So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

Sister Fallyn’s face crumpled as tears ran down her cheeks. “How…?”

Brigitta couldn’t bear to watch anymore. She wrapped an arm around the nun. “Let’s go,” she whispered in Eberoni.

With clenched fists, Captain Landers stepped toward the commander. “You abandoned your wife?”

Kennet snorted. “Come now, we’re all pirates here. We’ll do anything for gold. I got twenty pieces—”

Crack. Captain Landers fist slammed into Kennet’s face, and the man fell back onto his rear. His feathered hat flew off his head, and a sudden breeze blew it overboard.

Yes! Brigitta had been raised to abhor violence, but the sight of Kennet’s bloodied lip was oddly satisfying. And she suspected Rupert was responsible for the loss of the commander’s fancy hat.

With a grimace, Kennet sat up and rubbed his jaw. “Fine. You avenged her. We’ll call it even.”

“No, we will not,” Rupert said, his voice edged with steel. “If you cannot be loyal to a wife, how can I expect you to be loyal to me?”

“What?” Kennet hefted himself to his feet. “Forget the wench. I’m a good pirate. I’ll serve you well!”

Rupert ignored him and turned to Captain Wermer. “I’ll accept you and your men, but not your commander. He will be put ashore.”

Captain Wermer nodded. “I understand.”

“You can’t do this to me!” Kennet shouted. “I’ll be penniless.”

“I’ll take him ashore,” Captain Landers offered, and from the rage burning in his eyes, Brigitta suspected the captain was planning a little more violence.

Kennet shot an angry look at Sister Fallyn. “This is all your fault, you stupid—”

“Watch it!” Captain Landers raised his fist, ready to strike.

“Oh, I see.” Kennet smirked. “You’ve done quite well for yourself, haven’t you, Fallyn? You’re not a nun at all, are you? You’re the captain’s whore.”

Sister Fallyn gasped, and Captain Landers struck the commander hard, knocking him out.

“Sister,” Brigitta whispered. “We should go below.”

“But—” A look of panic streaked across the nun’s face. “What should I do? Aren’t I still married to him?”

Captain Landers frowned at her. “Do you still wish to be with him?”

“No!” Sister Fallyn cried, and the captain looked relieved.

“Madam,” Rupert said. “You should have no trouble getting the marriage annulled due to abandonment.”

“Oh.” Sister Fallyn cast one last look at the unconscious Kennet, then turned away. She simply stood there, looking dumbstruck, so Brigitta led her back to the stairs.

“Is there anything you need?” Jeffrey asked as he followed them to their room.

“Perhaps some more wine,” Brigitta told him, and he rushed off. She shut the cabin door as Sister Fallyn collapsed silently on a chair. “Are ye all right?”

The nun remained silent.

“Ye must have been terribly shocked.” Brigitta filled a cup with wine. “I know I was.”

Still no reply. Sister Fallyn was staring into space.

“Something to drink?” Brigitta offered her the cup. When the nun didn’t budge, she sighed. “Well, at least we know that yer father didn’t have someone killed.”

Sister Fallyn blinked. “Nay, he just offered Kennet twenty pieces of gold.” Her face crumbled. “And he took it! I thought he loved me, but he left me!”

“I’m so sorry.”

“He betrayed me! How dare he!” Sister Fallyn grabbed the cup and downed it.

“That’s it. Ye should be angry.” Relieved that the nun had come out of her shock, Brigitta took the empty cup and refilled it. “I’d have punched him myself if the captain hadn’t done it.”

Sister Fallyn shuddered. “Such violent behavior. But I suppose it is to be expected from a pirate.”

“Actually I found it quite satisfying.”

A small smile twitched at Sister Fallyn’s mouth. “It was a bit, wasn’t it?”

“Aye.” Brigitta smiled as she handed her the cup.

The nun drank it, then sighed. “I fear these pirates are a bad influence on us. We mustn’t forget our training.” She winced. “Am I even a nun? Did my vow count when I was still under the vows of marriage?”

“Yer intent was sincere, so I would think it counted.”

With a frustrated groan, Sister Fallyn jumped to her feet. “Why did I ever marry that … that…”

“Bastard?” Brigitta poured more wine into her cup.

Sister Fallyn looked appalled for a second, then nodded. “Ye’re right. He’s a bastard.” She grabbed the cup and drank it down. “All men are bastards!”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Brigitta recalled how much she’d enjoyed seeing Rupert reject Kennet.

“Oh, they are.” Sister Fallyn strode to the sideboard to refill her cup. “’Tis just as I told you. There are no good men from Tourin.”

“I think Rupert and Captain Landers are all right.”

Sister Fallyn shook her head. “They’re still pirates.”

“The captain was very quick to defend yer honor.”

The nun paused a moment, her cheeks blushing. “I—we mustn’t allow ourselves to be swayed. They’re not like the dashing young heroes in the stories ye write.”

Brigitta hesitated as an alarming thought crossed her mind. Was she being swayed? She’d already convinced herself that Rupert was an amazing man. Handsome and capable of acting in an honorable manner. And even though he was a Wind Sorcerer, she could hardly blame him for being Embraced when she was, too. But like Sister Fallyn said, he was still a pirate. He’d captured her so he could use her to earn a hefty ransom.

Instead of admiring him, she should be angry with him. And even though he piqued her curiosity, uncovering his secrets should be viewed purely as a mental exercise. Nothing more. She could never allow herself to trust him. Or be attracted to him.

A knock sounded on the door, then Jeffrey peeked in. “I brought you some dinner.”

“Oh, thank you.” Brigitta rushed over to relieve the boy of the heavy tray. “Ye should let me know when ye’re bringing food. This is too heavy for yerself.”

“Oh, I can handle it.” Jeffrey smiled. “I want to have big muscles like Rupert.”

Brigitta sighed as she set the tray on the table. “His muscles are rather big.” Don’t think about him like that.

“Not any bigger than the captain’s,” Sister Fallyn muttered. When Brigitta gave her a curious look, she cleared her throat. “Jeffrey, what is happening now?”

He scratched his head. “Not much. Everyone’s having dinner. The other ships are busy exchanging crewmen with the new ship. Oh, Rupert wanted you to know that none of the new pirates will be here on the Golden Star. He didn’t take any ’cause he wanted to be sure you would be safe.”

Sister Fallyn scoffed. “He might as well admit that they would want to ravish us.”

“Please convey our gratitude,” Brigitta told the boy. “Is the ship going to remain here for the night?”

Jeffrey nodded. “The sun will be setting soon. I have a cot at the end of the passageway, so let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” Brigitta walked him to the door.