by Montana Ash
“Fuck, you’re so sexy,” Darius muttered, his hips abruptly picking up speed as if he could no longer hold back.
Broad, strong hands grabbed onto her hips and she found herself held immobile in his loving but lustful grip. Nonetheless, she instinctively writhed, twisting and straining against the sheets as her greedy body fought to steal as much pleasure from the one behind it as possible. It was times like these she was grateful her suite of rooms were on the opposite side of the house from everyone else. Her guy wasn’t exactly the quietest in the bedroom. It was just another thing to love about him; Darius didn’t hold back his pleasure from her. Diana closed her eyes and revelled in the naughty whispers exhaled against her ear.
When her arms could no longer hold her weight, she happily collapsed onto the mattress, shoulders flush with the crisp sheets, and hips still high in the air in Darius’s capable hands. The only sounds after that were the sounds of flesh hitting flesh and the combined breathless moans from male and female throats. For all the pleasure assaulting her body, her orgasm took her by surprise, and she felt her body lock tight from the overwhelming feelings cascading through her. Her vocal cords didn’t seem to have the same problem though because she screamed loud and long, the sounds barely repressed by the pillow she was biting into.
She heard Darius swear behind her, giving two more quick thrusts, before sounds of that final pleasure also left his lips. His hold on her hips remained bruising for a minute more, before they turned soothing and reverent, caressing every inch of sweaty skin they could find. Diana found herself blinking back tears and not really knowing why. Lips whispered over her lashes and cheeks, tasting the salty offerings before coming to rest against her lips for a long, languid kiss.
“Feeling okay?” Darius asked, stroking a finger over her cheek and tucking her against his warm body.
Diana allowed herself to melt against him, her head finding the perfect space to nestle between his neck and strong shoulder. “I’m always okay when I’m with you,” she answered, honestly.
“I’m sorry about Verity,” Darius said quietly, hands now playing in her curls.
“Me too,” she whispered.
They fell into a comfortable silence for a long time after that. She loved that about Darius – that he didn’t feel the need to fill every silence and was content to just be. The rhythmic stroking of Darius’s hand up and down her spine had almost lulled her back into sleep when he finally spoke.
“Sun’s rising,” Darius pointed out.
She summoned just enough energy to turn her head and peer out the window. Sure enough, ribbons of gold and pink were streaking their way across the horizon, lighting up the dark mystery of the ocean. “A new day,” she murmured.
“A new day,” her man agreed.
***
Nikolai took a deep breath of fresh, sea air into his lungs as the first rays of the sun valiantly fought off the darkness of the night. He was a little early, but Ivy had stressed the importance of him getting there as quick as humanly possible. Although, that had pretty much been the routine for every bloody meeting he’d had at the large converted barn ever since Max had come on the scene. He promptly winced when he heard the harsh, sulky quality of his thoughts. He hadn’t realised he was feeling cranky until that moment and figured he’d better get his head on straight before he walked into a household of dangerously protective knights.
Sitting down on the cool sand, he pushed his hood back and took another long breath of early-morning air. He was tempted to take the whole cloak off, but wanted to appear professional – at least for the first little while. He actually hated the damn things. Sure, they made him look super badass, but lately he found it increasingly hard to breathe under the weight of the dark green robes. The general population didn’t understand exactly how hard his task as a ranger was. Exactly how much of a burden it was. Being a Ranger was a hard job – a thankless job. It was a job he, in fact, hated. Hated down to his marrow. But he would never dream of doing anything else.
Why was that? Max had asked him that same question the first time she had met him. She had apparently seen something in his soul which contradicted his chosen profession. But he had been honest when he’d answered her; because someone had to do it. There was too much corruption in the world, and too much complacency. There were too many selfish people, only thinking about themselves and not giving a shit about others. He knew the wardens carried their own heavy burdens. Being the natural caretakers of an entire planet was pretty hardcore, but he didn’t see that as an excuse to give up on their own people. Because despite what the council told their community, chades were just as much a part of their world as every other creature. And just as important.
Every single day, Nikolai made sure those wretched, cursed beings were not forgotten – even if it was in the form of a sickle to the neck. He knew that was the main reason why he and his fellow rangers were so misunderstood in the eyes of their society. They were seen as nothing more than assassins, death-dealers, and gaolers. But if anyone bothered to ask him what he thought, he would tell them rangers were protectors, shields, and dealt kindness and mercy to those most in need. Glancing at the house behind him, he felt himself smile, knowing he and his kind were on the brink of being recognised. All thanks to a mysterious, feisty red-headed female. Despite the astounding complications that came with Max’s pursuit of the truth about chades, Nik couldn’t be more grateful. He and his kind had been working tirelessly with little help, forgoing their own lives and happiness in sacrifice to a rotten cause. But all that was beginning to change, and his very own best friend was leading the charge.
