by Montana Ash
Lark was frowning, “You’re saying you took life energy from willing creatures but that you also gave it back?”
Max nodded, then shook her head, “Kind of. I gave something back ... sometimes ... and not intentionally.”
Darius shook his head, “That explanation does not help, Max. I’m still not following.”
No, the explanation didn’t exactly help, Beyden thought. But the convoluted and contradictory answer was so decidedly Max that he couldn’t help an internal cheer, nonetheless. Max the original was back.
Max started pacing as she spoke again, “It has been brought to my attention, that on rare occasions, I swapped my own life force with another’s. Thus, allowing the flow of vitality to be two-way, rather than the one-way transfer of paladin to warden for example.”
“Two-way? Like when you heal,” Lark offered, his genius brain no doubt piecing Max’s explanation together successfully. “Healing requires vitality intake but also energy output.”
“Exactly!” Max gave Lark a thumbs-up.
“You healed me,” Jasminka said slowly.
Max offered another thumbs-up, “I did. And you selflessly allowed me to take energy from you on more than one occasion. I also think your situation is compounded by your tramp stamp. I think I claimed you all those years ago. Marked you as mine – my family. And I accidentally gave you the same lifespan as us when I healed your brain tumour – ignorantly using the spirit element.”
“So you’re saying what exactly?” Darius asked, looking a little impatient.
“I accidentally made Jazz immortal,” Max said in a rush. “Surprise!”
“Immortal?” Beyden breathed. “Are you sure?” he’d never heard of such a thing being possible. Neither Life nor Death Wardens held such power. But then, Max was both yet neither at the same time, and she did control an entirely novel domain. Beyden was afraid to believe.
“Pretty sure. I mean, every paladin and warden I’ve ever met have this shimmery, glowy thing over their hearts. I just assumed it was a supernatural being thing. But when I was all Jason Bourne with no memory, I noticed that Bert had it too. Mr Death Expert over here,” Max jerked her head toward an amused Mordecai, “told me it was a sign of immortality. Although, longevity is probably the more appropriate term.” Max turned to Jasminka, “Jazz, you have the same smudge over your heart.”
“I’m not going to age and die?” His doctor pressed further.
Max shook her head, “I’m no expert, but I don’t believe so. Dad says you’re not. I trust him. Besides, he is intimately bound with the element of death. If anyone would know, it would be him.”
“Holy shit,” Jazz breathed. “And here I thought the botox I’d been having was just really amazing at keeping those wrinkles away. It also explains why I haven’t needed my glasses to see in years as well! Holy shit!” She laughed and threw her arms around Beyden’s neck.
He only had to move an inch in order to capture her lips with his own. Kissing each other senseless for a full thirty seconds, he finally pulled back to breathe – and to say; “I love you.”
Jasminka smiled, “I love you too.”
“Woo hoo!
“Yay!”
“Awesome!”
A series of yells, whistles, and laughter met his ears and Beyden grinned in shared happiness with his family. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was. But wait – “You don’t need your glasses?”
Jazz shook her head, “Nope. The lenses are just glass.”
“You’ve been wearing glasses with no prescription in them? You are such a freaking weirdo,” Max informed her friend.
“Takes one to know one,” was Jasminka’s immediate rebuttal. “I happen to love these glasses. They’re totally me. Besides,” she tilted them down her nose, looking at Bey over the rim, “Bey likes the sexy librarian look.”
Beyden felt heat rise to his cheeks but couldn’t deny Jazz’s claim; he most certainly liked the look of the mature woman with the glasses, sexy fun dresses, and long, flowing hair. Throw in the word librarian and he anticipated lots of role-playing in their future. Jasminka clearing her throat repeatedly and obnoxiously caught his attention and he frowned; “Are you okay?”
Jazz nodded, “Oh, I’m fine. Just a little something caught in my throat.”
“Would you like some water?” Lark asked, courteously.
“Oh, thank you. But that’s okay. I’m used to it by now. Feels like it’s been stuck there for weeks,” Jazz commented, before looking pointedly at Max and widening her eyes. “Like ten weeks as a matter of fact.”
