So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

Finally they reached the ground floor and dashed toward the castle entrance that overlooked the Ebe River. Or rather, Leo dashed. Her walk, unfortunately, looked more like a duck waddle.

Leo smiled as he slowed his steps to match hers. “There’s no need to hurry. If all goes well, your sisters will be here for a long time.”

Luciana nodded. “Definitely.” As they stepped outside onto the massive front terrace, she shielded her eyes from the setting sun.

There they were! “Look!” She motioned to the group of young women hurrying down the pier.

“Chee-ana!” Maeve yelled and lifted her skirt to run.

Luciana grinned as more of her sisters sprinted toward her. Leo guided her down the stairs to the pier, and as soon as she arrived, Maeve flung her arms around her. Then Gwennore and Sorcha.

“Look at yerself!” Sorcha stepped back, her eyes widening. “Ye’re so huge!”

Luciana laughed. “I’m having twins!”

They all gasped, then hugged her again.

Leo bowed. “Welcome to Ebton Palace.” As he continued to chat with them, Luciana wondered why Brigitta was taking her time. She glanced at Mother Ginessa, who was approaching at a slower pace. No Brigitta. She looked at the ship. The captain was disembarking. Alone.

She turned to her sisters. “Where is Brigitta?”

Their smiles faded. Sorcha and Gwennore exchanged worried glances, and Maeve ducked her head, studying her feet.

Luciana’s chest tightened. “Is something wrong? Is she ill? Was she unable to travel?”

“There ye are, child.” Mother Ginessa reached her and gave her a hug.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Luciana told her.

Mother Ginessa rested a hand on Luciana’s belly. “Ye seem to be doing well.”

“Aye. Where is Brigitta? Has something happened to her?”

With a sigh, Mother Ginessa glanced back at the captain. “Captain Shaw will make arrangements with yer husband to get her back. I think we’d better—”

“What do you mean, get her back?” Luciana cried.

Leo ran toward the captain, and they began talking in urgent tones.

Mother Ginessa took hold of Luciana’s hands. “Ye must remain calm now—”

“No!” Fear skittered down Luciana’s spine, chilling her to the bone. “What’s happened to Brigitta?”

“I think we should go inside so ye can sit—”

“Nay!” Luciana interrupted as panic set in. “Ye have to tell me!”

Mother Ginessa drew a deep breath. “First, I should tell ye that Brigitta is the Tourinian princess.”

“What?” Luciana’s heart stuttered. She should have known this. The last time she’d played the Game of Stones with Brigitta, she’d realized that the blue and gold stones referred to Tourin. And she’d sensed some sort of danger. But as hard as she’d tried, she hadn’t been able to discern more than that.

“The Tourinian navy surrounded us at sea,” Mother Ginessa continued. “They intended to take Brigitta, but then some pirates stopped them.”

Luciana gasped. “Pi-pirates?” The world swirled around her, and she swayed on her feet.

Mother Ginessa grabbed her arm to steady her. “This is too stressful for yerself. We must get ye inside—”

“What—” Luciana struggled to catch her breath. “What happened to her?”

“The pirate Rupert took her and Sister Fallyn,” Gwennore said softly.

Luciana pressed a hand to her chest as it became even harder to breathe. Rupert? He was the most infamous pirate of all Aerthlan. Some even called him a sorcerer.

Mother Ginessa motioned to Sorcha to take Luciana’s other arm. “Quickly. We must take her inside.”

A sudden gush flooded Luciana’s legs. With a gasp, she stared down at the growing puddle around her slippers.

“What’s wrong?” Maeve cried.

“Not to worry.” Mother Ginessa assured them. “The babe has decided to come early.”

“There are two of them.” Luciana touched her belly. “And I thought I had a few more days.”

“They will most likely be born tonight,” Mother Ginessa replied. “Sorcha, let’s take her to her room. Maeve, inform her husband—”

“Holy goddesses,” Gwennore whispered. “Tonight the moons are embracing.”

Everyone stilled for a moment as they realized what would happen.

Luciana’s children would be Embraced.

*

Hours later, Brigitta was gazing out the small window in their cabin. There wasn’t much else to do. She didn’t want to disturb Sister Fallyn, who had finally drifted off to sleep on the narrow bed. And since the sun had set, it was too dark in their room to read the book Jeffrey had left.

With nothing to occupy her thoughts, her mind kept wandering into forbidden territory—Rupert. Who was he really? He seemed well educated, so what sort of circumstances had led him to become a pirate? Why did he disguise himself with a mask and false hair? Had he been forced to leave Tourin because he was Embraced?

There had to be some clues in the vision she’d seen when she’d last touched him. Arrows in the back. Blood and screams. An ambush? Her view of the scene must have been how Rupert had witnessed it, and the flood of grief and terror she’d felt had also been his. What a terrible experience!

Since it was her first vision from him, she suspected it was his most powerful memory. Not only traumatic for him, but a defining moment that had changed his life forever.

It was the strongest vision she’d ever received from anyone. And she’d passed out the first time she’d touched Rupert. Was it because she’d never encountered someone hiding as much as him? Or was there something special about him? What if he’s your tall and handsome stranger? a small voice inside her wondered, but she quickly rejected that thought.

He’d taken her against her will by threatening the lives of her sisters. He intended to ransom her for gold. According to Lieutenant Helgar of the Tourinian navy, he was an evil sorcerer, responsible for destroying their ships and burning the officer.

But he defended Sister Fallyn. He protected the town of Danport from the bad pirates. He sent the Eberoni navy away without harming them. And he helped Sister Ellen escape to the safety of the Isle of Moon.

Hero or evil sorcerer? With a groan, she stood and stretched her legs. She didn’t know what to think. Her emotions waffled between anger and insatiable curiosity. And something more, something that made her heart race whenever he was near and watching her with his golden eyes. Or floating his deep voice to her on a soft breeze that tickled her ears.

Stop thinking about him!