by Montana Ash
Max turned shocked turquoise eyes his way and he felt her gratitude down to his very bones; she liked the name. He picked up her hand, kissing the back of it, “My Lady of Aurora.” He could feel the rest of his fellow knights gather around her in a show of solidarity and once again felt that lovely warmth spread even more. The message to the room was clear; they were a family and would stand by Max no matter what the verdict was. Max sent out a pulse of energy through their shared bond and Darius immediately felt six separate, smaller bolts bounce back along the link. He added his own to the mix of elements. It just felt so absolutely right and he knew that Max couldn’t help the bubble of joy that burst from her lips. Ryker responded in kind with a rare low chuckle of his own and Max gave him a playful wink.
Refocusing on the council chamber Darius noticed the nervous and somewhat uncomfortable movements from those in the audience and the slight frowns on the councilmen’s faces. They all felt her joy too – how could they not? She was practically nature itself being a Custodian, and the wardens and paladins were all connected to nature in their own ways. But they didn’t seem to understand that joy, except for maybe Garrett, who was smiling indulgently at their antics.
“Max, and the Aurora Order,” Garrett began again, “do you have anything to say in your defence?”
Max shook her head, sending her deep red hair flying. Darius noted the way Mordecai’s eyes seemed to follow the movement. What was with the Warden of Death? He didn’t have time to focus on him though for Max spoke, “Nope. That was all totally me. I’m waaay guilty!” He saw Ryker give her a droll stare; Really, Max? It seemed to say.
“I have no choice but to find you guilty of all the afore-mentioned charges, then.” Garrett stated sombrely.
The resulting reactions were varied but marked and Darius made note of who was shaking their heads in disappointment, shouting their support for Max, applauding the verdict, and the malicious grins on the faces of Ignatius and his supporters. As for Max and the rest of them? They gave no reactions at all. Max wasn’t concerned and so neither were they. Why she wasn’t concerned, he didn’t really understand but he trusted her.
Blu raised a hand to silence the room, “Do you appeal the verdict?” He asked.
Darius was about to yell a hell, yes when Max turned to him and gave a small shake of her head. Ryker stepped forward and answered; “We do not.”
“Well then, it would appear I have no choice once again.” Garrett eyed them all before taking his own wife’s hand in his and declaring, “I hereby nominate Max, Warden of the Aurora Order, to become the eighth member of the International Domain Council.”
“Seconded!” Autumn shouted, almost before Garrett had even finished speaking. The silence in the room was deafening. That was until Cinder let out an ungodly shriek, knocking her chair over with a loud bang.
“What? You cannot do that!”
It was Blu who replied, “Actually, he can. Any nomination put forward and seconded …” he tilted his head in Autumn’s direction and wiggled his eyebrows, “… must be put to a majority vote. You, yourself voted that law in Cinder.”
Cinder was clearly seething. “It is not the same thing! You cannot just nominate another council member! The IDC has seven members. One from each Domain. That is how it works!”
“That may have been true in the past however, need dictates change and I for one believe that there is now a need for change.” Garrett spoke up.
“Even if that were true. There are seven council members for a reason.” Cinder argued, “A representative from each domain maintains the balance. It ensures there cannot be a hung vote. With eight council members there will never be a majority vote.”
Blu spoke up again, “That is true, but perhaps that is a good thing. A hung vote would lead to more discussions and a more reasoned and perhaps more just outcome.” He looked directly at Max. “I vote yes.”
“This is ridiculous!” Cinder squawked. She was beginning to turn an interesting shade of purple.
“Cinder, please!” Garrett stood to bend over and right her chair, “Take a seat … and let us vote.”
THIRTY-THREE
Diana couldn’t believe her ears, or her eyes for that matter. One by one the seven members of the International Domain Council voted to determine if Max – their politically incorrect, train-wreck of a liege, mouth of a drunken sailor Max – would become one of the most integral political figures in their entire society. Sure, she knew Max was a Custodian and therefore pretty much the most important person in the whole damn world, but the council didn’t know that yet!
Autumn, representative of Earth, “Yes.”
Garrett, representative of Life, “Yes.”
“Yes.” From Blu, representative of Water.
“No.” That was Ravyn, representative of Beast.
“No.” Ares, representative of Air.
“Fuck no! Absolutely not! I object! I …”
“Cinder, a simple yes or no is all we need. Your response in the negative is heard and accepted.” Garrett assured her.
All eyes now turned to Mordecai, the Death representative. Given how uptight he was Diana knew he would vote in the negative as well. That meant that Max would be out-voted four to three.
“Yes.” Mordecai’s insanely unexpected response boomed into the too-still room as he continued, “And so the majority has spoken. Max, do you accept the position of council member of the International Domain Council?”
Holy shit! That was indeed the majority vote which meant Max was officially voted in as the eighth member of the fucking IDC! One day she was going to have to learn to stop being surprised by the things that Max achieved. Diana felt the fine tremor that ran through Max at Mordecai’s question. She knew for all her bravado and her earlier positive words that this was still overwhelming for her. She had gone from a human with no-one and nothing, to one of the most powerful women in the world in under three months. Even though her Custodian instincts were strong, as was her sense of responsibility, she was still not comfortable being in the spotlight. She had been trying to remain invisible all her life and now she had her own Order of paladins, a family, friends, and a position of power in their society. Diana could feel her starting to freak out and second guess herself through their shared link, so instead of allowing her to open that sarcastic mouth of hers and ruin this opportunity, she stepped forward and stated simply;
“She accepts.”
