Paladin (Book Two of the Elemental Paladins series)

by Montana Ash

  Max sighed, “Yes. When I went outside to get some air.”

  “Why didn’t you come get us? Or call us through the bond?” Ryker demanded, angrily.

  “Because it wasn’t a big deal. And I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for years.” Max’s response was stern, bordering on defensive.

  “It’s not that we think you can’t handle yourself, Max.” Diana was quick to assure her, before the men could cause any damage with their big, testosterone-driven mouths, “But that is what your Order is for. To support you. That’s what friends do.”

  Some of the tension left Max’s body. “I know. Thank you. But I honestly didn’t even think to. I wasn’t in any danger – he was just posturing.”

  “What did he say?” Ryker’s voice was dark with barely repressed anger and Diana knew most of it was directed at the fact that Max may have been in danger – not at Max herself. Although, she was sure Ry was gearing up for a Max-lecture as well.

  “Just some insults. I tried to walk away – really – but his manner displeased me, so I decided to break his nose instead.” Max shrugged. “No biggie.”

  “It is a biggie, Max.” Darius assured her. “You can’t go around breaking warden’s noses. Especially without provocation. He has it in for you as it is, this is just giving him more ammunition.”

  “I had provocation! I was totally provoked!” Max assured him.

  “What did he do? Did he hurt you?” Ryker’s voice was low and ominous.

  “No, he didn’t hurt me.” She answered, hurriedly.

  “Then it wasn’t self-defence. Max, if he reports you, you could get into real trouble with the Rangers.” Lark’s voice was worried.

  “I don’t think so.” Max’s voice was confident. “After all, he kind of touched me first.”

  Ryker’s brown eyes darkened as they narrowed, “You said he didn’t hurt you.”

  “And he didn’t … but he did spit on me.”

  Diana felt the snarl on her own lips as anger and insult flared to life within the entire Order. Her coat of arms even began to writhe in response to the burst of power in the room. None of them could contain their emotions at the thought of their liege – a Custodian – being spit on. The idea was absolutely abhorrent. Without conscious thought, Diana sought out Darius. Such an act would be intolerable to one such as him, who held his ‘betters’ in such high esteem. Sure enough, Darius’s hazel eyes sparked with contained fury. His clenched jaw demonstrated his iron will at keeping his emotions and reactions hidden, but the air seemed to writhe around him – a warning of the animal crouching within. Diana shuddered, so turned on by his dangerous bearing that she had to clench her legs together to repress the ache throbbing there.

  “Shit! Ryker!” Max’s shriek returned Diana’s focus to the room. Her Captain was striding purposely from the room, murder in every line of his body. Before he could reach the door, Max flung herself at him and proceeded to wrap herself around his body like an octopus. Her tiny five-foot-three frame looked so insignificant compared to his six-foot-four one that she resembled a barnacle on a submarine, more than an octopus. And she was about as effective as a barnacle too, Diana mused, watching impassively as she hung on to his leg as he dragged her across the room.

  “Guys! A little help here!” Max yelled.

  “Of course.” Beyden replied. “I assume you are going to kill Ignatius?” He inquired to Ryker.

  “Fuckin’ A!” Ry growled.

  “Let me help you with the door.” Beyden returned, courteously opening the back door for Ryker to exit.

  “Beyden! You’re supposed to be helping me stop him!” Max screamed, gripping Ryker’s leg ineffectually. Her butt was now on the kitchen floor with her arms and legs wrapped around Ryker’s left leg. All she was doing was polishing the floor with her arse with every step Ryker took.

  “No.” Beyden said.

  “No?” Max’s voice was incredulous.

  The giant Spaniard crossed his arms, as immovable as a mountain. “No.” He repeated again. Max seemed surprised by his refusal to assist her. Beyden was the gentlemen, practically tripping over himself to do her bidding – not that Max ever took advantage of his generous nature. But not now. Diana wasn’t surprised in the least. Max was Beyden’s liege. That was the beginning and end of it as far as they were all concerned. She didn’t know how else to make Max understand what being a paladin was all about. They had all told her, numerous times, that a paladin’s purpose was to serve their liege; her health and happiness came before all else. Serving her was now their whole reason for being. Looking around the room, Diana saw the same resolved purpose on each and every face.

