So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

Distance. That was what he needed. So he couldn’t smell the lavender scent of her skin and clothes. Or be tempted to touch her golden hair or pretty face. Or hear the lovely lilt of her island accent.

Dammit. He glared at her as his crewmen pulled her over the railing. Even if he kept her at a distance, there was no way to keep her out of his head.

*

As soon as Brigitta’s feet landed on deck, Sister Fallyn snatched her away from the crewmen who had hauled her aboard. Only the slightest of tingles brushed against Brigitta’s special gift as one of the Embraced. Apparently, the two sailors and Sister Fallyn harbored only a few secrets. Unlike the masked man.

Brigitta cast a nervous glance around the deck. Crewmen bustled about here and there, and a man in a fancy hat was giving orders, but he was nowhere in sight. All these years she’d thought Mother Ginessa was hiding a great deal, but the older nun’s secrets were minuscule compared with the masked man. One touch from him and Brigitta’s special gift had erupted like the fiery blast from a cannon. After the initial shock, the massive weight of his hidden burden had dragged her under, causing her to black out for a few seconds.

Don’t let him touch you again. She’d tried her best to shoo him away, for she hadn’t wanted to risk another touch. Wrap yer legs around him and squeeze him tight? Ha! That much contact might render her unconscious for a week.

Or it might be exciting. She banished that thought. Only a scoundrel would talk the way he did. And only a ruffian would wear a mask. Indeed, it was a great relief she couldn’t spot him anywhere. Even though she was incredibly curious about his secrets. What was he hiding that was so huge? And how on Aerthlan did he survive with such a heavy burden?

“Brigitta!” Sister Fallyn shook her. “Are ye all right?”

“Aye.”

“Oh, thank the goddesses. Ye seemed to be in a daze for a moment.” Sister Fallyn lowered her voice to a whisper. “I completely understand. Ye poor child. It must have terrified you to be hauled over the railing by those burly, half-naked seamen.”

“What burly, half-nak—” Brigitta stopped when Sister Fallyn placed a finger over her mouth.

“A young innocent like you shouldn’t even repeat such words.” Sister Fallyn shuddered. “Goddesses help us, ye can see their muscles. And tattoos.”

Brigitta glanced around the deck once more. Goodness, there were a number of muscular men without their shirts. And some rather interesting designs inked on their arms and chests. Why had she not realized that before? Because ye were looking only for the masked man.

With a small gasp, she pressed a hand to her chest. Why did she keep thinking about that scoundrel?

“Shocking, I know.” Sister Fallyn grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her away. “Don’t look at them. It might give you lurid thoughts. Thank the goddesses I am immune to such things.” She waved a hand to fan her face. “Why, I hardly even notice it.”

“Are ye all right?” Brigitta asked. “Ye seem a bit flushed.”

“’Tis a trifle warm, that’s all.” Sister Fallyn turned her attention to the tear in the waistline of Brigitta’s gown. “Don’t worry about this. We can sew it back. We’ll just need a needle and some thread.” She turned toward the man with the fancy hat, and her cheeks blushed a brighter pink. “Captain—?”

“Landers.” The man removed his hat as he made a bow. “Your Highness, welcome aboard the Golden Star.”

Brigitta frowned at him. “It was an invitation we dared not refuse. If anything happens to my—” She glanced at the Eberoni ship.

“Your travel companions will not be harmed,” Captain Landers assured her. “And neither will you. You will both be safe here.”

“Safe?” Sister Fallyn gave him an incredulous look. “We’re surrounded by burly, half-naked men!”

With a hint of a smile, the captain plopped his hat back on his head. “I’ll make sure they’re fully dressed from now on.”

“Please do. Also, we will require needle and thread,” Sister Fallyn said, and while the nun and captain continued to talk, Brigitta turned to the railing and waved at her sisters in the distance.

They waved back.

“I miss you already,” Brigitta whispered.

A barking sound drew her attention to the sea. The seal was still there. It lifted a flipper and slapped the surface of the water as if trying to tell her something.

Below her, the dinghy had untied the mooring ropes and pushed off from the pirate ship. The rowers set a steady pace back to the Eberoni naval ship. The rest of the pirate fleet moved slowly away, leaving an open space to the east, so the Eberoni ship would be able to sail away. And leave her and Sister Fallyn behind.

She gripped the railing hard as her heart sank. What would happen to her now? The Telling Stones had always shown blue and gold, the colors of Tourin. So why was she on a pirate ship? And where was the tall and handsome stranger she was supposed to meet?

A tingling sensation crept down her spine, as if someone was staring at her. She glanced over her shoulder, but the crewmen were all busy hoisting sails and tying off ropes.

A sudden wind swept past her. She turned with it just in time to see the dinghy take off. The rowers yelped in alarm as their boat skipped like a stone across the water’s surface all the way back to the Eberoni ship.

Brigitta blinked. It had happened so fast. It must have been caused by the Wind Sorcerer, Rupert. She glanced over her shoulder again, but none of the crewmen seemed to be paying any attention to the dinghy.

By the time she looked back at the Eberoni vessel, the rowers had already tied off the dinghy and were scrambling up the ropes like frightened mice.

The second the rowers landed on deck, another wind, an even stronger one, shoved Brigitta up against the rail. It shot past her and blasted into the Eberoni ship, filling its sails and pushing it away.

“Nay,” Brigitta breathed. That horrid Rupert was whisking her sisters away. She waved frantically at them, and they scurried to the back of the vessel to wave at her.

Tears burned her eyes as their ship raced away and became a smaller and smaller speck on the horizon.

“Goddesses protect us,” Sister Fallyn whispered as she made the sign of the moons.

Brigitta wrapped an arm around the nun and gave her a tremulous smile. “Thank you for coming with me self.”

Sister Fallyn blinked away tears. “I will try my best to protect you.”

“I know ye will.” Brigitta gave her a squeeze.

“Aye, well.” Sister Fallyn sniffed. “We must be strong enough to confront the future without fear.”

“Aye, Sister.” Brigitta nodded.

“And we must always remember our training. Shoulders back. Chin up. No matter what, we will remain calm and dignified. Serene in the face of danger.”

“Ladies?”

“Ack!” Sister Fallyn jumped when Captain Landers approached them.

He smiled. “I’d like to introduce Jeffrey.” He motioned to a boy who looked about ten years old. “He’ll be taking care of you.”

“My ladies.” The boy sketched an awkward bow, then gave them a lopsided grin.