So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

She scoffed. “There you go again.”

“I mean it.” He lifted her so she could wrap her legs around his waist. “You’ll have to hold tight.”

She nearly choked him.

He grasped the rope with his left hand. “Ready?” When her head nodded against his cheek, he pulled the lever with his right hand, then held on to her as they shot upward.

She squealed, squeezing him tight. When they reached the top, he hooked his right boot around a wooden slat of the crow’s nest and pulled them up against the railing.

“You’ll have to let go now,” he whispered, and she shook her head. “I still have you.” He set her bottom on the railing. “But you’ll need to swing your legs over the railing.”

He helped her slowly turn and ease her feet over the railing. With one hand still clutching him, she reached for the mainmast. He slipped over the railing to stand next to her. She was hugging the mainmast with her eyes shut.

“You did it,” he whispered in her ear.

Her eyes opened and she took a quick look around. “Oh, sweet goddesses. We’re at the top of the world.”

“Brigitta!” Sister Fallyn screamed.

Rupert turned just in time to see the nun faint into the waiting arms of Stefan.

Brigitta winced. “Oh, dear.”

She didn’t seem ready to let go of her grip on the mainmast, so Rupert hugged her from behind, resting his chin against her temple. “Finally. I’ve been wanting to hold you since we left the island.”

She leaned against him. “It never frightens you to be up so high?”

“No. I like the vastness of the sky. It makes me feel like anything is possible.”

She sighed. “I suppose anything is possible. Here you are hugging me, when you should hate me.”

He kissed a path along her neck to her ear.

“You must have always known I was Garold’s daughter. Why didn’t you hate me?”

“I tried.” He nuzzled his cheek against hers. “I thought I should hate you, but from the beginning … everything about you touched me.”

She turned in his arms. “I suspected right off that you were my tall and handsome stranger. But I was terribly shocked that my hero could be a sorcerer and a pirate.”

He smiled. “I think I started falling for you the minute you surrendered in order to keep your friends safe from the flaming arrows.”

She thumped his chest. “I’m still angry over that.”

“I wouldn’t have hurt them.” He took her fist and kissed the knuckles. Her hand opened and he laced his fingers with hers. “From the beginning you showed that you’re brave and beautiful. When you helped Sister Fallyn up the ladder, I knew you were kind and humble. And when you first gave me a piece of your mind, I knew you were bold and clever. You’re everything I ever wanted or needed. How could I have possibly hated you?”

“Oh, Rupert.” Her eyes glimmered with emotion.

He leaned down for a long, leisurely kiss, and she melted against him.

“Brigitta!”

He broke the kiss. Apparently, Sister Fallyn had recovered.

“Brigitta, come down from there this instant!” the nun yelled.

Rupert sighed. “I’ll take you down.”

Brigitta looked up at him, her eyes still soft and dreamy from their kiss. “Was this your fifth reason? When you didn’t want to release me, you had a fifth reason that you wouldn’t tell me.”

“I wanted you near me, yes. I wanted to know what kind of woman my betrothed had become.”

Her eyes widened. “But you couldn’t have considered me your betrothed, not after what my father did.”

“I considered the engagement broken, yes.” He kissed her brow. “But not anymore.”

She drew in a quick breath.

“Brigitta!” Sister Fallyn yelled again.

He smiled as he lifted her up in his arms. “Wrap your legs around me and squeeze me tight.”

“That again?” With a grin, she hugged him.

He lifted them over the railing and slid down the rope. Sister Fallyn was waiting close by and the minute Brigitta’s feet hit the deck, she snatched her by the arm and glared at Rupert.

“I will not have you ravishing the princess!” Sister Fallyn marched off with Brigitta, who glanced back with a cheerful wave.

He waved back, smiling. Tonight, he would sneak into her cabin.

*

By the next morning, Rupert had maneuvered the Golden Star close to the Eberoni shore. The pelican Brody landed on deck, then hopped into Rupert’s cabin and shifted into human form.

Rupert handed him a pair of breeches. “What did Leofric say?”

“He and Luciana are delighted to be of assistance.” Brody pulled on the breeches. “Shouldn’t Brigitta hear about this?”

Rupert winced. After sneaking into Brigitta’s cabin last night, he’d discovered her tearing an old sheet into strips. With a blush, she’d admitted that she’d started her monthly courses. He’d seen no reason to leave, claiming he would be happy just to sleep with her in his arms. But the nun had burst into the room and thrown a fit. “Sister Fallyn has forbidden me to see her for the rest of the voyage.”

Brody snorted. “The nun takes her job seriously.”

“Aye,” Rupert agreed. “I would complain, but I’m actually glad that she’s so fierce about watching out for Brigitta. Between you and the nun, I feel much better about Brigitta going to Lourdon Palace.”

Stefan entered the room, carrying a tray of food. “You have news?”

“Yes,” Brody replied. “Since this ship is too large to sail up the Ebe River, Leo and Luciana are traveling down the river on the royal barge. They’ll meet us at the small village of Ebport at the mouth of the Ebe.”

“The queen is coming?” Rupert cleared an area on his worktable so Stefan could set down the tray. “I thought she was supposed to be giving birth about this time.”

“She had the twins early.” Brody grabbed a slice of cheese off the tray and popped it into his mouth.

“Twins?” Stefan poured him a cup of wine.

Brody nodded as he chewed. “A boy and a girl. Born on the night the moons embraced.”

They would have magical powers then, Rupert thought. And they shared his birthday.

“So we need to go to Ebport,” Stefan said.

“Yes.” Brody took a sip of wine. “Luciana’s father, the Duke of Vindalyn, is coming, too. He was at Ebton Palace for the birth of his grandchildren, so we included him in the meeting. He has provided Rupert with a new identity for the competition.”

He’d been Rupert since the age of fourteen. Twelve years. It would feel strange to be anyone else now, even his true identity. “Who will I be?”

“One of the duke’s barons recently died without an heir,” Brody explained. “The duke has revealed that you are a distant cousin, and he’s awarded the title to you. You will be Umberto Vintello, the new Baron Suffield. His Grace is bringing the paperwork to prove it. That way, if Gunther has you investigated, you will appear legitimate.”

Stefan performed a deep bow. “Lord Suffield.”

Rupert snorted.

“Congratulations.” Brody smiled at him. “You temporarily own some land and an excellent manor house.”