Echoes of Magic

by Donna Grant

  Adrianna swallowed and fisted her hands as her breathing accelerated. Almost as if her thoughts had summoned him, Grayson’s gaze swung to her. For a moment they stared at each other, oblivious to the people around them.

  It was she who finally looked away. Adrianna hastily walked off by herself. Each time Grayson’s silver gaze met hers, a piece of the wall she had erected around her body crumbled. He was handsome, sexy, powerful and made her heart beat faster each time he moved near her. When he had lifted her from the cart, it had taken everything she had not to place her lips on his, to feel his warm breath mix with hers.

  It had been so very long since a man had touched her as Grayson had. He was a temptation she knew she should resist. The problem was, she didn’t want to resist him.

  How many times had she looked at his lips wondering how they would feel on hers? She touched her mouth with her fingers. It had been so terribly long since she had kissed anyone that she was afraid she no longer knew how.

  A sudden shift in the wind made Adrianna jerk from her revelry. She glanced at the sky and cursed as she lifted her skirts and hurried back to camp.

  “A storm is coming,” she said as she passed Milosh, Yoska and Grayson.

  She had only gotten two strides before Grayson caught up with her.

  “The sky is clear,” he said. “I can see for leagues.”

  “Trust me, Grayson. There is a storm coming. If you want to visit the village, we must move out now. As it is, we may not reach it in time before the storm hits.”

  By the way his face scrunched in doubt, she waited for him to argue. Instead, like everyone else, he helped ready to move out.

  Adrianna checked her cart to make sure all her herbs would be safe from the winds she knew would descend upon them. She parted the cloth that separated the back from the seat and took her place.

  “I hope you’re wrong,” Grayson mumbled as he hurried to sit beside her and slapped the reins on the cows.

  “I am, too.” Though she knew she wasn’t.

  No longer were the gypsies moving along leisurely. There was a sense of urgency that hadn’t been there earlier. Adrianna hated to get caught in storms. It was best for everyone if they could get set up for the night to wait it out rather and driving through it.

  Every once in a while she saw Grayson glance at the sky. Finally, she looked at him, waiting for him to ask the inevitable.

  He shook his head. “How do you know?”

  “It’s one of my gifts. I can smell it on the wind.”

  “Aye, there are times I can smell a storm, too.”

  She grinned. “Not until the storm is nearly upon you though.”

  “Just how far out is this storm?”

  Adrianna lifted her face to the wind and inhaled. “We have about four hours.” She opened her eyes to find him watching her. “What is it?”

  “You smell the wind?”

  She nodded and folded her hands in her lap.

  “What do you smell?”

  “Many things,” she answered and closed her eyes as she inhaled deeply. “I smell roses, pine and even a hint of heather. Not far is a pasture of sheep. To the east are fields of wheat that sway in the breeze. And I smell the sea.”

  “Amazing.”

  After a moment she opened her eyes, afraid to look at Grayson. Though the gypsies had welcomed her, she knew some were fearful of her gifts and looked at her with a mixture of fear and repulsion when they didn’t think she saw them.

  “I imagine that gift comes in handy,” he said.

  She shrugged. “It can.”

  “Can you smell the evil?”

  “Most definitely.”

  There was no censure in his gaze, only acceptance. “Good. I think we’re going to need that extra advantage.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Adrianna frowned when a few hours later the wind began to whip around them, the trees bending against the force.

  “You can say it,” Grayson said over the howling wind.

  She smiled and gave him an innocent look. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  He laughed, his eyes twinkling silver. “You know you want to tell me ‘I told you so’.”

  “I could, but I won’t.”

  Thankfully, they reached the edge of the village and found a perfect spot to camp for the night. Adrianna helped Grayson unhook the cattle and wrap a rope around several trees to keep the livestock together.

  “You can still change your mind,” he said as he took her arm and steered her toward her cart.

  She shook her head. “I want to go with you.”

  He sighed. “Remember your promise.”

  “I do.”

  After a wave to Milosh, they set out on foot to the village. She had imagined Grayson would walk right into the town, but he had other ideas. To her surprise, they strolled around the village learning the size and where each business and home was. He was fascinating to watch as he looked at the town, calculating where they could escape to if the need arose.

  “From the looks of things, there are only one or two men who might give us problems.”

  She raised a brow. “And how do you know that?”

  “You have your gifts. I have mine,” he answered with a smirk. Then he pointed to the left where a horse stood. “See that mount? The horse is of good stock and, by the looks of the saddle, whoever owns that horse is at the very least a knight and possibly a lord.”

  It was her turn to be amazed. “I’d never have known that.”

  “Now you do. So, stay he...”

  She glanced at him when his words trailed away. “What is it?”

  “I don’t believe it,” he whispered and leaned forward to peer through the bushes. “It’s my horse.”

  “What? Where?”

  “The grey in the paddock toward the back of the town.”

  “Are you sure it’s your horse? Maybe it’s one that looks like him.”

  He frowned, his lips pressed into a thin line. “I raised that horse from a colt, Adrianna. I know the way he moves, the way he acts, and I most certainly would know if it was one that looked like him.”

