“Fair enough, Sarah.”
She smiled. “Not liking my independence so much now, are you?”
“You are valiant and full of spirit, like none other in this land.” Taking her hand, he kissed it softly. “I couldn’t ask for finer qualities in a wife.”
Soon to be ex-wife, Your Hiney, but why add fuel to the fire? She needed his cooperation to save their lives, help her friends, and get her life back, free of immortality.
Chapter 10
Squinting against the sun, Sarah peered up from the ground as she dismounted her horse and Victor tied the animal to a nearby tree. Cobblestone steps led to the top of the city, past towering trees with thick canopies of leaves. With each step, the sound of lutes, tabors, clarions, and even bagpipes grew stronger. The climb was rewarded by a spectacular panoramic view of the magnificent purple mountains.
Victor came from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her close against him as he whispered in her ear, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Breathtaking.” She nodded, unsure whether she was talking about the view or her doting husband.
“Just like you, my Queen.” His lips lowered against her earlobe, his hot breath grazing her skin.
Sarah had to take a deep breath to steady her suddenly racing heart.
“It appears a festival’s taking place in Vivara,” William said. “It couldn’t have come at a better time. No one will notice us in a crowd that size.”
“Give me back my tiara, girl!” Liz called to Sarah.
She laughed, taking off the crown and thrusting it into Liz’s hands.
Liz handed it to her father. “This should buy us a room for the night.” She winked at Sarah. “Sorry, sis, but we gotta sleep, ya know?”
Charles leaned in and pressed his lips against Liz’s cheek, drawing her close. “Father and I are going to the local inn to reserve a room.”
“I’ll meet you there, my handsome Prince,” Liz said.
Sarah rubbed her stomach. “Hey, I’m getting kind of hungry. What are the chances of finding a Big Mac around here? They have drive-thrus for wagons and chariots, right?”
Liz laughed and turned Sarah’s ring upside down. “We’ll find some chow. There, now you look normal. Remember to keep your fist clenched so nobody can see the ruby. Oh, and, uh…” She reached down and picked some blooming wildflowers, inserting handfuls into her hair as she braided it.
“You’re a beautiful sight,” Victor whispered, his hot breath grazing Sarah’s cheek again.
Smiling, she turned to look at him and noticed the twinkle in his eye. “Why thank you, Vic.”
He had proven to be quite fond of paying compliments. Where she came from, that wasn’t often the case. More likely, men had a reason for wanting to make women feel good in their company. One thing she liked about Victor was that he seemed to say whatever he felt like without paying much attention to reason or etiquette.
Turning away from him, she peered through the vegetation. Through the arched gateway, twisting cobbled streets lined with honey-colored stone buildings brought back memories of a quaint village she’d visited in Italy. Hanging flowers filled the air with a sweet fragrance, along with something else: smoke, grease, and meat, reminding her of the Rib Cook-Off back home. Men laughed and danced, wearing tunics down to their knees with wool pants. They twirled women around who wore simple dresses in shades of gray, brown, dark blue, and red. Obviously, this village was much better off than the impoverished Lato where she’d seen so many starving children.
Sarah grabbed Victor’s hand and led him toward a group of dancers. “You need to connect to your people on a more intimate level, as we talked about. This is the perfect opportunity to show them that you have a big heart and actually care about their wellbeing. Come on.”
He flashed one of his famous, gleaming, all-white grins. “You wish to join in with…with the commoners, my Queen?”
She batted her eyelashes. “Commoners? Geesh. Of course! But I’m going to need a partner.”
He smiled again. “Me?”
She furrowed a brow. “Who else? Besides, I only dance with tall, dark, handsome kings.”
The corners of his mouth lifted. He gazed at her with that sparkle in his eye. “Who just happen to be married to you.”
She winked. “Well, that too.”
“You two go ahead and have fun,” Liz said, catching up. “I’ll get you guys a room, and you can just meet up with us later. How about the honeymoon suite?” She pulled a face. From the creases around Liz’s eyes, Sarah could tell she was having a hard time holding her laughter in.
