THIRTY-SEVEN

‘Mordecai and his paladins are here,’ Beyden announced via the bond. He was on patrol at the front of the property.

Lark felt adrenaline surge through his system at the announcement. He’d spent another restless night, trying to come to terms with his theories. Instead of tossing and turning and disrupting Ivy – who was now officially staying in his room with the eye-rolling blessing of Ryker and the grudging acceptance of Beyden – he had spent another night out under the stars. Zombie had abandoned Max again in favour of keeping him company and Lark had used the mutt as his chosen sounding board. By the end of his explanation, the poor pup had looked just as confused and concerned as Lark felt. But Lark was also sure that he was right. Hence why his adrenal glands were currently working overtime.

“I still think we should have asked Blu or Garrett to come. They would have been more forthcoming with answers,” Darius pointed out from his seat beside him.

But Lark only shook his head, “No. It has to be Mordecai.”

“Because he’s the one in charge of gathering all the wardens?” Diana asked, eyeing him suspiciously. The woman was very canny.

“Something like that.”

“What aren’t you telling us?” Her lover questioned now – he was awfully canny too.

“It’s just a theory,” he tried to appease them. “I promise I’ll let you know as soon as it’s proven true or false.”

“Which one are you hoping for?” Darius asked.

“Huh?”

“Your expression – it’s troubled,” Darius pointed out. “I can’t tell if you want your idea to be right or wrong.”

“Neither do I,” he murmured.

Ryker walked in at that moment and herded everyone into the formal living area. Lark cringed as he looked around and saw all the bodies in the room. He had not won the discussion with Ryker about speaking to Mordecai on his own. However, he considered it a small victory when he had managed to convince Max to stay with Zombie in the bedroom until they deemed it secure for her to come down.

A few seconds later, Beyden entered the room, formally introducing Mordecai and his four paladins. Ryker stepped forward to give a traditional greeting in return and people took their respective seats. Lark saw Mordecai’s frosty green gaze seek out every corner of the room and he knew in his gut he was searching for Max.

“Thank you for coming here, Councilman,” Darius began. He was the most diplomatic of the bunch and would get everything started. Lark would step in when he felt the time was opportune.

Mordecai inclined his head, “You said you had questions.”

“We do. We are concerned with the growing rumours circulating regarding Max’s motives and purpose. As you can imagine, we are worried for her safety,” Darius offered.

“I’m aware of them. But as I’m sure you’re all very aware, the council can’t control rumours,” his voice was even and his face revealed nothing. Even his paladins were still and expressionless. These guys put Ivy to shame.

“Even when they are clearly slander? Max passed your little test. She proved she was indeed a Custodian. She also proved that chades could be saved, that they suffer an affliction,” Lark stated, testing the waters.

“That she did. The council is trying to change. Unfortunately, change doesn’t happen overnight.” For the first time, the warden sounded a little disappointed in that fact and Lark thought he knew why; the man had been forced to wait years for change already.

“No, it doesn’t,” Lark agreed. “In fact, change can take years, can’t it?” he asked, pointedly.

Mordecai’s eyes never left his own, giving nothing away. The man was good. He had learned to perfectly mask his face from all tells. No wonder he was known as ‘The Shark’. He was as cold as one and very likely, just as deadly.

“Was there anything else?” the man asked, looking past Lark as if he were dismissing him … or not wanting to go down his line of questioning.

Ryker gestured to Lark, ignoring the warden’s clear desire to change the interviewer, “Yes. Lark has more questions.”

Lark cleared his throat, “You weren’t here for the Great Massacre.”

Mordecai didn’t blink, “No. I was in India. There had been a devastating earthquake in the Himalayas. I was there easing the emotional burdens of the survivors as much as I could.”

“But you were aware of the increasing chade numbers and also the recalling of so many Orders to the area,” Lark stated.

“I was.”

“Were you the person responsible for ordering the return of so many wardens and paladins like you are now?” he tried very hard to keep his voice casual and polite.

“Not that I see the relevance … but no,” he answered, curtly.

Lark pressed on, knowing puzzle pieces were falling into place – at least for him; “It must have been devastating to learn of the loss of so many wardens and paladins, knowing you couldn’t do anything to help – being so far away and all.”

Mordecai’s jaw clenched now and one of his paladins shifted ever so slightly. Lark knew he was hitting a nerve, “Is that why you wanted to do something more proactive to try and help? To try and stop it from happening again?”

