Paladin (Book Two of the Elemental Paladins series)

by Montana Ash

  He turned, unable to stand the sincerity in her gaze. “I am from a different time, Max. Structure. Control. Equanimity. These are the values of my time.”

  “Silly man. You’re from this time. Right now. You can be whoever you want to be.”

  He closed his eyes. How could someone who decapitates monsters, turns the air blue with her foul mouth, and refers to the male anatomy as a meatcicle, be so damned innocent? Oh yeah, right, he grunted to himself, she was a Goddess! He faced her again, loving the lack of guile on her face. “I am not proud of the man I become when I lose control like that. It is not an attractive sight.” He guaranteed her.

  “I think Diana would disagree with that.” She smiled teasingly, her lone dimple hollowing.

  He was mortified to feel himself blush. “About that. Max, I apologise for my misconduct. I promise it will never happen ag –”

  “Ah! What are you doing?! Don’t go putting that shit out in the universe! You were just about to jinx yourself!”

  He tilted his head, watching her fan herself from her outburst. He still found her to be a strange little thing sometimes. “Nonetheless, I am sorry. I –”

  “Do you want to be put back on my Shit List?” She interrupted once more.

  Um, that would be a huge, resounding no. “No.”

  “Then stop insulting me, yourself, and one of my best friends.”

  “I wasn’t!” He was doing the complete opposite! Strange little creature, he thought again, and was glad she couldn’t read his thoughts through the Order link. That was another thing he was not willing to examine too closely yet either. He hadn’t volunteered to be in her Order again and she hadn’t asked. Maybe she didn’t want him ...

  Max’s eyes narrowed, “Trust me. You were being insulting.” Her expression softened, “I really am sorry, Darius. Sometimes I’m just too self-righteous for my own good and I need to be slapped back down to size.”

  There was no way he was letting her take the blame for his foul mood and his bad decision-making. She was just making him feel more guilt. “And I am sorry too. I will reconcile my thoughts and emotions, I promise you.” Sensing the need for levity, he added, “Besides. If anyone were to slap you down to size, there would be nothing left. You are already pocket-sized.” He ruffled her thick hair.

  “Hey!” She pushed his hand off and then jumped up, landing a kiss to his cheek that had already started to stubble. Like Ryker and Beyden, he had to shave practically morning and night in order to keep the bristles at bay. “Love ya guts!” She spouted before spinning toward the exit. “Oh. One more thing …”

  “Yes?” Infinite patience. He had infinite patience.

  “Don’t apologise to Diana.”

  That was not what he had been expecting. “Pardon?”

  If he didn’t know any better he would swear her eyes held pity right then when she answered, “Don’t tell Diana you’re sorry. You know – for sleeping with her.”

  “But I am sorry.” Very, very sorry. No matter what the equipment downstairs seemed to think.

  Max sighed and the sound resonated with exhaustion. “I know you are. But just trust me. A woman doesn’t want to hear that the best sex of her life is a mistake.”

  “You think it was the best sex of her life? Where did you hear that? Did she tell you that?” His questions were rapid-fire and obviously spoken directly from the afore-mentioned equipment. He wanted to sink into the floor. Had he really just asked Max for pillow talk gossip? Axel would call this a face-palm moment!

  Max laughed heartily, practically lighting up his dim room. “Oh, Goddess! You totally just had a man-moment! And I was here to see it! I am honoured.” She bowed her head. “But I am also serious. Don’t do it, Darius.” She shook her finger at him, “It would be very unwise. Especially to a woman who abstained from touching you for eight centuries just because she said she would.” She turned and walked from the room.

  He stood frowning to himself for a moment, fiddling with the new eyepiece in his telescope. Perhaps Max’s advice was sound. Diana was the stubbornest human he had ever met. But then again, Max had also advised a chade to run for its life, so her wisdom was sporadic at best. No – he didn’t believe Max was right in this instance. An apology was always wanted and always appropriate … right?

  ELEVEN

  Wrong.

  Wrong.

