So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

Brigitta exchanged a look with Sister Fallyn. What on Aerthlan was a young boy doing on a pirate ship?

Sister Fallyn aimed a disapproving glare at the captain. “Why isn’t this boy at home with his family? Don’t tell me ye stole him!”

“I ain’t stolen,” the boy muttered.

Captain Landers’s eyes narrowed as he returned the nun’s glare. “We don’t steal people. Only gold.”

“Oh!” Sister Fallyn scoffed. “How magnanimous of you.”

The captain stepped toward her. “We know what we are, Mistress Fallyn. We don’t pretend otherwise.”

Her chin went up. “It’s Sister Fallyn.”

He arched a brow, then turned to Jeffrey. “Escort them to the guest rooms, please.”

“Aye, Captain!” Jeffrey saluted.

“Ladies.” Captain Landers bowed, then strode toward the rear of the ship and climbed the steps to the quarterdeck.

“Infuriating man,” Sister Fallyn muttered. The ship suddenly lurched, causing her and Brigitta to stumble. They grabbed on to each other to retain their balance.

Jeffrey grinned at them. “Don’t worry. You’ll soon have your sea legs.”

“The ship is turning around.” Brigitta looked over the railing. The other pirate ships in the fleet had fanned out in formation behind them. Was the horrid Rupert moving all the ships with his wind power? “Where are we going?”

“South, probably.” Jeffrey shrugged. “We go wherever Rupert wants us to go. Come on!” He scampered toward the door that led below the quarterdeck.

As Brigitta followed the boy to the back of the ship, she scanned the quarterdeck, searching for someone who looked like he might be controlling the wind. But only the captain and a helmsman were there.

The tingling sensation inched up her spine once more, and she glanced back. Why did it feel like someone was staring at her? And where had the masked man gone? Why did he wear a mask when none of the other pirates did?

She touched Sister Fallyn’s arm. “Did ye see the masked man earlier?”

The nun shuddered. “He’s a frightening one, he is. Ye should keep yer distance from him.”

“Do ye know where he is?”

“Far away, thank the goddesses.” Sister Fallyn pointed up.

Brigitta glanced up and her heart stuttered in her chest. She couldn’t see him well, for the sun was too bright overhead, but she could make out his tall silhouette against a blue sky that was now devoid of clouds.

He was standing in the crow’s nest, facing her. Watching her, she could feel it. He bowed slightly, and her heart leaped into a fast rhythm. Who was he?

Unlike the other bare-chested crewmen, he was wearing a white shirt. She had noticed earlier that the top few buttons were undone, and his neck and chest had seemed tanned … and strong. And when he’d held his own weight, his sleeves had pulled tight against the muscles in his arms.

She turned away, not wanting to admit she’d studied him that carefully. But how could she not be intrigued? Her special gift compelled her to uncover secrets, and he was hiding so many. He was even hiding his face.

She shook her head. There had been something off. Something wrong, but she’d been too flustered to figure it out.

His eyes had been a golden color. Amber, and they had twinkled with a smoldering fire. Because of his mask, only the bottom portion of his face had been visible, but it had looked quite attractive. His jawline had been strong and sharply defined, his mouth wide and expressive. When he’d smiled, she’d forgotten to breathe for a moment.

Why would such a handsome man need a mask?

She stiffened with a gasp. Tall and handsome? “Oh, no.”

“What’s wrong?” Sister Fallyn asked her.

“It can’t be.” Brigitta shook her head again. “Who is the masked man?”

Before the nun could answer, a deep voice whispered, “Ni Rupert.”

Brigitta spun around, but no one was behind her. “What was that?”

Jeffrey chuckled. “You have to watch what you say on deck, my lady. Rupert can bring your words to him on the wind and then send his back to you.”

A chill prickled Brigitta’s arms as she lifted her gaze once more to the crow’s nest. The masked man had introduced himself on a breeze. Ni Rupert.

“I am Rupert” in the language of Tourin.

Good goddesses, no. He was a pirate and a Wind Sorcerer. He couldn’t possibly be her tall and handsome stranger. Even if he was tall. And most likely, very handsome.

Her chest tightened. The Telling Stones were mocking her. For there was no way that her destiny could be linked to the infamous pirate Rupert.





Chapter Four

As Brigitta entered the small cabin, she noted that although it was smaller than the captain’s room aboard the Eberoni naval ship, it was just as well furnished. A narrow bed was built into an alcove along one wall. Blue velvet curtains flanked each side of the bed and could be drawn shut for privacy. A sideboard rested along the opposite wall, topped with a tray containing a pewter pitcher and two goblets. At the end of the room, sunlight sparkled through a mullioned window. Beneath it, the window seat looked comfy with a blue velvet cushion. In the middle of the room, a round table sat with four wooden chairs.

She smiled at Jeffrey, who hovered in the doorway, watching her and Sister Fallyn with an expectant look. “’Tis lovely. Thank you.”

He grinned. “I cleaned it myself. And I put fresh sheets on the bed, too.”

“You did a wonderful job.” Brigitta kept smiling, although she wondered if the boy was overworked.

Sister Fallyn circled the room, inspecting everything carefully. “Is there a lock on the door?”

Jeffrey’s grin faded. “No.” He scratched his head, inadvertently pulling a few strands loose from his short ponytail. “No one’s going to bother you, miss. They know the captain would tan their hide if they did.”

“And who will watch over the captain?” Sister Fallyn muttered.

Jeffrey looked baffled. “Well, the captain’s expecting to watch over you. His cabin’s down the hall.”

Sister Fallyn stopped with a jerk. “Goddesses protect us,” she whispered.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Brigitta gave the boy a pat on the shoulder. No tingles activated her special gift. He was exactly as he seemed—a sweet, innocent boy.

He stepped back into the hallway. “I’ll show you the other cabin now. It’s just next door.”

Sister Fallyn gasped. “Absolutely not!”

The boy blinked. “But there are two of you. And we have two guest—”

“We will remain together.” Sister Fallyn pulled Brigitta back from the door. “That decision is final.”

Jeffrey gave her an exasperated look. “But that bed ain’t big enough for two.”

“We will manage,” Sister Fallyn insisted. “I will not leave the princess unattended.”

Jeffrey scratched his head again.

“Ye poor child.” Sister Fallyn frowned at him. “Do ye have lice?”

His eyes widened with horror. “No! I ain’t got no bugs. I took a bath this morning. The captain made me.”