearty shake and welcoming him back. Dex shook his head over that; that old coot was as crazy as a bed bug, but also a good man and an even better warden. Rumour had it, he’d had a hand in the creation of the Rivers of Life.

It had been a long, tense day and he had submitted himself to every question, every poke, and every prod the IDC had demanded. Dozens of paladins and rangers had been in and out of the house and Dex was very sorry that Ryker’s sanctuary was being invaded. When he had tried to apologise for all the drama, he received one long look filled with annoyance. The look was aimed at Dex’s apology, not the reason behind it, and he was reminded that he was indeed family again.

More of his blood had been taken away in tubes, as had his piss. He had drawn the line at tissue samples though, well, Cali and Darius had anyway. The furious and disdainful looks they had thrown at the council had them quickly changing their minds. He felt like he had talked until his throat was raw and listened until his ears were bleeding. But it was now the end of the day and he was still standing as a free man instead of being hauled away in shackles to a prison of concrete where no nature resided. He had been the perfect gentleman and the very epitome of the old Charlemagne, hoping to seduce and impress with his charm and history. It had largely worked, given there were so many witnesses around. It’s not like the IDC could claim he was a chade and slaughter him when he was being so civilised. Many a paladin had also offered themselves in order to prove he could indeed recharge.

But his freedom had come with an unexpected price; Ivy. The IDC had insisted they could not leave him here, unbound with no paladin and unsupervised – for his own health and wellbeing of course. He had balked, never wanting to be a part of an Order again. He had failed his old one miserably and wasn’t in the market for another. But the council had insisted and he had prepared himself to be saddled with some strange paladin. But Ivy had stepped forward, not volunteering to pledge herself to him as a bound paladin, but to provide him with vitality and service nonetheless. The council had been well pleased, given they believed the ranger was well in their pockets. She was also equipped to deal with chades should he go rogue again. Dex hadn’t missed the subtle nod Max had given Ivy right before she had stepped forward, offering her service. If he didn’t know any better, he would have said Max had planned the whole thing.

He was now standing with Mordecai – Warden of Death – and had been awaiting the opportunity to get him alone all day. “You need to stop doing that.”

Mordecai turned his cool green eyes his way. “Doing what?”

“Staring at Max that way. It makes her uncomfortable and what makes her uncomfortable, makes her paladins uncomfortable. And her paladins are a twitchy lot when they’re uncomfortable.” Dex assured him.

“That is as it should be.” Mordecai responded as he nodded, eyes scanning over the Aurora Order as if looking for signs of weakness.

And perhaps he was, Dex thought. A paladin affiliated with death, like his new sister in law, were all about acceptance and moving forward. She was attuned to those harsher emotions like loss and grief and her calm, practical way made her a good listener and very adept at psychology. Although wardens of death could also do the same, their skills were naturally more heightened and extensive. They couldn’t take life away any more than a Life Warden could give it and they weren’t the Grim Reapers of the world, ferrying souls to the other side or anything. But they could and did see sickness and predict death. Again, they couldn’t heal sickness – that was a powerful Life Warden like Garrett’s thing – but they could detect who was ill and also whose time was close.

Their primary goal was to feel and heal grief, loss, and depression and to be a steady presence to those experiencing those emotions, helping them move forward and ensuring the world didn’t fall into one big depressive mass of blackness and despair. Being able to see who was ill and also who was about to die enabled them to be where they were most needed. Dex also thought that the Death Wardens and the Life Wardens had the toughest jobs – humans were a much tricker entity to work with than the natural elements like his own domain of air. Although, ensuring the air remained as free as possible from toxins and pollutants was no easy task, even if he did say so himself.

The thing that concerned Dex the most about Mordecai’s continued scrutiny of Max was how powerful Mordecai was. He was a good few hundreds of years older than himself and he’d had the same four paladins bonded to him the entire time; two life paladins and two death paladins. His Order was perfectly balanced to suit his domain. As such, Dex knew that not only could he do all of what he had just been thinking, but he could also feel out one’s vulnerabilities, scars, and even nightmares. Dex knew Max was riddled with all three and he really hoped he wasn’t going to have to kill the councilmen for exposing those vulnerabilities. Maybe he should push a little more …

“What do you see when you look at her?” He asked in what he hoped was casualness.