  Wrong.

  How had he been wrong about an apology? Since when was an apology a bad thing? Over the past few days, Diana had taken a leaf from Max’s ice-queen-how-to guide and had completely frozen him out. He had reciprocated in kind, regressing into his emotionless, controlled demeanour. There had been no further dramas and no recriminations – formal or otherwise – from Ryker, so he supposed he should be grateful. Too bad his nights were filled with visions of Diana in bright, scanty lace and a fevered lust that complemented his own perfectly.

  “I’m coming with you to the Lodge today.” Max’s announcement was met with silence and covert looks.

  Darius glanced around the room. Apparently everyone was extremely busy doing other things. Cowards. He cleared his throat, “Is that wise? There’s likely to be a few wardens and paladins there and we are trying to keep you low-key – at least until Ryker can speak privately with the IDC next week.” It was strange they still hadn’t been to visit yet actually, given their initial excitement over Max’s discovery. They still believed she was a Life Warden after all. Diana had actually expressed her concerns that someone was deliberately stalling the meeting. Darius couldn’t think of a reason why that would be the case, but it was still curious.

  “Well, I can’t stay here forever guys. I’m going bat-shit crazy! There are only so many dolphins for me to play with and so many times I can kick all your butts! I need freedom! I need interaction! Let me live, Darius! Why won’t you let me live?” She ended, bellowing dramatically.

  Darius shook his head at her antics. She hadn’t changed much in the weeks since discovering she was a Goddess and forging bonds with her own personal knights. She was still her normal quirky, good-natured self, which meant that she was still going to be just as prone to the harsh realities of their society. She was still going to walk into the Lodge, talk to people who said things she didn’t approve of, see behaviours she didn’t agree with, and then lecture, yell or throw things in order to show her displeasure. Although he agreed with some of her ideas, now just wasn’t the time to put her in the spotlight. It was tricky enough for Ryker and the others that were bonded to hide their new coat of arms whenever they were shifted on at the Lodge. Long sleeves were now an everyday occurrence and none of them could use the showers there anymore after a training session.

  “Darius is right, honey.” Ryker said. “I’m sorry, but we just can’t risk your secret getting out. There are few people outside this camp that I would trust with the information that you are a Custodian. Garrett, the Life Warden on the IDC, is one of them. He assures me the full council will be available for your introduction next week and I really want the opportunity to discuss you and our new Order with him privately.”

  “I promise I won’t tell the world I am somehow the daughter of Mother Nature herself in physical form.” She raised her right hand solemnly. At least she was getting the hang of that, Darius thought.

  “And what if the local council is there? You didn’t exactly leave the best first impression with them.” Darius felt the need to point out in their defence.

  Max planted her hands on her curvy hips, defiance in every line of her body. “Well, they didn’t exactly make a good impression on me either! What a pack of sanctimonious, hypocritical wankers! Angel! They wanted me to change my name to Angel!” Her voice was horrified.

  Axel let out a booming laugh. “How hilarious is that? I mean, most wardens are named for their element or their intrinsic natures. Angel?! If they only knew!” He laughed again and Max joined him, not taking offense in the slightest.

  “That’s our point though, Max. Are you going to
be able to appoint yourself properly?”

  Max abruptly stopped laughing. “Appoint myself properly? Do I have poor manners, Darius? Do I embarrass you?” Her tone was cold and accusing.

  Damn! Now he was on the receiving end of her displeasure again. Did he detect a smirk on the pretty Diana’s face? “You know you don’t. I just want to protect you.”

  “I know. And I appreciate it. I even understand your concerns – I honestly do. But I can’t live like this. I feel like I had more freedom when I was on the run.” Darius heard Ryker suck in a harsh breath as she continued to speak, “I don’t want to be a dirty little secret. Or a kept woman!”

  Ryker winced. “No. Absolutely not. You are not my kept woman; you’re just mine. And you’re not a dirty secret; but you are secret.” He dragged her close, kissing her mouth. “I’m sorry. We have kind of been harbouring you here. Let’s clean up and we’ll head to the Lodge for the day. I have a lot to do there anyway and perhaps you could help.”

