Echoes of Magic (12 page)

“
If we go into Hawksbridge
looking like this, no one will pay us a bit of attention. We need
to dress the part.”

“
Leave it to a woman to
think of clothes. Aye, you’re right. We’ll get new
garments.”

A hawk flew above them, its cries echoing in
the stillness of the area. Adrianna watched the bird of prey until
it flew out of sight. When she lowered her gaze, Grayson was
watching her.

“
You convinced me you could
help, and I foolishly agreed. The more I think on it, the more I
realize I should have left you with Milosh.”

Adrianna slowly climbed to her feet and
walked to where her herbs were stored in the bag. She gathered what
she needed and returned to the tree. It didn’t surprise her to find
Grayson gathering wood for a fire.

She waited until he returned and began to
stack the wood before she answered. “I told you before, the evil
needs to be stopped. There is a good chance you can impede him
before he can do more damage.”

“
Why couldn’t you just tell
me how to defeat him?”

“
It isn’t that easy. I wish
it were, but it isn’t.”

The small blaze began to
burn brighter as it devoured the wood. Grayson ran a hand down his
face and sat back. “I won’t lie and say I want to die, but bringing
you into what could be the pit of evil is the wrong
decision.”

She crushed the herbs into the small bowl
and poured water over them before she put the bowl over the fire.
“The man you seek isn’t at Hawksbridge. Not yet anyway.”

“
What?”

She dared a glance to see Grayson’s jaw
clenched. “He’s coming. Whether for you or Hawksbridge, I know
not.”

“
How do you know
this?”

“
I smell him.” She stood
and turned to the southeast. “He’s coming from this
direction.”

Grayson was by her side in an instant. “Are
you sure?”

“
Definitely.” She turned
her head to see the agony in his profile.

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I
don’t know if this can work. I’m prepared to die,” he said and
opened his eyes to her. “But you have your life ahead of you.”

“
What life? I’m alone,
Grayson, and I’ll forever be alone. I use my magic to help people,
so let me use it to help you. If I die, then so be it. Death isn’t
something we can escape. It comes for us all.”

Grayson knew that all too
well. He studied Adrianna, ever amazed at the bravery within her.
“We’ll try. But if it appears there’s no chance for me to win, I
want your word you’ll leave and not look back.”

“
Grayson,” she
began.

“
Nay. There’s no compromise
with this. Please, Adrianna. I need your word.”

Reluctantly, she nodded her head.

“
Thank you.”

He continued to look toward the southeast,
wondering just where this man who hunted him was. He had been
wounded at Drogan’s, but he could have healed quickly enough if his
soul had been sold to the devil as Serena had suggested.

Adrianna moved behind him to the fire. He
glanced at her to see her pour the contents of the bowl into a cup
and begin to drink it. He was grateful she was with him, for she
gave him an advantage he wouldn’t otherwise have. Yet, as a knight,
a warrior sworn to protect those weaker than he, he knew he
shouldn’t take her to Hawksbridge. He’d never forgive himself if
she were harmed, yet for the life of him he couldn’t send her
away.

Even if she hadn’t given him her vow, he
would have kept her with him. He wasn’t sure what it was about her
that pulled at him, but he was powerless to ignore it.

No woman had ever affected him so. He had
thought it might be her magic but soon realized that had nothing to
do with it. It was Adrianna herself. Her pale blue eyes, her golden
hair, her creamy skin, and her lithe body he couldn’t keep his
hands off of.

Even now, he wanted to pull her against him
and taste her sweet lips. He wanted her arms to wrap around him and
to feel her breasts pressed against his chest. He wanted to hear
her moan at his touch and beg for more.

He wanted her to want him.

If it wasn’t for the curse, he might have a
chance at seducing her. But he wouldn’t force her. He would hold
back his passion and keep his desire hidden. He wasn’t sure if he
believed the curse or not, but Adrianna most certainly did. A year
ago, he hadn’t believed in magic. Could he be wrong about the curse
as well?

While at Wolfglynn, he’d heard Drogan and
Serena speak of a curse. It was possible it was the same curse, and
he wished Drogan were there to talk to.

Grayson turned to Adrianna. She held the cup
between her hands, her eyes closed with her head back against the
tree. Several locks of her golden hair had pulled free of the plait
and framed her beautiful face.

He never asked her, but he
assumed the herbs she had boiled were to help the pain from riding.
He was glad he had gone to the village and bought the mare. His
grey could have carried both of them, and he would have liked to
hold Adrianna against him, but it was more prudent for each of them
to have a mount. His mind turned to Dirkshire. If they left soon,
they could make it by dark. To ensure the disguise Adrianna wanted
to portray, she would be presented as his wife.

Strangely, that notion appealed to him in
ways he had never expected.

Chapter Fourteen

Adrianna slowly opened her eyes. Already she
could feel the herbs and her magic working to loosen her aching
muscles. In a few more moments, she’d be ready to climb back on the
mare.

She found Grayson with the horses. He
stroked the black and spoke in a soft, even tone. Adrianna couldn’t
discern his words, but the horse seemed to welcome them. She stood
with her eyes half closed while his hands rubbed her sleek neck and
head.

Adrianna found she quite liked watching
Grayson. For such a tall, muscular warrior, he moved with grace and
speed she hadn’t seen before. She could only imagine how beautiful
he was with his sword in hand and facing a foe.

“
You’ve a way with
animals,” she said when he glanced at her.

He shrugged. “I’ve always loved horses.
Anytime Drogan got one that needed to be broke, he gave me the
job.”

“
I see why. The horses
respond to you, almost as if they understand you. You might even
call it magic.”

He patted the black and chuckled as he moved
away. “Magic. I think we can safely say I’ve none of that.”