Mordecai turned to him fully now, “A Custodian. A true daughter of the Great Mother herself.” He replied, actually smiling, “You needn’t worry Charlemagne. I pose no threat to your friend, nor am I infatuated with her I promise you. I simply haven’t seen a Custodian before. I’m a little awestruck.”

Dex narrowed his eyes and could see no deception in Mordecai’s gaze or bearing but something was still a little off. He just couldn’t put his finger on it. “I don’t imagine there is anyone here that has seen a Custodian before.” He remarked.

Mordecai raised his dark brows, “Oh, you’d be surprised. Verity, Diana’s former liege certainly did and I believe Garrett might have something to admit to as well. But Blu is who you should really have a chat with. That old codger has plenty of stories to tell.”

Dex narrowed his eyes thoughtfully in Garrett’s direction. As one of Max’s biggest supporters it surprised him that he hadn’t come forward with information regarding Custodians. Because so much of their written history was lost during the Great Massacre, Dex knew Darius had been pulling his hair out trying to find some information about Custodians that may prove useful and shed some light on Max’s past. Blu, on the other hand had always been a bit more eccentric so it didn’t really surprise him that he would know a thing or two. Plus, he was practically as old as Methuselah.

“It’s a shame so much was lost in the fires during the Massacre.” Dex murmured absently.

“Oh, indeed.” The other warden’s eyes turned dark in remembrance. “I wasn’t here when the chade’s descended like locusts. But I felt the waves of death clear across the ocean. I can still feel the echoes of it under my feet when I walk the battle ground. You were here. You survived.” Mordecai stated.

He couldn’t help the tightening in his jaw and the clenching of muscles. Yeah, he’d survived that fierce battle fifty years prior but it had been the beginning of the end for him all the same. He had begun to feel himself changing just weeks after the conflict and had waged an internal war for nigh on a decade before his eyes had changed and he lost his element. He saw Cali looking in his direction with concern in her crystal blue eyes and just like that he felt himself relax. Those days were done and he had a family and a woman once again so he smiled her way in reassurance. He also gave his brother a small nod. Darius had pulled off a small miracle for him earlier in the day – enlisting a friend called Caspian to do a little shopping for him. He intended to present Cali with the fruits of that labour in the near future. But for now, he returned his focus to Mordecai;

“I survived, though I’m not sure how. I’ve been in hundreds of battles and dozens of wars just like yourself and I’ve not seen anything like it before nor since.”

“Neither have I. That’s why something had to be done. The devastation, the slaughter … the co-ordination from the chades? Oh yes, something had to be done to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. I fear the world wouldn’t survive another loss of nature’s guardians like before. We are still scrambling to recover and only at a quarter of the numbers and strength we used to be.” The Death Warden told him.

Dex felt a shiver run down his spine – he knew chade numbers were increasing but hadn’t given much thought to the warden population shrinking. It made sense of course, given chades sprang from wardens. He was mulling the new information over when another part of Mordecai’s response hit him – ‘something had to be done’. What was he referring to?

“What do you mean; something had to be done?” He questioned bluntly.

Mordecai smiled a little dully and looked towards Max, “I mean her. Max. Why else would she be here?” He questioned back.

Dex smothered his snort, “You think Max is here to save the world or something?”

“Of course she is, Charlemagne.”

Mordecai’s certainty had Dex’s gut clenching. Damn. Lark had spoken about revolutions and portents and the whole Order seemed to be on board to a certain degree. He was as well – or would be – when he could have a moment to process everything. But it seemed they weren’t the only ones and it made him nervous as hell. “Maybe you should keep your thoughts to yourself for now.” He recommended. “And stop calling me Charlemagne. I’m not him anymore. It’s Dex. I’m just Dex now.”

