Paladin (Book Two of the Elemental Paladins series)

by Montana Ash

  He continued to sit in the quiet, finding comfort in the company of the little mutt in his lap. He allowed the rough edges of his anger and self-disgust to be soothed as he stroked the dog’s back repetitively. After an hour, the pup was sound asleep and Darius had reached the inevitable conclusion that he needed to head back to camp and accept the repercussions of his actions. But what the hell was he going to do with the hairy mass in his lap? He couldn’t in good conscience leave him on the side of the road but he couldn’t afford to take him to the animal shelter in town. Sighing, he stood, rousing the animal;

  “One night. I may be able to get you a reprieve for one night and then tomorrow morning we can see about finding you a home.” He told the pup sternly as it blinked sleepily up at him. Its tongue lolled out in a happy grin as if it knew Darius would cave all along. He pointed his finger at it;

  “Now, don’t go getting too cocky. Ryker is probably waiting to kick my butt the second I walk through the door. Even a puppy won’t stop him from doing his duty. But he does have one weakness.” He told the stray, “Max. You had better flash those strange, bi-coloured puppy-dog eyes at her. She’s a bit of a sucker for strange eyes. If you do that, you might just have a chance at staying the night.”

  The pup yipped again as if in agreement and Darius exhaled heavily. Looks like it was time to face the music. He only hoped Ryker would allow him to maintain his honour and dole out his punishment in private. He wasn’t sure he could stand looking into the eyes of his fellow knights if they saw him take a beating from their Captain. And he was positive Diana would never again give him the time of day.

  TWENTY-TWO

  Darius parked the black Dodge Durango out the front of the house instead of putting it away with the other one in the garage. The car was nice and sturdy and was supplied to them by the IDC because they worked at the Lodge. He wasn’t much of a car man, so it didn’t bother him what they drove but Darius knew Beyden and Lark were both rev-heads and they dreamed of owning Lamborghinis or Aston Martins or some such fancy car. But just like paladins were not supposed to own their own property or land, the same was true for cars. They typically used whatever their lieges had. Darius knew Max held issue with them not being able to own property but that’s just the way it was. It’s not like they ever wanted for anything – their lieges provided everything for them and most did gift their knights with various items anyway. His old liege used to indulge Darius’s hobby of astronomy. No matter where they were in the world, his liege would always buy him a new telescope – the top of the line. Ever since the first official telescope had been invented in the 1600s, Darius had been absorbed with the universe revealed by the lenses. What he wouldn’t give to crawl up to his third floor suite and plaster himself to his eyepiece right now, he thought.

  Tiny growls drew his attention to his new passenger. The puppy was attempting to chew on the handle of his sickle. “Hell!” He picked up the sickle, moving it out of reach. He wasn’t worried about the pup hurting himself – the weapon was sheathed – but he didn’t want those pointy milk teeth to leave dents in his leather. The little mutt promptly began to chew on the side of the leather seat and Darius winced, scrubbing rough hands over his close-cropped scalp. Yeah, no way was the little fur ball going to help his situation.

  “Come on.” He said, scooping him up and placing him immediately on the ground outside the car. He walked up the winding stone-paved pathway and took the fork to the right, heading toward the back kitchen doors. They rarely used the massive front double doors. “Now. I want you stay out here until I can recon the area. Only if I give you the all clear, may you then enter. Do you understand?” The animal plopped its little butt on the ground in answer. Giving him one final warning look, Darius turned the handle.

  And as he opened the door, his worst fears were realised. The combined kitchen-dining room was filled with paladins and five heads swung his way. For the first time in centuries, Darius felt his face go hot. He couldn’t remember being this embarrassed or ashamed before but he refused to tuck tail, so he kept his head up and made eye contact with everyone. There was a mixture of pity and censure in their eyes but the biggest emotion he saw was … relief. They had been worried about him. Him – the pathetic knight who had KO’d his superior officer. Could he feel any more like a worm? The only person who didn’t look at him was Diana and he felt his balls shrivel up – had his actions caused her to lose all respect for him?

