Echoes of Magic by Donna Grant Page A

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