Eternal Destiny (9 page)

“Then I’m coming along too. I love picnics, hanging out, and catching up with my sister on our long-lost years.”

Victor shook his head vehemently. “This has nothing to do with you. It is strictly between me and my wife.”

“What?” Liz asked.

“It’s time Sarah got to know her husband a little better.” Victor wrapped the reins around his hands and took off to the right.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Come back!” yelled Liz, as four Immortal knights held her back.

“Living up to your tyrant image?” yelled William. “Just going around plundering whatever and whomever you please? You brute! No wonder Della didn’t want you!”

Chapter 6

The wind blew through Sarah’s hair as they raced through the forest, twisting around trees for miles. Victor pulled hard on the reins, and the horse whinnied. “Easy, boy.” He dismounted and tied the horse to a tree, then helped Sarah down.

Trees rose up into the blue sky streaked with white clouds. Rays of sunshine sparkled over a tumbling waterfall. A butterfly fluttered toward her and landed on her arm, then flew off. Birds chirped noisily all around them as she breathed in the scent of blooming bushes nearby. “Wow! You weren’t kidding. This place is so beautiful and breathtaking, especially the waterfall you wanted me to see.”

A breeze blew Victor’s untamed, dark hair into his face as he spread the blanket across the lush green grass and settled down upon it, patting it with his hand and beckoning her. “Come join me, my beautiful Queen.”

Sarah’s gaze narrowed as she watched him with mistrust.
Does he think he’s going to take me right here, right now?
She was sure that in Victor’s mind, he had every right to consummate the marriage. It was legal and binding in his world. She had recited the vows of her own free will. Leaving with him by herself was a dumb idea, but it wasn’t as if she’d had much of a choice when he hoisted her onto his horse.
I should have insisted that Liz come along.
He was a mass of towering muscle and brute strength, but Sarah decided she’d get away from him one way or another. She wasn’t about to be manhandled—not even by her husband.

“I’m not a lion,” he said with a smirk. “I won’t bite…unless you want me to.” The light reflected in his eyes in a million facets, destroying every bit of her focus. The pull between them was so strong.

She lay next to him and propped herself on her right elbow. Her eyes met his. “Are we supposed to get hot and heavy right here in the middle of the wilderness with all the birds and the bunnies? You know, to make up for the wedding night you were denied?” She knew he might take it the wrong way and assume it to be an invitation, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t even sure it wasn’t one.

“My wedding night was the loneliest, longest night of my life.” He gently stroked a strand of hair out of her eyes.

Remorse flooded her heart. “I’m so sorry. If I could go back and do things differently, I would, but that is no reason to bring me out here, throw down a blanket, and pretend like it’s the ceremonial bed.”

He smiled. “I didn’t bring you here to ravage your body. I just wanted to spend some time with you alone, so you can see I’m not the tyrant you think I am.”

Sarah was glad to see he wasn’t such a Neanderthal after all. “I never said that.”
Out loud.

“Perhaps not in so many words, but I can sense your fear of me. Haven’t you figured out that I could never and will never cause you any harm?”

“You won’t hurt me, but you’d have no problem keeping me locked up in your castle like a trophy. Listen, I need to find my friends—the same ones you put to sleep earlier today.”

“They’re safe, caught by my knights, to make good on the deal we made. I’ll return them home to their world. Also, as you asked, I ordered that food and clothing be sent to the village of Lato.”

A wave of relief spread over Sarah. Her friends were safe, and he had helped the starving village. She regarded him intently, still unsure what to think. Slowly, her perception of him was changing.
Maybe Victor isn’t as awful as everyone makes him out to be. Maybe he’s kinder and more concerned about what’s happening around him than I thought. Maybe he’s not such a bad guy after all. Maybe he’s even a guy I could…
She moistened her lips. “Thank you, but why didn’t you tell me or let me see them?” She could feel the answer burning inside of her:
Frank
. For a brief moment, she felt guilty sitting there with Victor, Frank all forgotten, but that feeling dissipated more quickly than she ever thought it would.

He raised a brow but didn’t comment.

“I bet you can’t wait to get one of them home.” She winked. “You know, to get rid of the competition?”

He laughed. “I have nothing to fear from your suitor.”

“What? You think you’re hotter?”
Okay, maybe he is…and a much better kisser.

“When I went to question him, he was kissing the blonde maiden passionately. She is with child, and she has declared him the father.”

Sarah’s mouth dropped.
Wait…is Beth trying to save Frank’s life by making up such a ridiculous story? Maybe she feared Victor would kill Frank because he saw him as a threat, another suitor he needed to dispose of immediately.
She pondered it for a moment, and it did make perfect sense. Frank could’ve easily been the guy in the bar that Beth had gone home with that night. Anger bubbled up inside.
How dare my best friend sleep with my ex-boyfriend and not tell me about it? Even Frank kept their secret romp in the hay a secret from me, the liar!
She blew out a breath. “That’s my crappy luck. I couldn’t find love if my life depended on it. See why I’ve never gotten married before?”

“But you
are
married now.” He gazed into her eyes. “To me.”

“It’s not real. It was a sham of a marriage, based on a lie.”

“A lie? The passion we feel when our lips touch isn’t a lie.”

Her cheeks burned. She needed to get his mind off the kiss. If he dwelled on it too long, he might be tempted to take what he thought he possessed. But would that really be such a bad thing? “Why did you wait so long to get married? I mean, William has grown children.”

“I loved a woman once.”

“Della,” Sarah whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“After I lost her, I swore I’d never marry anyone for love, but then you came along. I knew you were beautiful the moment I laid eyes on you, but the moment we kissed, a part of me sparked back to life. This passion I never knew existed overtook me—something I haven’t experienced in hundreds of years. I was taken by surprise and could barely control myself.”