  “You okay, man?” Lark asked, holding out a strong palm for him to grasp.

  Darius swallowed the sudden lump in his throat as he took the offered hand in a sure grip, “Yeah. Thanks. I –” But before he could get any further a small fuzzy missile hit his leg. The room stilled as all eyes focused on the miniature terrorist attacking his shoelaces.

  “Ah, dude. You know you have a little something attached to your left leg, right?” Axel asked, rocking back on his chair.

  “Don’t do that, Axel. You’re going to break it.” He said automatically, before replying, “And yes. I do know. He … um …”

  “Oh my God, is that a puppy?” The breathless hope-filled voice came from the doorway leading into the main living room. Max was standing there, bare-foot as was the norm, but in clothes that actually fit her. The shopping trip had been successful in that regard.

  Darius reached down, detaching the killer teeth from his laces and receiving a nip in retaliation from the disgruntled animal. He picked him up and tucked him under his arm. “Ah, yes. It’s a puppy …”

  As Darius watched, Max took a couple of tentative steps into the room, her turquoise eyes shining and never leaving the squirming bundle in his arms. “What’s it doing here?” She asked.

  Darius frowned. Although he couldn’t feel what she was feeling because he wasn’t linked in the Order, there was no missing the fragile hope in her eyes and her query. Glancing around, he saw the soft looks on the faces of the others and the uncomfortable shuffling of feet as if they were invading a private moment. No doubt they could all feel the emotions surging through the bond. Max finally pulled her gaze away from the pup – who had been just as transfixed with her as she was of him – and Darius nearly staggered from the naked emotion on her face. He was such an idiot. Of course Max would have an intense reaction to having a dog in the house. A dog had been her first friend, her family and the only creature in the world to ever show her any warmth or affection when she had been all alone on the streets as a teenager. Hell, she had even named herself after that first friend.

  He was so insensitive. He never used to be, he prided himself on being a gentleman. They all knew Max talked the talk and even walked one hell of a good walk, but underneath it all she was still quite vulnerable. She was yet to fully trust them, this house and even her relationship with Ry. So many years of being alone and relying only on herself had made her wary of good fortune and also desperate for the comfort of home and family. He thought they were all slowly providing her with those things and as Max looked up at him with a question in her eyes, he thought – maybe, just maybe, he might be able to offer her something a little more. Although Ryker may not see it that way, he thought silently. Oh well, he was already up to his neck with the potentate anyway. He cleared his throat and held out his arms, “He’s for you.”

  Max stilled. “For me?” She whispered.

  Darius nodded, smiling gently at the little Custodian. “Yes. I found him on the side of the road. He looks like he’s been on his own for a while but he’s too young to be without a mother. I thought you would make the perfect replacement.”

  Rude snorts met his declaration and he frowned darkly at Axel and Cali, who merely mouthed back, ‘bullshit’ at him. Cali even went so far as to make a crude hand gesture as if she were tugging on something. If he had been any other type of man he would have flipped them both the finger. Instead he chose to ignore the miscreants and focus on Max instead who had yet to come any closer. “Here, Max. Take him.” He said, all but thrusting the animal into her a
rms.

  “I can really keep him?” She asked again, not even looking at the puppy who was surprisingly still and quiet in her arms.

  Darius felt his heart break a little. How desperately must she have wanted a dog all these years for her to be so dismayed over the prospect of keeping one, mangy mongrel pup? “Of course. He’s yours. No-one will take him away from you.” His voice was firm and brooked no argument. He glared at the others, daring them to say anything that would oppose him. Beyden was grinning, Lark was smiling indulgently, Cali shrugged, Axel held up his hands in surrender, and Diana was staring at him rather than Max with a look of gratitude and … pride? Maybe there was hope for him yet.

  *****

  Diana found herself swallowing around the lump in her throat as she watched Max squeal happily and launch herself, puppy and all, at Darius. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” was interspersed between kisses and puppy licks to his once more flushed face. No way had Darius found that pup and brought it back here with the intention of giving it to Max. No way! But nobody was foolish enough to call him out on it though. He looked like he would rip out the voice box of anyone who dared. Besides, the unadulterated joy pouring through the bond from Max was enough to stay anyone’s comments – sarcastic or not.