Max groaned and made a slicing gesture with her hand, “Ixnay!”
“Esyay!” Jazz yelled back.
“Max? What’s going on? You and the Doc are acting weirder than usual. And that’s saying something after the conversation we just had about an immortal slater bug,” Ryker pointed out.
Max huffed, glaring at her friend. “I was trying to be polite. This moment is for Jazz and Bey.”
Jasminka leaned into Beyden’s side, “I don’t mind sharing. I’m nice like that.”
Max’s expressive face spoke volumes of what she thought of her friend, and nice didn’t seem to be on the list. Still, Max turned to Ryker and reached for his hands, holding them firmly in her own. She cleared her throat, looking nervous and serious, but was interrupted by Axel;
“By the Goddess!” Axel exclaimed. “Are you proposing?!”
The room was silent for a moment, Ryker’s face stunned before all the men rushed to congratulate them both – Beyden included.
“I’m not proposing.”
The three words made them all stop.
“Wait – you’re not?” Ryker asked, his face transforming comically from thrilled to pouting in an instant.
Max shook her head, but her eyes were twinkling. “No. It’s a little late for that. Unless you’re into shotgun weddings.”
Beyden felt the air in his lungs leave him in a rush as he took in the petite figure of his liege. Did she mean ...?
“Huh?” his eloquent and clueless Captain grunted.
Max smiled, the tender look on her face leaving no doubts to the truth of the words that came next; “I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” Ryker breathed out, his face losing all its colour.
“Uh huh,” Max nodded her head vigorously.
“With a baby?” Ryker practically squeaked, eyes going from Max’s face to her stomach, then back up again. Beyden was kind of worried the man’s eyes were going to fall out of his head.
“Yes. No. well, kind of,” Max answered. “Yes, it’s a baby. But it’s also a Goddess,” she clarified.
Beyden hadn’t thought Ry could get any paler. He was wrong.
“It’s a girl?” Ryker breathed, Adam’s apple bobbing.
Max’s serene smile turned just a tad evil as she nodded her head. “It’s a girl. And she’s just like me.”
And just like that, Ryker fell to the floor in a dead faint. Everyone ignored the fallen man, stepping over him or around him to envelope Max in a series of teary, joy-filled embraces. Jasminka chuckled when Mordecai nudged Ryker with his boot asking if anyone had a permanent marker.
“I love your family.”
“Our family,” Beyden corrected, hugging her tightly to his side and kissing the top of her head.
Jasminka smiled up at him. “Our family,” she agreed.
EPILOGUE
Dinner that night was a lively affair, made even more boisterous than usual due to the sheer number of people scattered around the open plan dining and kitchen area. Where once their home was seen as a halfway house for rejected and exiled paladins, it was now bursting with happiness and family. Mordecai and his four paladins were there, as well as Beyden’s mother and her sweetly shy paladin, Penny. Nikolai had joined them because his kitten was missing her sister. Though, Axel was pretty sure it was the ranger who was missing his best friend since she had hooked up with Lark. Two babies – one smiling happily, and one no
t yet born – completed the group, along with a second kitten and a mixed-breed dog. Axel shook his head, the house might still be made up of a mismatch of people, but somehow they all fit.
They had so much to celebrate; Max’s memory had returned, the Order link was back and stronger than ever, and his boy, Beyden, had been healed and found the love of his life. Axel was thrilled for his friend. Beyden deserved happiness after everything he had been through in his young life and Jasminka certainly made him happy. In fact, looking around at all the happy couples, Axel realised that he was now the only single person left in the Order of Aurora. He rubbed his chest, wondering at the ache that sprouted up there. Was it jealousy he was feeling? The honest answer would be yes. But it had been a long time since he had been honest with himself in relation to his heart. The organ had been broken into so many pieces, he doubted it could ever be pieced back together again. A knock on the door interrupted his spiralling thoughts and had them all pausing and flanking Max in an instant.