  “Ryker, please! Will you stop?!” Max asked, rather beseechingly this time.

  Ryker inhaled deeply, coming to a halt. He looked down and their eyes met. Diana knew they were communicating through their private thread, for after several tension-thick seconds, he exhaled and stroked her messy hair.

  “He spat on you.” He stated.

  “Yes.” Max acknowledged. “And I broke his nose. We’re even.”

  “No, you’re not!” Axel snarled.

  “Now don’t you start, Axel!” Max shook her finger at him. “I’m fine. It was just a little saliva. I’m not saying we let this go,” Max continued before anyone could jump in, “… we can’t. He’s not … right on the inside. But I am saying we go through the proper channels. You’re always saying I need to follow the rules, well, let’s play this one by the book. I want to report him to the council. Will you help me?” She asked, looking up at Ryker from her perch on the floor.

  At first, Diana didn’t think Ryker was going to respond, that maybe he was going to let go of his control again, but in the end he nodded. “Of course. I’ll show you how to fill out the forms and we’ll send it off today.” He eyed her critically for a second before smiling, his brown eyes lightening, “But you may want to get up off the floor first.”

  EIGHTEEN

  After hanging up the phone with the secretary of the Rangers, Ryker made his way outside to find his miracle. He paused, absolutely stupidly smitten by the way the sun reflected the deep crimson strands in her hair. Max was rocking contentedly in the hammock strung up where the lawn met the sand. His hand went to touch the atrocious scar on his cheek where a chade had literally tried to claw his face off, but all he felt was the scratchy evidence of his day-old growth. Max, the short but mighty Goddess, had healed his scar – as well as the tattered remains of his soul. Damn, but he’d been a miserable bastard for years before Max had fallen into his life. Bitter, resentful, and filled with hate and guilt over the loss of his liege and Order. He had lived when his whole family had died; they had been his responsibility. He never dreamed he would be a Captain again, regardless of his innate potentate status. But he was – Captain of an Order with paladins from all seven elements and a liege who was a Custodian. She was also the love of his freaking life.

  Fuck, he was a lucky bastard, he thought as he watched her rock back and forth lazily in the cool morning air. But a tremble of unease made its way through the bond as he saw her reach up and rub her forehead. She had a headache. She pretty much always had a headache, he knew. Although her health had improved by leaps and bounds since being able to recharge with vitality, she still wasn’t what he considered in top form. He was forced to hold onto her every night as she tossed and turned, trapped in nightmares that were not solely her own. She lost too much energy just being passive and minor aches and pains were a persistent daily nuisance. He didn’t like it.

  “Are you going to stand there and stare at me all day?” The lazy humour threaded with warmth in her voice caused his dick to twitch. Stupid dick.

  “I was just enjoying the view.”

  “Uh huh. You were clucking like a mother hen … again. I’m fine.”

  He just grunted. Her version of fine and his version were lightyears apart. Her beautifully strange eyes rolled in their sockets as she said;

  “
Join me?”

  Ryker eyed the flimsy looking piece of coloured cloth and the ropes tying it to the two supporting trees dubiously. Max may be tiny at five foot three but he was six foot four. No way was his giant arse going to fit in that little hammock.

  “You’ll fit. Snuggle time.”

  Snuggle time with his girl? It took some manoeuvring – and swearing on his part, giggling on Max’s – but he managed to find a comfortable position with his front to Max’s back and her body nestled snuggly between his legs. He wrapped his arms securely around her and watched as she smoothed her hands over her Heraldry on his forearm. He shivered when it seemed to leap into her touch. It was very odd. But he kind of liked odd these days.

  “How’s your head?”

  She huffed, “It’s fine.”

