Echoes of Magic Page 11

  “Other things?”

  He pulled the dagger from atop his boot to show her. Her fingers caressed the leather wrapped pommel before pausing at the intricate knot work on the hilt.

  “It’s beautiful,” she murmured.

  “I realized when you attacked the knight you had no weapon.”

  “Nor do I know how to use one.”

  “That I can rectify.” He held it out to her.

  Tentatively, she reached for the dagger. Her hands clasped the dark wood of the pommel and the sheath, and after a moment’s hesitation, she pulled the blade free.

  His eyes took in the simple and stealthy appearance of the dagger. Its sharp, piercing blade made it perfect to thrust through chainmail.

  Her gaze lifted to him. “You think I need a weapon?”

  “I know you need a weapon.”

  She nodded. “How do I use it?”

  For the next hour, Grayson showed her the technique she would need to properly thrust the dagger through the chainmail. Its wide blade that narrowed to a fine point was the perfect weapon for her since it wouldn’t take a lot of strength to penetrate the chainmail.

  “Just remember,” he cautioned. “If he’s wearing armor, aim for the neck or behind his knees.”

  With her lips compressed into a thin line and her brow furrowed, she listened to every word he said, matching his movements nearly to perfection. Grayson prayed she wouldn’t have need of the weapon, but he would sleep better knowing she was armed.

  “Very good,” he said.

  She grinned, glancing at the ground almost as if she were embarrassed that she had been given praise. He never tired of watching her, and the more he learned of her, the more he found himself completely and utterly fascinated.

  And damned if he didn’t enjoy it.

  Women had always been a necessity, one he delved into frequently. But Drina was unique, special...captivating. With her, it wasn’t just about physical release. He wanted to know of her life, and her opinion mattered greatly to him.

  Adrianna straightened after lunging as if she were attacking someone to find Grayson’s brow creased and his eyes distant.

  “Did I do something wrong?”

  He jerked and turned away. “Not at all. You’re an excellent student.”

  “I have an excellent teacher.”

  He glanced over his shoulder at her and gave her one of his lopsided grins that always made her heart plummet to her feet.

  “Are you trying to flatter me?” he teased.

  “You know you’re that good. I don’t need to flatter you.”

  “Every man needs to be flattered,” he mumbled.

  She stared at his back, wondering if she’d heard him correctly. Grayson was such a powerful man, a strong man, and he didn’t have a problem with his confidence. Then why was he seeking her approval now?

  Her feet moved toward him until she remembered how dangerous it was to be near him. It had been sheer torture to have him mold his body to her back as he showed her how to move with the dagger. All she had wanted to do was melt against him, offering her body to him to do as he pleased.

  Would that be so bad?

  It would be exquisite, like a taste of heaven. And that was the problem.

  When he faced her, Adrianna had reconciled herself to the fact that she couldn’t deny herself Grayson’s touch when he gave her a curt nod and strode out the door mumbling about their supper.

  * * * * *

  Hours later Adrianna opened her eyes from dozing to find Grayson standing beside the bed. Her gaze roamed over his nude body from his wide shoulders to his trim waist and narrow hips to his cock jutting forward, waiting for her to touch it.

  “I cannot deny what is between us a moment longer,” he said.

  Her breath lodged in her throat as he threw off her covers and grasped her gown at her neck. With one jerk, he ripped the garment in two. Adrianna felt a quickening in her blood as she stared at her bold warrior. She reached for him, yearning to feel his hands on her.

  He moved atop her, his hands on either side of her face. “You’re mine, Drina.”

  “Aye, I’m yours. I’ve always been yours.”

  His lips claimed hers then, tasting, teasing, exploring. When his tongue slipped through her lips, she sighed and plunged her hands into his long, black locks. As he worked his magic with his lips, his hand moved between them to cup her breast.

  He began to thumb her nipple, sending desire shooting straight to her sex. Instinctively, she moved her hips, grinding against his.

  Grayson groaned and deepened the kiss as he rolled them until she was on top. He broke the kiss to move her legs until she straddled him. She straightened, eager to know what he would do to her next. He then grasped her hips to lift her over his cock, holding her above him so that his rod teased her sex.

  Adrianna glanced down to find a bead of moisture on the tip of his arousal. Her sex clenched greedily. “Grayson. Please,” she begged.

  He lowered her onto his cock with achingly slowness. She gasped as he filled her, stretching her with small delicious thrusts until he was seated to the root. Adrianna’s body burned with a need long denied. She began to rotate her hips, reveling in the desire that coiled within her.

  And then his hands found her breasts, tweaking and thumbing her sensitive nipples until she cried out from the intense pleasure.