  “How did he get here?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. I’m not leaving this village without my horse or saddle,” he said, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

  She touched his arm before he could bolt to the village. “I can get the horse.”

  “He won’t follow you,” Grayson said with a sigh.

  “Let me worry about that. If it becomes a problem, I’ll wait for you.”

  She bit her lip as he thought over her words.

  “I don’t know,” he hesitated.

  “I can do this.”

  After a moment he gave a nod. “Meet me back here. Make sure you find out how the horse got here.”

  “All right,” she said and turned to go when he stopped her.

  “And try to get my saddle.”

  “I will.” Once again she turned to leave, but once again he stopped her, pulling her toward him. Her hands met his hard chest as she gazed into his silver depths.

  “If there’s trouble, run.”

  She nodded, unable to form words as his heat infused her. Her eyes dropped to his mouth as her lips parted. Just when she thought he might kiss her, he gave her a gentle push.

  “Go,” he urged her.

  Adrianna turned and hurried away before she changed her mind and kissed Grayson as she longed to do. She made herself slow as she walked down the main road of the village. A few people looked her way, but most ignored her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Grayson move toward the town’s inn where the horse he had spotted earlier stood.

  As she walked to the corral, the gray gelding trotted up to her, his great head bobbing up and down.

  “Easy lad,” she murmured. “I’m here to take you to Grayson. He’s come for you.”

  As if the horse understood her, he leaned his head over the fence and let her rub his velvety nose.
/>   “Can I help ye?” a deep voice said from behind her.

  Adrianna glanced over her shoulder to see an older man with two missing teeth and soiled clothes.

  “I see you found my husband’s horse.” She continued to stroke the gelding, letting the animal learn her scent and touch.

  “Your husband?” the man repeated. “That ain’t yer horse.”

  “It most certainly is. Did you catch the men who stole him from my husband?”

  The man’s brow furrowed, his bushy, gray brows nearly meeting. “Nay. I didna catch any thieves.”

  Adrianna took a deep breath. “I’m greatly disappointed the thieves managed to get away, but at least the horse broke free from them. Release him.”

  “Now see here,” the man said and took a step toward her.

  “Unless,” she interrupted him, “you were the thief. Should I send for the authorities?”

  The man’s face mottled. “That ain’t yer horse,” he repeated.

  “Tell me,” she said as she put her arm through the fence to pet the grey. “Have you been able to ride him?”

  The old man folded his arms across his chest and refused to answer.

  “As I suspected,” Adrianna said. “He only allows me and my husband to ride him. My husband is at the tavern as we speak. He’s in a foul mood. This gelding was one of his prized horses, as was the saddle.”

  “Is that so?”

  She nodded. “Aye. Lord Grayson of Wolfglynn,” she said the lie with a smile. “I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He’s a magnificent warrior, favored heavily by the king.”

  The man’s arms dropped at her words.

  “Well, sir?” she asked. “Shall you return the horse to me, or should I retrieve my husband and let you deal with him?”

  Several heartbeats later, Adrianna released her pent‐up breath as the man nodded.

  “Aye, I’ll release the horse,” he replied grudgingly. He moved toward the fence and began to lift the latch on the gate.

  “And my husband’s saddle.”

  “Now see here,” he said as turned toward her.

  She lifted her skirts and started toward the tavern. “Aye, I agree. I’ll just go get my husband.”

  “Wait, milady,” the man called as he hurried after her.

  Adrianna faced him with a smile. “It was very kind of you to hold the horse for us and to keep my husband’s saddle safe. As a reward for your kindness,” she said and held out the small bag of coins.

  The man’s eyes grew round. “Let me saddle the horse for you, milady.”

  Adrianna wanted to sink to the ground. She’d begun to wonder if she would be able to get the grey back for Grayson. Just as she had imagined, it came down to coin.

  She leaned against the fence and watched as the man saddled the grey. “Tell me,” she asked. “How did you come by my mount?”

  “He wandered up several nights ago,” he answered.

  “You saw no men?”

  “Nay, milady. I give my word.”

  For some reason, she believed him. “My thanks, sir.”

  With the grey saddled and the reins in her hand, she gave the man his coin. “Good day to you, then.”

  “Be careful, milady. There’s a storm a‐brewin’.”

  She knew all too well the storm that was about to unleash its tempest. The wind had died down to a light breeze, but it was just the calm before the storm. Above her, dark clouds rolled across the sky, blocking the few rays of the sun and blanketing them in darkness. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

  But Adrianna paid no attention to the clouds. She wanted to get the grey to their meeting spot. A clap of thunder sounded, causing the horse to rear. She managed to hang on to the reins and calm the horse enough to walk into the trees, but the horse was spooked. It wouldn’t take much to send him galloping off into the distance.

  “Grayson,” she mumbled. “Hurry.”

  * * * * *

  Grayson smiled at the comely woman on his lap. Her ample breasts were inches from his face, and her hand rested near his aching cock. The wench had already suggested they go up to her chamber. As much as he wanted to relieve his pent‐up desire, the thought of bedding the wench didn’t appeal to him, not the way it did when he imagined it was Adrianna in his arms.