Mordecai smiled again and Dex could maybe understand why the women found him so attractive. When his cold eyes warmed and he smiled like that, he was a rather charming fellow. “You’d rather be named after a fictional serial killer than the most prestigious and honourable warden in society?”

“Without a doubt. After all, Max only names the pets she intends to keep.” He slapped Mordecai on the back and took a few steps forward before turning back and pointing a finger, “Stop staring at my new master, Mordecai.”

Two nights later, Cali found herself pressed against a sexy, hard body. But the man who owned the hard body was no longer a stranger – nor that much of a mystery. She felt fairly certain she had him figured out.

“You were planning to leave, weren’t you? That night you and Darius patched things up?” She felt him tense for a moment before he relaxed again, stroking a rough hand down her naked back. They had just had several rounds of stupendous sex and now they were snuggling, as she had informed him they would do on a nightly basis.

“Yeah. I was planning to leave. I was scared I was going to become one of them again – that I was going to hurt you or the baby.” He rested his hand lightly on her bare stomach, giving it an affectionate rub.

Cali blinked back tears at the tender gesture. “You should have come to me. If we’re going to cultivate this relationship and watch it grow so we can reap the benefits, then – what are you laughing at?” She demanded.

Dex’s shoulders were shaking with mirth. “Why are you talking about our relationship as if it’s horticulture?”

“I’m just trying to be practical. Max says that sparks need to be cultivated and nurtured in order for them to reach their true potential.”

“I see. And we all know Max is always right.” He snorted again and she slapped his chest.

“The conversation made sense in context.” She assured him.

“I bet it did, babe. You women always make sense when you get together to cackle over your little cauldrons.” He picked up her hand and kissed it, rolling away to rummage around in the top drawer of what was now his dresser.

She was pretty sure he had just called her, Diana and Max witches, but she was too distracted by his firm arse cheeks to call him on it. He fisted something she couldn’t see as he walked casually back. Her mouth watered at the sight of her naked man, prowling around her room. He sure was gorgeous. He crawled back into bed, smirking as if he knew what she was thinking. Cocky, she thought in appreciation.

“Here.” He said, handing her a slip of paper.

She looked at the folded square and frowned, “What is it?”

“Open it.” He urged.

Not knowing what he could possibly be giving her, she did his bidding. There, in a neat, formal script was a list entitled: Dex’s favourite things. Cali laughed thinking back to when he had first said he loved her. He had tried coaxing her with a reference from The Sound of Music. She looked down and saw a very short list. In fact, it had only two items on it. It said; Cali and Hitch. She blinked away tears, looking towards Dex, “Hitch?” She questioned.

Dex shrugged, “You called the little guy a hitchhiker. I don’t want to keep calling him ‘the baby’ for the next six and a half months, so I figured; Hitch. It’s cute, don’t you think?”

It was cute and so was he, nicknaming their baby. It also didn’t escape her notice just exactly what he was saying to her. She and the baby were his favourite things. “Dex …”

“I love you, Cali. And I love our little miracle too. You’ve given me so much. I know you all think it was Max who saved me, but it wasn’t. It was you. You saved me, made me feel again, gave me my humanity back. I love you, Cali and I want you to marry me.” He declared, opening his closed fist.

His palm held a thin white-gold band circled with diamonds and dark blue sapphires. It was elegant and pretty and was flat enough it wouldn’t get in the way when she was fighting. It was also sparkly – really, really sparkly. “You – I –” She stuttered, unable to move.

“Well, at least you didn’t say ‘shit’ this time.” He grinned and picked up her left hand, slipping on the stunning ring that seemed to be her every dream without further ado. “There’s no rush. I’m not pressuring you for anything and you don’t have to say yes now. I know there’s massive uncertainty where the council is concerned and we have no idea what tomorrow will bring. I also know that being with me won’t be easy but you need to know I’m not like Darius. I know he and Diana are happy keeping their relationship a secret, that it’s what is best for the Order and for their liege. But I won’t hide how I feel about you. I don’t care who knows. So when you’re ready, I want you to wear this ring and I want us to get married.”