“Hey! I can speak for myself!” She heard Max say indignantly.
Darius, always having her back and likely recognising a Max-rant coming on slapped his huge hand over Max’s mouth saying, “She absolutely accepts.”
“Yep.”
“Totally!”
“Major acceptance.”
“Big yuppers!”
“Wouldn’t dream of saying no!” Ryker, Cali, Axel, Lark and Beyden all added. Diana smiled. Gods, she loved these guys!
“As entertaining as you all are; we still need Max to respond.” Autumn said, eyeing them all as an indulgent mother would.
“This is blasphemy! Grandmother! You cannot let them do this!” Ignatius leaped up and shouted before abruptly falling on his arse. He still looked like shit from going toe-to-toe with Max.
“Quiet!” Mordecai snarled, “You have no voice here. Do you think we have forgotten your own crimes? You are a disgrace to wardens everywhere. I suggest you remain mute until it is time to receive your own punishment.” Diana managed to stop the little shiver his accented words caused. The Scottish Warden of Death was one fine specimen of a man. And that was saying something, considering the pieces of meat she lived with … and slept with.
Ignatius opened and closed his mouth looking to his grandmother for aid. It appeared her sense of self-preservation was stronger than her maternal bonds for she remained quiet never meeting his gaze.
Mordecai returned his stern gaze back to Max, “Your decision.”
Hearing an ‘oompf’, Diana peered toward the sound and had to
quickly smother a laugh as Max elbowed Darius in the ribs peeling his hand off her mouth in the process. Seems Darius had forgotten he still held Max’s mouth closed.
“Shit! Sorry my Lady.” He blushed a pretty shade of red and oh boy, was she going to remind him of that later. And so was Max if she read her filthy look correctly. Max stepped up beside her and Diana could feel the rightness of this moment to her very bones;
“I accept.”
Her liege’s voice was strong and true but she was still surprised by the applause that broke out. She knew Caspian, his paladins, and the triplets would stand by them but hadn’t anticipated the number of others that clearly desired the changes that would now surely be brought to fruition. She was less surprised by the angry outbursts from the majority of wardens and paladins and could feel the malevolence aimed at Max crawling like ants over her skin. She knew the others could feel it too and felt confident they were carving names and faces into their minds for future reference.
A very loud and very forced cough drew everyone’s attention to Magda who stood and faced the council members. “Although I am in no position to appeal any decision the council has made, I feel it is my duty to address one major issue you all appear to have overlooked.”
“Of course, Magda. Please speak. Your opinion is always welcomed and respected.” Garrett assured her.
Magda preened under the flattery, “Balance. It is the basis of our society, of our gifts, and of the world itself. Yet, the council is now unbalanced. One domain now has two representatives. How can we trust that the council will remain unbiased in the future? Particularly, to those of us who are not bound to Life.”
There was a general murmur of agreement throughout the room. Diana noticed that Mordecai was looking directly at Max again as if he could see right into her soul. Through the Order, she could feel Max’s odd sense of recognition that the continued stare brought. Had Max met him before? His gaze was knowing, almost as if he knew Max was a Custodian. But how? And why hadn’t he already dropped that little nugget? Confirmation came with his next words;
“I do not believe balance will be a problem, will it Max?” His gaze landed pointedly on each of them, “A little warm in here for long sleeves, isn’t it?”
Diana saw Max take a deep breath and also Ryker’s hand. She was terrified again and Diana couldn’t blame her. There hadn’t been a Custodian in their society in recorded history. Who knew how the council – and everybody else – was going to react?
“You got this girl.” She muttered out the side of her mouth.
“Yeah, girl power!” Cali followed.
Max smiled but still hesitated, biting her lip. Apparently their Captain was unable to take the uncertainty flowing through the bond, for he swooped down and captured Max’s lips. Diana felt herself flush a little and look to Darius at the erotic display. Ryker sipped and sampled and plundered until Diana saw all the tension leave Max’s body. In fact, Max just stood there, both arms at her sides, face tilted up, surrounded by Ryker’s massive palms on either side of her cheeks. Diana figured the only thing that was keeping her standing was probably Ryker’s tongue. Some very indiscreet throat clearing finally seemed to penetrate Ryker and Max’s lust induced comas. It was Axel and Beyden sounding like they had furballs and Lark slapping them on their backs asking if they needed some water.
Max smiled sheepishly at all of them, refocused on the council and responded as if no time had lapsed. “No. Balance will not be a problem … because I am not a Warden … I am a Custodian.”
Boom, bitches!
Max shared the thought along the common Order pathway and they all burst into rather insane laughter. She paid no heed to the quiet devastation in the room, nor did she see the knowing smirk on several faces, or the gleam of calculation in several pairs of eyes.
Diana felt Darius brush his hand along the back of hers and sent him a look filled with love, with hope for their future. Not just their own future, but the future of their race and of the world as a whole. A reckoning, she had told him weeks ago. And now here they were, Max an official member of their governing body. She couldn’t help but wonder what a fucked-up, marvellous mess Fate must be to bestow such a liege as Max on them. And also to give her a man of honour, integrity, strength and wickedness in the sack …
But she would thank that crazy bitch every day for it.
Also by Montana Ash:
WARDEN
ELEMENTAL PALADINS: BOOK ONE
Coming up next:
CHADE
ELEMENTAL PALADINS: BOOK THREE
Meet Montana!
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!
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