He shook his head, still finding it hard to believe the very stoic, expressionless, and hard-as-nails Ivy had found herself a home here. He was beyond thrilled that she had finally gotten out of her own way, so she could fall in love with her young, happy paladin. Ivy’s countenance had largely been a by-product of her career choice, but not all. She had always been serious with a deep sense of right and wrong, seeing the world in simple terms of black and white. Although he didn’t view things quite as simply as she did, they had become fast friends over a hundred years ago. Her rude and brash personality hadn’t bothered him in the slightest. Because just like with the chades, he had been able to see the real woman underneath all the prickles. And what he had seen had been someone terrified to be viewed as vulnerable or scared or sorry. So, she had developed her mask of indifference and sneered in the face of those who looked at her askance. Not that Ivy would agree with his psychoanalysis of her, and he was smart enough not to mention it. He had been content to just be her friend in whatever capacity she needed. She hadn’t wanted to examine herself too closely in the past but he thought that might also be changing now. Love had a way of bringing everything to the surface.
As for himself, he liked to think he was very self-aware. And it didn’t take a genius – which he was – to figure out where his motivations to fight for the underdog came from. It was from his childhood. He had been one of the thousands of paladins raised in the paladin group homes scattered all over the world. The group homes were run by fellow knights – not a warden in sight. But that wasn’t really surprising, given the whole purpose of the institutions were to house unwanted paladins. Those children who were born soldiers instead of guardians for nature and therefore deemed useless to their parents. A deplorable seventy-five percent of paladin children were born and discarded like trash. Left to be raised by strangers in cold buildings, overflowing with sad-eyed children – left to be forgotten. He had been raised in a group home in Romania and had left the very day he was old enough. No-one had cared and they were glad to have one less mouth to feed. He knew Axel had been raised similarly in a group home right here in Australia, but he had never spoken to the fire paladin about it. It wasn’t something one could really bring up in polite conversation.
A happy bark from behind him gave him enough warning to catch the bundle of spotted, stripy fur in his arms rather than be tackled
to the ground. Nikolai laughed and accepted the happy dog’s welcoming licks and yips. When he was younger, he had always wanted a pet. He had dreamed of getting a puppy and a kitten at the same time so they could grow up best pals. Unfortunately, no pets were allowed in the group homes. Besides, having a pet in their society was not really a popular practice unless you were a Beast Warden.
“If your master is successful in saving the world, Zombie, I might just get my own fur-babies. What do you think?” he asked the animal, who was now in that awkward half-puppy-half-dog stage. Zombie rolled onto his back, pink tongue lolling, mismatched eyes expectant.
Nikolai gave him the required tummy rub before standing and brushing off his cloak. “Well, buddy. Let’s go see what I can do to help bring them into my life sooner rather than later, hmm?”
SEVENTEEN
Max knew of Nikolai’s arrival the moment he stepped foot on their stretch of beach. She knew she should get up and play hostess. She had dragged the poor Ranger Commander there, once again, at the butt-crack of dawn and he had agreed graciously. But she was just too darn comfortable where she was. The broad chest scattered with dark hair underneath her cheek was rising and falling rhythmically, though she knew her guy wasn’t asleep. It was moments like these, the simple and quiet moments that brought her old life into such sharp contrast.
Autumn’s scathing words about Max’s childhood the day before had had shame creeping into her mind and heart for a few moments before Ryker had felt it and pushed it firmly away. He had then spent four of the eight hours during the night showing her how much he loved her and wanted her and was proud of her just the way she was – history and all. She was lucky. So incredibly lucky to be where she was right now. Her few sporadic friends over the years, like Dex, Jazz and her sensei, had helped push her through the days. But Max knew it was Ryker who had finally made her whole. It wasn’t the missing vitality or paladins or the holes in her shields that had caused the feelings of loneliness and loss. No, it had been the missing life paladin. With so much harshness in her old life to compare to now, she knew she would never forget how lucky she was now or take it for granted.
Thinking she would show her gratitude to the fine specimen underneath her, she levered herself up, grinning into Ryker’s smiling eyes – only to feel her stomach rebel when she looked at his face. Panic rose swiftly as his beloved face wavered right in front of her eyes and she gasped out loud, gripping his cheeks roughly.
“Max? What is it?”
Ry’s deep voice barely penetrated the sound of her pounding heart in her ears. Right before her eyes, an image superimposed itself over her beloved’s face. It was still the man she had fallen in love with but not the man she was now used to seeing. This was the face of the man she had first met all those months ago – the man with the long, jagged scar down the left side of his face and the dead eyes. The injury was red and angry as if it had barely had any healing time, but it was the lifeless look in his dark eyes that terrified her the most. Max felt tears flood her own eyes as she tried to scrub the offending mark off his face with her palm.
“Hey, hey. Max! What is it?” Ryker grabbed a hold of her desperate hands, gripping them tightly, “Baby, you’re scaring me.”
Max sobbed, feeling helpless, terrified, and angry over the vision. She blinked, her tears scalding her cheeks, and just like that the fresh scar disappeared from view. But she knew it wasn’t gone, not really. It wasn’t the past she was seeing – not like her thoughts of her own childhood last night and just minutes ago. No, it was the future. Ryker was sitting up now, gripping her biceps in a tight grip and looking worried.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m sorry,” she repeated over and over again, as if just by saying the words she could make it so.
“Okay, okay. Shh, now,” Ryker murmured, engulfing her in his strong arms and practically suffocating her against his chest.
