Max grumbled, but Dana noted that she did not argue further. It made her happy to see how far Max had come with her Order and understanding her place in it. Not having been raised in the world of wardens and paladins, Max had been so independent when she had first arrived that the thought of being aided – let alone waited on – was abhorrent to her. She’d had to rely on herself for so long that the idea of accepting help was a foreign concept. The thought saddened Dana and had guilt, anger, and shame rearing their ugly heads once more. She was trying so hard to let it all go – as per Max’s request – but it was much easier said than done. And it certainly didn’t help that a particular Death Warden kept reminding her of all her failures. As if reading the direction of her thoughts, Aiden turned to her and smiled.
“Bas and Madi say Mordecai is in the gym beating the shit out of a punching bag if you want to go talk to him?”
“I do not think so,” Dana replied. She very much approved of Mordecai’s Captain, as well as the rest of his Order. The bond between them was startlingly strong. And although it was exactly the type of relationship Dana had envisaged when she had first helped craft paladins and wardens, she felt slightly envious of it also.
“Seriously, my lady,” Tobias began. “He is the walking, talking, physical manifestation of the word stubborn. He will wither and die before he starts a conversation with you willingly. I know because he told us so. Several times. And that shit just isn’t healthy. So …” Tobias gestured in the direction of the gym, “please, will you just …?”
Dana opened her mouth to reject the idea once more, only to snap her mouth shut when she realised everyone in the room was staring at her in silence. “Wow, this isn’t half creepy,” she murmured.
Ivy – whom Dana enjoyed very much – spoke up. “Dana, take my advice. You cannot win against these people. They will keep at you until you buckle under their smiles and their warmth and their affection. They are insidious with their love – like a virus. Do yourself a favour and do whatever the fuck they say. It will save you – and everyone else – a whole bunch of time.”
“Is that so?” Dana asked, unsure whether to be amused or terrified. She glanced around the room at the still silent and staring occupants “And what is it you are all saying?”
“Go talk to Mordecai!” came the almost simultaneous yell.
Dana winced, wondering if she and Mordecai really had been that annoying to those around them. She had only popped in a couple of times a week for a few hours at a time – all she was permitted to at this point due to the consequences of her visits. And each time she had pointedly ignored the father of her child. Either that, or she had pointedly irritated him, she thought, smiling to herself. It wasn’t really her fault though – the man was ridiculously easy to get a rise out of.
Clearing her throat, Dana straightened her spine, “You know, I think I will talk to him. Thank you for your suggestion.” A series of snickers and rude snorts met her ears, making her smile.
“My lady, we will accompany you,” Tobias offered her his arm, every bit the charming gentleman.
Dana waggled her finger at him even as she accepted his arm. “That babyface and charming smile do not fool me, Tobias.”
“I have no idea what you mean,” he grinned down at her.
Aiden took up position on her other side and they led her from the house to the large building that housed the gym and indoor pool. “You know exactly what I mean. You are a lady’s man. But you will not trap me.”
“I’m not trying to. My liege did that fifty years ago,” came Tobias’s reply.
Dana stopped walking. “He did no such thing. I trapped him.”
Tobias shook his head, gently pulling her along once more. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
Dana frowned but said no more. She was becoming increasingly nervous as the knights led her to speak to the man she hadn’t had a real conversation with since making a baby with him. And isn’t that ludicrous? Dana thought to herself. Touching her unbound hair, she wondered if she looked okay. Glancing down, she then