Page 25 of Custodian

“It is,”Max’s voice caressed him.“Our love is so strong, it created its own connection – its own tether. Mine. Always mine,”she vowed.

Ryker swallowed hard, dialling back the Order link for a moment so they wouldn’t feel the maelstrom of emotions flooding his system. And hopefully, not notice the tears Max’s words brought to his eyes. Man, he was becoming such a sap. Maybe after this, he would go spar with some of the team – kicking some butt would have him feeling mean again in no time.

Max’s amused chuckle had his lips twitching in response,“I don’t think anyone would accuse you of being a sap – not to your face anyway. You’re still a big meanie, don’t worry.”

“Good,”he grunted. He’d hate to think his carefully cultivated reputation as a temperamental dick was in danger.

“Um, Ryker?” Beyden’s voice was deeper this time and much closer.

Refocusing on the room, he noticed that the beast paladin had made his way to them while he and Max had been talking. Damn, his woman was bloody distracting. “Sorry. Max,” was all he said, knowing Darius and Beyden would realise he had been taking with Max privately. “You were saying?”

Beyden nodded, smiling a little, “The training lodge. After the incidents with Trent and Dex’s old paladins, there’s been a clear division of supporters versus opponents. As more and more Orders are being recalled, Garrett’s supporters are quickly spreading their lies. There has been a huge drop in numbers of paladins staying in the barracks, as well as wardens hanging around there. I know we’re trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy and keep the training going but we all know that won’t be happening for much longer.”

Beyden was right and Ryker couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness. After Flint and his Order had been killed and he had spiralled into a deep, rage-filled depression, the only thing that had kept him going was the Lodge. Training the new recruits had given him a sense of purpose – even though he had been a massive prick to everyone. Over the years, it had gone from being something to do, to a job, and then finally, his life. When Max had become his liege, he had assumed he would have to give that part of his life up. And he would have done it willingly with no hesitation. His liege came first – always. But he couldn’t deny how happy and satisfied he had been when Max had forced the issue, not allowing him to give up his ‘day job’ despite what the council and the rest of society thought about it.

“Hmm,” Darius mused.“Most of the wardens and paladins still hanging around there are sympathetic to our cause anyway because people associate the Lodge with us, given we’re the trainers,” Darius pointed out.

“True,” Ryker acknowledged, before turning to Beyden, “It’s a good idea.”

Beyden’s cheeks flushed with pleasure and embarrassment over the praise and he shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal.

“So, what? We just take over the Lodge? Do I smell a coup coming?” Cali asked as she walked into the room, followed by the rest of the Order plus Dex and Ivy.

“I don’t think a coup will be necessary,” Darius shook his head at his sister-in-law.

“Aw, you’re no fun, Dare,” the blonde pouted and Ryker couldn’t help but chuckle at the look of concern on Darius’s face.

It didn’t spring from the use of the casual moniker either. Ryker couldn’t really blame him – Cali had become particularly violent since the pregnancy. The women of the house shrugged it off, not thinking it was strange at all – even Ivy – who was rather inept in social situations. But the rest of the men were a little fearful. Okay, more than a little, Ryker admitted. None of them wanted to sleep with their backs to the mother-to-be and none of them denied her anything for fear of getting shanked. Ryker didn’t know how Dex did it. He was clearly a man of great courage and faith.

“So if a violent takeover is off the table, what do you suggest? How do we get the word out?” Cali asked.

“A meeting,” Max said from the doorway.

Ryker smiled, holding out a hand to her automatically, his chest expanding when she walked over and took it without hesitation. How she managed to make him feel like he was ten feet tall with nothing more than a single gesture, he didn’t know. But he knew he loved it.

“What kind of meeting?” Axel asked, leaning his butt against Ryker’s desk, ankles crossed as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Ryker knew many believed Axel was a nothing but a careless playboy. But Ryker knew differently. Axel did care. He cared a great deal. And he was one of the most serious paladins Ryker had ever met. Appearances could certainly be deceiving.

Max chewed on her lip for a moment, looking hesitant, and Ryker knew she was going to say something he wasn’t going to agree with. “A council meeting. With the entire IDC.”

“No. No way,” Ryker growled, the rest of his Order echoing his words in one variation or another. Max firmed her lips, straightening her shoulders, and he knew they were going to have a fight on their hands;

“I need to talk to him,” she asserted, not naming the ‘him’. She didn’t need to. They all knew who she was referring to.

“No way in hell!” Ryker snarled.

Max dropped his hand, rounding on him, “Do you really want to go to war, Ryker? Any of you? Because that’s where this is heading, make no mistake about it. Civil war. Do you really want to fight your fellow knights?”

Ryker swallowed hard, feeling waves of frustration rolling off Max. But that isn’t what bothered him. No, it was the fear that had his anxiety spiking. One look around the room and he knew the others felt it as well.

“Do you really think war is where all this is headed?” Beyden asked, amber eyes shining with worry but still tinged with disbelief.

Max’s eyes widened, “Are you serious, Bey? What the hell have I been saying for months now, huh? What the hell do you think we’ve been doing, saving all those chades, housing them, retraining them? Do you think all those super chades are heading this way to hold my hand? What about all the wardens and paladins converging in the area at the behest of the council? You think they’re coming to pay their respects? Fuck, you can’t be that naive!” she scolded, shaking her head in derision.

And that’s when Ryker knew Max was deadly serious. She would never speak to any of them in such a condescending way and certainly not to the biggest softie of the group. She loved Beyden – loved his sweet nature and she would never usually belittle him like that. He felt the concern from his fellow knights but also the beginning of something else; acceptance.

He had spent countless sleepless nights talking with Max about where their society was heading. She had mentioned infighting, betrayals, and wars many times and although Ryker believed her and could see where their society was heading, he also still hoped it wasn’t going to happen. He knew the others felt the same way. They weren’t appeasing her in any way – it wasn’t that. But they all genuinely thought the end game would not include violence and death. What the alternative they were all hoping for was, Ryker had no clue. It’s not like they believed half the warden and paladin population were going to change their minds and accept Max. Or that the increasing chade population was just suddenly going to decrease. They knew Max couldn’t save them all. But still; war? He shook his head, maybe they really hadn’t been listening.

“Literally, war?” Beyden asked, looking Max in the eye.

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