“It’s Scottish breakfast tea. And I believe Devlin was only too happy to turn this project over to Hunter.”
Hunter laughed. “More because he thinks I should actually earn my salary, than from any respect for my ability to ferret these guys out. He forgets I’m a historian by training and damned good at research. I’m going to do it anyway, but I thought you guys might want to help.”
He braced himself for Penn to explode. To his surprise, he didn’t. “I’m in, as long as you guys will continue to work with me on my left-handed sword training.”
“Not a problem. I’ve already converted the garage into a dojo. We’ll all have to keep our skills sharp.”
Larem smiled, something he did more often. “Sounds good to me. Now, it’s late. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to the apartment.”
Penn and Barak stood up as well. “Yeah, and we’ve got a long drive back to Seattle. When do you want to get started on this?”
“D.J. promised to come back with Cullen to set us up with computers at the end of the week. When he gets that done, I’ll let you know.”
Hunter followed his friends to the door while Tate gathered up the teacups and plates. Penn and Barak drove off, and Larem disappeared into the apartment over the garage. Lately he’d been dividing his time between there and the place he shared in Seattle with Lonzo. He was working on his ability to heal, using some texts that Berk had left for him in the cave. Until he knew better what he could and couldn’t do, he wanted to keep his studies as secret as possible.
Once they were all gone, Hunter remained outside, tempted to go walking in the silver light of the full moon. He rarely needed the walks to find peace of mind, but he still enjoyed the quiet of the Northwest woods.
He headed for the path through the trees at the back of the yard. As soon as he stepped into their shadowy depths, he knew he wasn’t alone.
“What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you.” Tate’s voice was laced with laughter and heat. She sidled up to stand in front of him and laid her sweet hands on his chest.
“I’m here now.” He wrapped her in his arms, loving the calm her touch brought him. “What do you have in mind?”
“I’ve never forgotten that first night when you kissed me up against that tree over there, and I want to finish what you started.”
“I’m up for it.” Literally, but he didn’t have to tell her that. She could feel the evidence for herself. “Are you sure that’s the same tree?”
“Well, no,” she said between kisses, “but I figure we’ve got time to try them all. Eventually we’re bound to get the right one.”
“I love the way your mind works.”
“And I love you, Hunter Fitzsimon. Now, let’s get started—time’s a wasting.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Turn the page
for a sneak peek
at the next sizzling Talion novel
from
Alexis Morgan
Dark Warrior Untamed
Coming soon from Pocket Star
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 flipped at the sight of him. 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 crowded 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 painting on the wall to the number of buttons on her blouse. 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, 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. I have 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, which right now seemed doubtful. He’d widened his stance and crossed his arms over his chest.
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 lowered 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. You could have warned me.
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 was suddenly 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 small 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 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 a 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 recant 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 necessities to the States. He did it in record time, and it was exhausting. It also didn’t help that his departure had been delayed for over six hours because of weather, followed by a flight full of crying infants and rough 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 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 us
urped 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 looked like it had been cut with grass clippers with no intention other than drawing attention to the streaks of purple and bright pink that clashed with her bright red lipstick and nail polish.
Her dark eyes had a slight 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—he cut off the thought immediately. Better not to go there.
He stepped out into the garden, breathing deeply to draw in the damp Seattle morning. It was the one thing 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 rather impressive Mt. Rainier, its snow-covered volcanic peak serving as a backdrop to the city itself.
He could come to like it here, provided the Dame and her Consort trusted 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 even Scandinavia. His skin crawled, remembering 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 more politic of him to do so. Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed the familiar number. After ringing a handful of times, the call clicked over to voice mail. Considering his mood, it was for the best.
“Listen, 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 them 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 him 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 back. Kerry had made it clear that she preferred a more casual relationship with her Talions than had her predecessor. 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 held on to many of the customs that had held her in good stead for the thousand-plus years of her reign. Their entire world had been rocked by the combined shock of her death and her choice of successors.
“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 flight, I’m afraid I’m not 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 took the kids shopping this morning before they head to the airport to meet Lena’s flight. I don’t expect to see them 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.” He might as well have been speaking to the wall for all the attention she paid to his advice.
“I’ll think about it,” she said dismissively. But it was all right—he could be stubborn, too.
Kerry started back toward the house. “You must be tired from your trip. Why don’t you come in and have a seat while I put those flowers in water?”
As they stepped inside, she added, “I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely ready for a break. 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 a rare combination of powers that qualified her for the job.
That alone dictated that she be carefully watched over. But then there was also the fact that 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 in their own hands.
Well, he’d 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. So when Ranulf couldn’t be by her side, another Talion should be. After all, Dame Judith had slacked off on security and look where that had gotten her: dead and buried, murdered by one of their own, a Talion warrior who’d gone renegade.
Ranulf and Sandor had obviously let Kerry have her way a little too often. Yes, she was their ruler, but she was new to the role and to their world. Someone needed to keep her safe. As Chief Talion, it was both Grey’s honor and his duty.
Now if she’d just trust him enough to let him do it.
For the time being, he’d use the chance to share a meal as an excuse to remain close by until Ranulf could take over. Grey sought out the butler and requested a pot of Earl Grey tea and something to eat for them both. When he returned to the dining room, Kerry was already busy arranging her flowers.
“Hughes will be in shortly.”
“Good. I’m famished.” She shoved the last rose into the vase and stood back to admire her handiwork. “Perfect.”
To Grey, the arrangement looked a bit haphazard, but his Dame looked pleased with her efforts. She buried her face in the blossoms and drew a deep breath. She carefully set the vase on the sideboard before sitting down in her usual chair at the table.
“So how was your trip, Grey? I had expected you would be gone longer. I hope you didn’t rush things on my account.”
Was she disappointed
that he’d returned so quickly or only surprised? It was hard to know for certain, but he suspected that she’d have been just as happy to have him stay away indefinitely.
“London was London, so it rained much of the time I was there. There wasn’t much to do other than shut off the utilities and close up my flat. I’ve arranged to have my things shipped to Seattle, which means I’ll have to start looking for a permanent place to live. Until then, I’ve extended my reservation at the hotel.”
“The hotel?” Kerry frowned. “Are you sure you wouldn’t be more comfortable staying here at the house? We have plenty of room.”
Kerry’s offer seemed sincere, but he couldn’t imagine that she’d want another guest imposing on her hospitality. She and Ranulf had recently taken in three Kyth teenagers Sandor found practically living on the streets. Sandor was trying to track down their families, but had no intention of giving the kids back.
“I appreciate the offer, but you already have enough mouths to feed.” He hesitated and then asked, “How is that going, by the way?”
“It’s definitely been an adjustment for all of us, but especially for the kids. Sean and Tara have been on their own for years, so they’re not used to taking orders from anyone. God knows, they’ve had little enough reason to trust the adults in their lives.”
Kerry’s smile looked a bit rueful. “Kenny is definitely a handful. He wasn’t happy when we told him he had to go back to school, especially since he’ll need tutoring to catch up. We’re looking into online programs for the older two so they can earn their high school diplomas. After that, who knows.”
Hughes appeared in the doorway with a heavily laden tray. “Ma’am, shall I serve?”
Kerry, being Kerry, smiled and shook her head. “No, just leave the tray. We’ll take it from there.”
The butler looked a bit disappointed but did as Kerry asked. Evidently Grey wasn’t the only one who would appreciate a little more formality around the place. He wondered how Hughes felt about the newest additions to the household. The teenagers must present a variety of challenges, and then Piper Ryan was added to the mix.
Defeat the Darkness (Paladins of Darkness 6) Page 28