Echoes of Magic by Donna Grant Read Free Book Online

leave or die very young, the
women thought if they mated with non ‐ magical men they might have a
chance at happiness.”
    “ Not so,” he
guessed.
    Adrianna shook her head.
“Every time a bana ‐ bhuidseach mated with a non ‐ bana ‐ bhuidseach it diluted our magic
until a woman never knew if her daughter would have the magic or
not. All males stopped having magic all together.”
    “ I think that’s sad. Your
people have so much history, so many wondrous abilities. I’d hate
to see them gone.”
    It was more than sad. It
was horrific, but she wouldn’t go into her worry over her people.
As far as she knew, there were only three bana ‐ bhuidseach left in Britain. It would
only be a matter of years before there was none.
    “ Have you tried to end the
curse?” Grayson asked.
    Adrianna rose and looked
at the clear, blue sky. “I think every bana ‐ bhuidseach who has ever married has
prayed they would be the ones to break the curse. Spells were cast,
futures looked into, and even reverse curses, but nothing has
stopped it. Nothing.”
    She heard him stand as he moved behind her.
His heat surrounded her, and she had the urge to lean back against
his strong chest and have his arms wrap around her comforting her,
protecting her.
    Her breasts swelled and her sex throbbed
with need every time he was near. It was driving her insane, but
the need, the hunger, only made her want him all the more. But she
couldn’t allow herself even that small measure of weakness.
    “ What are you thinking of?”
he murmured, his voice low and husky. He was only inches from her,
challenging her resolve with every heartbeat.
    “ Happiness,” she finally
answered. “Some people dream of riches and titles. I dream of
happiness.”
    “ Do you think you’ll ever
find it?”
    She briefly closed her
eyes. “Nay. Happiness has eluded my people for generations. Maybe
it’s best if we die out. Our magic will be gone, but we might be
able to rest instead of carrying such a heavy burden.”
    Large hands gently turned her to face him.
“I think happiness is what you make of your life. Have you been
unhappy with the gypsies?”
    “ Not at all. There is a
difference in what I’ve had with the gypsies and what I could have
if the curse never was.”
    “ I’m not disputing that,”
he said softly. “I’m merely stating that you can choose to be
happy, or you can choose to be melancholy and lament over what you
don’t have.”
    She laughed. “You make it sound so simple.
How I wish it were. Tell me. Have you made the most of your
situation, Grayson?”
    One side of his mouth lifted in a wry grin.
“I’d like to think so. Part of it was because I was keeping who I
was a secret, but another part of me realized I only have this one
chance at life. Why not make the most of it while I can?”
    Adrianna swallowed. His words reverberated
in her head like a drum, making her wish for...him. How she wanted
to throw caution to the wind and give in to her temptation to step
into Grayson’s arms.
    She knew exactly where it would lead and,
though she liked to think she was strong enough to survive
anything, the truth was, she wasn’t sure. She would be left with
another child, but would that be enough? She somehow knew deep in
the pit of her soul that one taste of Grayson would never be
enough.
    “ You speak such grand
words, yet you are willing to ride alone into evil and sacrifice
yourself.”
    He chuckled. “I’m a warrior, Adrianna. What
can I say?”
    “ Aye. What can you say?”
She walked away from him before she said something she might later
regret.
    As she made her way to the
stream, out of the corner of her eye she saw Milosh watching her.
In her quest to aid Grayson, she was hurting a man who had offered
her shelter, a family. Yet, she could find no way around
it.
    “ Stay close, Drina,” Yoska
cautioned as he passed her.
    Adrianna gave a nod that she heard him and
grabbed her soap from the cart before she continued on her way