  Max’s smile practically lit up the sky as she fist-pumped the air and raced upstairs, not allowing anyone time to change their minds. Lark groaned and at first, Darius thought it was because he was picturing all the potential things that could go wrong like he was.

  “Maybe she can go in my place. I don’t feel so hot today.” He murmured instead. That made Darius frown for a different reason. Paladins rarely became ill.

  “Actually, I’m not feeling great either.” Cali admitted.

  “You’re not?” Diana asked. Even the sound of her voice got to him these days! “I have a headache as well.”

  “So, what? We all have a virus or something?” Lark guessed.

  Diana eyed the stairs Max had flown up moments ago, a pensive look on her face. “Max!” She yelled abruptly, startling the hell out of him.

  “What’s up?” Max popped back in, tanto sword in hand. There was no way Darius was telling her she couldn’t take that into the Lodge. He knew she had strapped it inside her high boots last time she visited despite the total weapons ban on the premises. The samurai sword was her security blanket. Ry had even told him that she slept with it. That image made Darius acutely sad.

  “How do you feel?

  Max’s expressive eyebrows rose as she shrugged, “I feel good. Better than I have in years. Why?”

  “Do you have a headache? Muscle soreness? Eye strain?” Diana pressed.

  Max shrugged negligently, “A little, I guess. But it’s not bad.”

  “We’re all feeling what Max is feeling? This is the bond? Lark asked, incredulous. Having never been in an Order before, it wasn’t surprising that Lark didn’t recognise the ebb and flow of energy, emotions, thoughts and sensations through the bond.

  Diana nodded. “I believe so.”

  “But I feel terrible!” Lark exclaimed. He turned to Max with horrified eyes. “This is how you feel every day?”

  “No …” the room seemed to relax at the one syllable, “… like I said, I feel better than ever. This is nothing! What’s wrong with you guys?” She enquired, noticing the shocked looks. “I’m sorry my headache is spilling on to you through the bond. I’ll dial back the connection.”

  “We don’t want your apology, Max.” Lark replied stiffly.

  She crossed to Ryker. Perhaps Darius had been mistaken before. The Japanese blade was no longer her security blanket – Ryker was. “Then why are you all so upset?” She wondered.

  “It’s the fact that you are in pain, Max. It is an affront to everything we are as an Order. And what’s worse? You don’t even seem to notice how bad you feel or sick you are. This is just normal for you …” Beyden’s deep voice trailed off. He wasn’t even bonded yet and looked ill at the thought of Max suffering.

  Max laughed. “Guys, seriously! I’m fine! No need for dramatics. I haven’t had a seizure in weeks! I’m so very grateful to you all for sharing your vitality. I even wonder myself now how I managed to survive all this time without it.”

  So did they all, Darius thought. And the IDC was going to wonder the same thing.

  TWELVE

  Diana was pleased to see the Lodge was filled only half way to capacity as they entered. She spotted Fawn and Ray from the local council but they were actually decent human beings and she knew they wouldn’t cause a stir with Max and would even welcome her. There was no sign of Ignatius, thankfully, but he was due to arrive because his paladins were required to undertake their monthly physical review. They were all hoping Max would be outside or otherwise suitably occupied by then. Without conscious thought, her eyes strayed to Darius where he was talking to Fawn and her paladins. His manner was courtly as he listened attentively, nodding and answering her questions flawlessly no doubt. He was clean shaven once again and his short hair was neatly trimmed against his perfectly shaped skull. How could a man have a perfectly shaped skull? She tried not to watch the way his butt muscles tensed as he exited the room, carrying a heavy book of some kind. And she really tried not to remember the way they had flexed as her fingernails dug into them while she payed appropriate homage to the opposite side of his anatomy with her mouth.

  “You know, I get it.” Max announced, presently.

  Diana turned to her. She and Cali had drawn the first ‘Max Watch’ and they were seated on one of the lounges dotting the large open room. “Get what?”

