Page 16 of Custodian

Dex snorted, “No you’re not.”

Knox’s grin widened and Dex heard his fiancé’s purr behind him. All the women of the house seemed to think the redeemed chade was just as appealing as his replica sons. He turned and mock-glared at the light of his life, who merely raised her eyebrows at him and blew him a kiss. He sighed in resignation; Cali had been astoundingly horny throughout her pregnancy.

“You’re right – I’m not,” Knox admitted, looking relaxed and happy.

Dex smiled back – he couldn’t help himself. Besides, he wasn’t really mad at the guy. They had become fast friends as well as partners. Max had given them both authority over her ‘squirrel army’ as she referred to the dozens of redeemed chades now occupying the rundown hotel at the back of Dave’s equally shabby-looking pub.

Lark and Ivy had done an incredible job on their debut mission to find curable chades a couple of months ago. What had started as just himself had multiplied exponentially and now close to a hundred men were sporting shiny and whole souls.

About a third of those had been rounded up by the new love-birds over the few months they were on the road but the rest of them had made their way to the area on their own.

At first, they had all been mighty suspicious of the new arrivals. Dex had feared his initial reason for seeking out Max in the first place was coming to fruition. That chades were being drawn to Max to cause her harm. But Max had done her glowy-eye thing and it turned out the majority of them were genuine cures. Word was spreading, even among the chades. It was a real freakin’ miracle.

“What’s up?” Dex asked, finally, curious as to why Knox seemed to be in such a rush that he couldn’t just walk on his two feet like a normal person.

Knox’s easy smile vanished, “I came to report to Ryker and saw some intruders making their way here.”

“Intruders?” Cali asked, moving next to Dex.

Knox nodded his head in greeting to her, “Yes. They were just turning off the main road when I decided to ask them what they were up to.”

Dex saw the mirth in those grey eyes and said; “I assume ‘ask’ is a euphemism for ‘scared the shit out of them’?”

Knox smirked, “I may or may not have floated my way onto the hood of their car. The car is now regrettably halfway through a tree. Seems they weren’t expecting a man to hover on their windshield.”

“Shit,” Dex muttered, hearing Cali snicker.

“Are they still alive?” Cali asked, not sounding too concerned with the answer.

Knox nodded, “Yes. All four of them are remarkably uninjured. I believe they are all still making their way here on foot. After learning who they were, I thought it best not to kill them.”

Dex frowned now, “Who are they?”

Knox’s eyes softened in compassion, “They said their names were Patrick, Sid, Vance, and Simon. They said they were –”

“My paladins!” Dex interrupted, vaguely seeing Knox’s nod.

His many years in exile had been filled with thoughts of his brother and his other paladins. Even though he’d had such a large Order, he and his paladins had been close. After all, it was hard to be soul-bound with someone and not be close. His shame and guilt over regressing into a chade had extended to all eleven of his paladins. Even though he was cured now, he still hadn’t been able to bring himself to seek out the members of his past unit. Darius had given him some information but even he admitted to cutting all ties with the Order of Magne. Dex knew four of them were now dead and three others were bound in new Orders, including Darius. He had no idea what had happened to the other four and he had deliberately not sought out those still alive. Hearing that four of his old friends were on their way now had his hands sweating.

“You okay?” Cali asked, her hands taking his and placing them on her beautifully rounded stomach.

Dex spread his fingers out, gratified to feel bumping and rolling beneath his palm. Hitch was getting big and was already very strong – stronger than most babies, Dex was sure. And he was positive that wasn’t paternal pride speaking either. His baby was the best, most adorable, strongest, and smartest little fetus in the world. And his mother became more radiant and beautiful every passing day that she carried his child. He could hardly keep his hands off her, which was lucky, given her perpetual horny state. He had to admit, when Cali had started showing, the sex was a little weird at first. That was his kid in there – growing and moving. He didn’t want to traumatise the little guy for life or anything. And although it still freaked him out when the baby moved while they were going at it, Cali had more than successfully encouraged him to get over his hang-up.

“I’m not sure what I am. I never expected to see my Order again,” he admitted. “What do you suppose they want?”

“Here’s your chance to ask them,” Knox pointed out, gesturing over his shoulder.

Dex turned, placing Cali behind him, as his heart froze in his chest. Patrick, Simon, Vance, and Sid looked good. They looked a little older and a little more ragged than Dex remembered, but he knew life after a shamed liege was no picnic. The four men seemed to freeze in place when they got their first real look at him and Dex forced himself to raise a hand in acknowledgement.

“My lord!” Vance suddenly cried out, all four men going to their knee in front of him.

Dex had to force himself to swallow back the bile that rushed to his throat. No way should these men be kneeling at his feet. “Please don’t do that. Stand up.”

They heeded his command and the grin on Patrick’s face was familiar and welcome. “I can’t believe it’s you! I heard the rumours but I didn’t really believe them. But then when we ran into Sid and he said even the IDC admitted Charlemagne had returned, we knew we had to find you.”

“You look good, Charlemagne,” Simon smiled.

Dex winced, “Ah, could you maybe not call me that – ever? My name is Dex now. And I’m sorry, but I’m not the liege you remember. In fact, I’m not any kind of liege.”

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