  “He is so freakin’ cute! Oh, look at those eyes! You are so special, yes you are!” Max rubbed her nose against the small black one.

  Diana cringed and noted that all the others, save Beyden, did too. Baby talk. The most powerful creature to walk the earth had resorted to baby talk. She really hoped Max wasn’t going to revert to it every time she spoke to the animal. But seeing the hint of moisture in Max’s eyes, Diana knew that she would gladly listen to the idiotic dialogue if it meant her liege was this happy.

  “Max? What’s going on?” Ryker’s voice boomed through the room as he entered briskly, no doubt drawn by the intense emotions surging through the Order. Diana saw Darius stiffen and come to attention, his face becoming remote and controlled once more as Ryker stopped in his tracks, eyes narrowing on the knight before turning to Max and the new addition.

  “What is that?” He asked the room at large.

  “It’s my new puppy! Darius gave him to me.” Max smiled, lone dimple flashing as she held the young dog up for Ryker’s inspection.

  Ryker’s left eyebrow winged up. “Darius gave him to you, did he?” The question was clearly directed at Darius, not Max. For Darius’s part, he just continued to stand in stoic silence.

  “Uh huh.” Max giggled when the dog attempted to lick every square inch of her face but she did push the little guy’s head back, tempering his slobbery enthusiasm. Diana was relieved. She liked dogs as much as the next person, but she wasn’t a fan of face-lickers. And she was so glad she hadn’t just said that out loud. Axel would have had a field day with it. A cheeky grin and a wink from her liege though, let her know that she had heard enough through the bond. No doubt she would bring it up again later. “Isn’t he handsome?” Max asked Ryker.

  Diana watched as her Captain’s eyes roved over the stray dog. The skinny little guy was a strange mish-mosh of colours ranging from beige to black and everything in between. He was stripy and spotty at the same time and had two different coloured eyes. The dog was the very definition of a mongrel. Ryker clearly thought so too, for he didn’t answer immediately. Max and the pup were waiting for his answer, both silent and peering up at him through unique irises.

  “He’s … different.” Ryker finally answered.

  Max nodded her head. “Different is good.”

  Ryker smiled. “Yeah. Different is good.”

  “I can keep him, right?” Max bit her lip.

  “Max, this is your home. You don’t have to ask. If you want to give this little guy a home, then you can.” Ryker told her softly.

  “Yay! Thank you! Now say hello to your new son!” She demanded passing the puppy over.

  Ryker caught the small bundle but frowned ferociously. “No. No way are you going to start calling him that. I mean it Max.” He said over the many snickers.

  The next few minutes were spent oohing and ahhing over the latest stray to take refuge in the large log house by the ocean. Darius remained by the door, unmoving and silent, no doubt tense waiting for his presence to be formally recognised. For his part, Ryker blatantly ignored his second in command. It was rude and disrespectful and definitely a pointed statement to the older man. Ryker was deliberately keeping Darius hanging, drawing out the tension and playing on his apprehension. Diana was a little pissed at Ry – there was no need to torture him. Ryker must have felt her glare on him for he raised an eyebrow at her in challenge; ‘got something to say?’ it seemed to ask. She wisely shook her head and lowered her eyes. No, she had nothing to say. Ryker was her Captain and the wronged party; he had every right to deal with the situation as he saw fit. Besides – he was a hard-arse – always had been and it was somewhat reassuring to know that falling in love hadn’t turned him soft. He must have figured Darius had sufficient time to stew in the juices of his own making for he finally turned to him;

  “Do you have anything to say, soldier?”

  The room fell silent and Diana felt her heart clench in pity again for Darius. This would be one of his greatest fears and greatest shames – standing in front of his fellow knights and admitting to an offense. She saw him nod his head jerkily before he spoke formally;

  “I have harmed you in anger. I submit myself to you in reparation for my slight so that justice may be served and balance restored.”

