Magic In The Storm Read Online Free PDF

name
without intending to do so.
    The roll of thunder immediately followed the
lightening. He shook his head and pushed aside his confusion. There
wasn’t time for this—the storm was nearly upon them. “You really
must go.”
    He reached out and wrapped his hands around
her slender waist, lifting her easily. As if they’d done this a
hundred times before, she rested her hands comfortably on his
shoulders. Her skin felt warm through the thin material of her
dress, and he was tantalized by her sweet smell... elusive,
unidentifiable, but reminding him of the first wildflowers of
spring. A fierce desire to hold her close to his own body
overwhelmed him.
    A strong gust of wind blew directly in his
face. Yes, he agreed silently with it, he had to resist these
traitorous urges. Already he had placed himself in jeopardy by
healing her. How much more stupid could he be?
    He placed her gently on the saddle.
Whispering softly in the mare’s ear, he gave it a slap on the rump
and then watched as the horse took off in the direction of the
stables.
    Morgan stayed where he was, concentrating on
the sky, willing the storm to wait until the girl reached the
abbey. Yes, he had recognized the horse as one belonging to his
brother, Jonathan, Lord Vallentyn.
    He turned in the direction the girl had gone
and found her straining to look back at him. She was...
enthralling, but he did not have the time to wonder who she was or
why she was visiting his family.
    He took a deep breath, savoring the prelude
of the rain in the air. He could still sense the lingering
anticipation of his destiny—or whatever it was. But now, it had
changed. There was still tension charging the air, but no longer
did he feel as if something was coming. In fact, that sensation was
almost entirely gone.
    Had he missed it? Had his chance come and
gone? Was he doomed to live in this forest forever?
    No, he couldn’t, he wouldn’t, believe that to
be true.

 
     
Four
     
    T
he wind lashed around Adriana as she rode to the
stables. She wasn’t sure if she was directing the horse or if it
was following orders from the mysterious man she had met in the
woods. He had certainly said something to the horse. Was it
possible that he could communicate with animals as well as heal
bones?
    Adriana nearly laughed at her fanciful
thoughts. Men could not heal bones with a touch. Nor could she know
a man she’d never met. But she did know him. Everything
about him had been familiar and comforting. How could this be? She
needed to think this through, but of much more immediate concern
was the storm overhead, and the slate–colored clouds looming
ominously. She needed to get back to the abbey quickly.
    Much to her amazement, she made it to the
house just before the storm broke. The moment she was inside, there
was a great crack of lightning followed immediately by a booming of
thunder that shook the old stones of Vallentyn Abbey. Rain pelted
down from the sky in relief.
    Adriana looked out from the doorway and took
a deep breath, smelling the wonderful, fresh smell of the first
raindrops hitting the ground. She was tempted to go back out into
the storm—to be a part of it, to feel the cool water against her
warm skin. She took a small step forward, wondering if she actually
dared to go back out.
    A large dog came and stood very close to her.
He looked as undecided as she felt, only he stood with one paw in
front of her. It was as if he was intending to block her from
leaving the house.
    “Adriana! What do you think you are doing?
Where have you been?”
    With a start, she turned around and saw her
guardian, Lord Devaux, bearing down on her from across the great
hall. She stood up taller and moved away from the door, toward the
staircase in the center of the hall. All thoughts of going out into
the storm disintegrated like dust at her feet. Her guardian, worse
than the harshest governess, was here to see that she did not do
anything daring or fun.
    “I was out riding. If you will