  “Milord,” the woman purred in his ear. “Your rod tells me you want me. Why not ease yerself betwixt my thighs.”

  Grayson clenched his jaw. “I’ve not the time now, love. There is something you can do for me, though.”

  “Really?” She smiled and rubbed her breasts on his chest. “Tell me, milord.”

  “Someone stole my sword.”

  She laughed and slid her hand over his cock. “Nay, milord. I’m holding your sword.”

  Grayson pulled her hand away. “I need a weapon.”

  With a pout, she sat up. “I can get you a sword.”

  “Just what I wanted to hear.”

  “There’s something I want, though.”

  There always was. “What might that be?”

  “You,” she whispered in his ear. “In my bed.”

  Grayson hated to lie to her, but he had no other choice. He opened his mouth to answer her when a loud clap of thunder made the tavern rattle.

  Adrianna.

  “All right, love,” he said. “Get me the sword—a good sword, mind you—and I’ll meet you out back.”

  “Out back?” she said with her nose crinkled in disgust. “It’s about to rain.”

  “Aye. Have you ever had it in the rain?”

  She shook her mop of straight, dull brown hair.

  “Then this will be a first. Hurry,” he said and gave her a little push.

  As he walked from the tavern, he felt the eyes of a man on him. A glance over his shoulder showed Grayson it was the knight who owned the horse in front of the tavern. After he had shut the door behind him, he looked upward to see black clouds above him.

  Shite.

  He looked to the corral to see it empty, and a smile pulled at his lips. He hadn’t believed she could do it, but she had proven him wrong. Grayson hurried around the building and waited for the wench. Big drops of rain began to land on him. He drummed his fingers on his leg, silently urging the wench to hurry so he could get back to Adrianna.

  Finally, the back door to the tavern opened, and the woman stepped outside holding a sword in her hands. “I told ye I’d get yer sword.”

  Grayson smiled and hastily buckled the scabbard to his waist. He pulled the sword free and inspected it to make sure it wasn’t rusted and useless. When it proved a decent weapon, he replaced it in the scabbard.

  “My thanks.”

  “Wait,” she hollered as he began to leave. “I thought you were going to bed me.”

  Lightning chose that moment to strike, and through the wind he heard the high squeal of a frightened horse.

  “I’ve no time now,” he said and sprinted for the trees.

  Chapter Twelve

  As Grayson burst through the foliage, he looked to his left to see Adrianna grasping the grey’s reins with all her might as the horse reared. The gelding was strong, too strong for her to hold for long.

  It was as if the forces of nature conspired to hold him back. The faster he ran toward her and his horse, the stronger the wind blew against him.

  No matter how much he cursed, the wind didn’t lessen. And then the sky opened up, the rain drenching him in a heartbeat. Lightning streaked across the sky like gnarled fingers stretching toward them.

  He was close to reaching them when the grey gave a jerk of his great head, wrestling the reins from Adrianna and knocking her to the ground, before he took off at a run.

  Grayson ran to her and helped her stand while he whistled sharply, praying the gelding heard him over the storm.

  “Are you all right?” he shouted.

  She nodded, her eyes shining with determination. “I told you I would get your horse.”

  He laughed. “So you did.”

  T
hankfully, the gray trotted back to them. Grayson took the reins and ran his hand down the horse’s neck. “Easy, lad. All will be well.”

  It took longer than he wanted but, once the grey was calm enough, he set Adrianna atop him and hurriedly mounted behind her.

  “I’d ride easier astride,” she said over her shoulder.

  Grayson ignored her and nudged the grey into a gallop toward the gypsies. He tried to disregard the way her gown was molded to her breasts, her nipples visible as they peaked from the cool rain.

  How he wanted to lean down and taste the hard bud, to suckle it while she moaned beneath him, her hips grinding against his. Just thinking about bedding her made him harden. He prayed she didn’t feel his arousal against her.

  It wasn’t until his mount slipped in mud and Adrianna nearly fell off that Grayson wrapped an arm around her. Try as he might, he couldn’t ignore the feel of her against his chest or how wonderful it felt to hold her.

  He was in desperate need of relief by the time they reached the camp. Just being near her was too much. And he’d been fool enough to agree to let her travel with him to Hawksbridge.

  Grayson dismounted and gritted his teeth when she reached for him. He tried to hold her as far away as he could, but his hand slipped on her wet gown. She fell against his chest, her face inches from his as his other arm instinctively wrapped around her.

  He stilled, unable to look away from her penetrating gaze and unwilling to set her down. His eyes lowered to her mouth. The hunger to taste her, to feel her sweet lips against his, was overwhelming.

  “The storm is worsening,” she said.

  He nodded, grateful she stopped him from making a fool of himself and kissing her. “So it is.”

  Lightning lit up the sky a heartbeat before thunder exploded around them. Grayson set Adrianna on her feet. She started toward her cart and stopped.

  “Aren’t you coming?”

  “I must see to my horse,” he called and turned to the grey that stood staring at him with soulful dark eyes. “I know, I know,” he murmured to the horse. “It’s a mistake to want her as I do. You don’t have to tell me.”