So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(65)

Her mind raced back to the terrible story Sister Fallyn had told her. King Manfrid had come south with the prince. The lost prince!

“Rupert,” she whispered as tears burned her eyes. Just like the cogs and wheels of one of Rupert’s inventions, all the clues fit neatly together and locked into place.

The ambush had been her father’s plan to kill the rightful king, Rupert’s father. The wheel in her mind turned and clicked onto the next vision. The battle had been her father’s army attacking the king’s army. Click. Rupert had cried over his mother’s grave, the queen’s grave. Click. Rupert had hid in caves and basements because her father’s soldiers wanted to kill him. Click. All the grief and despair that Rupert had felt, it had all been caused by her father.

With a cry, Brigitta fell to her knees. Tears ran down her face as more memories made sense. That was why Rupert had referred to her as a so-called princess. He knew her father had stolen the throne.

That was why he said her name as if he knew her. Another one of his hidden memories flitted across her mind. A baby in a crib festooned with white lace.

She doubled over as if she’d been struck in the stomach. It was her. That baby in Rupert’s mind was her.

“No.” She dug her fingers into the sand, then hurled a clump of sand into the sea. “No!” She grabbed the stick and dragged it back and forth across the letters to erase what she had done. The pelican stood nearby, its head cocked as if it had been reading what she’d wrote.

But she couldn’t erase what her father had done. He’d destroyed Rupert’s family. Only Rupert had survived. He was the lost prince.

No. Her heart stuttered. He was the rightful king.

Dear goddesses, no wonder he wanted revenge.

She collapsed forward onto her knees and elbows. Rupert had been betrothed to her. She had been the excuse to lure Rupert’s family to their doom.

How could he ever trust her? Or love her?

With a cry, she realized any future with him was impossible. And now that she knew it could never happen, she was suddenly aware of how much she wanted it. She wanted his love.

Goddesses help her, she was in love with him.





Chapter Sixteen

“Child, what are you doing here alone?”

Brigitta looked up to find Granny Hargraves leaning over her. The old woman was holding a small earthenware pitcher in her hands.

“Ah, you’ve been crying.” Granny Hargraves watched her sadly.

Brigitta sat up. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been crouched over the sand. A cool breeze stung her face and brought her back to the world around her. Only a sliver of light colored the sea a glowing red where the sun had set. Darkness had descended unnoticed.

She’d been numb, she realized. Withdrawn into a miserable, small place filled with gloom and despair. Now she could hear the music and laughter of the celebration in the distance. People were eating and dancing.

“Why are you crying?” Granny Hargraves straightened. “Ah, perhaps you don’t speak Tourinian.”

“I do,” Brigitta croaked, then cleared her throat.

“Heartbroken, are you?” The old woman waved a bony hand when Brigitta stiffened. “No point in denying it. I’ve endured enough heartbreak in my life to recognize it when I see it. So why are you here alone?”

Brigitta eased back onto the log and stretched her cramped legs in front of her. The pelican was still nearby, watching them. “I didn’t feel like celebrating.”

“I don’t mean them.” Granny Hargraves motioned toward the party. “Why aren’t you with the one you want to be with? Did he not come to the island with you?” Her voice softened. “Has he passed away?”

“He’s fine.” Brigitta glanced at the celebration. “I suppose he’s here somewhere. But it is not possible for us to be together.”

“Is he married?”

Brigitta shook her head. At least, she assumed he wasn’t. Surely if he had a secret wife stashed somewhere she would have seen that in a vision. “It’s just not possible.”

“I see.” The old woman settled her thin frame on the log and set the earthenware pitcher in her lap. “Did you know I was the daughter of an earl? I fell in love with a sailor, and of course, everyone told us it was not possible.”

Brigitta turned to face her. “What happened?”

Granny Hargraves smiled. “We married and had five children and twenty-three grandchildren.” Her smile faded. “He passed away two years ago. His grave is not far from here. I was on my way to see him when I spotted you.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“No need to be. We had fifty-four wonderful years together.” Granny Hargraves lifted the pitcher. “I was taking this to his grave, so I could share it with him.”

“You were together a long time.”

“Aye.” The old woman snorted. “But looking back, it doesn’t seem long at all. Life is too short to live with regrets. And you never know what’s truly possible until you try. Is your man not worth a try?”

Brigitta sighed. “He’s worth everything I could ever give him.”

“So why are you alone?”

Brigitta’s eyes burned with tears. “I’m afraid he would never be able to love me back.”