“Would you all relax? Knox and his chadens are out there, kindly allowing us all to party in here. If the person was able to make it to the back door, they are no threat,” Max told them all, rolling her eyes at their antics.
Axel knew she had a point but there was no way any of them were willing to take a chance on her safety. Especially not now that they knew she was pregnant. Axel shook his head in wonder; another little custodian. Although Ryker’s reaction was funny as fuck, he couldn’t really blame the man. If he were to suddenly learn he was going to be a father of a future goddess, he’d be feeling a little faint too.
“Oh,” Max said, her eyes glued to the door as if she could see through it.
“Max?” Ryker placed a gentle hand on her arm. “Who is it?”
Chewing on her bottom lip and looking uncharacteristically unsure of herself, she changed the subject instead of answering. “You know how I couldn’t remember my password to my computer but I thought it was important for some reason? Well, it’s because the list of the individuals I believe would be effective in positions of power are on there. What I mean is, I made a list of people I planned to nominate for the councils. In fact,” she gave a small humourless laugh, “I even contacted a few to make sure they would be here for the nomination process. I guess I was a forward-thinker.”
“You certainly had most things planned out, I’ll give you that.” Darius acknowledged. “Not that you bothered to share any of it with us of course.”
Max raised her eyebrows at the censure in his voice. “That’s because you wouldn’t have let me blow myself up.”
“Anyway ...” Axel interjected, loudly before they all became stuck rehashing a past that was said and done. “How many did you contact?”
Max picked at her fingernail, “Just two; Hyde was the first person.”
Axel raised his eyebrows at that. He knew Max had never met the beast warden before. In fact, he didn’t think anyone in the room had met the reclusive man, other than perhaps Mordecai. But if Max had contacted him before their society had gone down the shitter, then Axel had no doubt that the man was going to be integral and an ally. Deductive reasoning meant that whoever was on the other side of the door was the second person Max had contacted and was destined to be just as important.
“Well, should we see who’s behind door number two?” He strode quickly to the door, placed his hand on the door knob, calling out over his shoulder as he opened it, “With all you jokers taken, I call dibs if the warden is a ...” he trailed off, spit going dry in his mouth.
“Celeste?”
The beautiful blonde woman in front of him gave him a hesitant smile, “Hello, Axel.”
The End
BONUS from THE ELEMENTAL COLLECTIVE: Vol 1
Meanwhile, in Otherworld ...
Dana laughed, shaking her head as her son-in-law face-planted onto the wooden floor. The look of stunned joy followed swiftly by dawning horror was a sight to behold, and she took as much delight in it as his family did. As the others laughed and joked, stepping around the fallen soldier, Dana couldn’t really blame him. The thought of another Max in the world was daunting even to her. Though she shouldn’t really be observing, she found she was unable to look away from the rapturous joy on her daughter’s face. The gentle, protective hand on her womb cradling the delicate young soul within, had tears rushing to the forefront and Dana blinked rapidly to dispel them. Now was a time for happiness. Her daughter had returned to her family.
Dana watched as Darius unceremoniously slapped his Captain awake and Ryker bolted upright, the name of his love the first sound on his lips. Dana sighed, watching as Ryker’s and Max’s souls literally reached out to each other. Theirs was a one in a billion love to be sure. Although, looking around at all the happily matched couples, she decided that the one in a billion chance was occurring at an alarming rate within the wooden and stone walls.
Despite her best intentions, Dana sought out Mordecai – the father of her child. The guardian and keeper of death was immersed within the festivities for once, instead of standing from the sidelines – his four trusted and noble companions still loyally by his side. As she watched, she saw Mordecai’s deep, green eyes travel to his daughter where they lingered, hungrily tracing her features as if he were afraid she would disappear from his sight. Dana pressed a hand to her stomach, feeling it churn and rebel. It always acted so whenever she thought about the grievous wrong she had committed. Even so, the urge to reach out and smooth away the lines of stress present on Mordecai’s face was overwhelming.
