Dark Warrior Untamed

“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.”

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

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book
or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information
address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department,
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Pocket Star Books paperback edition August 2010

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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.

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.

“W
ho 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.