DARKNESS UNKNOWN
by Alexis Morgan
ISBN: 978 1 4165 6343 3

Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: February 2009

       

 

Gwen Mosely's life changes forever when she stumbles across a handsome stranger, unconscious and left for dead in the woods behind her farm. Cut up and bleeding, he's barely survived a vicious battle, but the real shock is how quickly his wounds heal—a gift he shares with Gwen's teenaged half-brother Chase.

Jarvis Donahue can't keep his eyes—or his strong, capable hands—off the sexy redhead who rescued him. He finds warmth of Gwen's smile and the desire in her eyes are impossible to resist, but there's a problem. Jarvis immediately recognizes Chase as a fellow Paladin in the making, a warrior born to defend mankind in the relentless battle against the Others. Neither Gwen nor the boy know it yet, but Chase will need Jarvis's help coping with the compulsion to fight that is written in his blood and in his bones. Although Gwen may hate him for it, Jarvis is duty-bound to secretly introduce Chase to the dangerous fate they both share.

As the barrier between the two worlds weakens, the threat grows perilously close to Gwen's farm. Jarvis is torn between protecting his lover, but without revealing his true identity, or betraying his people's secret and risk losing her forever.

 

Chapter 1

Dust motes and humidity combined to make the air too heavy to breathe. Jarvis Donahue leaned against a convenient tree and rested his weary body for a few seconds. Sweat stung his eyes, making it impossible to see clearly. When he used the hem of his T-shirt to wipe off his face, the shirt came away stained with dirt, sweat, and old blood. Some of it was his, some of it not.

This exercise in futility wasn't getting him anywhere but farther away from his bed. One more Other to track down and kill before he could think about some serious sack time. He was in no condition to fight, but there hadn't been anyone else left to send. Cocking his head to the side, he reached out with his senses on full alert, listening for the presence of his enemy.

Pushing away from the tree, he picked up his sword. At least he was still upright and functioning. That was more than he could say about Jake and several more of his fellow Paladins. The Handlers were scrambling to piece wounded Paladins back together and shoving the walking wounded back out the door as fast as they could. The dead were the only ones given a chance to rest, but even they would be sent right back into the fight as soon as they had a regular pulse.

For the past two weeks, the barrier had been down more than it was up, resulting in anyone strong enough to hold a sword being ordered to hold the line against the invasion. If those bastard Regents didn't bring in some replacements pretty damn quick, the whole state would be overrun with murderous Others on a killing spree.

He started down the slope toward the narrow river that ran along the valley floor. A drink of cool water would help bolster his energy, and maybe the going would be easier down where the ground was flatter. Slipping and sliding, he hauled his weary ass down to the water's edge, not caring if the noise he made carried to his enemy's ears.

The bastard should know that death was on his trail. As long as the Other concentrated on avoiding the sharp end of Jarvis's sword, he'd be too busy to look for innocent victims along the way. Right now, Jarvis had the advantage because the bright daylight would leave the Other all but blind. But once the sun dropped behind the hills to the west, all bets were off.

He and his mortal enemy would be stalking each other in the darkness

 

RWA RITA® Finalist

COVER QUOTE:

"This is so hot!"
-- USA Today bestselling author Susan Sizemore

Alexis Morgan's seductive Paladin series continues with a red-hot romance between a powerful warrior sworn to secrecy and the irresistible woman who makes him lose control. . . .

5 Bookmarks - Magical, mystical, and just plain mesmerizing, Darkness Unknown is a must read! -- Natalie S. at WILD ON BOOKS

5 Angels and a recommended read

Darkness Unknown. . . is a fabulous read! Gwen was a strong, intelligent woman that held her ground and took everything that came at her with grace. Jarvis was strong, compassionate, and downright yummy. When Gwen and Jarvis get together, it's passionte, hot and very sexy. -- Tammy at FALLEN ANGEL REVIEWS

 

DARKNESS UNKNOWN is one of those books you didn't know you'd been waiting for until you opened it up and got sucked into another world. At once you realize you've missed that place and are so glad to be back. Jarvis and Gwen are hot, intense, stubborn and perfect for each other. This story was fresh and exciting with the same depth of character and emotional punch we've come to expect from Ms. Morgan. -- Lory M. at Fresh Fiction