by Montana Ash
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.”
THIRTY-FOUR
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.”
EPILOGUE
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.