“The world wouldn’t survive another loss of her caretakers,” Mordecai stated, looking him dead in the eye. And Lark knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was right. He opened his mouth to ask his next question but stopped, unable to form the words he needed. In fact, he felt like he was unable to breathe. This was too big for him, too important. What the hell had he been thinking?

*****

Ivy saw the second her man began to panic. She wasn’t sure what it was about but it physically hurt her to see him stumble and doubt himself. His continued silence was drawing the attention of his Order and before she even thought about it, she crossed to him and grabbed his hand in hers in her first public display of affection. Hell, Cali was so big on hand holding, Ivy figured she’d score a few points from his friends too. She was just about to ask Lark if he was okay when the feel of the hand holding hers registered. She gasped, looking down, the feeling of déjà vu sweeping her under as quickly as a tidal wave. Unlike in the vision Max had shown her, this time Ivy’s eyes followed the arm that was attached to the hand. Then she followed the shoulder and traced her eyes up the neck, only to finally arrive at the face of the man who owned the hand.

Lark. It was Lark.

“It’s you,” she breathed.

Lark’s forehead creased, “What’s me?”

“The hand,” she explained. “You’re the hand!”

He looked down at their clasped palms and entwined fingers, “I’m the hand?”

“Yes!” she yelled as if it should be obvious, “You’re the person attached to the hand. I so wanted it to be you but I didn’t really know, you know? Sure, I could have tested the theory at any time but I was afraid to hope. And then, what if I was wrong? I wouldn’t have been able to bear it because I’m already in love with you. But I was supposed to be in love with the hand too. So I –”

“Whoa, hold up,” Lark tilted her chin up, forcing her gaze away from his hand, “You’re in love with me?”

“Of course I am! I love the person attached to the hand and you’re him.” He was usually so bright, she had no idea why he wasn’t following her now. She was being very clear.

“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about and I don’t care. I just love you,” he gripped her other hand bringing them both to his chest.

“Me too. I mean, you. I love you. I don’t love me. I –” His lips cut off her inarticulate, insane ramblings and she melted against him, completely swept away in the moment of clarity. She should have reached for his hand a long time ago but she had been terrified. Both that his wouldn’t be the right hand and also that it would. But none of that mattered now. All that mattered was the man holding her tightly as he devoured her mouth. She was in love for the first time and she didn’t matter who knew. Which was probably just as well considering they were in a room full of people, including her brother.

A persistent throat clearing had them finally breaking apart, “Not that I’m not happy for you both. But we’re kind of in the middle of something …” Ryker gestured to their guests and Ivy felt herself flush under the scrutiny of the Death Warden.

Mordecai was one of her immediate superiors and she more often than not reported directly to him. She was positive he had never seen her with such blatant emotion and disregard for their laws. She had always been the ideal, cold, rule-following ranger. She pulled away from her boy-toy but she didn’t go far. And she didn’t release his hand.

“My apologies. Lark, you were saying …?” she prompted him, nodding in encouragement. She knew he had something important to say and she knew it had to be now.

He took a breath and faced the imposing warden once more, “What did you do? What did you do that was so proactive?”

The man was silent for so long, Ivy was convinced he wasn’t going to answer but then he spoke. And his words sent off a flurry of curious and confused murmurs throughout the room; “I prayed to the Great Mother.”

Lark nodded, looking pale but resolute, “I’m sure we’ve all done that. But this time was different, wasn’t it? This time, Mother Nature answered.”

A series of huhs and what the fucks came from Max’s Order but Lark never once looked away from Mordecai.

“She did,” Mordecai confirmed.

“But that’s not all she did, is it?” Lark demanded, softly … silkily.

Ivy felt the danger and the implied threat of that silky voice down to her marrow and noted the goosebumps that rose unwittingly to the surface of her skin. Damn, she shivered, he really was Isaac’s son. As for Mordecai, she had to give him credit; his face remained neutral and his green eyes retained their trademark coldness. Given he was surrounded by seven extremely protective paladins with very itchy blade hands, he sure was calm under pressure.

His eyes flicked around the room before returning to Lark as he answered, “No. She didn’t just answer the prayers and grant the wish of one lowly warden. She demanded a sacrifice,” he explained, voice cool and flat. “Balance. The scales must be balanced. A gift given requires a sacrifice returned.”