Victor pulled Sarah into the crowd with a chuckle, and she smiled at her sister over her shoulder and held up two fingers. “Two rooms!” Of course Liz encouraged them to be together, as she didn’t want Sarah to return through the portal, but Sarah couldn’t trust herself being alone with Victor. She imagined candlelight flickering in his eyes as she smoothed her hands against his muscular chest and bulging arms, then pulling off those cute britches he wore, and… She snapped back to reality with her heart pounding out of her chest and her cheeks blushing a deep red. She definitely needed to avoid the honeymoon suite and any heart-shaped Jacuzzis at all costs. When Frank and she had plotted their escape plan in the dungeon, she had never expected the unseen complication of falling in love with the king. She bit her lip. She wasn’t even sure if it was love and assumed that maybe she just had a bad case of lust. After all, no one could have blamed her. The guy could have easily made the cover of GQ.
The dancers weaved back and forth, looping arms as they switched partners, as if it were some kind of square dance. The fiddle played a melody while people’s feet stomped out the rhythm. Victor twirled her around, and she couldn’t help but laugh as she watched the powerful warlord join in with the locals, attempting to fit in. He wasn’t even bad at it; he had two very talented left feet. By the way he moved, agile like a large cat, he seemed to be used to lots of activity. He sure wasn’t the usual lazy couch potato, something else she found enticing about her new husband.
He twirled her around once more before there was a call for everyone to switch partners. Sarah smirked as Victor was paired up with a bubbly old woman in a plain tan dress, who kept pinching his arm to get his attention. Smiling, Victor spun her in a big circle, and the rotund woman giggled uncontrollably, having the time of her life in the arms of a strong, young, handsome man. It had to be the sweetest thing Sarah had seen in ages.
Next, all couples, men on one side and women on the other, held up their hands. Victor grabbed Sarah’s and walked through the sea of people, pulling her out of the dance. It reminded her of a military wedding when soldiers drew their swords to make an arch for the bride and groom to pass under.
“That was fun,” Victor said, out of breath and now surrounded by an excited mob of laughing children in simple flowing garments.
Sarah held out her arms and began hugging the little ones.
Victor followed suit, drawing them into his arms for a warm welcome.
Sarah smiled when a raven-haired boy with winter-blue eyes grabbed her hand. “Now, Victor, weren’t you the one who wanted ten children?”
He chuckled. “I said that? I want children, just not ten. But look at you! You’re a natural. You’ll make a fantastic mother someday.”
Yeah, I guess, Sarah reasoned, a bit flattered, but I’m not sure how I’ll be when I have to take care of them twenty-four/seven.
The old lady touched Sarah’s arm. “You’re new in town. Come eat with us.”
The little dark-haired boy led her over to a long, banquet-sized table under a giant red and white striped tent.
Sarah and Victor dined on huge turkey drumsticks and fruit on a bed of flattened bread while men talked about their daring adventures and the battles they fought. Victor joined in, his magnetic personality shining through as he ate, drank, talked, listened, and laughed with his subjects. Watching Victor interact with ordinary, everyday
people truly amazed her. He was a good listener, leaning forward to listen closer and always nodding at the right time, as though he truly cared about what his subordinates had to say. Sarah marveled at how easy he seemed to interact, saying the right thing at the right time and making others hoot with laughter.
Victor guzzled down ale in a tall, brown mug while he told stories of one of his many adventures on the battlefield. Sarah admired him as he told his story with the charismatic presence of a king. Everyone’s eyes focused on the master storyteller, and he captivated everyone’s attention, including hers. He had this magnetism that inspired confidence and adoration.
“So did you kill the wicked beast?” asked the old man sitting across from them, totally engrossed in the conversation.
“Kill it?” Victor asked. “Now why would I do a crazy thing like that?”
“To eat it!” a young girl with long blonde curls squealed.
Victor smiled. “Did you know, little miss, that eating dragon meat can rot out all your teeth and turn your skin purple?”
The little girl laughed. “What did you do then?”
