"Alexis Morgan - Dark Protector" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morgan Alexis)

the most knowledge about the Paladins and their lot in life.
Cullen shook his head. тАЬI canтАЩt figure out how the sword came to be where it was, but IтАЩd give
anything to know. It almost looked as if someone was trying to do serious damage to the barrier with it.тАЭ
He grinned, his smile wide and feral. тАЬI bet whoever it was is nursing some serious burns on his hands. If
the barrier was at full strength, he would have gotten quite a jolt running up the blade.тАЭ
That thought cheered Devlin. тАЬIf you figure out any more about what happened, let me know.тАЭ He
raised his arms over his head and stretched. The little burst of energy heтАЩd gotten from returning to his
office was wearing off. If he didnтАЩt get home to his bed, he might just end up spending the night on his
office floor.
тАЬDid D.J. get the system straightened out again?тАЭ
None of them liked to call for assistance from the IT Department. They always acted as if the
Paladins were a bunch of ignorant thugs who didnтАЩt know the first thing about running a computer, even
though the organization ran on software designed and maintained by D.J. and Cullen.
Cullen smiled again. тАЬItтАЩs fine. Sometimes I think Lonzo and the others like to mess with the
system just enough to drive D.J. crazy. It always works.тАЭ
A little horseplay helped alleviate the tension they lived with day in and day out. As long as they
did no harm, Devlin wasnтАЩt about to complain.
тАЬIтАЩm still officially off the roster until Dr. Young and Dr. Neal finish poking holes in me and
bleeding me dry. IтАЩm going to turn in early, in hopes that a full dayтАЩs rest will convince them to let me out
of their clutches.тАЭ
His friend cocked his eyebrow. тАЬDr. NealтАЩs not my type, either. However, I wouldnтАЩt be in such a
hurry to get away from Dr. Young, if I were you.тАЭ He closed his eyes as if to savor an image in his mind.
тАЬAll those brains, and a beauty to boot.тАЭ
A surprisingly powerful urge to punch his friend almost sent Devlin diving across his desk. With no
little effort, he forced himself to unclench his fists and to maintain a pleasant expression on his face. He
placed his hands on his desk and pushed himself to his feet. Until he got himself under better control, he
would be better off alone.
Cullen walked him out to the corridor. тАЬDonтАЩt rush coming back. If we need you, weтАЩll call.тАЭ
тАЬSee that you do.тАЭ
Once Cullen was out of sight, Devlin slammed his fist against the wall. Damn Laurel Young and
those big eyes of hers. Did she have every single one of the Paladins drooling over her? Paladins werenтАЩt
known for their sexual restraint, and if one of them managed to hook up with her, thereтАЩd be hell to pay.
Especially if that someone was anyone other than Devlin himself.

Laurel had wasted far too much of the morning watching the clock. If sheтАЩd been smart enough to give
Devlin Bane a specific appointment, perhaps she would have accomplished far more than she had. She
was thoroughly disgusted with herself and this foolish fixation. There were good solid reasons why
generations of Handlers and Paladins had kept their interactions on a coldly clinical basis. But every time
she let her concentration slip, her eyes went right back to staring at the minute hand and wishing it would
move.
 Paladins were the warriors who stood between their world and the dark one that threatened to
seep in and destroy it. The Others were their enemies, not quite human but close enough to pass. They
hovered on the other side of the barrier that separated the worlds. When the barrier was damaged,
Others poured through the breach until the Paladins turned back the tide in bloody hand-to-hand combat,
using weapons straight out of the Dark Ages. While they battled, others mended the barrier. When the
damage was too great to be easily repaired, the Paladins stood shoulder-to-shoulder and held the line.
The cost to their souls was horrific. Laurel shuddered. No one knew why, but the more a Paladin
fought and died, the more he became like the Others, uncontrollable and murderous. She hated the
thought of destroying one of the valiant men she knew and respected, but she would do it when it
became necessary.