by Donna Grant
Leoma nodded. “They are yours, just as Hawksbridge is yours. Everyone needs to see you’re claiming this castle.”
“Thank you.”
“Your father would have wanted you to have all of it. Now,” she said and took a deep breath. “What have you come to me for?”
“The secret passage,” Grayson said and glanced at Adrianna. “I want Drina to know where it is so she may escape when the time comes.”
Leoma’s brow furrowed at his words. “I agree that Nigel cannot find her, but surely you want her with you if you are injured.”
“I won’t be injured. He’ll kill me. The passage. Please.” Grayson stepped aside to allow his mother to walk past him.
Adrianna threw him a look of annoyance. “That wasn’t well done.”
“It’s the truth. We all know it. Denying it won’t change anything.”
She shrugged and moved to follow Leoma. Grayson was slower to follow, unsure of everything other than his need to have Adrianna safe. As long as he knew she was safe and alive, he would be able to confront Nigel and die a warrior’s death.
Leoma led them down the stairwell to the dungeons, but she stopped midway down and turned down a corridor that was so well hidden, Grayson would have never found it.
The passage was narrow and so dark he couldn’t see Adrianna or his mother, but he could hear them. They moved slowly, their steps shortened in the darkness. Grayson kept his hand on his sword and paused every few steps to listen to see if anyone followed.
They veered to the left, then the right before turning back to the left. Suddenly, Leoma stopped. Grayson halted and listened. Metal clinked against metal before a door popped on its hinges as it swung open.
“We are in a cave beneath the castle,” Leoma said. “The cave will take you several leagues away.”
Grayson slid past Adrianna and Leoma to peer into the cave. “How many know of this passage?”
“Only us three,” Leoma answered. “It was passed down from father to son, but before William left, he showed me.”
“Why didn’t you use it?” Grayson had to know what kept his mother here all these years. “Why didn’t you leave and find me?”
Her sigh was loud in the silence. “I knew that one day you would return. You were going to need me, whether you wanted my help or not.”
“Let us return to the castle,” he said as he closed and bolted the door. “Drina. Can you find this place again?”
“Aye,” she answered.
Leoma once more took the lead as they traveled back to the castle. “Just remember, it’s the tenth stair, and the lock is under the stair. Use the toe of your foot to unlock it. The passage is completely hidden.”
“Does the door close instantly?” Adrianna asked.
“Nearly so.”
Grayson felt the fear around his gut loosen. Adrianna would have a way out. No one knew of the passage, which would give her time to escape, and he would make sure none of Nigel’s knights ventured from the gates of Hawksbridge to impede her.
He waited until they were once more in the great hall before he turned to her. “When you leave, ride for Wolfglynn. You’ll be safer and you can ride faster across country.”
“Stop,” she said and tried to turn away.
Grayson grabbed her shoulders and kept her facing him. “This needs to be said. You need to be prepared.”
Her eyes held such sorrow such fear that he pulled her against him, his mouth feasting on her as if she were a last meal to a dying man. His body was engulfed in torrent of desire. He craved her touch, longed for her kisses. His body demanded he take her, to feel her hot, slick sex surround him as he sunk into her.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, clinging to him as she molded her body to his. Grayson turned them into a darkened corner and ground his hips against hers. His hand found her breast and she moaned into his mouth.
Grayson had to have her. He yanked at her skirts, exposing her skin as she struggled to get his tunic and chainmail out of the way to free him.
And then the horn sounded.
They had visitors.
Chapter Twenty‐Nine
Adrianna wanted to scream at the unfairness. Instead, she looked into Grayson’s silver gaze and knew their time had come to an end. Her hands refused to release him, even when he dropped her skirts and stepped back.
“Grayson.”
His finger moved to her lips. “We knew this time would come.”
She moved aside his hand and trapped it within her own. “Aye, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon.”
“There’s nothing we can do.”
“We can run.”
“And leave these people to face Nigel alone? I’d never be able to live with myself.”
“Be careful. Watch that he’ll trip you. Also, he and his knights are in full armor.”
“I expected as much. I’ll be able to move quicker without mine.”
“Yet you’ll be injured easier as well.”
He took a step toward her and cupped her face in his hands. “Thank you. For everything.”
She wasn’t ready to say farewell. Not now. Not ever.
His lips covered hers, his breath mingling with hers as his tongue swept inside her mouth for one last kiss. Adrianna sighed when he deepened the kiss.
And then he was gone.
She used the stones at her back to keep her upright. Through her tears, she watched Grayson walk from the castle. And from her life.
“Nay,” she whispered to herself and pushed off the wall. “Promise or not, I won’t let him die.”
She knew Leoma was in the tower where she could keep a watch over Nigel and his men. Adrianna hurried to the west tower, her heart pounding in her ears. Her legs ached and a stitch started in her side, but she didn’t slow her steps until she reached the top of the tower. Adrianna threw open the door to find Leoma.
Grayson’s mother held out her hand. Adrianna took it, and together they moved to the window.
“Saints preserve us for a devil has come,” Leoma murmured.
