Dark Warrior Untamed
Page 1
“IF YOU THOUGHT THE PALADINS WERE HOT, WAIT TILL YOU CHECK OUT THESE GUYS!”
—Fresh Fiction
MORE TEMPTING PRAISE FOR ALEXIS MORGAN AND THE SCORCHING HEROES OF HER IRRESISTIBLE TALION SERIES
DARK WARRIOR UNBROKEN
“Multitalented Morgan serves up book two in her Talion series by focusing on the changes in Kyth society, and it’s a most engaging entry in her evolving world and series.”
—Romantic Times (4 stars)
“Alexis Morgan cleverly introduces a species of Vikings from a long ago century to mingle with the people of the current time. It ratchets the intrigue up another notch. This novel is totally hot and a feast for the fans of paranormal romance.”
—Winter Haven News Chief (FL)
“[Morgan] provides a new adventure that promises not to disappoint with strong characters and a unique storyline that sizzles on every page. … Very hot indeed.”
—Fresh Fiction
These titles are also available as eBooks
“Alexis Morgan lets her imagination soar to create characters who steal your heart while their personal story deeply touches you. … Magically adventurous and fervently romantic.”
—Single Titles
“The vivid, edgy scenes [Morgan] paints for the reader make the story come alive. … If you’re looking for a paranormal series layered with danger, intrigue and romance then you’ll want to run out and get Alexis Morgan’s Talion series. It’s a definite keeper!”
—Fallen Angel Reviews
“A quick and exciting read.”
—A Romance Review
DARK WARRIOR UNLEASHED
“Red-hot talent Morgan kicks off another supernatural series, the Talions. In setting up the challenges and unique characteristics of her protagonists, she ensures that there will be more adventures to come. This is great stuff!”
—Romantic Times
“This book sucked me in, and I didn’t want to stop reading.”
—Queue My Review
“A book that must go to the top of your must-read-as-soon-as-you-get-it list.”
—Simply Romance Reviews
ACCLAIM FOR HER SEXY PALADIN SERIES
“This is so hot!”
—New York Times bestselling author Susan Sizemore
“Transfixing and sexy!”
—Romantic Times
“Captivating, compelling, and totally hot! Don’t miss
this series!”
—USA Today bestselling author Alyssa Day
“A fabulous read. … Passionate, hot, and very sexy.”
—Fallen Angel Reviews
“Fresh and exciting.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Utterly compelling. I love these hunky, sexy, heroic guys!”
—Katherine Stone, author of Caroline’s Journal
“An innovative story line, passionate protective champions, and lots of surprising twists.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“Pulls readers in from the first page and doesn’t let them go.”
—Paranormal Romance Writers
Also by Alexis Morgan
The Paladin Series
DEFEAT THE DARKNESS
DARKNESS UNKNOWN
REDEEMED IN DARKNESS
IN DARKNESS REBORN
DARK DEFENDER
DARK PROTECTOR
The Talion Series
DARK WARRIOR UNBROKEN
DARK WARRIOR UNLEASHED
The sale of this book without its cover is unauthorized. If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that it was reported to the publisher as “unsold and destroyed.” Neither the author nor the publisher has received payment for the sale of this “stripped book.”
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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 © 2010 by Patricia L. Pritchard
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Cover design by Lisa Litwack.
Illustration by Craig White.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 978-1-4391-7592-7
ISBN 978-1-4391-7596-5 (ebook)
This book is dedicated to my mother,
Ethel Potts Rodgers.
Mom, thanks for teaching me that playing with words
was a fun thing to do. We miss you.
Acknowledgments
A special thanks to all my friends who help keep me sane in this crazy business—you know who you are, and I hope you know how much you mean to me. Just knowing you’re out there at the other end of a phone call or e-mail is a gift that I cherish so much.
Chapter 1
“Who the bloody hell are you?”
Piper looked up from her computer screen and studied the irate male glaring at her from the doorway. Her stomach did a little rock-and-roll number. He was, without a doubt, the guy they’d warned her about—Greyhill Danby. She’d been hired while he’d been in England, and she knew for a fact that no one expected him back yet.
“I suppose I could ask you the same question—but I’d like to think I would’ve been a little more polite.” Her smile wasn’t meant to be nice; rude was always the best response to rude.
His eyes, an incredible shade of bright blue, narrowed as he walked into the cramped room. That fierce gaze wouldn’t miss much. She was willing to bet he’d committed every detail to memory the moment he entered, from the pictures on the wall to the number of buttons on her blouse. He certainly wouldn’t have missed the pink and purple highlights in her dark hair, much less the tattoo on her right arm. And he clearly didn’t approve of any of it.