She looked at him, seeing his handsome face complete with lines attesting to his years of struggle; his deep eyes, forever darkened by his torment; and the absolute love and devotion coming from every pore of him. He loved her and wanted to be with her. But what was perhaps even more important to her, was the fact that he accepted her and wanted the world to know she belonged to him. He respected her and trusted her to be able to carry the burden of being his lover – his wife. “You love me unconditionally. And you want the world to know.”

He nodded once. “That’s right.”

She framed his face with her hands, kissing him chastely on the lips, “Dex, I love you and it’s unconditional. Today, next year – I don’t care when we get married. I’m always going to love you.”

“You love me?” His eyes were wide in shock.

She smiled and replied simply, “I love you.”

“You best be careful, saying those words to a boy who’s never heard them before. He’s likely to believe you.” He repeated her earlier words back at her.

She pushed him down and straddled his waist. “Well, the boy had best believe me.” She leaned down, skimming her lips across his and brushing her hair over his chest. “Hitch and I? We are going to make you so happy.”

“Happier than right now?” He asked, brow arched and hands embarking on an intrepid journey over her rear.

“Let’s see.”

Lark was sitting in his favourite chair, feet up on the coffee table and a book in his hands. Talk about a crazy week! But it hadn’t just been a week though, had it? It had been a crazy six months with the introduction of a goddess, a chade, and now a baby into the house. And he had thought his life was interesting before. He couldn’t have been happier with the direction of his life though. Like many people in this house, he never dreamed he would be allowed the opportunity for a life of his own, a life with a liege, with friends and family. And it was all because of one red-headed whirlwind of trouble and hope.

“Why does everyone always refer to me as a ‘whirlwind of trouble’?” As if his thoughts had conjured her, Max strolled into the room, sitting herself down in front of him.

He smiled at her, knowing he hadn’t spoken out loud but that she had read his thoughts. He didn’t mind so much because he knew she didn’t do it deliberately. Unless she blocked all contact with the Order completely, there was always some trickle of emotions or thoughts. “If you were paying attention, I also said ‘hope’.” He reminded her.

She nodded, “That you did. That’s why you’re one of my favourites.”

He grinned, knowing she had eight favourite people in the house. “What can I do for you, my liege?”

Her face turned serious, “Actually, I want you to do a favour for me.”

He sat up, quickly removing his feet from the table. “Of course. Anything.”

“Don’t say that until you hear what it is.” She warned him.

He refrained from rolling his eyes. She was never going to understand that as her bound paladin, he wouldn’t refuse her anything. “So hit me with it.”

“I want you to go and seek out those chades that I believe can be cured. I want you to scout their locations and report back to me. I’m going to begin curing them like I did with Dex.”

She wanted him to do what? “What? Max, how am I supposed to even find these chades?”

“You’ll have help, don’t worry. Besides, you’re more in tune with them than you let on.” Her eyes seemed to peer right through him for a moment before she blushed and looked away.

So, she did know that he sometimes shared her nightmares. The topic clearly made her uncomfortable – and him as well – for he didn’t understand why he would share such a connection with Max or the chades. So he asked instead, “Are you sure there are others out there who can be cured like Dex?”

“I’m positive.”

Well, she would know, he thought. And he would most assuredly do her bidding. As her paladin, he was duty-bound to follow her. But he did have one concern … “Can you cure them without branding them like you did with Dex?”

“No.”

He blinked. “Just no?”

Max shrugged. “Just no.”

He ran his hand over his face and hair, noting idly that the reddish locks were getting long. “Geez, Max. The IDC are going to think you’re building an army.”

He watched as her eyes took on an unfocused look and she turned away from him, “I think I am.”

His stomach lurched at her murmured words, “Max …” he began, unsure of what he wanted to say. But Max had turned back around, her lovely face bearing a mask of concern – but also resignation;

“A war is coming Lark. Not a war between chades and wardens or wardens and humans. But a war between each other; warden vs warden, paladin vs paladin.”