Unable to help herself, she passed her hand through the veil and ever so lightly, brushed the back of her hand over his forehead. Mordecai’s frown deepened, and he reached up, his hand passing untouching through hers without pause. She knew he didn’t feel her – he couldn’t when she was between worlds like she was now. But the way he straightened and looked around suspiciously made her wonder if he could somehow feel her watching him. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time she had done so.
Despite the futility of her desires, she longed to feel Mordecai’s strong arms wrapped around her once more. She yearned to see his cool, green eyes warm as they stared down at her, his muscular body trapping hers in a cocoon of heat and lust. But she knew what she would see if their eyes were ever to truly meet now; hate. She exhaled shakily, pressing the heels of her palms against her eyes, physically forcing the tears back. She had no right to cry and deserved everything Mordecai said, felt, and thought about her. She had betrayed him in the worst possible way. Yes, she had asked permission and gained consent to do what she did that night so many years ago in Germany. But the consent was dubious at best because she had not divulged all the facts. And she knew they certainly would have made a difference to the man. Mordecai never would have agreed to the night of incredible sex had he been fully aware of the outcome. By the Gods, she would never have agreed either.
In the early hours after the Great Massacre, with so many of her guardians slaughtered, nature’s balance so horribly skewed, and the Earth crying in mourning, Dana’s senses were so raw that every breath was agony. The voices of her warriors calling for her aid had been deafening. But she could do nothing. As omniscient as everyone believed Gods to be, they were still limited by the laws of nature and governed by the laws of their kind. She could no more enter the Earth plane and fight battles for her wardens and paladins than she could become human. She was what she was. But that didn’t mean there weren’t loopholes.
On that day, one man’s pain had pierced her shields more than others. One voice had called to her and resonated within her so clearly, she had spun where she stood in Otherworld, thinking him beside her. The voice had been beautifully accented with the echoes of the Scots, but had been brutally painful and full of curses. Breaking her own self-decreed rule to never pass through the veil again, she had swiftly pushed aside the figurative curtain and sent her body to the time and place of Mordecai, Liege of Valhalla. The man had been everything his voice had conju
red; a mighty Scotsman warrior, imbued righteously with the element of Death – and in so much physical and emotional pain Dana had promptly fallen to her knees upon first laying eyes on him.
After quickly picking herself up and listening to a few more of his half-drunken accusations and recriminations, she had boldly approached him with no forethought as to where the night would end. Mordecai’s offhanded remark about creating something to cure the chade infection had sparked an idea. Yes; she could create a weapon – a tool – that would act as a cure for the disease wiping out her precious wardens. Little did she know, that tool would one day be her beloved daughter, known affectionately as Max. Dana had in fact, named her daughter for what she would become; the great one.
Titania.
That night, Dana knew she would be creating life – it’s what she did – she was a Creator. But never having carried and birthed anything from her physical body before, she had been ignorant of the feelings it would inspire. From the very first moment she felt the stirrings of life in her womb, she knew she had made a grave mistake. Not about her daughter being made – never that. But that her daughter had been made solely to serve a purpose. Dana knew what it would cost Titania – Max, rather – to rid the world of the taint evolution had wrought and had considered aborting her initial plans innumerable times. She had even once resolved herself to let the wardens and paladins die out, for that was exactly where their path had been headed. The loss of nature’s guardians and their knightly protectors would have meant the total extinction of every living organism on the planet. But looking at her precious daughter as she laughed and played in the Eden Gardens in Otherworld, Dana had been prepared to let the world descend into oblivion. It had been Max who had insisted on fulfilling her purpose.
Dana sighed, thinking of Max’s inner strength and wondering for the millionth time how she had managed to raise such an awe-inspiring woman. Max had just been entering the first blushes of womanhood when Dana had felt another cataclysmic shift in the balance. Emmanuel and his deranged parents had begun to make greater strides in their evil plan, consuming more and more vitality and infecting more and more wardens. The poor rangers were inundated with chades and the Councils seemed oblivious – or they had simply given up.