When he didn’t respond, she continued. “Well, since you’ve obviously forgotten how to speak, I’ll answer for both of us. I’m Piper Ryan, the Dame’s new assistant. This is my office, and you must be Greyhill Danby.”
It took some effort to tear her eyes away from all that masculine intensity, but she managed. Barely.
“Now since the pleasantries are over, you’ll have to excuse me, Mr. Danby. One of us has important work to do.”
Her fingers flew across her keyboard to make her point. She’d delete the gibberish she was typing after he left. If he left. He’d widened his stance and crossed his arms over his chest, clearly intending to take root.
She hit the save button and then looked up, sighing loudly. “Is there something else I can help you with, Mr. Danby? I really am very busy.”
His lips tightened. She’d definitely pushed too far.
“I can see that you’re busy, ah … Miss Ryan, was it?” His eyebrows snapped down over those bright blue eyes as he stared at her. “And I’m sure whatever you’re doing is important to someone, somewhere. However, since this is actually my office, you’ll understand why you need to go do your little job somewhere else.”
Apparently no one had told him that they’d be sharing the space until the workmen finished remodeling the rooms upstairs into offices for her and Kerry Thorsen.
Thanks a lot, Sandor Kearn. You could have warned me that you left this guy out of the loop.
She turned to face Danby directly. “I’m guessing that you haven’t talked to Sandor since your return.”
He nodded sharply. “You’d guess right, although I’m not sure what he has to do with you usurping my office.”
Piper laughed, fueling the flames. Holding her hand up in apology, she finally managed to speak.
“Sorry, Mr. Danby, but with that British accent of yours, it sounds like this is 1776 all over again and I’m one of those pesky American rebels. But I assure you, sir, I didn’t dump your precious tea in Puget Sound. It’s over there on the cabinet right next to my coffee.”
He scrutinized the clutter with a slight sneer before turning back to her. “My advice to you, Miss Ryan, is not to get too comfortable here.”
He stalked out, taking most of the oxygen in the room with him. That was the only reason she could come up with for why she suddenly felt so breathless. Yes, that had to be it. Slowly the pressure in her chest eased, leaving her to figure out how she was going to share such a confined space with that uptight jerk. Sexy, but a jerk nonetheless.
Turning back to her computer, she deleted the nonsense lines. She’d manage somehow. She always did.
• • •
Out in the hall, Grey pinched the bridge of his nose and wished he could rewind and try that whole mess again. Maybe he should take a lap around the rose garden—or half a dozen—before seeking out either Sandor Kearn or the Dame herself.
Granted, neither one of them were particularly happy to have Grey around, but to stick a spy—especially that flit of brunette—in his private office was too much. How was he supposed to work with her in there? She’d already turned his neat and tidy office into complete chaos.
What else had changed in the short time he’d been out of the country? Although Dame Kerry had told him to take his time moving to Seattle, he hadn’t wanted to give her the chance to rethink her decision to appoint him as her Chief Talion and enforcer.
He’d worked around the clock to close up his flat in London and make arrangements to ship his belongings to the States. He’d finished in record time, and it had been exhausting. It also didn’t help his mood that his departure had been delayed for over six hours because of weather, followed by a flight full of screaming infants and heavy turbulence.
So he was seriously jet-lagged and short-tempered. He’d only intended to stop by the Dame’s home long enough to let her know that he was back and to drop off a few things in his office. Which, as it turned out, was evidently no longer just his.
Exactly who was this Piper Ryan? And more importantly, how had she managed to worm her way into the Thorsen household so quickly? The last he’d heard, he was supposed to be in charge of security, which included vetting potential employees. Obviously someone had also usurped his job while he was away.
The most likely culprit was Sandor Kearn, Grey’s predecessor as Chief Talion. Even though Sandor had happily relinquished the role, he’d probably felt obligated to continue his former duties until Grey returned. That was all well and good, but why hadn’t he kept Grey in the loop?
The answer was obvious. Sandor had guessed how Grey would react to finding someone else ensconced in his office. And not just someone, but Piper Ryan. Her image filled his head, another reason to curse his gift of almost perfect recall. Her dark hair appeared to have been cut with grass clippers with no intention other than drawing attention to streaks of purple and bright pink that clashed with her bright red lipstick and nail polish.
Her dark eyes had a faint tilt to them, hinting at an interesting ancestry. And those full lips with that small mole at the corner of her mouth made him wonder. … Better not go there.
He stepped out into the garden, breathing deeply to draw in the damp mist that was often part of a Seattle morning. It was the one thing that his new home had in common with his old one. What London didn’t have were the towering peaks of the Cascades and the Olympics that framed the Puget Sound area. Then there was the impressive presence of Mt. Rainier, the snow-covered volcanic peak that served as a backdrop to the city itself.
