Page 15 of Custodian

Beyden found himself having to swallow hard before he spoke again even though he was speaking telepathically;“What was that?”

“Shame. I felt ashamed of myself and of my behaviour.”

Beyden didn’t know what to say to that, so he remained silent, feeling humble. Besides, the silence wasn’t awkward at all. Beyden heard Ryker clear his own throat;

“Now, about Trent –”

“You know about Trent?”Beyden interrupted, feeling his pulse spike.

“I know all,”Ryker intoned.

Beyden snorted and shook his head,“You mean Max; Max knows all.”

Ryker was silent for a moment before he replied,“Fine. Max knows all. She just told me. It’s why I was able to pick up on your thoughts – I was about to talk to you.”

“If it’s about punching Trent in the face, you can forget it,”Beyden said, swiftly.“Lark already suggested it and I nixed it.”

“Actually, I was going to remind you to keep the Order link open but I like Lark’s idea better. Damn, the boy’s getting vicious. That sister of yours must be rubbing off on him. He –”Ryker broke off abruptly but not before a jolt of adrenaline burst through the link.

“Ry? Is something wrong?”Silence met his anxious questions for a heartbeat,“Ryker!”he demanded.

“It’s okay, Bey. Just some unexpected visitors.”Ryker didn’t sound impressed but he also didn’t sound like he was in trouble either.

“What? Do you need me back there?”Beyden asked, already moving in the direction of his car.

“No. We have a full house and it looks like Knox is here too. We’ve got it covered,”Ryker assured him.

But Beyden wasn’t convinced. It was his duty to be at his liege’s side. His unresolved issues with his childhood friend were paltry in comparison.“I’m coming back.”

“Don’t. Seriously, Bey. We got this. Max isn’t in any danger. You know I would be the first to say so if she was. Besides, your sister is here with that damn sickle of hers. If my view from the window is anything to go by, she’s currently threatening to remove some guy’s dick.”

Beyden relaxed upon hearing Ryker’s assurances and the presence of Knox, who had turned out to be a powerful ally. But what really had him turning back around was the mention of his sister. Ivy was a force to be reckoned with; strong, calculating, and swift, and he loved every brutal hair on her pretty head. She had been the best big sister anyone could ask for and his fondest memories nearly all revolved around Ivy in some way.

He knew what others saw when they looked at her; a cold, unfeeling killer. But nothing could be further from the truth. Ivy felt things just as deeply as everyone else. The only difference was that her empathy was focused in a different direction – the chades. Her affections were likewise reserved for those select few she considered family. He couldn’t help chuckling when he thought of how much and how quickly that circle was expanding. Poor Ivy really stood no chance with his Order. They were embracing her and welcoming her into the fold, whether she wanted it or not. And she did want to, Beyden knew. She would just never admit it out loud.Rangers and their deadly reputations,he thought with affection.

“Are you absolutely sure?”he asked, one more time.

“Positive. I’m going out to watch the show – maybe see if the women will let me play too. Looks like they’re hogging all the fun,”Ryker pouted a little.

Beyden blew out a relieved and amused breath and allowed the link to go silent. But he flinched, reaching for his sickle, when he felt a disturbance in the air to his right. A small, speckled sparrow landed on his shoulder, dark irises eyeing him in concern. Beyden blew out a laughing breath. The little bird had clearly sensed his anxiety and was trying to soothe him. He reached out with a finger and stroked the small feathered head in thanks, soaking in the comfort offered up freely by his domain. Although he was a paladin and couldn’t literally talk to animals, he still had a strong connection to all beasts, great and small. He had been half tempted to bring Zombie along on his little trip but his four-legged pal had been enjoying a play in the garden with Bert, Cali, and Dex.

Speaking of which, he was feeling a particularly worrisome energy that was distinctly Cali and he was just about to open the Order connection wider when he spotted four men heading in his direction. Beyden didn’t recognise three of them but the dark head of hair, tanned skin, and lean build were very familiar. Beyden felt his heart skip a little; there was a decided sting of hurt but also happiness. Trent had been his best friend and in that moment, all Bey cared about was finally seeing him after all this time.

Trusting his Captain to call him if he was needed, he forced all his attention on the meeting about to unfold.

SEVEN

A gust of wind was their only warning before the shape of a man materialised in front of them. Dex was already up and moving, his feet not touching the ground as he held a borrowed sword to the throat of their surprise guest. The blade was serviceable and did the job but Dex would be lying if he said he didn’t miss his old blade. Ryker had given him leave to claim any weapon he wanted from the training lodge or his own personal armoury. Dex had instinctively gone with a sword. There was no way he could touch a scythe – it was the weapon of the paladins and would never be his right. He had asked Darius what had become of his precious Joyuese. His brother had been extremely apologetic when he admitted he had made no move to stop the council when they had come to confiscate all of Dex’s belongings – including his home and land. Although his brother had been very contrite, Dex could hardly blame him. At the time, Darius hadn’t wanted any reminders of the brother he believed had betrayed him.

But oh, what he wouldn’t give to feel the familiar weight of the twenty-eight-inch blade with the gold-inlaid pommel in his hand. The famous and almost mythical sword had been forged by the renowned blacksmith and Earth Warden, Galas, and had been like an extension of his arm throughout the centuries. Max had even coincidentally named her own blade after it –Joyuese.Or perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence, he thought, snorting over the way everything seemed to be linking up. People, places, history – it was all coming together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Too bad the puzzle picture wasn’t yet clear.

A firm grip on the edge of the blade, stalling the sword from slicing into what was now flesh, brought Dex back to the present. Dark grey eyes stared placidly back at him and Dex swore, lowering the sword and stepping out of the man’s personal space.

“Dammit, Knox. I wish you wouldn’t do that,” he grumbled at the ex-chade.

Knox merely grinned, shrugging a negligent shoulder. The man in front of him now with the smiles and the peace emanating from him was the very embodiment of Dex’s hopes and dreams. When Max had dragged Dex back from the brink of ruin, his most heartfelt wish had been to save others like him. To restore them to their former selves, their former lives, and to their families. The man in front of him now had somehow held onto a piece of his soul for five decades – a full twenty years more than Dex himself. But then, the man had some powerful motivation, didn’t he? Three sons. Dex couldn’t believe Knox was the father of the notorious triplets.

“Sorry,” Knox apologised for his abrupt intrusion.

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