by Donna Grant
Adrianna’s fingers entwined with his, and he brought their hands to cover his heart. The moment was so calm, so peaceful that he could almost forget what approached Hawksbridge.
“What will happen tomorrow?” she asked.
Grayson drew in a deep breath and shifted his gaze to her. “I’ve looked over Hawksbridge myself. She’s a well‐built castle and will be able to withstand a heavy siege. If Nigel only has the men you say he does, they won’t be able to enter the castle unless I open the gates for them.”
“Nigel could wait us out. How much food does the castle have?”
“Enough for nearly a month if we ration it correctly. The well isn’t reached from outside the castle, so we needn’t worry about him contaminating the water.”
She smiled then. “So we could wait for Drogan and his men.”
“If he comes. I’m not counting on it.”
“He’s your friend. He’ll come.”
Grayson sat up and caressed her cheek. “Drogan has had his run‐in with Nigel. Serena won’t thank me for asking for his help.”
“You didn’t. I did,” Adrianna reminded him. “Drogan is a good man. He won’t refuse our cry for help.”
Grayson shrugged. “I don’t think it will matter. Nigel won’t leave without a battle between us.”
“And you’ll give it to him?”
He saw the anxiety in her pale blue gaze and, for a moment, Grayson thought to lie to her. “Aye. I do want to fight him.”
Chapter Twenty‐Seven
Adrianna waited until Grayson’s breathing evened into sleep before she pulled her magic around her. Grayson was determined to die, but she was just as determined to keep him alive.
She wanted him living, not because she hoped they could have a future, but because Hawksbridge needed him. Leoma needed him. The tiny kernel of hope lodged in her heart refused to go away though. Serena and Drogan had managed to break the curse for themselves and, if only Adrianna knew how, she might be willing to give Grayson her heart.
It’s too late. My heart is already his.
As sad as it was, it was the truth. She wasn’t sure when she fell in love with Grayson, but there was no denying it. She turned her head to look at him, the worry lines now relaxed in sleep. How she longed to tell him of her feelings, but she dared not.
She knew he cared for her. She saw it every time his silver gaze came to rest on her or when his arms held her against him as he kissed her. He showed her in so many different ways. And it was enough.
For her, it was enough.
She could never have more than she had at that moment. Years ago she would have railed at the unfairness but, now, she was thankful she’d gotten a taste of love. Real love, for she knew that’s what was in her heart. She would do anything for Grayson. Anything.
And for a woman who didn’t need a man in her life, it showed her just how much she loved him.
One thing she could do was look into the future. This time, there wouldn’t be any interruptions. This time she would see all she needed to for she didn’t know if she would have another chance.
Adrianna closed her eyes and felt her magic hum as it gathered near her. She had only to think of Grayson and the coming dawn for the future to flash before her.
She sucked in a breath as she looked down from the tower at Grayson. He stood on the battlements, his black hair tied at the back of his neck. His face was wreathed in anger, and his silver gaze was directed at a knight on horseback outside the gates of Hawksbridge. The knight’s shield had no markings; he wore no colors.
Nigel.
He had the remaining seven knights on either side of him. They were all in armor, their helms lowered, waiting. Grayson then challenged Nigel, his voice loud and clear in the morning light. With a small tilt of his head, Nigel accepted. Nigel was allowed entry. Grayson waited for him, sword drawn, ready for battle.
Nigel wasted no time in attacking, but Grayson was ready for him. They moved almost like a dance, parrying and thrusting, diving and rolling. And each time Adrianna saw how much more power Nigel had.
And then Nigel tripped Grayson. A scream lodged in Adrianna’s throat as she watched Grayson land on his back and Nigel’s blade sink into his chest.
Adrianna’s eyes flew open, her breath coming in gasps. She glanced over to see Grayson still sleeping. Before he could wake, she slipped from the bed and padded to his side where his weapons lay.
