So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(25)

Sister Fallyn slanted a wary look at the clothing. “Perhaps they reminded her of something terrible. Like being ravished.”

Brigitta groaned inwardly. Wherever the pirate Rupert was taking them, it was going to be a long trip.

The sudden blast of horns made her jump. “What was that?” She glanced up at the ceiling as the pounding of feet sounded on deck.

Sister Fallyn made the sign of the moons. “Heavenly goddesses, what will happen to us now?”

Brigitta dashed to the window, but it was hard to see much of anything through the thick mullioned glass. She twisted a handle and opened the window as far as it would go, but that was only about a few inches. Nothing in sight, but now she could hear voices yelling overhead and the blare of horns from other ships in the fleet.

A knock sounded on the door, then Jeffrey peered inside. “I brought you—”

“What’s happening?” Brigitta rushed toward him.

“Uh, nothing.” Jeffrey offered her a book bound in tooled leather. “I brought this for you to read.”

“Thank you.” The second Brigitta accepted the book, a small shiver raced up her arms and an instant vision flitted across her mind. A man’s hands turning the pages. And somehow, she knew that man was Rupert.

“Ye must tell us what has happened,” Sister Fallyn demanded.

“Well…” Jeffrey scratched his head. “It’s uh … nothing much. You just need to stay here.”

He started to close the door, but Brigitta caught it with her hand. “Are we under attack? Has the Tourinian navy returned?”

“No, it’s the Eberoni—” Jeffrey slapped a hand over his mouth.

“The Eberoni navy?” Brigitta asked.

Jeffrey grimaced. “There’s no need for you to worry. Rupert can handle them.”

Brigitta’s heart raced as an idea popped into her mind. “This is excellent!”

“It is?”

“Aye.” Brigitta dropped the book on the bed and grabbed her cloak. “’Tis the perfect solution for everyone!”

“It is?” Jeffrey repeated.

“Yes!” Brigitta pushed the door open and slipped past the boy into the passageway.

“Where are ye going?” Sister Fallyn called after her.

She darted up the stairs and peered out the door at the main deck. The seamen were busy. She could probably slip past them unnoticed.

“My lady, don’t!” Jeffrey clambered up the stairs.

“Come back!” Sister Fallyn yelled as she ventured into the passageway.

Brigitta eased onto the deck and quickly scanned the surroundings. Behind her on the quarterdeck, Captain Landers was shouting orders. To her right, the other ships in the pirate fleet were moving south. To her left toward the shore, there was a group of Eberoni naval ships headed southwest on a collision course with the pirate fleet.

Somehow she had to make contact with them. She ran toward the portside railing and waved a hand in the air. Would they see her? She waved her brown cloak back and forth, hoping they could spot her through a spyglass.

“What are you doing?” A deep voice sifted past her ear on a breeze.

Rupert. She spun around, but he wasn’t behind her. She lifted her gaze. There he was, staring at her from the crow’s nest. “I need to contact the Eberoni,” she said softly, wondering if he would hear her.

He jabbed his spyglass under his belt. “You need to go below where it’s safe.”

“Nay! I have a plan—”

“To get yourself killed?”

“’Twill be beneficial to both of us.”

“Your death?” He slipped on some leather gloves.

“Nay, the plan!” She huffed with annoyance. The man was wasting her time. She turned her back to him and waved her cloak in the air.

“Enough!”

She glanced back just in time to see him slide down a rope and land neatly on the deck. In three long strides he was next to her and ripping the cloak out of her hands.

“Stop that!” She grabbed the cloak back, but he jerked it toward himself, causing her to stumble. To keep from falling into him, she planted her hands on his chest.

“Oof.” Even though the soft wool of her cloak had cushioned her hands, she felt like she’d run into a stone wall.

She steeled her nerves in case her gift struck her, but since her hands were only touching her own cloak, she was spared the strong reaction she’d experienced before. She’d actually fainted then. For now, she seemed to be all right. Except that her nose was only a few inches from his bare skin where his shirt was unbuttoned. She could even see a hint of his chest hair.

As her cheeks grew warm, she lifted her gaze to his masked face. His amber eyes were narrowed, watching her so intently that her mind went blank for a moment. Several moments. His rock of a chest budged slightly, expanding as he took a deep breath.

With a small gasp, she came to her senses. “Excuse me.” She removed her hands and stepped back.

“What is this plan?” he asked quietly.

What plan? “Oh, aye.” She motioned toward the Eberoni ships. “We need to contact them and let them know I’m here. I know! Ye could shoot one of yer arrows at their mast with a message attached. Like ye did afore.”

“Why?”