A shiver of foreboding worked its way through his body. The whispers of revolution, fate, and portent had become commonplace in the house. They were starting to spread into the community as well, Lark knew. But he hoped whispers of civil war weren’t being tossed around, no matter the accuracy of the prediction. Their society was unstable now and it wasn’t just the sudden appearance of Max either. The IDC were sliding into disfavour for the first time and people were starting to ask questions. He feared their society was on a precipice.

“It is.” Max assured him. “And we need to be ready.”

“Okay. I’m your man then.” He guaranteed. “What about the help you mentioned?” He didn’t have much of an ego and was more than happy to accept help, especially given the serious and dangerous nature of the task.

“Ivy should be joining us soon.”

Ivy? He gulped. Of all the people … “Why do you trust her so much, Max?” He knew the others were just as curious, not understanding where the unwavering faith in the very stoic and emotionless ranger came from.

“Because when I look at her, I see what I saw when I first met all of you.”

“And what is that?” Lark had felt an immediate draw or connection if you will, to Max. He had assumed it was a natural connection as some wardens and paladins seemed to have.

Max moved close enough to place a warm palm against his cheek. She smiled; “Family.” Her eyes darted over his shoulder and her smile warmed even more. “Ivy. Come on in. Lark has agreed to go on my little scouting mission.”

Ivy’s dark eyes flicked in his direction before seemingly dismissing him. He ground his teeth. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching Dex? Providing him with vitality? How are you going to come with me?” He had been surprised as hell when Ivy had volunteered to stay and monitor Dex on a more permanent basis as well as providing him with the life-force he needed.

“Dex will manage fine with all of us here. Besides, he’s likely going to be joining you. He can still feel them. He’ll know where to look.” Max said.

And that was even more new information to him. Dex could still feel the chades? Lark turned to the ever-silent ranger. “What do you think of all this? Why are you so willing to help us?” He needed to know her motivations if he was going to be trusting her in the field.

Ivy narrowed her eyes at him before turning to Max. “Go ahead. Show him.” Max urged.

Ivy pulled her light jumper over her head and Lark got a brief, tantalising glimpse of tanned, smooth skin before she tugged her tank shirt back down. Why would Max want Ivy to take off her shirt … and that’s when he saw it on her upper left bicep; it was a black tattoo with a series of symbols arranged into a circle. Only it wasn’t a tattoo, was it? It was a brand – different to Max’s Heraldry – but distinct to their little custodian nonetheless. “What the?” He asked, a little incoherently.

“Ivy and I had a private little chat the day she came over after that mess at Caspian’s house with Ignatius. After learning of my Custodian status, she pledged her loyalty. The next thing I knew, a brand was weaving its way across her arm. I have no idea how I did it or why. But …” She shrugged as if it was no big deal. “I told you she was my secret squirrel.”

Ivy winced, “I really wish you wouldn’t call me that.”

None of them really knew what that brand meant but Lark had his suspicions. He also didn’t doubt that anyone deemed worthy enough to receive one, would prove loyal and faithful to Max. “So … an army of squirrels, huh?”

“Yep.”

“For a war, you say.”

“Uh huh.” Max nodded.

Lark sighed. “Great.”

Also by Montana Ash:

This is an IndieMosh book

brought to you by MoshPit Publishing

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Montana is a self-confessed book junkie. Although she loves reading all genres from romance to crime fiction to sci-fi, her not-so-guilty pleasure is paranormal romance. Alpha men – just a little bit damaged, and Alpha women – strong yet vulnerable, are a favourite combination of hers. Throw in some steamy sex scenes, a touch of humour, and a little violence and she is in heaven!

Her overactive (and overindulged) imagination could only take so much before the many voices wanted out. Thus, Montana's journey into the wonderful world of writing.

She is a scientist by day, having grown up in country New South Wales, Australia. Writing about ancient knights, demons and shapeshifters is such a delicious contradiction to her day job in the laboratory, that she doesn't see the voices stopping anytime soon!