So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

“Very well.” The guards pushed her inside.

Gunther was seated at his desk, stamping a stack of papers with the royal seal, as if he were playing with a new toy. He glanced up at her. “Are you packed?”

“Yes.” She approached the desk. As much as she hated appealing to her brother for help, he was the only one with enough power right now to stop the false Mador.

“So you used your special gift to find this seal?” He smiled as he stamped another paper. “I have to admit you come in handy. I might keep you around, even after you give me an heir.”

“Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “Brother dearest, I think there’s something … wrong with Captain Mador.”

Gunther snorted. “Just because you don’t want to marry him—”

“He’s dangerous. He can take the form of different people. He intends to kill you and take your—”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Gunther waved a hand impatiently. “Mador has been by my side for nine years. There’s no one I trust more than him.”

“He’s not Mador! He’s a sorcerer who can shift into any human being.”

Gunther rolled his eyes. “There’s no such thing.”

“I saw him shift. He even took on your form and admitted he intends to steal your throne. Please believe me, your life is in danger.”

“Enough!” Gunther rose to his feet. “I don’t care what you think of Mador. You’re marrying him as soon as we arrive in Lourdon.”

Her mind raced. If she couldn’t get the wedding called off, perhaps she could postpone it long enough to escape. Or maybe, please, goddesses, maybe Rupert would come back for her. “I need some time to prepare for the wedding. I should have a new dress. And we should plan a ball—”

“No.” Gunther glared at her with gritted teeth.

“I need at least two weeks.”

“No, dammit!” He strode toward her. “You will do as I say.”

Her heart pounded in her ears. She had one last card to play, and once she said it, there was no taking it back. “I’ll need two weeks to make sure I’m not pregnant.”

Gunther halted, his eyes wide with shock. Then he snorted. “You’re lying.”

She shook her head. “The night I was gone from camp, I took a man to my bed.”

Gunther’s face flushed a mottled red. “No, you couldn’t have.”

“I did. If I’m pregnant, you might already have an heir. But Mador would not be the father.”

Gunther’s eyes narrowed, and his breath came out with a hiss. “Who? Who took you?”

She lifted her chin. “Seven.”

He pulled back a hand and slapped her hard.

*

She’d lost favor with the king, but she’d gained two weeks. Brigitta rubbed her cheek. The pain had been worth it, for her wedding was now officially delayed.

As she paced in her tent, she sent a prayer to the goddesses. Hopefully, two weeks would be enough. In that time, she would look for an opportunity to escape. And perhaps, in that time, Rupert would come for her.

So many times she’d asked him to trust her. Please, Rupert, don’t lose faith in me.

After a while, food was delivered to her. Only bread and water. She wasn’t sure if Gunther was punishing her, or if the camp was still too much in disarray to produce a better meal. She ate every bite to keep her strength up.

Without warning, the false Mador burst into her tent, grabbed her by the arm, and dragged her out. The guards outside couldn’t object since Mador was their superior.

“Where are we going?” she demanded, since Mador was taking her across the camp, far away from her and Gunther’s tent. “The wedding has been postponed. You can’t—”

“You think I’m about to rape you?” He chuckled. “An appealing thought, but believe me, when the time comes, no force will be necessary.” He stopped in front of a heavily guarded tent and lifted the flap. “Take a look.”

She stepped inside and gasped. Sister Fallyn and Bjornfrid were seated on the tarp, their hands tied in front. Another rope tethered their ankles together.

Bjornfrid gave her a confused look. “Why did the bad man take us? He hit Grandma and knocked her down.”

Brigitta’s heart sank as she knelt in front of them. “Is your grandmother all right? Were either of you hurt?”

“Dorina is fine,” Sister Fallyn whispered. “We cooperated so Mador wouldn’t hurt her. How are you? There’s a bruise on your face.”

“I’m fine.” Tears gathered in Brigitta’s eyes. “I’m so sorry. Nothing is happening the way we planned.”

Sister Fallyn nodded, her eyes also glistening with moisture. “I’ll pray for deliverance.” She made the sign of the moons with her tied-up hands.

“What happened to my ball?” Bjornfrid asked.

Brigitta blinked away her tears. “The wrong person took it, but I’ll set things right. Somehow. I promise.”

“Filling them with false hope?” Mador asked as he pulled Brigitta from the tent.

She ripped her arm from his grasp and glared at him. “You’re disgusting. You hit a defenseless old woman.”

He snorted. “You should be grateful I didn’t kill her. And speaking of killing…” He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “If I tell Gunther about the young prince in there, he’ll have him executed on the spot. Shall I keep my mouth shut?” He stroked her cheek. “It’s all up to you.”

She turned her head away. “How did you know about him? How did you know I had the seal?”

“I know everything. And I won’t hesitate to kill the prince and the nun if you don’t cooperate. So give me the correct answer. Will you marry me?”

Her tears returned, burning her eyes. This was the wrong proposal from the wrong sorcerer. “The king has granted me a postponement of two weeks.”

He grasped her chin and forced her to look at him. “Are you hoping that your precious Rupert will save you?”

She flinched. He knew about Rupert?

Mador smirked. “Did I surprise you? I already told you I know everything. I know who Rupert is. I also know that when he hears you’re marrying me, he’ll believe for certain that you have betrayed him.”

She shook her head, but he gripped her face harder, his fingers digging into her bruised cheek.

“Face the facts,” he growled. “You will be mine. Rupert will not come to save you.”





Chapter Thirty-Five

It took three days for Rupert to ride to Lourdon, but only three minutes to free the prisoners.

After arriving in Lourdon, Brody, Stefan and the Eberoni soldiers had spread out to learn where Four, Five, and Six were being held. To Rupert’s surprise, they had never left the stadium. Apparently, Gunther had planned to stage the executions there in front of a large crowd, so he’d locked the three men up in a cell beneath the royal box.

It was just before dawn on the fourth day when Rupert approached the cell. The two guards on duty drew their swords, but he blew them hard, slamming them against a stone wall and knocking them out. Then he helped himself to the key ring, opened the door, and greeted the sleepy prisoners.

“Wake up!” He unlocked the shackles that kept them chained to the wall. “We need to go.”

“Seven, is that you?” Five scrambled to his feet.