“I threw a rope around the dragon’s neck, hogtied it, and tamed it as my pet!”
Sarah wondered if the humongous pet fetched his morning newspaper and brought him his slippers. The thought made her giggle.
Victor slammed down his beer mug on the scratched table, without spilling one single drop. “The beast is now the official cook in my kitchen, and my food has never been hotter!”
Loud laughter erupted all around, the little girl rolling in a fit of giggles. For just that moment, immersed in all of that happiness, Sarah blocked out all the pain of losing her friends, laughing alongside everyone else.
Later, when a man talked about losing his home and having nowhere to live, Victor pulled off his diamond pinky ring and gave it to him, causing shocking gasps to echo all around them.
The man crumbled to the ground at his feet, his body heaving with sobs. “How…but how can I ever repay you, kind sir?”
Tears welled up in Sarah’s eyes as she glanced up at Victor.
Warmth and empathy radiated from the depths of his blue eyes. “My friend, gifts do not need to be repaid. Take it and make a better life for your family. That will be my reward.”
After enjoying such a great feast, Victor thanked everyone and pulled her aside. “I want to show you one of my favorite places. We’re so close that it would be a shame to let this opportunity pass us by, my love.”
“I’d love to go, Victor…and what you just did back there…” She took a deep breath, fighting to find the right words. “It was kind and generous.”
“Why, it was nothing! I’ve never seen anyone so thankful before. He didn’t drop to my feet because I was royalty, but because he was so thankful for that small gift, that tiny token. It touched my heart to know I could help someone.”
“You rock, my King,” Sarah said, kissing him on the lips.
He looked confused for a moment but then wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against his hard body, snuggling her against his chest as he whispered in her ear, “I am not sure how one rocks, but Sarah, you have helped me to see what’s really important. Thank you, Your Highness, for changing my life.”
* * *
Sarah stared up at millions of tiny, twinkling stars. “I’ve never seen so many stars in my life.”
“I could lose myself here in this place,” Victor said, gripping her hand tightly.
“Me too. It smells like the air after a heavy rainstorm, fresh and crisp.”
A great waterfall tumbled down towering, steep canyon walls. Everything gleamed under the silver moonlight. In the soft, swirling mist, a geometrical formation in the air caught her eye. A giant, stunning arc of opalescent light and bands of pastel hues appeared in the droplets of moisture, spreading across the falls like some kind of giant banner. She couldn’t stop staring; there was something magical and mystical and addictive about nature’s perfection, her fragile beauty. “A glowing rainbow…at night?” A breeze blew through Sarah’s hair, and she shuddered.
Victor wrapped his arm around her. “It’s called a moonbow. It has to be a clear night with dark skies, lots of waterfall mist, and a full moon that rises over the granite walls.”
“So it’s light reflected from the moon rather than from direct sunlight?” She smiled and snuggled against his chest. “It’s breathtaking.”
“It’s very rare,” he said. “It happens only a few days a year.”
“Wow. I can’t believe we’re actually witnessing it.”
Victor leaned in against her. “Maybe it’s a glorious sign that we’re meant to be together for all eternity.”
How romantic! This guy would be the perfect catch, if only he weren’t living in Medieval Land. She grinned as he placed a soft kiss on her lips. She knew in that moment that if Liz got them a room, it was all over. How could I possibly resist such temptation? “I’ve got an idea,” Sarah said. “Let’s go in for a dip.”
His mouth opened to speak, but before he could refuse, she grabbed his hand and started pulling him into the cool pool of water.
“Sarah…” he said.
“What? Are there hungry fish with big, sharp teeth that’ll eat us?”
“No, it’s completely safe, but this isn’t something royalty does.”
“Are you forbidden from spontaneity, Highness? From having a little fun?”
His eyes twinkled. “You’re a proper lady, are you not?”
“Never been that. Grew up a tomboy, and now I chase wild, hairy apes all over the world to prove their existence.” She let out a chuckle. “Listen, all you’ve done for years is plan military strategies, fight battles, and host fancy parties in that stuffy castle of yours. It’s time for you to get out and live and really enjoy your kingdom.”