Thanks to Nigel, the priest had been cast out of Hawksbridge, so there would be no holy blessing on Grayson’s weapons as they had hoped. Her blessing, a magical blessing, would be all that he would have. Adrianna just prayed it was enough.
She held her hands over the weapons, the ancient words forming silently on her lips as she poured every ounce of her magic into protecting the weapons and Grayson. When the last word was spoken, she fell to the side, catching herself by her hand before she could hit the cool stones.
Using her magic thus had taken too much out of her. She needed rest, but she would find no sleep until Nigel was dead. Only then would she rest easy.
“Drina.”
She jerked her head to find Grayson staring at her. He rose up on an elbow and held out his hand. She didn’t hesitate in accepting it. He pulled her on top of him, their lips met, and then desire engulfed her. It was always the same. Grayson brought out a side of her she hadn’t known she had. And one she liked very much.
“Where were you going?” he asked between kisses.
Adrianna tilted her head to the side so he could kiss down her neck. She shuddered as he found a sensitive spot beneath her ear. “Nowhere.”
His rigid cock brushed against her heated sex, causing her to grind against him. He moaned and gripped her hips.
“Saints, I cannot get enough of you,” he murmured against her breasts just before he pulled a nipple into his hot mouth.
Adrianna sunk her hands into his hair and sighed as the pleasure rushed through her to center at her sex. Her need swelled, causing her sex to clench greedily. She reached between them and took his rod in her hand. She loved the feel of him, his hardness, his heat. He suckled her nipple hard, the line between pleasure and pain blurring. Adrianna began to stroke his length, teasing the tip of his cock.
He flipped her onto her back, his eyes ablaze with hunger. Adrianna knew just how he felt. She opened her legs as he positioned himself above her. In one thrust, he entered her, seating himself to the root.
She wrapped her legs around him, their gazes locked, as he began to thrust. He pumped in and out of her as she matched him, their pleasure blinding them to everything but each other. All too soon she felt herself building toward her climax. She wasn’t ready to peak, wasn’t ready to let reality intrude once again. But she couldn’t stop the orgasm when it claimed her. She screamed, her body convulsing with waves of pleasure.
Grayson kissed her as he stiffened over her, his seed pouring into her. Adrianna held on to him as if he were life itself. Night began to fade, and with the light would come an evil neither of them was ready for.
* * * * *
It was the first morning Adrianna had ever hated to see the sunrise. She might be able to do magic, but she couldn’t stop time, and they had just run out of all of theirs.
They had slept little in the remaining hours before dawn. Instead, they had held each other, kissing, caressing. She longed to tell him of her love, of how she wished and prayed for a future together. She wanted to tell him how she hoped their time together had given them a child growing within her.
But she couldn’t. Not when he had to prepare for Nigel.
She would stand beside him, giving him her love silently. He had made her promise she would stay safe, that she wouldn’t come near Nigel. How she had hated to give that promise, but give it she had.
When she walked to the great hall, she saw Leoma sitting alone at the dais. Adrianna hurried to her. There would be no “good morns” this morning for there was nothing good about it.
“I spent all of last ni
ght looking into the future,” Leoma confessed. “I kept seeing Grayson’s death over and over. I couldn’t see anything but that scene.”
Adrianna sighed and sat as she took Leoma’s hand in hers. “I, too, saw his death, but I’m determined to stop it.”
“How?”
“I blessed Grayson as well as his weapons.” Adrianna shrugged. “It was the only thing I could think to do. We know anything blessed by the church protects against Nigel, but there is no priest to bless Grayson and his weapons.”
Leoma shook her head. “Nay. Nigel sent the priest away the same day he sent Grayson. I hope your blessing works.”
“We are of magic, Leoma. We were both blessed in being able to see the future. We need to use it to our advantage.”
Leoma patted her hand. “You’re right, of course. I don’t want to lose him. He just returned.”
