Echoes of Magic (16 page)

“
Why not?” she replied with
a shrug. “I knew very early on what my life would be like. I’ve
tried to see the brighter side of things regardless. I’ve not
always achieved it, but life is too short not to jest. Now, about
the sword.”

Grayson shook his head, though he couldn’t
stop the smile from pulling at his lips. “You’re determined about
the sword?”

“
I am.”

“
And what if he knocks the
sword from my hand?”

Her brow furrowed. “Don’t let that
happen.”

Grayson barked with laughter. “I’ll try my
best.”

“
By the way, thank you for
my dagger.”

“
My pleasure. You have it
strapped to your calf?”

She nodded. “Though it makes it awkward to
walk.”

“
You’ll thank me if you
need to get to it in a hurry. Having it strapped to your thigh
would make it difficult to reach with your skirts.” He swallowed
and tried not to imagine his hand caressing her thighs as she
parted her legs, opening herself for him.

He prayed they had an extra
chamber in the village because he didn’t think he could put himself
through another night like the last two. A man could only take so
much torture, and he was at his breaking point.

Grayson forced his mind off
his arousal and to Drina’s suggestion of having his sword blessed.
He’d seen firsthand what Drogan’s amulet had done to Nigel. It
certainly wouldn’t hurt to be prepared, but he couldn’t rest his
entire future on his sword, as much as he’d like to.

He was a good warrior, expertly trained and
highly skilled. There weren’t many knights who could best him, but
even Grayson knew evil such as Nigel couldn’t compare to other
knights. Grayson would be battling something altogether
different.

Drogan had managed to stay alive when it
appeared he was doomed for certain death. Grayson had resigned
himself to the fact that he would never leave Hawksbridge
alive.

“
I’ve been thinking about
Nigel and why he would be coming after me.”

“
And?” Adrianna prompted
when he hesitated.

“
Other than at Wolfglynn,
I’ve never encountered him. There would be no reason for him to
track me.”

“
Unless there’s another
connection.”

“
Exactly. What are the odds
that he’s the man who took my mother?”

“
I think the odds he had
something to do with it are great.”

The distress in her pale blue gaze startled
him. “What is it?”

She lifted one slim shoulder. “Every fiber
of my being is telling me that you shouldn’t go to
Hawksbridge.”

“
I’ve spent my entire life
preparing for answers. Those answers are at Hawksbridge. There is
nothing that can make me change my mind.”

The horses continued along, unaware of the
turmoil inside Grayson. He focused between his mount’s ears as he
shifted in the saddle and rested a hand on his thigh.

“
You shouldn’t have done
this alone,” Adrianna said into the silence.

“
I know, but Drogan and
Serena have a family now. I couldn’t involve him in
this.”

Suddenly, Adrianna reached over and covered
his hand with hers. Her unwavering blue gaze met his.

“
You’re an honorable man,
Grayson.”

He snorted. “If I were
honorable, I would’ve never let you come.”

“
I told you I’d have found
a way,” she said as her hand left his.

“
Milosh would have tied you
to his cart had I asked.”

“
I’m rather glad you
didn’t. I’m meant to help you, whether you want my aid or
not.”

Grayson said no more on the subject.
Adrianna didn’t realize that she would be more of a hindrance than
a help. He needed a clear head to fight Nigel, and he hadn’t had a
clear head since he opened his eyes to find her leaning over
him.

Her magic could come in handy, but he was
determined to keep her in a safe place, somewhere Nigel or his men
would never find her.

* * * * *

It was midday by the time they arrived in
sleepy village outside of Hawksbridge. The village was smaller than
Dirkshire, stiller. Adrianna shifted in the saddle, her stomach
rolling. Three hours earlier the stench of evil became so thick and
heavy, she couldn’t stand it.

Now, even closer to Hawksbridge, it was
difficult to breathe. She swayed atop the horse and quickly grabbed
the mare’s mane to help steady her. Adrianna breathed through her
mouth to try and keep the contents of her stomach settled. If she
was going to help Grayson, she had to get control of her body’s
reaction to the evil.

She kept her gaze on Grayson’s back as she
followed him through the village. Out of the corner of her eye, she
saw people stop and stare at them before whispering behind their
hands. Their furtive glances didn’t help to stop the unease now
settled around her like an iron manacle.

When they halted before the inn, all
Adrianna wanted to do was lie down. A cold sweat had broken over
her body, but she was determined Grayson not know what was wrong
with her. She quickly dismounted before he could help her and
grabbed her small bag.

He stopped beside her, his brow creased.
“Are you feeling unwell?”

“
I’m just tired.” She
covered the lie with a smile.

Grayson nodded and held out his arm for her.
Adrianna took it as they walked into the tavern. The few occupants
in the small structure stared as she and Grayson entered. She kept
her grip on Grayson’s arm light, but she could feel the tension
rush through him.

“
I have an uneasy feeling,”
he murmured.

“
All will be well.” All she
wanted to do was lie down to settle her stomach before she used her
herbs to help protect her from the evil.

She should have done it first thing that
morning, but she had been so distracted by her body’s urgent hunger
for Grayson that her mind thought of nothing else. Now, she was
paying heavily for her lack of concentration.

Adrianna let Grayson negotiate their
chambers while she struggled to keep her breathing even and her
stomach calm. It wasn’t until they were standing before a door that
she looked at him.

“
I’m sorry, Drina. They
only had one chamber.”

She nodded. “It’s all
right. Please. I need to rest.”

Once he opened the door, she dropped her bag
and hurried to the bed. She stretched across it, and almost
instantly her stomach eased. She blew out a breath and let her eyes
close.

“
How about the truth
now?”

Her eyes flew open to find Grayson standing
beside the bed, his arms crossed over his chest.

