So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(139)

Maeve clapped her hands together. “I can’t wait! Thank you!”

Brigitta nodded. She was worried about her youngest sister, but didn’t want to say anything that would alarm her. For she really didn’t know what to say.

The day before, Brody had given her a cryptic warning. Maeve’s time was coming soon. Something to do with her scent. But when Brigitta had questioned him further, he’d refused to say anything other than Maeve would need their support.

Gwennore turned her head in the direction of Brigitta’s bedchamber. “The babies are stirring. I’ll go check on them.” She hurried off.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Brigitta whispered. Gwennore’s hearing had always been better than theirs.

Luciana sighed. “Poor Gwennore. She spends all her time at Ebton Palace, either hiding in the nursery or the library. I appreciate her help with the twins, but I want her to attend the parties and have fun.”

Brigitta frowned. “She’d better come to the ball tonight.”

“I’ll drag her there me self,” Sorcha declared, then lowered her voice. “She knows everyone looks at her strangely because she’s an elf.”

Luciana sighed. “When people see her, they don’t know what to think of her.”

“The babies went back to sleep,” Gwennore said softly as she entered the sitting room. She gave them a wry smile. “Don’t worry. I’m used to the odd looks.”

“They don’t know you like we do.” Brigitta grabbed Gwennore’s hand and squeezed it.

Gwennore sat next to her. “That’s why I love being with you all. Ye’re my true family. Even if I went to Woodwyn, I wouldn’t be comfortable there. I don’t know any more about the elves than anyone else.”

“Ye don’t want to be a queen like Luciana or Brigitta?” Maeve asked.

Gwennore shook her head, smiling.

Sorcha pressed a hand to her chest. “I might be destined to become queen of Norveshka.”

“What?” Maeve laughed.

“I’m serious.” Sorcha sat back, crossing her arms. “Luciana went back to her home country and became queen. Then Brigitta did the same. So why shouldn’t I?”

Gwennore gave her a dubious look. “Norveshka already has a queen.”

Sorcha waved a dismissive hand. “It could still happen.”

“Let’s play the Game of Stones and see if ye’re right,” Maeve suggested.

“Excellent idea!” Sorcha dashed over to a travel chest to dig through the contents, while Maeve emptied the fruit bowl on the sideboard.

Brigitta exchanged a worried look with Luciana. Her older sister’s predictions had an odd way of coming true.

“Here they are!” Sorcha brought a drawstring bag back to the small table.

Maeve set the brass bowl down.

“Wait!” Gwennore draped a shawl in the bowl. “We don’t want a loud clatter that might frighten the babies.”

“Oh, good idea.” Sorcha emptied the stones into the bowl, and they made a muffled noise. “All right, Luciana, show us what ye can do.”

Luciana leaned forward. “Are you sure about this?”

“Aye.” Sorcha nodded.

Brigitta winced, remembering how her prediction from the Telling Stones had haunted her for eight months.

Luciana stirred the stones with her hand, then suddenly Sorcha reached out to stop her. “No. I don’t want to know.” She glanced at Gwennore. “Gwennie is older than me. It should be her turn next.”

Gwennore snorted. “What future could I have?”

“We all have a future,” Maeve insisted, then turned to their oldest sister. “Go ahead.”

Luciana closed her fist around some stones.

“O Great Seer,” Maeve whispered. “Reveal to us the secrets of the Telling Stones.”

Luciana opened her hand and set two of the stones on the table. Green and brown.

“Maybe she’ll meet a tall and handsome stranger with brown hair and green eyes,” Maeve suggested.

Gwennore’s eyes twinkled with humor. “Or brown eyes and green hair.”

Sorcha sat forward. “This is an easy one. The royal flag of Woodwyn is green and brown. A green tree on a brown background. Gwennie will be returning to the elves.”

Brigitta glanced at Luciana’s face to see if she was in agreement, but only saw a flicker of alarm before Luciana’s face grew blank.

What else could be green and brown? Brigitta suddenly recalled the uniforms worn by the Norveshki warriors. Green and brown. Was Gwennore destined to go to the land of dragons?

Luciana set the final stone on the table. Three.

“What does it mean?” Maeve asked.

“’Tis simple,” Sorcha said. “In three months, Gwennie will meet a tall and handsome stranger. And most probably, he’ll be an elf.”

Maeve turned toward Luciana. “Is that right?”

Luciana shrugged. “I must be tired, because I’m not seeing anything. I’m sorry.”

Gwennore smiled. “That’s all right. I’ve always believed we make our own destiny.”

A sad look glinted in Luciana’s eyes. “Aye. That you will.”

The babies cried in the next room, and Gwennore jumped up.