“Then we won’t.” Adrianna rose and put her hands on her hips. “I was also given the ability to heal. And lest we forget, Grayson also holds some magic. I’ll heal him if he needs it, because I refuse to allow him to die.”
A smile pulled at Leoma’s lips. “Seeing the future has always been my weakest gift.”
“And your strongest?”
This time the smile turned shrewd. “I’m able to move objects.”
“What do you mean?”
Leoma pointed to a shield and two crossed swords above the mantle. As Adrianna watched, both swords lifted from their resting place to fly across the hall and embed in a wall.
She whirled around to Leoma, amazement halting her voice. “That’s...incredible.”
Leoma shrugged. “It’ll be useful in an attack.”
Adrianna could have shouted for joy she was so excited. “It most certainly will.”
“What will be useful in an attack?” Grayson asked as he strode into the hall.
Adrianna pointed to the swords. “That. Your mother can move objects.”
Grayson’s gaze moved from the swords to his mother. “Show me?”
Leoma removed the swords from the wall and had them resume their positions above the hearth.
He whistled. “That will be useful, especially since we have no knights on our side. Just stay hidden so Nigel doesn’t see you.”
“Of course,” his mother replied.
He silver gaze swung to Adrianna. She took his hands. She hated that he was so flippant about the situation, but she also knew him well enough to know that nothing would change his mind about battling Nigel. “Drogan will come. All we have to do is wait for him.”
Grayson shook his head. “Drogan survived this bastard once. I’ll not wait around for him to face Nigel again. This is my fight, Drina. Running from it will only prolong the outcome.”
“Will nothing change your mind, son?” Leoma asked. “Is there anything that could sway you from this course?”
He clenched his jaw and shook his head. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since you were taken from me,” he said and turned to his mother. “I’ve dreamed of this, yearned for this. Live or die, I will see this through.”
“Grayson, please,” she begged.
He sliced an arm through the air to halt her. “Enough. I forgive you for sending me away, but I’ll never forgive you if you keep me from this battle.”
Leoma covered her face with her hands and cried.
Adrianna watched as Grayson walked from the hall. It was then she noticed he had changed his clothes. He wore chain mail and a new tunic of red with a black hawk with its wings spread. Just before he walked from the castle, he stopped by the door and lifted a large shield painted red with the same black hawk upon it.
“There goes Hawksbridge’s favored son,” Leoma whispered.
Adrianna took a deep breath, the stench of evil consuming her. Nigel and his men were drawing closer. They had little time to get everything in place.
Chapter Twenty‐Eight
Grayson didn’t stop until he was on the battlements looking over the land. His land. He still couldn’t believe it. All those years of thinking he was a commoner when he fact he was a nobleman.
He chuckled to himself, wondering what Drogan would say. Drogan had been as close to a brother as Grayson had ever had and, though he longed to have Drogan at his side now, he knew it was for the best that Drogan stayed at Wolfglynn.
Grayson leaned against the stone merlon that made up the square‐toothed pattern of the battlements. Few clouds dotted the sky as the sun continued its ascent. The day was so beautiful, so clear it amazed him that in a few short hours evil would descend upon them.
He wasn’t afraid to face Nigel. He was afraid of Nigel discovering Adrianna. Just the thought turned his blood to ice. For Grayson to have a chance at defeating Nigel, he had to invite the evil bastard into Hawksbridge.
Yet, once Nigel was inside, it gave him access to Leoma and Adrianna.
Grayson raked a hand down his face. If only he’d sent Adrianna away. It had been purely his own selfishness that had kept her at Hawksbridge. He needed her as much as he needed the air in his lungs. He couldn’t explain it and didn’t try to.
It just was.
He accepted his hunger, his need for Adrianna, but it might very well get her killed. With a growl of frustration he turned and looked at the castle. She needed to leave. Immediately. But he knew she wouldn’t. She would fight him, reason with him, until he saw her logic. God help him, he wanted her there. She was the only thing that kept him going, the one thing that gave him hope.
