Chade

by Montana Ash

  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.

  TWELVE

  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.

  THIRTEEN

  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 th
e 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 Bey
den 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.”