So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

She rose to her feet. This was something she could do.

Her heart pounding with excitement, she readied her supplies—the oilcloth from the cave and a canteen filled with water. She wrapped a piece of dried beef in a handkerchief and slipped it into the pocket of her green woolen skirt.

As she headed up the path to the cliff, the air grew colder and the wind stronger. A dragon screeched overhead, and she spotted it, circling above the gorge. An answering shriek came from another dragon she could barely see in the distance.

The one overhead swooped down suddenly. Its black scales gleamed an iridescent purple and green in the morning sun. Such a beautiful creature. Its wingspan was enormous, its eyes golden as they fastened on her.

She froze, frightened for a moment that it might unleash a torrent of fire at her. But maybe this was the dragon that had saved her yesterday. With a tentative smile, she waved a hand in greeting.

With a screech, it shot up into the sky.

She took a deep breath. Safe, for now. As she continued her climb up the steep, narrow path, she began to suspect that the dragon had checked her for weapons. She doubted she looked like much of a threat. But Rupert might, since he was probably armed.

The air grew more frigid, and flurries of snow swept around her. She draped the oilcloth around her shoulders, holding it tight in her fists as the wind snapped at it. The trees became more stunted and gnarled, a sure sign that it was hard for them to grow this high on the mountain. Even she was finding it difficult to get enough air.

She eased around a curve and stopped in amazement as the gorge finally came into view. The wind burst through the narrow opening with so much power, no trees had been able to survive. Between cracks in the rocks, a few scraggly bushes had emerged, most of their leaves blown away and the twigs outlined with white snow. Large boulders had fallen onto the path, and by peering between two of them she could see the cliff on the north side.

Captain Mador and General Tarvis were there, shouting and shooting arrows at the dragon overhead.

Keeping low, she maneuvered up the rocky path to the cliff on the south side of the gorge. There she spotted Rupert, hunched down behind some boulders. Snowflakes flurried around him, some sticking to the brown wool of his hooded cloak.

Her feet crunched on some gravel, and he turned toward her. His eyes flared with emotion. He looked angry that she had come, but there was also hunger in his gaze. Perhaps, like her, he was remembering what had occurred the night before. He put a finger to his mouth to signal silence, then gestured for her to keep low.

Crouching, she approached him.

He gave her an exasperated look. “Why are you here?”

“It’s snowing.” She handed him the oilcloth. “And I brought you some food and water.” She retrieved the dried beef from her skirt pocket.

He tore it in half and handed her a piece. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, her cheeks growing warm.

A screech sounded overhead as the dragon flew by. Across the gorge, Mador and Tarvis yelled at it and let loose a volley of arrows.

“Here we go again,” Rupert muttered, then with a flick of his hand, the arrows stopped in midair and plummeted into the canyon.

“You’re protecting the dragon?” Brigitta whispered.

“Trying to. So far, the dragon has been staying out of range, but the bastards over there are using the wind to their advantage. I’m just taking the advantage away.”

She sighed with relief. “That’s good.”

With a frown, he bit off a piece of dried beef. “I’m not sure if I’m helping. The dragon must think the men over there are lousy shots, because it keeps getting closer. I might actually be helping the bastards to lure it in.”

“There’s a second dragon coming.” She pointed to the east. “I saw it as I was coming around the bend.”

Rupert’s eyes narrowed on the second dragon. “I keep getting the feeling that they’re intelligent.”

“Me, too. I think the one overhead checked me for weapons.”

As Rupert’s gaze shifted to the first dragon, Brigitta moved closer, draping the tarp around his shoulders. He squeezed her hand, and his grip was icy cold.

“You’re freezing.” She took his hand in hers, rubbing it to warm it up.

He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed them. “I want you to go back.”

She shook her head and handed him the canteen. “I brought you some water.”

He frowned at her. “You need to go back. If the captain and general see you here, they’ll know you’re helping me. Once they report that to Gunther, you’ll—”

“They won’t see me.”

He arched a brow. “Are you planning to never obey your husband?”

Husband? “I am obeying you. You told me to never leave you, so here I am. Besides, we’re not married.”

“We will be.”

Her heart lurched. “Is that a proposal?”

He gave her a wry look. “I suppose I should propose before you do it for me.”

Her mouth twitched. “That would be wise.”

He pulled her close for a quick kiss. “Thank you for the tarp and the food and water. Now please—”

A screech rent the air above them, and they both glanced up. The second dragon had arrived. As the two dragons circled, Brigitta wondered if they were communicating.

Suddenly one zoomed toward them, headed for the gorge at an incredible speed. Across the way, Mador and Tarvis ran to the cliff edge and nocked their arrows.

“It’s coming too low,” Rupert whispered.

Mador and Tarvis shot at the approaching dragon, and Rupert quickly blew the arrows off target.

With shouted curses, the two men readied another volley.

The dragon kept coming, drawing in its wings as if it planned to careen straight through the narrow gorge.

Mador and Tarvis gave a shout of excitement.

Brigitta tensed. With the dragon this close, they couldn’t miss. And Rupert would be unable to stop the arrows since the dragon would be in the way.

With a wave of his arm, Rupert swept the dragon up high in the air. The dragon screeched as it flipped backward, head over tail, losing control of its own flight.

Meanwhile, the second dragon shot into the gorge, and flames erupted from its mouth, engulfing the northern ridge with a torrent of fire.

With a gasp, Brigitta ducked down, but she could feel the heat and hear the horrendous screams. She ventured a peek and spotted one of the officers, his body swallowed up in flames. He flailed about, then plummeted off the cliff. His screams continued, then came to an abrupt stop.

She pressed a hand to her mouth. Smoke stung her eyes, and the stench of burning flesh made her stomach roil.

“I think that was General Tarvis,” Rupert whispered as he peered between two boulders. “I can’t see the captain.” He shook his head. “The men thought they were luring the dragons in. But it was the dragons that sprang the trap. They’re definitely intelligent.”