Read Echoes of Magic for Free Online Page A

him
than without until he reached Hawksbridge, and he hated to admit
she might prove helpful. But how was he going to handle having her
around each day and unable to touch her?
    “ I’m going to regret this,
but all right. You may come.”
    She smiled, her eyes
sparkling. “I think you’ll find you’ll be thanking me
soon.”
    He rather hoped so, though he would never
tell her that. Mercifully, she walked from the cart leaving him
with a need that grew with such ferocity each time she was near
that it frightened him.
    There was no way he was going to trek about
the countryside with a raging cockstand without first finding a
willing woman to ease his lust. And as soon as he was able, he was
going to do just that.
    He drew in a shaky breath and flexed his
shoulder. He grimaced when the muscle pulled viciously, but Grayson
continued to work it to loosen the shoulder until he was satisfied
with the progress.
    Adrianna’s magic was strong to have healed
him so overnight. He couldn’t wait to see how he felt the next day.
If he continued to progress, he would be able to lift a sword very
soon, maybe even tomorrow. If he had a sword.
    He tugged on the tunic left on the bed for
him. Surprisingly, it fit well. He pulled on his boots and walked
from the cart to find his morning meal. The people around the large
fire gave him curious glances, and some even offered a smile.
    After he filled his plate with food, he
turned and found Adrianna sitting beneath a large oak talking to
Milosh. Grayson clenched his jaw at the way the gypsy leader looked
at Adrianna, as if Milosh wanted to devour her.
    “ She’s a very beautiful
woman.”
    Grayson turned to find a man who greatly
resembled Milosh. “She is. I would like to thank you for your
hospitality.”
    The man motioned for
Grayson to follow him and led him to a fallen log. Grayson sat
beside him and began to eat.
    After he’d taken several bites, the man
said, “I am Yoska. Milosh is my brother, and he has always desired
Adrianna as his own.”
    The bread was halfway to Grayson’s mouth
when he paused. “Why are you telling me this?”
    “ Because it will be up to
you soon to keep her safe. Adrianna is strong willed. When she
feels she is needed, she’ll do what she must to see that she has
done her duty.”
    “ I’d prefer her to
stay.”
    Yoska’s mouth flattened into a thin line.
“That she cannot do. The men that hunt you will return, will they
not?”
    “ Aye, they
will.”
    “ And Adrianna knows your
secrets.”
    Grayson sighed. “She knows enough that the
men would take her. As I said, you should have left me to die in
those woods.”
    “ It isn’t her way,” Yoska
simply said.
    “ Nay, it isn’t,” he agreed.
“Will you be able to avoid the men?”
    Yoska shrugged. “We know nothing. They will
realize that soon enough, I believe. Then they will be after you
once again.”
    Grayson looked into the Romanian’s dark
gaze. “I would never willingly put innocents in harm’s way.”
    “ I believe you. How is your
wound?”
    “ Much better. I would be
able able to protect her and the rest of you if I still had my
sword.”
    Yoska shrugged and rose.
“You’ll come across another soon I’m sure.”
    Grayson watched the big man walk away before
he glanced at Adrianna and Milosh. Milosh’s gaze was on Adrianna,
but Adrianna looked at Grayson. He gave her a small nod and went
back to his meal.
    Yoska’s words reverberated in his head. He
didn’t like knowing those men would find the gypsies, but the less
the gypsies knew, the better off they would be.
    Despite Yoska’s words that Adrianna was
strong willed, Grayson wondered if Milosh would let her go that
easily. It was clear the leader wanted Adrianna and, if Grayson
were in his shoes, there would be nothing that stood between him
and the woman he claimed as his own.
    At one time he had briefly thought to take a
wife, but that notion soon left him. Too many secrets, too many
unanswered questions filled