Deliver Me from Darkness: A Novel of the Paladin Warriors by Tes Hilaire Page A

so used to looking up at men that it was a bit of a surprise to come almost even with the Paladin’s bourbon-colored gaze. He was lean, his skin dusky, with dark hair that fell haphazardly over his eyes, down across his prominent cheekbones. His features could almost be considered effeminate, only there was something decidedly male about him.
    The Black Knight.
    As soon as the thought popped into her mind, Karissa knew it to be true. She wasn’t sure how. It felt almost like someone had reached in and planted the knowledge in her mind. But her shields were shut tight again and, in general, her psychic ability was limited to impressions rather than another person’s exact thoughts or emotions, and never outright details. Weird.
    The Paladin let go of the door, letting it click shut behind him. He then folded his arms across his chest, letting out a long whistle.
    “So, this is your little psychic, huh?” His grin split wide. “Little young, isn’t she?” His gaze skirted across the bridge of her nose. “What is she? Sixteen?”
    Karissa drew herself up. “I’m twenty-four, thank you very much.”
    “Really…” He assessed her anew, his voice laden with meaning.
    Logan went taut, his fingers all but bruising the soft flesh of her upper arm. “Enough, Valin. I believe you were sent to bring us into the hall, not delay us further.”
    Valin turned his gaze on Logan. “Ah, yes. Further delay. Makes one wonder what the cause of the first delay was…”
    Karissa realized that Logan’s firm grip on her looked like she had second thoughts and Logan had to bring her back in line. Not quite the truth, but damn close. Bad thing was now, having met Valin, she was more inclined, not less, to try and run away.
    She resisted the urge to look over her shoulder at the shadows again. If Roland was gone, it would make her look more reluctant than she already was. If Roland was there…God, would the idiot try to come to her rescue?
    Probably, she answered her own question. The man seemed to have a touch of suicidal in him.
    Determined to smooth things over, she put on a false smile and looked to Logan. “It’s okay, I’m ready now.” She turned the smile on Valin. “Just a case of the jitters, meeting all of Logan’s brothers all at once like this.”
    “Brothers, huh…” Valin turned a hard stare on Logan. “And what have you shared with her about your brothers?”
    Oh, crap. Had she totally screwed this up? Logan hadn’t said anything about her needing to play dumb on the things he’d told her thus far. Karissa had to bite her lip to keep from opening her mouth and trying to cover. When in doubt, say nothing.
    “I believe that is some of what needs to be discussed with the others, don’t you?” Logan asked, gesturing to the door.
    “Indeed.” Valin pulled the door open and, with a dramatic wave of his hand and a tip of his head, ushered them inside.
    Not even two steps in and Karissa had to fight a sudden loss of mobility. She’d been uncertain of leaving the relative—and she did mean relative—safety of Roland’s apartment. She’d been awestruck, and yes, a bit intimidated by the sprawling Gothic mansion Logan had driven her to. She’d been positively jumpy in the anteroom with its dim lighting, barely enough to illuminate the grave features of its silent marble sentries. But nothing had prepared her for this. The hall was vast. And reminiscent of a huge church or something. High arched ceilings supported by thick, marble columns, exquisite carvings, ornate chandeliers, the prerequisite saintly figures…only thing missing was the huge stained glass windows.
    Karissa fell into step with Logan, and again almost tripped to a stop when her legs threatened to collapse. Wow. These Paladin sure knew how to pack a punch. Sheer power. Absolute confidence. It sat on the shoulders of every man in the room. Most of them were packed into the front rows of the hall, but in the very front, instead of an altar, was a