  She looked down to find his lips parted and his silver eyes ablaze with a hunger that matched her own. Already she could feel her orgasm building. She wanted to prolong the pleasure, but Grayson had other thoughts in mind as he reached down and parted her curls until he found her pearl.

  With just a simple swirl of his thumb, he sent her spiraling into an abyss of delight, her body wracked with the intense desire flooding her.

  Adrianna jerked awake, her body still pulsing from her orgasm. She lay as still as stone while she listened to the sound of Grayson’s deep, even breathing.

  Slowly, she relaxed, forcing herself to slow her erratic breathing. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Grayson below her as she climaxed, his gaze promising untold pleasures.

  * * * * *

  Adrianna mounted her mare the next morning with eyes tired and feeling as though someone had rubbed sand in them. She had only herself to blame. With multiple opportunities to let Grayson know she wanted him, she’d gone to bed agitated with herself and the situation.

  Now she understood why so many bana‐bhuidseach gave in to their desires. It took a much stronger woman than her to refuse a man such as Grayson.

  “Did you sleep well?”

  “Perfectly,” she lied.

  She followed him as they set out for the next village. Though she would have preferred to ride behind him, he kept even with her.

  “You seem distracted.”

  She almost rolled her eyes. “I’m just thinking of what’s ahead.”

  “I vowed I’d protect you.”

  She turned her head to him. Was that suspicion in his gaze, as if he wondered at her trust in him? “I have no doubt of your skill, Grayson. You’ve proven that already.”

  He blew out a breath, his gaze straight ahead. “You don’t seem yourself.”

  And she wasn’t, but it wasn’t as if she could tell him the reason why. Not now at least.

  “I’m worried.” When his gaze turned to her, she continued. “I keep wondering about this connection to Hawksbridge. Something doesn’t make sense.”

  “None of it makes sense,” he said with a frown. “I was a small child, and my young mind might not have grasped everything.”

  “Nay, I think you saw things just the way they were.”

  “Have you looked into the future?”

  “I can tonight. I had planned on it anyway. We need to know what’s ahead of us.”

  He grunted. “And the evil?”

  “You know his name, don’t you?” She wasn’t sure how she knew he did.

  “Aye. Baron Nigel Creely.”

  �
��I’ve not heard of him.”

  Grayson looked back at the road. “Pray you don’t meet him.”

  Adrianna let the silence stretch between them. The closer they drew to Hawksbridge, the more she knew something big was going to happen. As fearful of that outcome as she was, none of that compared to the yearning in her body. The deep need that hungered for Grayson’s touch like water to a dying man.

  After her dream, she could think of nothing else but Grayson and the pleasure they would find in each other’s arms. No more running, no more denying. She knew what she wanted.

  Grayson.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Grayson rotated his shoulders in an effort to work the knots from his muscles. Between the nightmares that plagued him and Adrianna’s soft moans, he hadn’t been able to sleep. His need for Adrianna consumed him so deeply, if it had been safe, he would have gone outside and used his hand to give himself a measure of relief.

  He knew something bothered her. She hadn’t woken with her usual mellow smile. It was almost too much to hope that her body had kept her awake as well. He almost had a mind to stop the horses and take her right then.

  “Tell me what you know of this Nigel?” she asked.

  Grayson eagerly turned his thoughts to something other than his desires. “I don’t know much.”

  “He was the evil I saw after Drogan and Serena?”

  “Aye. Serena said he sold his soul to the devil.”

  Adrianna nodded thoughtfully. “That would explain why I saw something that wasn’t quite a man. Did you see his face?”

  “Nay. He wore a helm and never took it off. Drogan is an amazing swordsman. Few men could best him, and Nigel was knocking him to the ground like he was a small child.”

  She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “Drogan should have died then.”

  “Should have, but he didn’t. Serena had given him an amulet that was her father’s. It took the impact of Nigel’s sword and saved Drogan.”

  “An amulet?” she murmured more to herself.

  Grayson shrugged. “Cade said it was because the amulet had been blessed.”

  She nodded slightly and turned her head forward. “Blessed. That would make sense. It’s evil’s enemy. At least we know how to protect you.”

  “By having me blessed?” He snorted. “I don’t imagine that’ll work.”

  She grinned. “Perhaps not but, combined with some magic, it’ll give you a fair chance.”

  “I’ve seen him fight. He’s more powerful than any man I’ve ever seen. No one can withstand that.”

  “Your sword.”

  He glanced down at his weapon. “What about it?”

  “We’ll have it blessed. Just like Drogan’s amulet, we’ll protect the sword.”

  Grayson contemplated her words. “It might work, but I’m hesitant to put all my hopes on a weapon.”

  “Isn’t that what a knight does?” she asked with a twinkle of laughter in her eyes.

  He chuckled. “How you can jest in a time like this?”

  “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.