“What kind of gift?”

“What kind of sacrifice?” Darius and Ryker asked simultaneously.

Ivy saw the death warden’s jaw clench as he remained stubbornly silent. Unfortunately for him, Lark was in total badass mode and she realised that giant brain of his had figured out the mystery that was Mordecai and Mother Nature well before this impromptu meeting. She found the combination of simmering violence and intelligence a heady and arousing mix … and was going to demonstrate her appreciation to the earth paladin as soon as humanly possible.

“Max,” Lark stated, “Max is the gift. And Max is the sacrifice. She’s your daughter.”

*****

“You’re my father?” The whole room turned as one as three words whispered brokenly into the room. Ryker rushed over to her but she quickly side-stepped him and she spoke again, her voice forceful this time, “Is it true? Are you my father?”

“No,” Mordecai whispered but he looked completely devastated to Lark and he knew that everyone had been able to see the lie.

“Lying piece of shit,” Axel stepped forward, palming his blade and all four paladins behind Mordecai did the same.

Mordecai motioned them back, “I’m not lying. I’m not her father,” Mordecai yelled, controlled façade finally slipping. “I’m not her father any more than you are. It takes more than a bit of DNA to make someone a parent – to make someone family. You know that better than most,” he said directly to Lark before raising his eyes and looking at each member of their Order in turn, “You all know what it takes to make a family. I’m not it, nor was I ever supposed to be.”

“So, she was just what? A sacrificial lamb?” Darius’s voice held barely suppressed rage and Lark saw the situation deteriorating quickly. This was exactly why he had wanted to talk to Mordecai on his own. He had been hoping for cooler heads to prevail. And deep down, he had been hoping he was wrong so he didn’t have to see the look on Max’s face that was there right now.

Ryker advanced on Mordecai, “Do you have any idea what she went through?! She was on the streets! She was a child on the streets with no memory, no protection, and no name. And you’ve known about her all along? For fuck’s sake! She named herself after a stray fucking dog!”

With that, Max let out a tiny noise of distress and fled the room.

“Max …” Mordecai’s voice cracked and he took a single step in her direction only to be brought up short by a wall of paladins. Mordecai’s paladins snarled and took up arms next to their liege and Lark did something he had vowed he never would; he created a psychic bridge and yelled at his Order, using his potentate abilities.

‘Stop it! All of you! Ryker, go after Max. She needs you. The rest of you, back the fuck off! Fighting the Valhalla Order isn’t going to help Max and I promise you, once she has time to process, it’s not something she is going to thank you for.’

His Order had no choice but to listen to him because they couldn’t ignore or break the link. The only people stronger than him in their Order now were Ryker and Max and they were too preoccupied to care. Ryker had thankfully heeded his advice and darted out after her. Lark felt the same desperation as the rest of them to tend to their liege but Ryker would be the best person to handle his love right now. And they needed to handle Mordecai.

He knew the others would just as happily kill the man along with his paladins. But he couldn’t allow that to happen. He had a feeling they were going to need the Death Warden in the coming weeks. And he was positive the man was going to need them. Because despite the fact Mordecai was once again looking cool and collected, he could no longer fool Lark. Lark had seen the look of utter devastation on his face when Max had learned the truth. The man cared. His little speech had been worth exactly shit-all.

“How about we call it a day, hmm?” he suggested casually. “Mordecai, thank you for coming. Ivy will see you out,” he spoke formally, hoping to infuse some common sense into the room. Ivy nodded at him and he knew he could count on her to think and act rationally.

To his surprise, Mordecai balked, “I can help.”

Several rude snorts and suggestions about just what he could do with his offer of help came from behind him and Lark spanked them all through the link again as if they were wayward children; ‘Quit it! Remember who you are and who you’re representing.’

“What makes you think we need your help?” Lark asked quietly but politely.

“I just need a chance,” Mordecai responded, not answering the question.

Lark looked to his friends and family and one by one they relented, stepping back and sheathing their weapons. Getting a look filled with pride and love from Ivy gave him that added boost he needed to spank the Death Warden too;

“Seems to me you were already given one – the chance to be a father. You may already have blown it. But, on the off chance that you haven’t … try coming back tomorrow when things have settled down a little.”

It was the best he could do. He only hoped it was enough.