Alexis Morgan - The Darkness Beyond: A Paladin Novel

I want to leave you with two things
to think about, Reggie.

He held up one finger. For your own safety, put whatever you know or think you know about me or the Paladins or the Regents right out of that pretty little head. Destroy the hard copies and never access that site again.

She glared up at him. What makes you think I made hard copies?

He smiled down into those angry, long-lashed eyes. Because, Reggie, thats what I wouldve done. Clear out the copy you made on a flash drive, too. Better yet, destroy the damn thing. Dont keep anything that can be used against you.

For the first time she looked worried. Seriously, D.J., youre not trying to tell me all that crap was real?

He wished he could, but that wasnt happening. No, Im trying to tell you to keep that cute nose out of my business for your own good.

She wasnt buying it, not for an instant, which was why hed be sticking around for a while despite what hed told her about leaving him alone. Maybe he could figure out some way to convince her. Meanwhile, hed keep an eye on her until he knew for sure whether anyone was coming after her.

Okay, so that was one thing. Whats the other one?

He shouldnt do it. He really, really shouldnt. But then hed never had much luck with impulse control.

Think about this, Reggie.

And he kissed her.

Turn the page for red-hot reviews of
Alexis Morgans seductive novels....

Intriguing and unique... compelling characters.

Romantic Times

Magical, mystical, and just plain mesmerizing!

Wild on Books

I love these hunky, sexy, heroic guys!

Katherine Stone, New York Times best-selling author

More praise for Alexis Morgans
steamy Paladin series

Defeat the Darkness

The enthralling Paladins series just proves Alexis Morgan is an author who will be around for an exceedingly long time.... Defeat the Darkness has gripping danger, unfolding mysteries, and a heartfelt romance to keep the reader enthralled during every imaginative scene.

Singletitles.com

A dark and brooding addition to this outstanding series that is irresistible.

Fresh Fiction

The climax will drive this exciting series in a whole new direction.

A Romance Review

The sparks fly off the page.... Fantastic.

Fallen Angel Reviews

Thank you, Ms. Morgan, for another great read!

Night Owl Reviews

Good stuff!

Romantic Times

Darkness Unknown

A fabulous read.... Passionate, hot, and very sexy.

Fallen Angel Reviews

Fresh and exciting with the same depth of character and emotional punch weve come to expect from Ms. Morgan.

Fresh Fiction

Redeemed in Darkness

Captivating, compelling, and totally hot!

Alyssa Day, USA Today best-selling author of Atlantis Unmasked

In Darkness Reborn

Utterly compelling.... Really terrific and totally unique.

Katherine Stone, New York Times best-selling author of Carolines Journal

Also by Alexis Morgan

The Paladin Series

BOUND BY DARKNESS

DEFEAT THE DARKNESS

DARKNESS UNKNOWN

REDEEMED IN DARKNESS

IN DARKNESS REBORN

DARK DEFENDER

DARK PROTECTOR

The Talion Series

DARK WARRIOR UNTAMED

DARK WARRIOR UNBROKEN

DARK WARRIOR UNLEASHED

Pocket Star Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2011 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 June 2011

POCKET STAR BOOKS and colophon are registered
trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases,
please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or business@simonandschuster.com.

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors
to your live event. For more information or to book an event
contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at
1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

Cover design by Lisa Litwack. Illustration by Craig White.

ISBN 978-1-4391-7605-4
ISBN 978-1-4391-7608-5 (ebook)

I dedicate this book to all of the women and men who serve our countrypast, present, and in the futureand to their family and friends, as well. We owe you a debt we can never repay. Thank you.

Contents

Acknowledgments

To Micki Nuding, my brilliant editor; and to Michelle Grajkowski, my incredible agent: a special salute to both of you from me and the Paladins for your support and friendship. Every book is a team effort, and this one was no exception.

A ball of wadded-up paper flew past Reggies head to hit a bank shot into the trash can. She ignored both it and the argument that had been going on for the past ten minutes.

Im telling you, no matter what Big Ed thinks, its our very own Regina Morrison who is going to bring down the Knightwalker!

Cody, her cubicle partner, was a college student who worked part-time for the firm, his hours arranged around his class schedule. The kid had more energy than any other three coworkers combined, and she liked his enthusiasm. Well, at least when he wasnt trying to make a killing in the office pool by betting on her skills in tracking down hackers.

He threw another ball toward the garbage. This time it missed and landed on her desk. She picked it up and tossed it back over her shoulder, her aim spot-on after months of practice.

Thanks, Reggie.

Cody snagged the paper out of the air without missing a beat. Seriously, Im betting Reggie nails the target to the wall by Friday, next week at the latest. The Knightwalkers ass will be toast, he continued.

Drop it, Cody, she told him.

He paid about as much attention this time as he had to her past dozen attempts to stop him. As he wadded up another piece of paper, he went right on talking her up.

You know her skills are smokin hot. If we pool our resources, we can make a killing.

The sound of heavy footsteps put a sudden end to the conversation. Reggie immediately cleared her screen and brought up another case just as a shadow fell across her desk and a meaty hand landed on her shoulder. She gritted her teeth and set her keyboard back on the desk so she could move quickly if need be. Ignoring her unwanted company, she kept right on typing.

Hey there, Cyberqueen. Your little buddy Cody here might be backing your play in this particular game, but dont let it go to your head. You and I both know that Im the big dog around here when it comes to catching a hacker like the Knightwalker.

Get your hand off me, Ed.

Shed give him two seconds to comply before demonstrating why she was the star pupil in her self-defense classes. Most men never saw past her dark blond hair and baby blues, sorely underestimating her strength and speed. The guys in her dojo only made that mistake once.