He could come to like it here, provided the Dame and her Consort would trust him enough to do his job. If they couldn’t, he’d be banished to serve the Dame at a distance, most likely from London or perhaps Scandinavia. His skin crawled as he remembered the sharp bite of Nordic winters.
Speaking of Europe, Grey needed to check in. Not that he wanted to, as tired as he was, but it was politic of him to do so. Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed the familiar number. After a handful of rings, the call clicked over to voicemail. Considering his mood, that was for the best.
“You wanted to know when I got back to Seattle. Now you know. So far, no new developments. E-mail me if you have any questions. I might even answer if the mood strikes me.”
He hung up, thankful he didn’t have to speak to a man he could barely tolerate. A common interest forced them to be civil, but it wouldn’t last past the resolution of the current situation. That was just fine with Grey. Plus, he agreed with that old saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
“Greyhill, I hadn’t heard you were back!”
He automatically snapped to attention as he turned to face the new Grand Dame of the Kyth, Kerry Thorsen. His training demanded he bow to honor his ruler, but he held himself back. Kerry had made it clear that she preferred a more casual relationship with her Talions than her predecessor had. Besides, courtly behavior seemed out of place when the Dame was wearing a faded T-shirt and jeans that had more than one hole in them.
The radical change in the royal court was only one of many things Grey struggled to come to terms with since the death of their previous ruler. Although Dame Judith had chosen to live out her last years in the Pacific Northwest, she’d kept many of the customs that had held her in good stead for the thousand-plus years of her reign. The entire Kyth world had been rocked by the combined shock of her death and her choice of successor. It was that last one that had brought Grey to Seattle in the first place.
“Grey?”
The puzzled note in Kerry’s voice made him realize that he’d been staring at her. He shook his head to clear it.
“I’m sorry, Dame Kerry. After a long, hectic trip, I’m afraid I’m not back up to full speed yet. Please let me take those flowers for you.” He looked around, searching the garden for some sign of her guards. “Where is everybody? Are you alone out here?”
“For once.” Kerry smiled as she handed Grey the basket of roses. She stripped off her gardening gloves and dropped them, along with her pruning shears, on the table beside the door.
“I believe Ranulf is out hunting down some parts for his pet Packard. Sandor has taken the kids shopping before they head to the airport to meet Lena’s flight. I don’t expect them back before dinner tonight.”
Grey still studied the garden behind her. “May I ask where you left your guard?” Discreet was one thing; invisible was quite another.
She shrugged, obviously not concerned. “Sandor mentioned something about assigning someone to follow me around. I told him not to bother.”
Bloody hell. Sandor shouldn’t have allowed her the option of refusing. It was the duty of the Talions to protect the Dame. If Kerry wouldn’t let them stay nearby, how were they supposed to keep her safe?
“I will ensure any guards assigned to you
will be as unobtrusive as possible.”
“But I’ve never needed one before.” Kerry wrinkled her nose and frowned. “Well, unless you count when Ranulf and Sandor get it in their heads to hover.”
“We’re all concerned for your safety, my lady.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said dismissively. But that was all right—he could be stubborn, too.
Kerry started toward the house. “You must be tired. Why don’t you come in and have a seat while I get those flowers in water?”
As they stepped inside, she asked, “Care to join me for an early lunch?”
Since it gave him the perfect excuse to stand guard over her, Grey didn’t hesitate. “Gladly. Why don’t I let Hughes know?”
“Thanks. I’ll wash up and grab a vase.”
Kerry disappeared down the hall toward her private quarters while Grey cursed under his breath. Damn it all! What was Sandor thinking? No matter what Kerry thought, the Talions should stand guard 24/7 to protect the Grand Dame of the Kyth. Like it or not, Kerry was the ruler of their people, one of the few to possess the rare combination of powers that qualified her for the job.
Her ability to heal was crucial to the well-being of those who served her. By all reports, Kerry also wielded an impressive arsenal of combat gifts, but even she wasn’t impervious to attack.
She needed to be protected. Not everyone was thrilled that she’d ascended the throne. Most of the American Kyth simply seemed curious, but some of their Old World kindred were fuming. They’d had their own plans for the succession, and Kerry wasn’t what they’d had in mind.
A small but vocal faction claimed that Judith had meant to give Kerry her memories only as a temporary measure to keep them from being lost forever. If Kerry didn’t step down soon, they might very well attempt to take matters into their own hands.
Well, Grey would certainly be having words with Sandor. Granted, the Dame was married to Ranulf Thorsen, a powerful Talion in his own right. The Viking was perfectly capable of protecting Kerry by himself, but only if he was actually with her. When Ranulf couldn’t be by her side, another Talion should be. Dame Judith had slacked off on security and look where that had gotten her: murdered by a Talion warrior who’d gone renegade.