So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

Brody nodded as he ate. “I’ve heard that her mother’s family were witches who could see the future.”

“That is true,” Brigitta continued. “When we were young, my sisters and I would play a game with Telling Stones. We gathered up forty pebbles from a nearby beach and painted them with colors and numbers. And then we used the stones to make predictions. And that’s when we discovered that Luciana could see the future as accurately as the Seer.”

Brody snorted.

“What does this have to do with us?” Rupert asked impatiently.

“Luciana’s prediction about herself came true,” Brigitta explained. “So I asked her to use the Telling Stones to foresee my future. She picked blue and gold, which she said represented the colors of Tourin. This was eight months ago when we didn’t know I was the Tourinian princess. She also picked the number eight, saying I would meet a tall and handsome stranger in eight months.” She gave Rupert a pointed look.

His eyes softened. “I’m delighted you think I fit the bill, but it’s still a coincidence.”

“We’ve played the Game of Stones several times since then. Every time I grabbed a handful of stones, without fail the blue and gold ones would be in my hand. But the number eight stone would change. Five months ago, I picked the stone with the number five. Four months ago, I picked number four. One month ago, it was number one. Do you call all of that a coincidence?”

Rupert frowned.

Stefan shuddered. “I call it damned spooky.”

Brody bit off more bread as he watched them all.

“Are you saying we were fated to meet?” Rupert asked.

Brigitta nodded. “Yes. I believe it is my destiny to help you regain what you lost.”

Rupert sighed. “I’ve always believed that our futures are of our own making.”

“I agree to a certain extent. It will be our actions that will see you take the throne. But sometimes, things do happen that we can’t control.” Brigitta looked down at her clenched hands on the table. “Like what my father did to your family.”

“That wasn’t your fault,” Rupert said quietly as he rested a hand on hers. “Your father’s actions affected you, too. You were sent away, abandoned by your family.”

“But I gained a new family. I grew up surrounded with love and happiness. You…” Brigitta heaved a sigh. “You lost everything.”

He squeezed her hands. “Aye, I have lost too much. That’s why I want you to stay here where it’s safe.”

She shook her head. “There was another stone that Luciana selected, and I picked it every time, too. The number seven. Luciana said it meant there would be seven men vying for my hand.”

Rupert released her hands as he sat back. “You mean…?”

“The competition.” Brigitta retrieved the notice from her skirt pocket. This was what she had gone back to Stefan’s cottage to fetch from her small bag of belongings. She set the notice on the table. “This was meant to happen. And this is how I will help you retrieve what you have lost.”

“What is this?” Brody turned the notice around so he could read it.

Rupert shook his head. “I can’t let you do it, Brigitta. Whoever wins that contest will assault you.”

“Then you’ll have to enter and make sure that you win.” She shot him a challenging look. “Are you afraid you’ll lose?”

He scoffed. “I would win.”

She smiled. “Then it’s not a problem.”

“Yes, it is!” Stefan growled. “Did you read the fine print?”

“I did.” Brody pointed at the bottom of the page. “The loser of each round will be executed.”

“Exactly.” Stefan sat back, crossing his arms. “Rupert is not doing that damned contest!”

Brody shrugged. “It seems to me if he goes to war against the Tourinian navy and army, he’ll be risking his life just as much.”

“That’s true!” Brigitta agreed. “But if he enters the contest, he can have safe access to the capital and the palace. He won’t have to kill his own countrymen in battle.”

Brody nodded as he tapped his finger on the notice. “I like this plan better. I’m sure Leo will prefer it, too. We won’t have to risk a bunch of people’s lives. The only one in danger will be you.” He looked at Rupert. “Can you handle that?”

Rupert snorted. “I’m not worried about myself. It’s Brigitta who will be in danger. Didn’t you read the notice? Her brother wants her pregnant by the man of his choosing. He will definitely not choose me. Even if I win the damned competition, there is no guarantee he won’t have her raped by his favorite. She’s safer here on the island.”

Brigitta swallowed hard. There was a risk, she had to admit it, but she couldn’t live with herself if she hid here like a coward. “You can’t force me to stay here.”

Rupert gritted his teeth. “Watch me.”

She slapped her palm on the table. “Then you’re willing to go into unnecessary battles and watch your own men die and kill your own countrymen? What kind of king do you intend to be?”

Rupert stood so quickly, his chair toppled over. He paced across the small room.

Brigitta’s heart pounded as she clutched her hands together. “I know you’re an honorable man, Rupert. I simply wish to prove myself an honorable woman.”

He stopped his pacing and dragged a hand through his hair. “You’ll be in danger.”

“I’m willing to risk it,” she said. “I can insist my brother treat me fairly in exchange for my full cooperation. I can pretend to love the contest. I can lie and manipulate all I need to in order to stay safe. I will not be going in there as a meek, helpless lamb!”

Rupert looked at her, his eyes softening. “I know you’re clever. I know you’re brave. But I cannot bear any harm to come to you.”

“I will go with her,” Brody offered. “As her personal guard dog. No one will be able to attack her.”

Stefan sighed. “I suppose this plan is doable.”

Rupert winced. “It is true I am reluctant to battle my own people. I want prosperity for Tourin. And peace.”

Brigitta’s heart stuttered. “Then you agree? We’ll do the competition?”

Rupert frowned at her. “I’m giving you a blade, and on the way to Eberon, I’ll be teaching you how to use it.”

She grinned. “Yes!”

His frown deepened. “This is not a game, Brigitta. If you are forced to defend yourself, you will have to kill the bastard. Wounding him will only cause him to become more violent.”

She gulped. “I understand.”

“Once you win the contest, how do you get the throne?” Stefan asked Rupert. “Could you assassinate Gunther during the final ceremony?”

Rupert shrugged. “I’m not sure. Too many unknowns. We’ll have to play it by ear.”

“I thought we could imprison him,” Brigitta suggested. She winced at the dark look Rupert gave her. “I don’t want you to live with that stain on your soul.”

Stefan leaned toward her. “Are you sure you won’t be sympathetic toward Gunther? He is your brother, after all.”

“Just because I’m reluctant to have him murdered doesn’t mean I’m on his side. You can trust me.” Brigitta glanced at Rupert. Didn’t he trust her?