So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(114)

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.”

Brigitta swallowed hard at the bile in her throat, then glanced up. The two dragons were still circling. “They’re not leaving. Do you think they’re planning to attack the captain?”

Rupert’s eyes widened. “Holy crap. If they realize I blew one of them away, they might think I was attacking them.” He jumped to his feet. “We need to go now.”

“Damn you, Seven!” A hoarse shout filtered toward them on the wind.

Brigitta peered through the two boulders and spotted Captain Mador on the north ridge. His uniform was singed, but somehow he’d managed to survive.

He nocked an arrow and sent it flying straight at Rupert. With a wave of his hand, Rupert sent the arrow off course.

“What the hell—” Mador stopped when a dragon shriek interrupted him. With a frantic look, he dashed behind a large boulder.