So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

Sister Fallyn took a bite of bread and waved a dismissive hand. “It hardly matters. What’s done is done.”

She was doing it again, Brigitta realized. The nun was dodging questions about her family. “Sister, I need to know. I could end up at the royal court in Lourdon. It would be dangerous for me to go there ignorant.”

Sister Fallyn sighed. “Aye, I suppose ye need to know.” She took a sip of wine, then gave her a worried look. “I have to warn ye, lass. ’Tis not a pretty story.”

Brigitta sat back in her chair. “Tell me.”

The nun’s eyes grew unfocused as she delved back into her memory. “When I was a child, King Balfrid died and his son Manfrid inherited the throne. Manfrid was the first king to reach out to the south. He spent some of his gold rebuilding towns and bridges. He spread the gold about, hoping to buy peace for the country.”

“It sounds like he wanted what was best for Tourin.”

Sister Fallyn shrugged. “I suppose. But he also wanted to avoid war because his firstborn son was only four years old and his second son just a babe. The two boys would have been in grave danger if anything happened to himself.”

An ominous feeling crept over Brigitta. “But something did happen?”

Sister Fallyn nodded. “After a few years, yer father Garold claimed to have a plan that would bring a lasting peace to Tourin. A way to unite the north and south for all time. A marriage that would bind the House of Trepurin to the House of Grian. All the king had to do was betroth his elder son, Prince Ulfrid, to Garold’s baby daughter.”

Brigitta’s breath hitched. “Me self?”

“Aye.” Sister Fallyn gulped down some wine. “King Manfrid agreed and came south with a small army. He was welcomed everywhere with cheers, for the people desperately wanted peace. The king didn’t expect any trouble, not when Garold had sent him his elder son, Gunther, as a hostage.”

“Ye mean if King Manfrid was attacked, Gunther would be killed?”

“Exactly. Gunther was only twelve years old at the time, but I’m sure he understood how he was being used. He was illegitimate, after all, so he was probably considered expendable.”

Brigitta winced. “So what happened?”

“King Manfrid took his elder son and personal guard to Garold’s castle in Lourdon, and there the ceremony took place. The prince was about six or seven years old at the time. Old enough to recite the betrothal vows to yerself.”

Brigitta’s heart pounded fast. She’d been betrothed? “How old was I?”

“Three months. Everything seemed to be going well…”

A chill skittered down Brigitta’s spine. Surely her father hadn’t …

“It happened when the king and his entourage were riding back through the town of Lourdon. Garold had positioned archers along the tops of the buildings.”

A wave of nausea swept through Brigitta. No. Dear goddesses, no. Her father was a murderer.

“At the same time, a secret army from the south attacked Manfrid’s army,” Sister Fallyn continued. “The south was victorious, and before the day was over Manfrid’s dead body was on display and Garold had crowned himself king.”

Brigitta swallowed hard at the bile rising up her throat.

“Garold immediately dispatched assassins to go north to kill Manfrid’s queen and their younger son.”

“Enough,” Brigitta whispered, her hand pressed against her mouth.

“’Tis known for certain that the queen died, but there was a rumor that the younger prince might have survived. Garold always claimed the rumor false. He was much more concerned about the older prince, Ulfrid, who was betrothed to you. Ulfrid’s body was never recovered, so Garold was afraid the boy might still be alive and come back someday to claim the throne. The prince’s betrothal to yerself became a liability, but Garold solved that problem by announcing that ye had … died.”

Brigitta blinked. “What?”

Sister Fallyn nodded. “Everyone believed it, too, for ye were nowhere to be found. It wasn’t till I arrived at the convent seven years later that I suspected who ye were. I asked Mother Ginessa, and she confirmed it. Garold sent ye there in secret afore ye were four months old.”

Brigitta’s mind raced. No wonder her father had never sent for her or even bothered to contact her. He’d wanted everyone to believe she was dead. A sharp pain shot through her heart, and she pressed a hand to her chest. Goddesses, no. Her father had killed her. In his mind, he had killed her off so her existence couldn’t cause him any trouble.

Tears burned her eyes. Her father had murdered the royal family so he could be king. He’d risked the life of his elder son, Gunther. And after he’d used her to lure his enemies to their death, he’d shipped her away for good.

She jumped up so quickly, her chair toppled over. “A monster.” She backed away from the table. Her father had been a monster. Even Gunther had proven to be a monster when he’d murdered her younger brother.

“They’re all monsters.” She hugged herself, digging her fingers into her arms as if she could rip away the bad blood that coursed through her veins. “I come from a family of monsters!”

“Nay!” Sister Fallyn ran toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace. “We are yer family, lass. Mother Ginessa, me self, yer sisters.” She leaned back and grasped Brigitta by the shoulders. “Ye are loved. Ye’re a good soul. We are yer family. Ne’er forget that.”

Tears ran down Brigitta’s cheeks. “I’ll try—”

“Ye can do it.” Sister Fallyn hugged her once more. “And I’ll do everything I can to protect yerself.”

With a sniff, Brigitta nodded. “Even if ye have to use a butter knife?”

Sister Fallyn snorted. “Aye. ’Tis like ye said. We’re much stronger than we think.”





Chapter Five

He wasn’t as strong as he had thought. After a few nautical miles, Brody realized he wouldn’t be able to match the speed of the pirate ship for much longer.

As one of the Embraced, Brody’s special gift was the ability to shift. It was a rare gift, and one that Brody tried his best to keep secret. Most men in power would consider him a threat and want to kill him. That was one of the reasons he had sought out Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, six years ago. Since Leo was also Embraced and considered highly dangerous, Brody had figured his own ability wouldn’t seem so threatening. He’d been right, for Leo had immediately hired him as a spy.

In canine form, Brody was able to infiltrate any castle on Aerthlan and listen to private conversations. Being a dog gave him the dual advantage of being almost invisible but still trustworthy. In human form, he’d become one of Leo’s best friends. And now that Leo was the king of Eberon, he relied even more on Brody’s special abilities.