Dark Warrior Unleashed
Page 23
As they made their first turn around the floor, Sandor asked, “And what about your new husband? Doesn’t he object to you dancing with other men—especially me?”
“Probably, but he’s going to have me all to himself up on his mountain soon enough. For now, he can share.”
The band played a waltz as she had requested, giving her a chance to talk to her Talion warrior. Sandor had changed drastically since the night Judith died; he never laughed and rarely smiled.
When the music ended, she led him from the floor and out into Judith’s garden. “We need to talk.”
“Now? Maybe I should remind you that it’s your wedding day. Surely you have more important things to do than worry about me.”
“No, I don’t. You’re my Chief Talion, Sandor. I need you. Our people need you.”
His face twisted in pain. “I don’t know if I can do it, Kerry, even for you. How can I face Ranulf, day after day? How many years did I misjudge him? We both know Judith sent him after all those renegades not just because he was strong enough to do the job but because he could do so without compromising his honor. I don’t have his strength, and I have no honor left. Not after I let Bradan get to Judith, and then took pleasure in killing him. That makes me no better than he was.
“And do you know what’s worse?” He turned away from her. “I still feel the black energy curled up deep inside of me, just waiting for a chance to take over. If that happens again, I could turn renegade myself. What if you had to order my death? I won’t risk causing you such pain.”
“The answer is simple: It will never happen.” Ranulf strolled in the door, looking every bit the warrior even in his tux. “If you were like Bradan, you wouldn’t feel the way you do now. That awareness proves the strength of your honor. I would be proud to fight with you at my side again any day.”
Kerry beamed up at her husband as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. She was counting the minutes until they could start the honeymoon, but she still had business with Sandor.
She gave him a stern look. “Here are your first orders from me, Talion. When I return, I want you to have a plan drawn up for training more Talions. No single person should bear the burden of policing our people.”
She waited until he reluctantly nodded. “And I had to come from somewhere. I want you to track down my family. Find out if there are more like me out there.”
He shook his head. “I appreciate the faith you have in me, but I don’t think I’m the best one for the job.”
“I know you are, Sandor.” She gave him a teasing smile. “Don’t argue with your ruler at her wedding. Now tell me you’ll do it, so I can have one last dance with this handsome Viking.”
Sandor bowed slightly. “Very well, Dame Kerry; I’ll do as you ask. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
As he walked away, Ranulf squeezed her tight. “That was well done. At least now he has a purpose to his days. That will help.”
She turned in his arms. “And what can I come up with for you to do?”
He laughed down at her. “Don’t worry, I have plenty of ideas about how to keep both of us busy tonight. Now, wife, let’s go have that dance.”
Also by Alexis Morgan
Redeemed in Darkness
In Darkness Reborn
Dark Defender
Dark Protector
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2008 by Patricia L. Pritchard
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ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-6394-5
ISBN-10: 1-4165-6394-6
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