“
I just need a moment to
rest. It’s the evil. I should have prepared something this morning,
but I wasn’t thinking.”

His arms dropped. “What do you need?”

“
I’ll need to use my herbs
as well as my magic.”

“
What can I do?”

She smiled. She was so used to doing
everything for herself, it was odd to have someone offer to help.
“I’m going to need a cup of hot water.”

“
I’ll see to it,” he said
and left the chamber.

Adrianna lay still for several more moments
before she rose and reached for her bag. She pulled out some dried
leaves and had just set them aside when the chamber door opened and
Grayson walked in.

“
I hope this is
enough.”

She accepted the cup and
nodded. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

“
I’m going to see to the
horses. Do you need anything before I go?”

“
Nay.”

Only after he departed did Adrianna drop the
leaves into the hot water. While the heat steeped the leaves, she
set aside the cup and closed her eyes as she began to chant the
spell to keep the evil from her.

She was nearly done when she thought of
Grayson and quickly added him into the chant as well. Precautions
were precautions, and with Nigel they needed every weapon they had,
even if one of those weapons was magic.

When she opened her eyes, Grayson had his
back against the wall watching her.

“
I never heard you
enter.”

“
I was quiet,” he replied.
“What were you doing?”

She reached for the cup. “Casting an ancient
spell. Does that bother you?”

“
Not at all.” He grinned
and pushed off the wall to stand before her. “What did you do
exactly? I don’t recognize the language.”

She swallowed the bitter drink. “Just as
with our origins, the name of the language has been lost to us. As
for what I did, I was protecting us against the evil.”

“
How is that
possible?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know if it is. The
evil makes me ill, which is what the herbs and magic will
combat.”

He lifted a black brow. “But it doesn’t make
me sick. I don’t sense it as you do.”

“
Nay, but it may aid you in
other ways. In truth, I cannot guarantee that it’ll do anything for
you at all, but I thought it worth a try.”

“
Thank you,” he said and
pulled a strand of her hair through his fingers. “Will you be all
right by yourself?”

“
What are you going to
do?”

“
Scout the area. I want a
view of the castle before tomorrow.”

Adrianna gripped the cup between her hands
and rose to her feet. “Is that wise?”

“
I’ll be fine. I’ll return
in time for supper. You have my word.”

She watched him go, apprehension snaking
down her spine.

Chapter Nineteen

Grayson paused in the small grove of trees
and waited. It was only a few hours’ ride from the village to
Hawksbridge castle at a walk, but he didn’t have that kind of time.
His mount had been ready to stretch his legs as much as Grayson had
been ready to feel the wind on his face. Now, as he stared at the
castle, he understood what it was Adrianna felt.

An evil, dark and pure, surrounded
Hawksbridge. He remembered the castle alive with people and bright
with laughter. There was nothing left of the castle he had known as
a child.

He longed for a closer view of the
battlements and thick stone wall that surrounded the castle but
didn’t dare ride closer. Even from a distance he could see the men
patrolling the battlements, walking from tower to tower.

Were they expecting someone? Someone they
wanted no part of? He smiled. It was too bad he didn’t have an army
at his disposal for he could make quick work of the men.

Grayson narrowed his gaze as the massive
gate was lifted and two knights rode from the castle. He knew them
instantly. Had they discovered their dead comrades? If so, it
wouldn’t take them long to find him.

He and Adrianna had just enough time to get
into Hawksbridge and discover what information they could before
the men returned. Though he was willing to fight them again, he
didn’t want Drina anywhere near them.

With a flick of the reins, he turned his
mount around and headed back to the village.

* * * * *

Adrianna finished brushing her hair and
doused all but one of the candles. Their supper had already been
brought to the chamber and laid out for them, though she had other
things in mind first.

After Grayson had left, Adrianna had come to
the conclusion that she was a fool, for only a fool would allow
someone as handsome and good as he to slip through her fingers
because of a curse.

She still feared the curse, but she refused
to let it rule her life anymore. She might die of heartache, but
she would enjoy Grayson while she had him.

He should arrive any moment. She knew she
was making the right decision, but that didn’t stop the nervousness
from making her body tremble.

* * * * *

Grayson took a different
route, deciding to stay off the main road. He had expected the
worst, but found none of Nigel’s men anywhere near the village,
which was odd. Were he a lord of a castle and expected trouble, the
village would be the first place he put some of his men.

He stabled his horse and returned to the
inn, wanting only a good night’s sleep. It wouldn’t happen, not
with Drina in the same room as he, yet he hadn’t been disappointed
to learn they only had the one. It gave him the excuse he needed to
spend more time with her.

His steps quickened when he reached the
stairs. He stepped inside their chamber to find only one candle
lit. After he bolted the door, he turned toward the bed and
halted.

“
Was your afternoon
productive?”

Unable to find his voice, Grayson nodded. He
couldn’t take his eyes off the exquisite site before him.

Adrianna stood beside the bed, her golden
hair cascading to her hips and a blanket wrapped around her. His
balls tightened instantly when glimpsed her bare leg in the opening
of the blanket.

She slowly walked toward him, her gaze
locked with his. Grayson didn’t dare move for fear she would turn
away from him.

She stopped and lowered her gaze. “I fear
the morrow.”

“
Why?”

“
Because you expect not to
return.” Her gaze returned to him. “I cannot ignore what I feel for
you anymore. It isn’t fair to me, nor you.”

Grayson’s breath left him in a whoosh as she
dropped the blanket, revealing her stunning body. He’d dreamed of
looking his fill at her. His eyes devoured her firm, plump breasts.
Her pink nipples hardened beneath his gaze making his cock jump in
anticipation. He peeled his eyes from her breasts and glimpsed her
trim waist, her lean legs, and the golden curls that hid her sex
from him.