  Ryker crossed his arms over his thick chest. “And what punishment do you believe would achieve this?”

  “I will accept anything you deem appropriate.”

  “And if I wanted to strip you down, tie you to the railing out front, and give you ten lashes with my belt? What if I deem that appropriate?”

  Damn, Diana thought silently. Even though he had agreed with Diana’s suggestion earlier and was willing to follow Max’s lead and allow her to dole out Darius’s punishment, the man was still very clearly pissed. And also very clearly reasserting himself as alpha. Men!

  Darius didn’t so much as twitch. “I will accept anything you deem appropriate.” He repeated.

  Ryker grunted and shook his head. “Fuck, man! Would you take that stick out of your arse?! At ease.” He shook his head again. “You’re forgiven. And after Max delivers your sentence, it will also be forgotten.” He stalked over and leaned in close, “But don’t ever do it again.”

  Darius nodded once. “No, Sir. Never again.”

  Ryker reached up and squeezed his shoulder, jostling him slightly. “Now. You go with Max … and be polite!” He jabbed a finger in Darius’s face. “You may think this is a punishment at first, but trust me; it is a great gift.” Ryker rubbed his chest directly over his heart as he spoke as if remembering the moment when Max had placed curative hands on him – healing more than any of them knew was possible.

  Diana saw the exact moment Darius understood what Ryker was alluding to. His piercing hazel eyes widened and his face paled beneath his usual healthy tan. Diana couldn’t really blame him for his trepidation. If she was told someone was about to look inside her and see her deepest wounds and her most traumatic scars, she would be feeling a little pale too.

  TWENTY-THREE

  They walked in silence across the sand, close to the water so their feet didn’t sink too far into the golden softness. Max seemed quite content to enjoy the walk as if it were nothing more than an evening stroll along the beach rather than a death march. That’s how Darius perceived it anyway. His hands were sweating and his stomach was in knots at the prospect of Max having access to his soul. As far as punishments went, it sure was a doozy.

  “Are you okay with this?”

  Her voice startled him so much he almost tripped. “Do I have a choice?” He demanded, regaining his footing.

  “Of course you do. In fact, I don’t think it will work if you’re not open to it.” Max’s resp
onse was pleasant, containing none of the heat Darius’s had. It made him feel foolish … again! She stopped abruptly, plonking her tush in the sand. Looks like they were sitting, Darius thought, taking a seat beside her.

  “Open to what exactly? What are you going to do?” He asked with more control.

  Max snorted, a decidedly unfeminine sound, “Fucked if I know.” She answered bluntly. “All I know, is that Ryker was able to reconcile his past and present, giving him a chance at a better future. At the time, I just had this undeniable urge to take away his hurt; to reward him for his years of unending, loyal service. I’ve had that same feeling with you for weeks now and as soon as it was mentioned for your penance, I felt the rightness of it. If you let me, I think I could help you.”

  Max’s voice was soft and she didn’t look up from where she was playing in the sand. Darius realised she was giving him the chance to choose his ultimate fate here, despite what she wanted the outcome to be. No doubt all of the others were hoping Max could magically stop him from acting like a moron the same way she had with Ryker. Darius didn’t really believe the same thing would happen here, although he was more than willing to subject himself to anything she wanted. He owed penance and deserved to be punished for his actions against his Captain, and by proxy, his Order and liege. Although … that still wasn’t official, and that grated too, he acknowledged. All the others had now bonded with Max and were exceedingly happy and proud to be in her service. Darius wanted that too, truly he did, but something was still holding him back. He had reservations about Max and what her presence in their world meant in the grand scheme of things. He couldn’t reconcile where all the clues were pointing to. That one word Diana had uttered with such hope and reverence; revolution. Could he really be a party to a revolution? Did he want to be a party to it? He just didn’t know. In addition to that, he felt like he was betraying his old liege. If he bound himself to another, did that mean he was forgetting his brother? Or maybe even forgiving his brother? He didn’t know if he was ready for any of that … he just didn’t know.