So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

“Maybe Sister Fallyn will like me better now,” Rupert muttered, and Stefan chuckled.

Brody finished his cup of wine. “Leo has already sent an envoy to Lourdon to announce Brigitta’s rescue from the notorious pirate Rupert. Leo’s best friend, Captain Nevis Harden, is bringing several troops of soldiers down the river. Everyone will believe they’re providing protection for the royal barge. But Nevis and one of his troops will take Brigitta to the Tourinian border to meet her brother. I’ll be her guard dog.”

“Thank you.” Rupert refilled the shifter’s cup.

“You will go to Ebton Palace as Baron Suffield,” Brody continued. “That way, the Tourinian ambassador and his spies will see you as an Eberoni nobleman. You’ll be outfitted in suitable clothing and given a small troop of guards and servants to accompany you to Lourdon.”

“I’m going with him,” Stefan insisted.

Rupert’s heart swelled. Stefan had stayed by his side since that tragic day nineteen years ago. As a young soldier from one of the loyal northern clans, Stefan had been given what was considered a prestigious assignment—guarding the prince and heir to the throne. But Stefan had soon found himself raising a traumatized young orphan who was being hunted by an entire army. Through it all, he had remained true. “Thank you, old friend.”

Stefan waved a dismissive hand as if he didn’t care, but his voice was gruff with emotion. “What else would I do?” He looked away, blinking. “I’d better get this tub headed toward Ebport.” He quickly left the room.

Brody took a bite of bread. “The royal barge will arrive in Ebport by noon. Can we make it by then?”

“Yes.” Rupert glanced at his worktable. This had been his room for seven years now. He gave the windmill one last twirl. No more tinkering on his inventions here. No more pirating. His days as Rupert were over.

A new life lay in front of him, but he was no longer that frightened orphan. And he didn’t have to face the future alone. Stefan would be by his side, along with his new allies from Eberon.

And most of all, there was Brigitta.

*

“Look!” Brigitta pointed at the royal barge in the distance. She’d been waiting excitedly by the ship’s railing as they’d drawn closer to the village of Ebport. Now she could see the pier that ran along the Ebe River and the large barge tied off beside it. A brightly painted cabin had been built on top with long windows and an outside staircase leading to the flat observation deck on the roof. Flags in the Eberoni royal colors of red and black flapped in the breeze that swept in from the ocean.

“I can see women on deck,” Sister Fallyn said with a grin.

“Ye can?” Brigitta held up a hand to shield her eyes from the bright sun. “Oh my, I think they’re all there!” She waved an arm, and the women waved back.

“Praise the goddesses.” Sister Fallyn made the sign of the moons.

“But how can this be?” Brigitta asked. “I thought Luciana would be giving birth now.”

“She went into labor a week ago,” Brody said as he joined them by the railing.

Brigitta glanced at him, surprised to see him in human form. “I didn’t know ye were back.”

“We were talking belowdecks,” Rupert said as he strode toward them.

Brigitta blinked. Why was Rupert wearing his old disguise? “Is everything set?”

“Yes.” Rupert handed her his spyglass. “Would you like to use this?”

“Oh, aye!” Brigitta pushed aside all worries about the upcoming dangerous adventure as she focused the spyglass on her sisters. “I see them!” They were like a rainbow, each one dressed in a different-colored beautiful gown. “There’s Maeve and Sorcha! And Luciana!”

Sister Fallyn tsked. “She shouldn’t be traveling so soon after childbirth.”

“Traveling by barge is fairly easy,” Brody said. “I’m sure she was resting inside the cabin for most of the trip.”

“Oh! There’s Mother Ginessa!” Brigitta continued to look through the spyglass. “And she’s holding the baby!”

“Let me see!” Sister Fallyn reached for the spyglass.

“Wait!” Brigitta stiffened. “Oh my goddesses, Gwennore is holding a baby, too.”

“Oh, right,” Brody said. “Luciana had twins.”

Brigitta lowered the spyglass to stare at him. “Now ye tell me?”

“Are they healthy?” Sister Fallyn demanded. “Are they both girls?”

Brody shrugged. “They’re loud. I suppose that means they’re healthy.”

“One boy and one girl,” Rupert added.

“What are their names?” Brigitta asked.

Brody gave her a blank look. “I … didn’t ask.”

She gave him an incredulous look, then turned to Rupert.

He shrugged. “Is it important?”

With a huff, she exchanged a look with Sister Fallyn.

The nun shook her head and muttered, “Men.”

“Here.” Brigitta offered her the spyglass.

“Oh dear goddesses,” Sister Fallyn murmured as she looked at their friends. “I was afraid I’d ne’er see them again.”

“Ye can stay with them if ye want,” Brigitta whispered. “Ye don’t have to come with me.”

Sister Fallyn handed her the spyglass with a tearful look. “I know, lass, but ’tis the right thing for me to do. We’re both Tourinians, so we should go together. And from now on, we should only speak in Tourinian.”

Brigitta nodded and switched languages. “You’re right. Thank you.”

“I see you’re ready to go,” Rupert said.

“Yes.” Brigitta returned his spyglass. At her feet, she had a small bag stuffed with their meager belongings—their convent gowns, several nightgowns and shifts, two toothbrushes, and a hairbrush. The last items had all been gifts from Rupert. “I’m going to miss you.”

He gave her a sad smile. “I’ll miss you, too. I should arrive in Lourdon the day before the competition begins. We’ll have to pretend not to know each other.”

She nodded. “I understand.” And she would have to watch him risk his life in the competition without showing how terrified she was.

Tears burned her eyes. Their ship was now close enough to Ebport that she could easily see her sisters at the bow of the barge. Luciana’s father was with them. Off by himself, Leo stood at the back. As far as Brigitta knew, only Luciana could touch him and live. Did that mean the poor man was unable to hold his own babies?

Luciana broke off from the group of women and walked toward her husband. Leo took her in his arms.

Brigitta blinked to keep from crying. She’d always written her overly dramatic stories with happy endings, but now she feared there was no such thing as a perfectly happy ending. As much as she wanted Rupert to gain the throne that was rightfully his, it would mean the death of her brother. How could she continue to love Rupert if he committed a cold-blooded murder?

“Are you all right?” Rupert asked.

She wiped her cheeks. “I-I think I’m going to miss being at sea with you.”

He nodded. “I’ve been at sea since I was fourteen. And the Golden Star has been my home since I was nineteen.”

“What will happen to the ship?”