  “It’s not fine, Max. You get headaches every day and your nightmares …”

  “Are better. Being bound to all of you really helps. And the constant renewal of vitality? It’s amazing!”

  “But still not perfect.” He pointed out, rubbing his palm in a circular motion over her stomach. He loved touching her.

  “No. Not perfect.” She acknowledged. “Something’s missing.”

  “Darius. Air.” He stated.

  She sighed, “Yes, I believe so. Darius, as air, is the final element.”

  “I’ll talk to him.” His patience with his second in command was beginning to run thin. He had been acting out of character for weeks now. Ryker was the first to admit that a person was entitled to have a bad day, or week … or even years, as was the case with himself. He also believed people should be left the hell alone to sort through their shit. But when it started to affect the integrity and harmony of the Order? Then it was time to intervene.

  “You’ll do no such thing.” Max’s voice was strident. “I won’t force him to be in my Order, Ryker.”

  “It’s hurting you.” And he wasn’t referring to the headaches either. The thought that one of her new friends didn’t want to be on her team anymore hurt her feelings. He could feel it and it pissed him the hell off. Nobody had the right to hurt her; nobody!

  Max tilted her head back and smiled at him softly, “My fierce knight. I’m a big girl. I can take it. He needs to come to me, not the other way around. It’s important, Ry.”

  He scowled even as he listened. He could do no other than obey her wishes. It didn’t mean he had to like it though.

  “You’re such a hard-arse.” She poked him in the chest.

  He felt his chest puff up in pride. Damn right he was a hard-arse!

  She chuckled, “I love you.”

  Say what now?

  Max rolled over onto her stomach, causing the hammock to sway precariously for a moment. “I love you. Everything about you. Everything you are. I’m so glad you’re mine. I’m so grateful I get to keep you. I love you.”

  Ryker swallowed the very unmanly lump in his throat. Although he could feel the love and affection flowing through the bond, he had been desperate to hear those words, spoken just like that. He told her constantly – like every single damn time he saw her – so he had no doubt she knew how he felt. So how to respond now? Thinking back to when he had first told her he loved her, he smiled, and said simply;

  “Okay.”

  *****

  Diana was beating the hell out of a punching bag when her Captain walked into the gym. He was dressed for a workout in tracksuit pants and an old shirt, but he had a dopey look on his face that was anything but ferocious. She barely refrained from growling out loud; clearly the loved up man had just had some quality time with his equally loved up woman. Well, bully for them, she thought as she hammered the poor innocent sandbag. Three hours! It had been three hours since breakfast and Darius still hadn’t had any memory revelations! How could he forget the feel of her hair across his groin? How could he forget the feel of her mouth across his strong chest? How could he forget the feel of her fingernails digging into his arse? Bastard! She snarled as she killed the Darius replacement in front of her.

  “Want to go a round?” Spinning on instinct, she punched out with her fist, only to find it caught in a much larger one. “Sorry.” She panted.

  Ryker just raised his eyebrows. “Want to talk about it?”

  “Not really.” She answered. Not at all! She thought.

  “Fair enough.” He shrugged and made his way to the free weights. Bending down he picked up a thirty kilo weight in each hand and began doing bicep curls.

  Eternally grateful that her Captain was a man of few words, she decided to head to the bikes and peddle out her remaining frustrations. She tripped and nearly fell flat on her face when Ryker spoke, however;

  “I had a major crush on you, you know.”

  She turned slowly, apprehensively, unsure she had heard him correctly. “I’m sorry?”

  “A crush.” He put down the weights. “I used to have the hots for you.”

  She was gaping, she knew she was but she couldn’t seem to stop. She’d actually had a crush on him too for a while. What girl wouldn’t? He was tall, built, broody … and that scar? No matter what he thought, scars were just plain sexy. Especially scars on a warrior. But she would never have imagined he would admit to a crush! “I had a crush on you too.” She confessed.

  He laughed and she couldn’t help admiring the way his chocolate eyes filled with warmth – he really was a gorgeous specimen. “I never knew.”

