So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(127)

He shook his head. This was not the Brigitta he knew. Something was wrong. She couldn’t have been fooling him all this time. Or could she?

Crap. He didn’t know what to think. The only thing he was certain of right now was that he had to rescue Four, Five, and Six. He’d given them his word.

He would not let them die.

*

When Brigitta emerged from Gunther’s tent, she was shocked by the level of devastation around her. Smoke filled the air from tents and supplies that had burned. Other tents had been uprooted and now lay in jumbled heaps. Somehow, Rupert had destroyed the entire camp while leaving Gunther’s tent bedraggled, but still standing. Had he done it on purpose to keep from harming her? She hoped so. Holy goddesses, she prayed he still believed in her.

But how had Mador ended up with the seal? She’d given it to Rupert, and yet somehow, it hadn’t been Rupert. And now she feared he would believe the worst.

He would think that she had betrayed him. Pain ripped at her heart when she remembered how he had flinched.

Please, Rupert, please believe in me.

“Guards!” Gunther yelled. “Go after Seven! I want him captured now!”

One of them inclined his head. “Your Majesty, all the horses have escaped the pen and run into the forest.”

“Then get them, you fool!” Gunther smacked the guard on the head. “And bring that Seven back. I want to see the bastard hang.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The guard dashed off with a dozen more guards into the nearby forest.

“That’s twice now my camp has been destroyed,” Gunther growled. He turned to scan the village in the distance. “No harm came to them. Why does the wind keep striking us?”

“Seven is behind it,” Mador declared.

“What?” Gunther gave him an incredulous look. “How can that bastard control the forces of nature?”

“I believe he is a Wind Sorcerer.”

Gunther huffed. “I thought there was something evil about him. That damned foreigner.”

Brigitta grew tense. She didn’t want them figuring out that Seven was the infamous pirate Rupert.

“What are you doing standing around?” Gunther glared at Mador. “Capture Seven and get this mess cleaned up. We leave for Lourdon in the morning.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Mador strode away, yelling orders.

“And you.” Gunther turned to Brigitta. “Pack your things. As soon as we arrive in Lourdon, we’ll have the wedding.” He stomped back into his tent.

With a heavy heart, Brigitta trudged toward the wreck that was once her tent. It seemed fitting, since everything in her life was now wrecked. Her future with Rupert. His takeover of the throne. Hopefully, he would make it back to Lourdon in time to rescue the imprisoned contestants.

But what would he do then? Would he abandon her, believing that she had betrayed him? Would she be forced to marry Captain Mador? She shuddered. How could she let Rupert know that she still loved him? How could she tell him that she’d found his little brother?

At least Bjornfrid was safe for now.

A few soldiers raised her tent so she was able to pack. Her heart ached with despair as she contemplated her bleak future. Her sisters were gone. Rupert was gone. So many times he’d told her Don’t leave me, but it was he who had done the leaving.

She had to leave, too, she suddenly realized. The camp was a mess and soldiers were scurrying about paying her no mind, so this was the perfect time for her to steal away.

Marriage to Captain Mador? Never! She had to take charge of her own destiny.

With a deep breath, she filled herself with renewed strength and determination. You can do this! She dressed in her warmest clothes and checked to make sure her knife was strapped to her thigh. It was a shame she didn’t have any gold. She’d given it all to Sister Fallyn to help her take care of Bjornfrid. But if the horses were running loose, perhaps she could find one and ride south. It was a long way to Eberon, but if she could just reach Luciana, she would be safe. And from there, she could help Rupert win back the throne.

She slipped out of the tent and across the camp. The soldiers were so busy, none of them stopped her. Once she made it to the forest, she weaved through the trees, carefully avoiding the soldiers.

There! In a grassy clearing, a horse was munching on grass. It was even saddled. She sent a prayer of thanks to the moon goddesses as she slowly approached.

“Where are you going?” a voice spoke behind her.

She spun around. Mador. Why hadn’t she recognized his voice? She eased back a step. She was closer to the horse than him. If she could just make it before— “Did you think you could escape, Princess?” He snorted. “Does the idea of bedding me make you want to run away? Perhaps it would help if I looked like this.” His features wavered, then solidified into another face.

Rupert.

She gasped. How could he…? So this was how he had tricked her to get the seal. But how had he known that she had it?

He stepped closer. “Or perhaps I should look like this.” His skin turned a leathery red, and horns jutted from his brow. His breath hissed through sharp and jagged teeth.

Terror slithered icy cold down her spine.

He changed back to Mador, then lunged forward to grab her before she could run away.

Her gift instantly ignited, detecting a hoard of secrets, as many as Rupert had, but so deeply buried she could only see a dark mist surrounded by rage, hatred, and pain. “You’re not Captain Mador.” His voice was different, and there was an odd, silvery glint to his eyes.