  Max gestured in the direction Darius had taken. “The appeal. I totally get the Darius appeal.”

  Max had been very close-mouthed over the last few days, to which Diana was forever grateful. She didn’t want to invite discussion over the whole debacle.

  “I get it too. I mean, he’s soooo intellectual but he’s also a warrior. It’s an irresistible combination.” Cali chimed in.

  Diana kept her mouth shut. Until Max squealed and clapped her hands, startling the ever-loving shit out of her!

  “Oh my God! Indiana Jones! He’s Indiana Jones!” Max turned wide, excited eyes her way. “He’s educated, smart, a historian, a real life action hero …”

  Damn, Diana thought, he is Indiana Jones! She loved Indiana!

  “Too bad he’s not as playful as Indy though …” Cali murmured. Once again, Diana didn’t say anything. She thought Darius could be very playful when he wanted to be – namely when he was naked and horny.

  Max smirked, “It’s a shame. The potential is there but even the man’s soul is rigid. I mean, it moves freely in the air, as if continually captured by the wind, but it’s still somehow stiff, as if it’s not really free.”

  She was eyeing Darius through the window across the room and Diana could feel a pulse of power through the bond. She knew Max must be using what they had dubbed her ‘Goddess-vision’ to look directly into Darius’s soul. Even bonded, Diana could not experience what the other woman saw, but she knew it was like a life-size doppelganger, always present next to a person. A couple of the others had secretly expressed concerns that Max could literally look into their souls, but Diana held no such concerns. She was comfortable in who she was and accepted everything about herself; whether it be good or bad.

  “If I didn’t know any better, I would think Darius had a steel pike up a certain orifice, keeping his soul’s spine so straight.” Max continued.

  “Are you still talking about sticks and butts? Is there something you want to share with the class?” Diana smiled as she heard the voice of the Water Warden behind her. Turning, she saw Caspian and his two bonded paladins approaching, making a very handsome trio. She really liked Cas and the two brothers that formed the Order of Riparian. Not only were they the closest neighbours to them, but they had also become close friends over the years. Diana was a frequent attendee at their poker nights. Max had taken an immediate shine to them too. Diana wasn’t surprised – she seemed to have some sort of attraction to the underdogs of the world. First them, as outcast and rejected paladins, and then Caspian as the only publicly gay warden in their society. It didn’t endear them to other wardens or paladins as a whole, but Max didn’t even blink
an eye. She treated everyone the same until they proved themselves or revealed their true natures. Then she acted accordingly.

  “Cas! Hi!” Max shouted exuberantly, hugging Caspian tightly. The young warden smiled with genuine warmth and Diana could tell Max’s early offer of friendship had well and truly been accepted.

  “She was talking about Darius this time, not Ryker. I believe Max has now completed a full cavity search of the Captain and the previously mentioned stick has now been permanently removed.” Cali added, helpfully.

  Although, the conversation would be considered highly inappropriate in the company of their betters, Diana couldn’t help laughing with the rest of them. Cali certainly had no reservations treating Max exactly as she always had and she had never been one to be shy in social situations. Although not as outspoken as Max could afford to be, Cali had often come to the defence of Caspian and his lover Lawson in the past, and frequently took home the pot on poker night.

  “You don’t say,” Caspian smiled, taking a seat. “So you and Ryker …?”

  If any other warden had asked, Diana knew the intent would have been entirely different. Other wardens and even paladins would be trying to pry for information to use against the newest member of their world. But Caspian was after dirty goss, plain and simple.

  “Yep. He’s all mine.” Max confirmed. And although her words sounded flippant the look in her eyes was soft and love-filled.

  “I’m happy for you. And Ryker. I knew you would be good for him the moment I met you. Does this mean you’re all considering forming an Order?” Caspian asked, lowly. Diana was grateful for his circumspection.

  “It is something we are giving due deliberation to.” She answered formally but smiled to soften the cool words. Caspian nodded in acknowledgment.