Chills raced down Adrianna’s spine. She stared down at Nigel and his seven men, just as she had in her vision. In the back of her mind she held out hope, had thought aid in the form of Drogan would have arrived.
“There wasn’t enough time for Drogan to reach us,” she heard herself say.
“And Grayson won’t wait. I had thought he might consider it since he loves you so.”
Adrianna jerked her head to Leoma. “He doesn’t love me.”
“Ah, child,” she said with a kind smile. “He most certainly does. I’ve never seen a man look at a woman with such hunger in his eyes. He searches for you wherever you go. He stands near you, always touching you, always listening to your opinion. The love was there for all to see.”
Adrianna turned away. She should have told him, she should have let him know everything.
“Go to him,” Leoma said. “Mayhap that will halt what is about to happen.”
She looked at Leoma over her shoulder. “I never told him I loved him. I thought...I don’t know what I thought.”
“Go, Adrianna. Go to him now.”
“And the curse?”
“None of that will matter if he dies.”
Adrianna knew she was right. She hurried from the tower. How could she have been so stupid? How had she not seen his love? She called herself ten kinds of fool as she ran from the castle to the bailey. Grayson stood on the battlements, his hand on his sword.
She lifted her skirts and took the stairs to the battlements. She stopped before she reached the top and called out to him.
His head turned to her. He scowled and strode to the stairs. “What is it? You shouldn’t be up here.”
“I know. I had to tell you.”
“What? Tell me what?”
She gazed into his silver eyes full of worry and impatience. “Regardless of the outcome, there is something you should know.”
“And that might be?”
; She took his hand and placed it over her heart. “I love you.”
His eyes widened before he took a step down to her. He reached for her, pulling her into his arms. He was about to kiss her when someone shouted for him.
“Milord. They come!”
Adrianna’s heart fell to her feet when Grayson released her. He turned away and started up the steps. She hadn’t wanted a declaration from him, but she had expected him to at least ignore Nigel for a bit.
“Grayson.”
He stopped, his hands fisted at his side. “Drina. You cannot stop this.”
Nay, she might not be able to stop the battle, but she could stop his death. And her promise be damned, she wouldn’t hide, cowering in a corner while he and the rest of Hawksbridge faced such unspeakable evil. Adrianna gathered her skirts and turned to descend the stairs. She didn’t look back as she walked to the castle.
Grayson watched Adrianna until she was once more inside the castle. Her words of love still echoed inside his mind. He had never thought to hear a woman say those precious three words to him and, now, finally, the one woman who had his heart returned his love.
“Milord?”
He wanted to ignore the man beside him, but Grayson couldn’t. He turned and looked at the approaching riders. There were eight of them. Their shields were blank and no colors were visible.
“It’s about time you showed,” Grayson murmured. He turned to the men in the gatehouse. “Ready yourselves. Don’t let any of them in unless I give you the word.”
Grayson turned to the bailey and began to shout his orders to the men and women below. Most everyone would be hidden with only the strongest visible to Nigel once he entered the gates. Yet everyone was armed. Even if Grayson died, Nigel would soon follow when a volley of everyone in Hawksbridge aimed at him.
Hawksbridge would be safe once more. Grayson raged that it would demand his blood in exchange for the freedom of his people, but he saw no way around it. He had left a letter for Drogan, begging his friend to look after Adrianna. Leoma had special instructions to give to Drogan when he arrived. Adrianna, he hoped, would stay at Hawksbridge until Drogan came.
Grayson glanced at the tower where his mother waited. The words he had longed to say to her hadn’t come and, try as he might, he feared they never would. So, he’d done the only other thing he had been able. He wrote her, letting her know of his love and forgiveness. He hoped it was enough.
All was ready now. The only thing left to do was wait.
He gave a nod to the tower in case his mother watched and turned to the riders. They would be there within the hour.
And death soon after.
* * * * *
In the grove of trees outside Hawksbridge sat a lone rider. He watched the small group race toward Hawksbridge, their stench of evil enveloping the land. How he hated them.
He knew their intent. The destruction of Hawksbridge was imminent. Or was it? He had followed the new lord and his woman to Hawksbridge. There was something about the new lord that caught his attention. Maybe it was the way the lord road so confidently to the castle. It could have been how easily he and the commoners took Nigel’s knights.
Despite the courage and skill the new lord exhibited, he didn’t stand a chance against such an evil as Nigel, but the fact the new lord readily faced it brought a smile to his face.
For many years he had waited for this day. Waited and hoped and prayed. There had been a time he thought all had been lost. He had given up all hope, but hope once more filled his heart.
Would it be enough win against Nigel, only time would tell.
Yet, he found himself curious. It had been a long time since he had really cared about anything. He nudged his horse into a walk as he turned and found the path, a hidden path only few knew of.
* * * * *
Grayson drummed his fingers on the stones. Nigel and his men slowed their horses to a walk and leisurely approached Hawksbridge.
“Why are they takin’ so long?” one of the men asked.
Grayson chuckled. “He knows people are frightened of him. If he prolongs his arrival, it will only grow their fear.”