She didn’t care. All she cared about was the feeling of immediate safety from within his warm embrace. The next five minutes were spent with him rocking her gently, murmuring nonsensical words against her ear as he rubbed her back tenderly. She was finally able to relax, her heartbeat returning to normal but there was no way she would be forgetting the image of that horrendous wound anytime soon. “What did you see?”
Ryker’s words startled her enough to have her lifting her head from the security of his wide chest. “Huh?” she hedged, not wanting to discuss it with Ryker – or anyone for that matter.
“Don’t,” Ryker’s voice lashed out and to her surprise he gave her a small shake. “Don’t do that. Don’t lie to me. Do you think I don’t know you’ve been having nightmares and visions? I feel every beat of this heart,” he placed his hand on her chest. “I know when it beats in happiness. I know when it beats in pain. And I know when it beats in fear. Babe, you’re terrified. Now, what did you see?”
Max swallowed hard, reminding herself how lucky she was to have a man so deeply anchored to her soul. “Your face – your scar …” she stuttered.
Ryker rubbed his smooth cheek, “What about it?”
“I saw it come back,” she said, bluntly.
He frowned, “Come back, how?”
Max shook her head, pushing herself away from him a little, “I don’t know! I don’t know how it happens, just that it does. Ryker …” she felt tears falling from her eyes again.
“Hey now,” Ryker gathered her back in and she didn’t protest. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay!” she refuted loudly, punching his chest. “The dreams have always been there, even before I met you all. The nightmares have always been like a demon snapping at my heels. But they were always focused on one thing; the chades. Not that I knew that at the time, of course. But they’ve been shifting. And now visions like this? When I’m awake? I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
“Your powers are growing, Max. We know that. With you receiving vitality from paladins affiliated with all seven of your domains, it was bound to happen.”
Max narrowed her eyes at him, “You’re making it sound like it’s no big deal, like my growing powers don’t bother you. I know they do. It worries all of you.”
Ryker nodded, “It does. But only because we love you. Honestly? I’m scared where all this is leading. How could I not be? But it’s necessary, Max. You are necessary. We’re dying, sweetheart. The wardens, the paladins? We’re slowing going extinct. Births are at an all-time low, wardens are becoming chades more frequently. The humans are beginning to notice the effect the loss of nature’s guardians is having on the planet. All the talk of global warming, the increasing hole in the ozone layer, the sickeningly high number of endangered species …”
Max shook her head, “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying one measly scar on my ugly mug is a small price to pay as long as you succeed in your goal.”
Max didn’t agree with him but left it alone for now. The panic and terror she had been feeling was subsiding the more Ryker spoke to her and held her. “And what’s my goal again?” she asked, needing the reminder.
Ryker’s palms cupped her face as he brought her forward, “Healing,” he kissed her right cheek. “Peace,” a kiss to her left cheek followed. “Balance,” a kiss to her forehead. “Revolution …” he whispered the last word, before plundering her mouth with his own.
She sank into the kiss, feeling that one whispered word vibrate through her bones;
Revolution.
EIGHTEEN
Ten minutes into the conversation and Ryker knew Nikolai held the missing links. The ranger had looked decidedly uncomfortable when Max asked about the experiments and Emmanuel. After a few minutes back and forth trying to determine exactly what the correct questions to ask were, they had finally stumbled upon the winning word that had them all leaning forward in their chairs; Custodian.
“You enlisted the help of a custodian to cure Emmanuel?” Max asked.
Nikolai nodded, “I
t was Garrett’s idea. But we all believed that if anything was going to help, it would be a custodian.”
“But that’s not what happened.” Ryker guessed.
Nikolai’s sound of mirth was bitter and his lips twisted into an unpleasant parody of a smile, “No. Not by a long shot. The Custodian was none-too-thrilled to be placed with Emmanuel. In fact, it voiced its displeasure quite vocally.”
Beyden stood up straight, “Wait, you’re saying you forced him – her? What was it?”
“An it. Just an it. And don’t go getting your panties in a bunch, I mean no disrespect.” Nik quickly explained, “The Custodians were neither male nor female. They had no corporeal form – no bodies. They were simply energy. They were life. They were spirit. They were –”
Max gasped, “Souls. They were souls.”
Nikolai smiled sadly at Max, “Yes. They were souls. Vague outlines of a human form but with no real substance. Just colours. More colours than your brain can compute.”
“Fuck!” Max yelled, tugging on her loose hair. “It makes so much sense. How did I not realise it before? Custodians are pure souls!”
“Hey, cut yourself some slack, sweetheart. Nobody has figured it out. Well, almost nobody,” Ryker amended, looking at Nikolai. “You clearly know. And let me guess, Garrett knows the truth too?”
“He does. I didn’t realise it until it was too late. But I believe Garrett and his wife knew all along. I think that is why they suggested it in the first place,” Nikolai revealed.
“And you knowingly shoved a naked soul into a room with a creature who consumes life-forces?” Max’s voice was incredulous and her face looked as though she was going to be sick. Ryker felt the others rally around her and was gratified to see some colour return to her face but there was nothing he could do for her hurting psyche.