  She arched her eyebrow, “You weren’t supposed to. I’m adept at hiding my feelings.”

  His grin dimmed. “I noticed.”

  And we’re done. She thought, turning to exit the room now.

  “Do you want me to talk to him?”

  She stumbled again, “No. Hell no!”

  He crossed his arms and planted his feet wide. “But he’s hurting you.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Ryker scowled viciously. “What is it with women and saying they’re fine when they so obviously are not?”

  “It’s a DNA thing, I guess.” She shrugged, negligently.

  He grunted in typical man fashion, gazing steadily at her before finally remarking, “He’s hurting Max too.”

  She sighed now, feeling terribly exhausted. She knew it; she could feel it. But she also knew Max would sooner go to her own grave than to confront the man. It was an innate stubbornness that Diana could relate to, and even approved; no begging. They were strong, independent women – they didn’t need to beg for anything.

  “It’s not intentional.” Why she felt the need to defend the man, she had no clue. But she didn’t want Ryker to think badly of Darius. He was a noble paladin with a long and rich history.

  “I know that. He’s not like me. When I’m a dick, it’s on purpose.”

  Despite the circumstances, Diana felt herself smiling. You gotta love a self-aware man. “Just give him time.”

  “I’ve given him time.”

  “More time.” She clarified.

  “How much more?”

  Well, that was the million-dollar question wasn’t it? And going by the look on Ry’s face, she wasn’t certain she had convinced him to wait.

  NINETEEN

  Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap! There was nothing else going through Darius’s head other than, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap! He had done it again! He had fucked Diana! All … Night … Long! In the bed, on the floor, against the wall. Hell, maybe even upside down! And he had forgotten every single extraordinary, bliss-filled moment until Axel had sat down at his piano in the front room and began to play a pop song. It was unusual, given the fire paladin was classically trained and played classic masterpieces like a maestro. But the beat had drawn him down the stairs and he had found himself humming words he didn’t even know he knew. A series of flashes from the night before had reverberated in his brain and he had nearly broken his neck falling down the stairs. Milkshake! He had been dancing to Milkshake last night!

  But that wasn’t the worst of it. He remembered wanting to throttle one of
the triplets at the implication they had touched Diana in any way. He had then practically dragged her back to his room where they had proceeded to debauch each other for the rest of the night. He groaned as he thumped a hard fist against the side of his head. How could he forget such a thing? And how was Diana ever going to forgive him? How had she even been able to keep a straight face in the kitchen this morning, for that matter? By the Great Mother, he was one messed up, miserable bastard at the moment.

  “Darius.”

  Darius closed his eyes and prayed with everything in him that the sound of Ryker’s voice was a hallucination. The plain spoken Ryker was probably the last person he wanted to talk to at the moment – well, second last – Diana was probably the last.

  “Darius. I want to talk to you.”

  Okay, so that deep, intimidating voice wasn’t an illusion. Nor was the dark, intimidating shadow that fell over the top of him where he was sitting on the front step. Taking a deep breath in the hopes of calming his wildly fluctuating emotions, he stood to face the Captain of the household. And what do you know? The Captain looked pissed; this was not going to be pleasant. Although not a true empath like Max or the Life Wardens, Ryker did have a touch of empathic abilities – he was attuned to life itself after all. So Darius was pretty sure he knew where this conversation was headed.

  “What is it?” Darius asked, feigning ignorance.

  “I think it’s time you told me what the fuck is going on with you lately.”

  Oh, yeah. Ryker was nothing if not blunt. “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t fuck with me Darius. You’ve been moody for weeks, bordering on disrespect and insubordination with me and even with Max. You’ve been treating Diana like an arsehole, and you drank two litres of whiskey last night. So, I ask you again; what’s going on?”

  Darius felt his hands clench and unclench spasmodically. Hearing his twisted thoughts and actions of the past few weeks summed up so eloquently was a real prick to his pride. “I apologise. I know I have been acting out of character. You know I like to process things. I’ve been processing.”