Without her, he was nothing.
That realization made him pause. When had she come to mean everything to him? When had she taken over his heart? Not that it mattered. The deed was done. He was hers in every way imaginable.
His hand gripped the hilt of his sword. He’d been ready to die a few days ago, but now...now he wanted to live. He wanted to test the Fates and keep Adrianna by his side, sharing every moment of his life with her.
Saints. He loved her.
Grayson closed his eyes and let the realization sink in. The power of Hawksbridge was his to control, the people, the land, the castle. And with Drina by his side, he would have everything he had ever wanted.
There’s just Nigel standing in your way.
“Shite,” Grayson cursed and opened his eyes. His gaze landed on Adrianna below in the bailey.
She stared at him with her pale blue eyes, waiting. He found his feet moving toward her. His hunger for her body made his balls tighten. Her lips curved into a smile, and his breath lodged in his chest as he remembered the way her mouth had slid over his cock.
“Do we have time to visit the tower?” she asked, her eyes filled with desire.
He took her hands. “If only.”
“I know,” she said softly. “You’re needed here.”
“Is there any way I can convince you to leave? My selfishness kept you here, but I fear I may have brought about your death.”
She placed her hand over his heart. “If you want the truth, it was my own selfishness that kept me with you, regardless of the danger. With you, I feel as though I’m alive for the first time in my life. To walk away from that, from you, isn’t a possibility.”
“Drina,” he ground out. “If Nigel defeats me...”
She dropped her hand and took a deep breath. “He will. I’ve seen it, Grayson.”
“What do you mean? Tell me what you saw?”
“You challenge him, and he accepts. You bring him inside the castle gates where you begin to fight. He trips you and, before you can rise, he kills you.”
Grayson could only stare at her. “You weren’t going to tell me, where you?” He wasn’t sure how he knew her intentions, he just did.
“Nay,” she admitted. “My plan was to ensure that you have time to get away before he’s able to kill you.”
“And how would you do that?”
Her gaze dropped. “By showing myself.”
It was as if an arrow plunged into his heart. Grayson placed a finger beneath
her chin and tilted her face to his. “I cannot allow you to do that.”
“It’s not your choice.”
“I’m begging you. If you care for me at all, walk away. Now. Leave Hawksbridge and never look back.”
Tears gathered in her eyes, spilling over her cheeks. “You ask the impossible. It’s because I care for you that I remain.”
Grayson dropped his head back and stared at the sky. He had never felt more powerless. He was going to die and Adrianna with him.
He sighed and looked at her. “If you’ll not leave, swear to me that you will stay hidden. Swear it, Drina, or as God is my witness, I’ll tie you up and have men take you from Hawksbridge within the hour.”
“Fine,” she said and swiped at her tears. “I’ll swear it.”
“No matter what happens, no matter what Nigel does, you stay hidden. The first chance you get you leave. Now, swear it.”
Her eyes flashed in anger. “Don’t ask this of me, Grayson. I can help you.”
“You already have. More than you could ever know. Now, please. Give me your word.”
“I give it,” she whispered.
Grayson let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “My mother spoke of a secret exit. Have her show you where it is so that you may leave when it’s time.”
“I’m a healer, Grayson. If you’re injured, you’re going to need me.”
He would always need her. Always.
“Come,” he said. “Let us discover this secret exit.”
He gave her no time to argue as he took her hand and pulled her after him. As soon as he walked into the castle he saw Leoma standing before the fireplace, her gaze lifted to the shield and swords hanging on the wall.
“Those belonged to your father once,” she said as they approached. She turned to face them. “They were his first weapons when he was knighted. The shield you carry now, Grayson, was his.”
“Why didn’t he take it with him to battle?”
“He did,” she said. “It was the only thing returned to me.”
“It was you who placed the shield and tunic in my chamber?”