“Milord, I hate to admit it, but it’s working.”
Grayson looked at the young man and clapped him on the shoulder. “He cannot hurt you now. Remember that.”
“And if ye let him inside the castle walls as ye plan?”
“If he kills me, remember. Everyone attacks him at once,” Grayson said and scratched his chin.
“You make it sound simple, milord.”
“It is. You either kill him or you die.”
The young man snorted. “I’m not ready to die.”
“I didn’t think you were.” Grayson smiled at him before he turned to Nigel.
Grayson found his mind wandering to Adrianna. He’d meant to ask her where she planned to hide in case he needed to find her. Maybe it was better if he didn’t know where she was. The neighing of a horse broke into his musings. Grayson looked down to find Nigel and his men had finally arrived.
“You’re in my castle,” Nigel’s deep voice resonated around them. It was an unnatural voice, as though it came through a long tunnel.
“Actually, this is my castle. I’ve reclaimed it.”
“King Henry might have something to say about that.”
“Why don’t we wait for him to arrive? Since you told him you were holding Hawksbridge for my father to return, I wonder how the king would react to know that you’ve taken it as your own.”
Nigel laughed, the sound eerie and evil. “Henry will side with me. He always sides with me. I hope you didn’t bet the outcome on Henry, Grayson.”
“So you know who I am?”
Nigel nodded. His helm was lowered, hiding all of his face. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“I was at Wolfglynn, but you were too occupied with Drogan to care about anything else. You nearly died there.”
“Your eyes deceived you,” Nigel retorted, his voice as cold as ice.
“I know what I saw. You were defeated. Drogan still lives.”
“Not for long, just as you won’t live for long.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” Grayson said with a shrug. “You know this castle. You know you cannot breach her walls. You’ve lost Hawksbridge as well as Lady Leoma. No longer will you harm her or my people.”
Nigel kicked his horse to move closer. “Ah, Leoma. Did she tell you that all would be well as long as I’m outside the castle walls? Were you naïve enough to believe her?”
Grayson felt as if he’d been kicked in the balls. “You cannot harm her now.”
“Truly? Then she didn’t tell you everything. Leoma,” Nigel shouted. “Did you forget what I had warned you about? Did you think I had forgotten after all these years?”
Grayson jerked to the side as a spear came flying over his shoulder from the bailey. He watched it land in Nigel’s chest, knocking him from his horse. Grayson refrained from glancing at the tower, but barely. He focused on Nigel who pulled the spear free of his chest and tossed it aside as he climbed to his feet.
Though Grayson had seen Nigel battle Drogan, he was still taken aback at how nothing seemed to hurt him. No blood gushed from the wound. The only evidence that Nigel had had a spear in his chest was the slit in his armor.
Grayson’s men gasped, their fear palpable. He understood their terror for it threatened to overtake him. Then he remembered Adrianna and his mother and his father. He recalled the childhood lost to him, the innocents killed and the malevolence that festered in the land.
“How much more of that can you take?” Grayson called down to Nigel. “You can withstand one attack, but many?”
“Care to find out?” Nigel taunted.
Grayson smiled. A cold determination settled around him. “As a matter of fact I do.”
“Then come out, and we’ll battle, you and I.”
Grayson chuckled and shook his head. “Do you think I’m a fool? I’ve already killed two of your men, I
can kill the others but not all at once, and you know it.”
“I knew it was you who had killed my men.”
“They were fairly easy to kill. Maybe your men aren’t as skilled as you think they are.”
“And you have no men,” Nigel goaded. “It’s just you against eight.”
Grayson leaned onto the stones, his gaze narrowed on Nigel. “If you think you can win Hawksbridge, come and claim her.”
Chapter Thirty
With a slight tilt of his head, Nigel walked to the massive gates. The gate was opened only enough to let Nigel through and, though Grayson watched the knights, none of them moved to follow.
Grayson slowly descended the stairs to the bailey, his gaze locked on the man who had destroyed his world. Nigel stood in the center, his helm shifting to follow Grayson’s approach.
“I should have killed you when you were a boy,” Nigel ground out.
“Aye, you should’ve. Why did you wait until now to find me?”
“I picked up your scent while I was at Wolfglynn.”
“I’ve been at Wolfglynn most of my life. What took you so long?”
“You were cloaked with magic. I never sensed you.”
“But you have evil on your side. Are you telling me magic is more powerful than you?”
Nigel flexed his hand. “Never.”
Grayson stared into the helm, searching for Nigel’s eyes, searching for anything that would prove he was just a man. But there was nothing.
“What are you looking for?” Nigel asked. “Do you disbelieve the rumors you’ve heard? Do you think me a mere man who has spread lies in order to make people submit to me?”
“I think you’re a coward,” Grayson said and unsheathed his sword. “I don’t think you were ever a man. Power and greed ruled you. They will always rule you.”
Nigel cocked his head to the side. “You have a choice. You can give me your soul, and in exchange I will allow you to rule Hawksbridge. I’ll even permit your mother to live.”
“And if I don’t give you my soul?”