Francesca’s healing knowledge and Drogan’s refusing to let her go saved her life. I’m still not sure how they did it, even though I saw it with my own eyes.” “ Magic is like that,” Adrianna said. “You never know just how powerful it can be until it’s tested.” He finished his stew and set aside the bowl feeling better. He wasn’t up for a battle, but he was ready for some answers. “ Serena saw people’s deaths. She said it was her gift. What’s your gift?” Adrianna’s lips softened into a smile. “I see the future.” He raised his brows and whistled. “A nice gift to have.” “ Not really. People always want to know what the future holds for them but, once you tell them and it isn’t what they want to hear, it ruins their lives.” “ I can understand that. Have you looked into your own future?” She shook her head. “I would never chance that. Only rarely do I look into the future unless lives are at stake. Some things aren’t meant to be known.” “ I agree. How many more are there of you?” She sighed softly and lowered herself into the chair again. “As far as I know, only the three of us.” Grayson studied her to see if she lied or not. “What do you mean?” “ We were cursed, Grayson. Serena, Francesca and I are the last of our kind.”
Chapter Four
Just saying the words made a chill race down Adrianna’s spine. “ Cursed?” Grayson repeated. “How?” “ By one of our own actually. At one time Britain was covered with us. People sought us out, and we eagerly helped. Until the curse.” Color had returned to Grayson’s face, and he sat forward. “What is the curse exactly?” “ It began with Helen. She was said to be the most beautiful woman the world would ever know. As with most things that hold such beauty, Helen knew herself to be striking and became vain. Every man or boy who looked upon her fell in love with her.” “ Most likely fell in lust with her. It’s two different emotions.” She shrugged. “Regardless, they felt something at the sight of her. There was one man who declared to win Helen’s love for himself. He managed to succeed and earned her favor.” “ I’m guessing it would’ve been better for all if he hadn’t?” “ Aye. Everyone was happy. A marriage was set to take place until a man from the king came to the village. He had great wealth and a title.” Grayson snorted. “Let me guess. Helen decided she wanted the coin and title over her love?” “ Aye. The man she abandoned was so devastated that he threw himself into the river and drowned. Great distress ran through our people but, to make matters worse, the man’s mother was one of the elders.” “ She’s the one that caused the curse?” “ She did. He’d been her only child, and she was so hurt and carried such pain that when she set about the curse, she cursed our entire people instead of just Helen.” Grayson shook his head and blew out a breath. “Why would she do that?” “ I don’t think she meant to. I think it was her anger over the loss of her son. It was said she regretted her curse almost immediately, but nothing she did could undo it.” “ And the curse? What is it exactly?” Adrianna shifted in her chair and looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. “The curse is for any man of a bana ‐ bhuidseach to leave after we have his child.” “ Holy mother of God,” Grayson cursed. She smiled ruefully. “You will understand then why so many of us would rather go through life alone than to see the one we love abandon us.” “ But you would still have a child.” “ True. And some sacrifice their happiness to make sure the line continues as my mother did. However, not all women can handle having her husband leave. For some, the women become bitter and hateful. Their magic leaves them, making their anger grow. Their child sees this, and it makes it difficult for those girls to open their hearts to