So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

With a groan, she hunched her shoulders, huddling deeper into her cloak.

“Are you cold?” He removed his heavier black cape and draped it around her shoulders. Holding the edges, he tugged her closer to him. “Now answer my question.”

He’d trapped her. How dare he retain her against her will? Irritation flared inside her, but the fluttering in her stomach also increased. She’d never been this close to him before.

His hands fisted in the cloak. “Is it true? You would rather hurl yourself over the wall than marry me?”

He thought she was suicidal? Her irritation grew. “Of course not! Like you said before, we have no choice in the matter. So I have mentally prepared myself to go through with the ordeal.”

His mouth thinned. “How noble of you.”

“And what about you? Are you tempted to fall on a sword?”

He snorted. “Unlike you, I’m looking forward to the ordeal.” He leaned closer. “And I’ll be praying for a drought.”

Her heart lurched. He wanted to marry her? And what did a drought have to do with them?

“I have another question.” He gave her a wry look. “Actually I have many questions. Why did you leave your room? Why were you running at the wall?”

By the goddesses, how could she explain that? “I … wanted some fresh air.”

“Try again.”

She glanced down at his gloved hands, which still clutched the edges of his cloak and kept her trapped. How could she get free? Could she use his fear against him? She reached her hand toward the white shirt that covered his broad chest.

“No!” He jumped back, releasing her. “Don’t do that. It’s too dangerous.”

“Nothing happened before when you grabbed me.”

“There were several layers of insulation. My gloves, your cloak and nightgown.” His mouth twitched. “Although your nightgown hardly counts as a layer.”

Her cheeks burned with heat.

“I can never be sure how a person will react,” he continued. “Especially when my power is this high. Even with my gloves on, my touch has caused some people to faint.” His eyes glinted with humor. “Apparently, you’re rather insensitive.”

The rascal, now he’d asked for it. She lunged toward him, pretending she was going to poke him.

“Dammit, woman!” He leaped back.

She smiled to herself as she folded her arms across her chest. He wouldn’t dare come near her now.

With a snort, he leaned against the wall. “You’re too damned clever.”

“I thought you liked that about me.”

His mouth curled into a lopsided smile. “I do. So why did you run at the wall?”

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be hunting down the assassins?”

His smile widened. “Another counterattack. Are you sure you’re not a warrior?” He folded his arms, mimicking her stance. “Your father gave me permission to move into the southern tower. So now we’re neighbors. And I can keep an eye on you to make sure you’re safe.”

She glanced at the tower behind him. It was the tallest tower along the curtain wall with an added turret on top. From there, he would have an excellent view of the sea and the entire fortress.

“As for the assassins,” he continued, “I’m working on it.”

“How?”

“I have a plan.” He paused as if he was considering how much to tell her. “And my best spies are at work.”

She blinked. Did he have spies watching her? “Who are they?”

“You needn’t worry yourself over that.”

She narrowed her eyes, then turned to gaze over the crenellated wall at the sea. “No doubt my spies are better. They’ll find the assassins first.”

“What? Your spies?”

“Yes.”

He scoffed. “I don’t believe it.” When she merely shrugged, he stepped closer. “Fine. Who are they?”

She gave him a pointed look. “You needn’t worry yourself over that.”

His mouth fell open, then he grinned. “You know how to wrestle. I like that.”

Her heart did a little leap as a vision popped into her mind of the two of them physically wrestling. And once he had her pinned down … but he couldn’t. He could never touch her. By the goddesses, it was enough to make her learn how to curse. “I should be going now.” She started toward the tower.

“Did you wonder why I’m praying for a drought?”

She halted. He’d come back with a counterattack of his own. An excellent one. For she had wondered.

His booted feet crunched on the stone wall walk as he approached her from behind. “No rain means no lightning. That means my power would slowly disappear.”

The back of her neck tingled. “Why would you want to lose your power?”

“So I can touch you. Kiss you.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “Bed you.”

The tingle on her neck skittered down her spine. Then he might be able to touch her someday? And she hadn’t imagined the hunger in his eyes. It was real. “You … want me?”

“Yes.”

Her heart thudded as she turned to face him. “You hardly know me.” He didn’t even know her real name.

“I know you’re clever, brave, bold, and beautiful. I know you’re kind to servants. Kind to animals. You’re not above working in the garden. You stand up to me. You intrigue me. I feel more … alive when I’m with you.” He stepped closer. “Yes. I want you.”

A sharp pang shot through her chest. He wasn’t describing Tatiana. He was describing her. It was she, Luciana, that he wanted. “My lord—”

“Call me Leo.”

She swallowed hard. “Leo. C-could you call me Ana?”

His eyes widened with surprise. “Does your father call you that?”

She shook her head. “It would be just for us.” So she could feel that he was marrying her, not Tatiana. Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them away.

“Is something wrong?” He stepped closer. “Ana?”

The goddesses help her, this man was making her heart ache. “I should go now.” She headed toward the tower.

“Dammit,” he grumbled behind her. “You never answered my questions.”

She stopped and gave him a hesitant glance. “You shouldn’t spend the night out here. You need your rest before the duel.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Are you worried about me?”

Tatiana’s request! She’d almost forgotten. “Could you do me a favor and not kill the captain tomorrow?”

“What? You’re worried about him?”

Caw, caw. A seagull called out, and he muttered a curse.

She winced. “There are others who care about the captain. So I would appreciate it if you didn’t kill him.”

He gave her an exasperated look. “What do you think I am? I never planned to kill the bastard.”

“Oh, thank you!” She ran into the tower as he growled a few more curse words.

“I’m not a Beast!” His voice echoed down the wall walk.

No, he was a man. Her eyes burned with tears as she hurried up the stairs. He was an amazing man. And he would be far too easy to fall in love with.