“But you were so mean to me the first time I met you.”

“I’m sorry about that, truly sorry. I was so caught up in the war and getting revenge that I didn’t even give you a thought…at first. You were just a pawn in my game. I only said the things I said to you because I was having fun taunting the king’s daughter. I don’t desire ten little ones.” He winked. “But two or three would certainly bring life to the castle.”

Sarah giggled. “That’s good to know.” It was, and not just the part about Victor wanting a normal-sized family instead of a whole soccer team. It was also the fact that he felt something for her, something he had felt for Della. Sarah had never figured she’d want him, so she had never really cared, but deep inside, something awakened in her, and she couldn’t help herself.

“I hope you didn’t believe a word I said in that dungeon. On the day of our wedding, if you wouldn’t have kissed me back—or slapped me—I would’ve taken you to the guest quarters to live. I would’ve never forced myself on you against your will. I might be labeled a tyrant, but I don’t hurt women or children.”

She shook her head, still deep in her own thoughts. “You kept calling me Princess Gloria. I tried to tell you the truth, but you refused to listen.”

“Forgive me, Sarah. I don’t care who you are or where you came from. I don’t care if you’re from a wealthy family or if you’re not. All I know is that I cannot stop thinking about you. Deep down, you surely feel the same way about me.” He kissed her hand gently. “I’m taking you back to Tastia as my wife, my Queen. My kingdom is yours.”

“Hmm. Well, I can’t say I’ve ever had such a generous offer, Victor, and I do appreciate it, but we both know my place isn’t here. I need to go back to my home, my world, and if you truly care about me, you’ll let me go.”

He hesitated for a moment, as though gathering his thoughts. When he met her gaze again, she could read the determination in his eyes, though she couldn’t tell which way he had decided. “You’re scared of the Immortals, but I’ll fix all of this. I assure you it’s my intention to see that you and your sister receive full pardon.”

“This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have put the ring on.”

“It’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. It was fate’s way of bringing you into my life.”

Sarah smiled as he traced the necklace on her neck with his fingers.

“I’ve fought many battles, great warriors, and mighty beasts, but I was never as nervous as I was standing before you, reciting wedding vows.”

She peered at him, surprised at his words. “You mean even kings get cold feet?”

“Excuse me? I was wearing tights and proper shoes, so I am not sure—”

Sarah laughed and held up her hand. “I’m sorry. I meant wedding jitters.”

“How could I not? You were so beautiful with all those curls, that stunning wedding dress hugging your fabulous form. You took my breath away, just as you do now.”

Heat rose in Sarah’s cheeks. “Thank you. I’m flattered. And the truth is…well, Victor, you took my breath away, too, especially with those eyes of yours and…and that kiss.”

“I was busy trying to win a stupid war, and you were busy trying to find your sister.” His gaze glazed over, reliving the memories in his head. “Neither of us had plans to get married until fate stepped in, and now here we are.” A soft breeze blew his hair across his forehead.

In spite of Sarah’s better judgment, she leaned in to wipe it away. She heard him suck in his breath and hold it, not letting go until she jerked her hand back. “Does fate know I don’t belong here?” Sarah whispered.

He looked away toward the trees, as if pondering his thoughts. “Perhaps fate is telling me it’s time to move past the darkness and become the honorable man I know I can be.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, why did Della leave? William said she left you because of things you did, but he wasn’t specific.”

He shook his head. “I won’t lie to you. I’ve done terrible things, things I’m ashamed of. I was raised by a cruel tyrant, and I blindly followed in his footsteps. It’s no excuse, I know. When Della left, I should’ve learned my lesson and become a better person, but it only fueled the fire. I took all my anger out on William and started the biggest war. I lived and breathed only for revenge. It was a very dark time in my life.”

“Why didn’t the Kardashian Court stop the insane war? Why didn’t they step in?” she asked.

“They refused to get involved and stayed neutral. It caused too many political problems because we both have strong connections at the court.” He ran his finger down her arm. “I’m beginning to see the light again in my life. I’ve been foolish for so many long years, and everything’s been a black blur in my life. When William held that axe over your head, a sudden realization hit me.”

She threaded her fingers through his. “And what was that?”

“An innocent woman was going to die because of my sins. Was I so evil that another king would execute you just to bring peace to his land? It was time to quit dwelling in the past and move toward the future. I’m willing to drop this grudge and stop this insane war, especially after the vision we’ve witnessed. I’m more determined than ever to change the future and bring peace to our lands.”

She smiled. “So you can rule with kindness and compassion?”

“Yes. I want to be a better man, a loving husband, and an honorable king.” His voice rang true with absolute sincerity.

Sarah regarded his face, searching for any sign that might give him away, that might indicate he was just pretending, but she found none. “I’d like to see you be the people’s king.”

“I am already that! Shall I get my crown to show you?”

“I’m talking deeper, beyond your title or inheritance. You should be a king of the people’s hearts, accept and love your people, talk to them, listen, shake their hands, and hug them. Join in their festivities and eat and drink with your subjects. Laugh with them during the happy times and cry with them in the sad. Get involved, Victor. Be a humanitarian, and they will love you forever. Rulers from neighboring lands will think of you as brother instead of a monster. Can you imagine the great things you could do to help people around the world?”

“That’s never been done by royalty,” he said.

She pulled his hand, forcing him to face her. “Then start today. Attempt to reconnect with your people by leaving a mark on history that people will talk about for generations. When a child is crying because he hasn’t eaten in days, feed him and his family a feast. When a man walks the streets with no shoes, lavish him with boots and clothes. When a woman cries because she has lost her husband, give her comfort and declare her free from all her debts. Be an influential role model and stand up for those who can’t. We are our brothers’ keepers! Make it your personal cause to care. You’re in the position to help others who are less fortunate.”