Echoes of Magic Read Online Free PDF Page A

this evil, you’ll find your
mother.”
    He was silent a moment before he ran a hand
down his face. “You may be right. I’ve just wanted answers for so
long. I don’t want to wait any longer.”
    She came down on her knees between his legs.
Her hands rested on his thick thigh muscles, the heat of him
scorching her. “Let me help you.”

Chapter Five
     
     
    Grayson snorted. “Battle is no place for a
woman.”
    “ I won’t be going into
battle, will I?” Adrianna retorted, holding back her
anger.
    “ I don’t understand why you
would want to help me, a stranger?”
    Adrianna dropped her hands
and sat on her heels. “I’ve been drifting through life for so long.
I’ve not been living it. Serena showed me that. I want to feel
useful. I want to do something about this evil, because he won’t
stop until you, Drogan and hundreds of innocents are
dead.”
    “ He’s gone from
Wolfglynn.”
    “ Is he?” Somehow she wasn’t
surprised. “It’s something in Drogan’s past that led the evil to
him. It waited years to seek Drogan out. I don’t think it’s done
with him yet.”
    Grayson blew out a breath, his agitation and
frustration palpable. “I know going to Hawksbridge will bring about
my death. I’ve acknowledged that fact, and I’m ready to face it.
You’re a woman, Adrianna. Women have no business in wars.”
    “ This isn’t a war. Yet. Let
me help you while I can. Between my magic and my knowledge, we can
get further than you could alone.”
    “ I must be daft to even
consider your offer.”
    Hope sprung in her chest as she saw him
wavering. “Don’t give me an answer now. Think on it.”
    “ I cannot do anything
without my horse and sword. My damned sword,” he grumbled and
fisted his hand.
    Adrianna stood, determination filling her.
“Then we find you another horse and sword.”
    “ If those men who attacked
me find the gypsies...”
    “ They won’t,” she
interrupted him. “They must have thought you dead, or they wouldn’t
have left you.”
    Grayson reached up and rubbed the heel of
his hand into his eye. “They didn’t leave me. I escaped.”
    “ Oh.” For a moment all
Adrianna could do was stand, her mind whirling with the possibility
the men could find them.
    She needed to use her
magic, if for no other reason than to keep the gypsies safe. They
had sheltered her. It was the least she could do for them. But
first she needed Grayson to rest.
    She turned, reached for the cup, and poured
more water into it then handed it to him.
    He looked from her to the
water. “What’s in it?”
    “ Nothing,” she said. “It’s
merely water. You watched me pour it.”
    His gaze narrowed slightly, but he tilted
the water to his lips and drank. Adrianna set aside the cup and
gently pushed him onto his back.
    “ You need to rest and build
up your strength.”
    “ I’ve rested enough,” he
grumbled but his lids began to close.
    Adrianna took his empty bowl and left the
cart to find her own meal. Friendly smiles and the aroma of the
meal greeted her when she approached the large fire.
    “ Drina.”
    She nodded to Milosh. Even as she walked
away she could feel his eyes on her. He had made it known he was
attracted to her, but she had wanted nothing to do with men.
    Until Grayson.
    After dishing stew for
herself, she moved from the fire to lean against a tree and eat.
Before she realized the connection between Grayson and Drogan she
was going to let him heal naturally.
    That wasn’t an option for them now. Her
magic was needed. She wasn’t a great healer, but with her magic she
could speed up the healing. Grayson wasn’t the type of man to want
to lie around and let his body slowly mend. He wanted answers and,
if Adrianna didn’t do something quickly, she’d wake up one morning
to find him gone, healed or not.
    And that would be his death.
    “ Is your warrior troubling
you?” Milosh asked as he came to stand in front of her.
    Adrianna lifted her face to meet his