Eternal Destiny (14 page)

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 scanned 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.

“
Victor,” she whispered.

He regarded her intently, his hair swaying in the soft breeze carrying over from the silent woods.
“What is it my love?”

The moon stood high on the horizon and cast a glowing hue on the shimmering water. She cupped his face, emotion flooding through her. “What are the chances we’ll ever find those minerals to save our lives?”

The lines around his mouth tightened as he looked away.

“
Exactly my point. They’ve been sought after for hundreds of years by Immortals and humans alike, yet, nobody can find them.” She took a deep breath. “We have to face the fact that we might not find them. And without them, we’re as good as goners.”

“
Sarah-”

She put a finger up to his lips. “Shh. Let me finish. I’m not a quitter and I’ll fight to the very end. However, I’m not a dreamer either. I don’t live with my head in the clouds. If the Immortals closed in on us, you know we could be dead by tomorrow. This could be our last moment together.” She placed a sweet kiss on his soft lips. “And if this is it, I want to spend it with my husband in my arms.”

“
That’s the first time you ever referred to me as your life mate,” he said, his warm breath brushing her ear.

“
I want to be your wife in
every
way.”

Victor stared at Sarah in silence as if he contemplated what her words exactly implied. He wrapped his arms around her body, and their lips connected in a heated kiss, his tongue swirling gently against her lips. Jumping into his arms, she wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him close.

He stroked her cheek. “My cloudy night has turned into a bright and glorious sunrise. Because in my darkest hour, you rescued me and showed me love can conquer all.”

“
And you were a dream that came alive the second our eyes met,” she whispered back, her heart racing. His beautiful blue eyes shone as he gazed straight into her eyes. The chemistry between them was electric and mind-blowing. But it was more than just chemistry. She noticed their ruby rings glowed in the darkness as if sparked by their feelings for one another. The bond between them was steadily growing—she could even feel his heart, his love, his emotion, his strong affection and personal attachment. It was a psychic bond like no other.