“My castle isn’t stuffy.”
Sarah laughed. “It won’t be when I’m done remodeling it.”
His laugh echoed off the canyon walls. “Does that mean you will stay here, in my world, with me?”
Sarah started to wade toward the middle of the pool. “I don’t know what the future holds. Right now, I’m going to fight until my very last breath and never give up, but if this is the end, then I’m going to enjoy my last few days and cherish it forever. I’m not going to cry, shout, or waste time pouting. That’s never been my style. Capisce?” When he didn’t respond, Sarah turned around, and her jaw dropped. All she could do was gasp. He’d stripped off his cloak, pants, and boots but still had on his wool underwear, which resembled a pair of modern-day long johns. Rows of rippling muscles stared right back at her: rock-hard biceps and abs, broad shoulders, and a chiseled chest. Sarah thought she might just faint right there in the water. “I don’t remember asking you to skinny-dip!”
A smug smile crossed his features. “Skinny? You think me too thin, milady? Hmm. I will work on that, but for the time being, I’m not going into the water dressed in chainmail.”
Sarah put her hand over her eyes. “Maybe a little notice next time you take all your clothes off please.” She couldn’t resist peeking through her fingers.
He winked. “And miss seeing the expression on your face. Now what fun would that be?”
“I’m so going to soak you.”
“Do you think your reflexes are as quick as mine?” he asked.
“Bring it on!”
In a flash, he grabbed her around the waist and threw her in the air.
Sarah landed with a splash, laughing as streams of water poured down her face. “Sneak attack? Okay, buster. Watch out, because I’m going to dunk you.”
“Think you are up for such a challenge?” he teased, swimming to the middle of the pool.
“Think? I know!” Sarah cut the water with a few broad strokes, easily catching up to him. When she looked around, she didn’t see him anywhere. “Victor?”
There was no answer, only the echoing roar from the waterfall.
“Victor!” She sca
nned the dark waters and called louder, her voice more urgent. Maybe she’d seen one too many horror films with the main character disappearing into the fog. Suddenly Sarah gasped as arms snaked around her waist from behind. An Immortal? Did they get Victor? Her stomach clenched. She tried to wiggle away, to no avail. Glancing over her shoulder, she was relieved to see Victor’s playful grin. “You just about scared me to death!”
A blanket of white mist swirled around them, vivid colors of the moonbow splashed across the sky overhead.
“Well, in that case, you should surrender to me,” Victor said, laughing as he held her tight in his arms. He spun her around.
Sarah met his gaze. Melting into his warm embrace felt intoxicating, like wine. “It’d be so easy, yet so complicated.” Of course he was talking about their innocent game of horseplay, but she’d just taken it to a deeper level. Giving in was the easy part; leaving her old life and family was the hard part.
His blue eyes pierced hers, shimmering droplets dripping down his face. He caught on quickly. “Do you want me to let you go?”
Right now? No. Her fingertips traced the hard muscles in his chest.
He pulled her even closer.
She drew in a short breath, but the words remained frozen in her throat.
He stared into her eyes, waiting for an answer. When none came, he loosened his grip. “The freedom you’ve so craved is yours.”
A light, steady drizzle fell over them as she reached for his hands. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He intertwined his fingers with hers, and a cocky grin spread across his lips. “I know.”
She playfully slapped his arm. “Then why did you ask?”
“To make you admit it to yourself.” Before she could retort, he held a finger over her lips and said, “You’re so beautiful in the moonlight, Sarah.”
“Thank you, my King, but I could say the same about you.” The way the moon shone down on his beautiful eyes, his slicked back hair, and his gleaming white teeth made her heart pound like a drum. When his lips lowered on hers, she wrapped her arms around him as tightly as she could. Somehow Victor had pushed past the emotional wall around her heart. She could only imagine what making love to this powerful warrior was like. There was only one way to find out. Why not live for the moment? They could be killed in a blink of the eye by the Immortals.
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