So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(55)

She planted her hands on his chest and pushed. He stepped back, taking her hands and moving them beneath his shirt so she was touching his bare skin. His eyes burned an amber gold, and his heart pounded against the palm of her hand.

She swallowed hard. “I’ll tell you my secrets, if ye will tell me yers.”

His mouth thinned. “I have nothing to tell.”

“Rupert.” She repeated the words he’d used. “Ye’re lying.”

He squeezed her hands. “Then we’ve both been caught.”

They stared at each other for a few sad seconds, then he released her and stepped back. “I’ll fetch a lantern and take you to the spare cabin.”

She slipped into the dark passageway and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Good goddesses, now she knew how much he wanted her. But she didn’t dare give in to her own feelings of attraction. How could she, when he didn’t trust her enough to tell her his secrets? And she didn’t trust him enough, either.

She glanced back to see him coming toward her, holding a lantern in one hand while stuffing a paper into a pocket of his breeches with the other.

“This way.” He led her down the passageway.

“I thought the spare room was supposed to be next door to us.”

“It is.” He glanced at her with a smile. “On the other side.”

“Oh.” She followed him into the second guest cabin. It was smaller than the one she and Sister Fallyn had been using. Other than the narrow bed, the only other furniture was a table and two chairs.

“I’ll leave you this.” He reached up to hang the lantern on a hook in the ceiling.

“Thank you.” The room grew quiet except for the pattering of rain against the small window. She adjusted her grip on the edges of her cloak to keep her nightgown from showing. Why wasn’t he leaving? He was scowling at the floor, seemingly lost in thought.

“Is something wrong?” she asked. Had he reconsidered and decided to divulge his secrets?

He took a deep breath. “Earlier today, when I was in Danport, I learned why your brother wants you back.”

“Oh.” Her chest tightened. By the look on Rupert’s face, the reason wasn’t good.

“I’ve been wondering all day how to break the news—”

“Is it that bad?”

With a grimace, he removed the paper from his pocket. “I’ll let you judge for yourself.”

She unfolded the sheet of paper and stood underneath the lantern to read it. A competition. Her hands trembled.

“Seven suitors vying for my hand,” she whispered.

“Seven?” Rupert took the paper and looked it over. “I don’t recall there being a number—”

“It’s coming true.” She pressed a hand against her pounding heart. Luciana’s prediction was coming true!

Rupert gave her a confused look. “What…?”

“I didn’t want this to happen!” She paced across the room. “Holy goddesses, I don’t—I can’t be a prize!” It was even worse than she had feared. The men would be competing not for her hand, but for her body.

She leaned over, gasping for air. The winner would have the right to rape her.

Rupert set the paper on the table. “I’m sure this must be upsetting—”

“You think so?” she cried. “My brother is a monster! How can he treat me like a-a…”

“Broodmare.”

A chill skittered across her bones, and she wrapped her arms around herself.

Rupert cursed under his breath. “I know it stinks. I debated whether I should even tell you—”

“Oh, no!” A horrible thought crossed her mind. “Ye’re planning to send me to that monster, aren’t you? So ye can get yer pile of gold. How could you?” She raised a fist to hit him, but he caught her by the wrist.

A vision flashed through her mind, the image of a baby in a crib, but in her distress, she pushed it aside. “Let me go!”

He tightened his grip. “I will protect you.”

She blinked. “What?”

“You want control of your own destiny. I will protect that.”

Her jaw dropped. “Th-then ye’re not planning to send me to my brother?”

“Only if you want to go.” He released her wrist and motioned toward the table. “Let’s go over your options.”

“What? Are ye saying ye’re willing to give up on my ransom?”

He sat at the table and gave her a wry smile. “I have other ways of stealing Gunther’s gold.”

Her heart softened. “Thank you.” He was her tall and handsome stranger, after all. As she sat beside him, she realized the Game of Stones could have only referred to Rupert. He’d come into her life, not to kidnap her from her brother, but to rescue her.

She took a deep breath. “I would like to go to Ebton Palace to live with my sister, Luciana. She could pay—”

“I don’t want Eberoni gold.”

“Only Gunther’s?” When he nodded, she wondered once again what sort of grudge he had against her brother.

Rupert tapped a finger on the paper. “Gunther needs you. Or rather, he needs your womb.”

She grimaced. “Disgusting pig.”