“
Oh, I don’t know. Magic
comes in all forms. Love is magic. A newborn entering the world is
magic.”

“
And your magic?” he asked.
“What would you call it?”

Adrianna rose to her feet without any pain.
“I would call it deadly. We all know what happens when the word
witch is said. I’d rather not be burned at the stake.”

“
You may call it deadly
but, for those who don’t fear you, they could call you an
angel”

A smile pulled at her lips. “I’ve been
called many things, Grayson, but never angel.”

“
There’s a first time for
everything.”

The devilish glint in his silver eyes held
her in thrall. “So I’ve heard.”

“
I gather the herbs
worked?”

She nodded. “With a bit of magic.”

“
Do you use magic in
everything?” he asked as he doused the fire.

“
Not if I don’t have to.
Magic shouldn’t be abused.” She bent to gather the bowl and cup and
walked to the mare. “It’d be very easy for magic to rule everything
in my life.”

He came up behind her, his hands on her
waist. “What would happen if you gave in to temptation?”

For a moment, Adrianna couldn’t breathe. She
wasn’t sure if Grayson was asking about her magic or the attraction
between them. She turned and looked at him over her shoulder. His
eyes blazed with desire.

“
I don’t know,” she finally
answered.

A slow smile formed on his handsome face
before he effortlessly lifted her atop the mare and handed her the
reins. “You never know when temptation will get the better of
you.”

He had no idea how right he was, but she
wasn’t going to tell him that. With one word, one motion, Adrianna
could let him know of her hunger. Temptation would be the least of
her worries after that. For she knew to give into the lust
thrumming through her would only complicate matters.

And he needed a clear head when he faced the
evil.

The last thing he needed to do was worry
over her, which is what would happen if they shared their bodies.
Yet it didn’t stop her from imagining what it would feel like to
step into his arms as they enfolded her in their strong embrace, to
lift her face and accept his kisses.

Grayson didn’t bother to hide his desire
from her, so it was up to her to keep things as they were. She had
to stay strong and remember the curse and the evil. If they
survived the battle ahead, she would give in to his pull.

He mounted and swiveled his head to her.
“Ready?”

“
Aye,” she murmured but
didn’t meet his gaze. She feared if he saw into her eyes, he would
know she fought a losing battle.

Grayson hadn’t tried to seduce her, but it
wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge. Already her body
hummed with need, her sex clenching at the thought of his cock
sliding into her, stretching her, filling her. Stroking her.

She bit back a moan and licked her lips.

With a tap of her heel, she put the black
into motion behind Grayson. She inhaled a shaky breath. It was
going to be a long day.

* * * * *

Grayson halted the grey outside of
Dirkshire.

“
What’s amiss?” Adrianna
asked as she came alongside him.

He shook his head. “Nothing that I see.”

“
Were you expecting
something or someone?”

“
I never know,” he said and
looked at her. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“
Agreed.”

Without another word he rode into the sleepy
village. He made sure Adrianna kept close. The village was of
decent size with the inn toward the edge of the town. He turned the
grey toward the tavern, his gaze scanning the area.

“
Do you smell
anything?”

Adrianna snorted. “Rotten meat, foul body
odor, urine and vomit.”

Grayson chuckled. “I meant the other.”

“
Nay.”

He let out a breath, pulled his mount to a
halt in front of the inn, and dismounted. When he turned to help
Adrianna, he found her already off the black.

“
You feel better?” he
asked.

She smiled brightly. “Much.”

He glanced at the darkening sky. Once the
horses were seen to, Grayson offered Adrianna his arm before they
walked inside the inn. The main room was crowded with diners as
every eye turned to them as they entered.

Adrianna stiffened. He leaned down so his
mouth was near her ear and said, “Many travelers stop in
Dirkshire.”

She gave him a small nod of understanding
before he walked to the bar where a balding man with a thick, gray
beard watched them.

“
My wife and I need
chambers for the night,” Grayson said.

Just as he expected, her nails dug into his
arm. Thankfully, she didn’t call him a liar.

“
I only have one chamber
left,” the owner said.

He had no choice but to accept. Adrianna’s
gaze fairly burned him as he pulled his bag of money and paid the
owner.

“
Where did you get the
coin?” she whispered.

He grinned and winked. “How do you think I
paid for your mount?”

They said nothing more as
the owner showed them to their chamber. Grayson couldn’t decide to
be excited or angry that they were sharing a room. It was hard
enough being around her during day.

But to spend the night in the same chamber?
It was going to be pure torture.

“
Shall I have your supper
brought up?” the man asked as they walked into their
chamber.

Grayson looked to Adrianna.

She smiled. “That would be lovely.”

The owner nodded and closed the door behind
him as he left. Grayson immediately checked the door. When he
turned around, Adrianna had her hands on her hips.

“
The coin?”

Grayson chuckled. “I told you I couldn’t
sleep. So, I went back into the village and gambled.”

“
Gambled? With
what?”

He wished she hadn’t asked, but now that she
had there was no way not to tell her. “I borrowed a few coins from
you.”

“
I told you we could use
what money I had.”

“
I know, but I didn’t feel
right doing that.”

She rolled her eyes. “And
what if you’d lost?”

“
Not possible,” he said.
“I’m rather lucky when it comes to cards. I never lose.”

She rubbed her eyes and leaned against the
wall. “You’re confident.”

“
If there was a chance I’d
have lost, I would never have borrowed your coin. Nor did I cheat,”
he said before she could question him. “As I said, I’m just
lucky.”

She motioned to the bag at
his waist. “So all of that are your winnings?”

“
Aye. I replaced the coin I
borrowed from you and planned to use the rest for anything we
need.”

Their gazes locked, the air sizzling with
desire. She was across the chamber from him, but she could have
been across the world for all the chance he had of holding her in
his arms.