Suspending Reality (61 page)

“I need a few minutes alone, if you don’t mind,” said Sarah, her voice quivering.

“I understand, dear,” said the woman, and she turned and left.

Adam touched Sarah’s shoulder. “We’ll be waiting outside the gate. Take your time.”

Sarah knelt, and her trembling fingers slowly traced the letters: E-L-I-Z-A-B-E-T-H L-A-R-K-E-R. “Oh, Liz. I’ve spent the last ten years looking for answers, looking for you…and I guess now I have them.” Tears rolled down her face as she spoke softly, “I know life here is tough, but you adjusted because you were always strong, just like Mom. You even…you even met someone to fall in love with. I am so glad to know you were happy in this place, if only for a little while. Charles must be a wonderful man who truly loved you.” She wiped her eyes and then continued. “It looks like I’ve gotten into the same terrible situation, only I don’t know the one who slipped the ring on my finger. He’s my husband, yet he’s a stranger. I’ve known him less than a few days.

Oh, Liz, the Immortals are hot on my trail now, and if they didn’t spare you, surely I stand no chance against them. Déjà vu, I guess. Isn’t it funny how fate works?” She wiped a tear rolling down her cheek as she peered around at rows after rows of dry earth and bare crosses. Every few spaces, a gravestone jutted out of the ground, providing a change in the dismal display of poverty. “You weren’t just my sister, Liz.” She stopped and pulled her nose, her voice failing her. “You were my best friend. I’ll never forget the beautiful memories we shared. They might have taken your life, but you’re alive in my heart, and that’s one thing they can never take away, no matter what they do to me.”

Numb and exhausted, she closed her eyes and tried to think of better times, of their happy childhoods, hide-and-seek, skipping rope, and Christmas mornings. “Do I have any regrets? Yes! For one thing—maybe the biggest regret of all—I’m sorry I left you in those woods years ago. I deserted you, and I have never forgiven myself, but I hope you were able to forgive me. Know that I’ll always love you, Liz, and I never stopped looking for you. I hope you are…resting in peace, dear sister.” Emotion choked her as she straightened her back and, with one last glance back, walked back through the iron gate. She had been looking for answers about what had happened to her older sister, but now she wished she’d never found out. It had been easier holding on to hope than it was to know the truth. She would never have stopped searching, but now she had lost all purpose in life.
How can I go back to my life? How can I ever be happy again knowing my sister was killed…because I left her behind?

The others had been waiting patiently in front of a big boulder. “I’m here for you,” Beth said, embracing her as she reached them.

Frank wrapped his arms around her in a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

She buried her head in his chest and let her tears flow freely into the fabric of his shirt. “She died a year ago—killed by the Immortals when she married King William’s son Charles. Liz and Charles were killed. Those same Immortals are after me!”

“I know. Adam told us.” He held her tightly. “Everything is going to be okay, Sarah.”

Okay? How can he even say that? Nothing is okay. My sister is dead, and I will never be okay again!
The pain cut out a huge part of her heart.

They all gave her words of hope and encouragement, but nothing they said could take away the pain in her heart, the only part of her that was still human. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. Even though she knew she would not find the person she had really come for, she couldn’t leave without meeting Gloria. “Maybe we could track Princess Gloria down and talk to her.”

Adam shook his head. “Go into King William’s castle? There are probably wanted posters of your face plastered on every brick! Every single person in there is probably after your head…literally.”

“No way,” Beth said. “We have to think about your life.”

Frank gripped her hand tightly. “Remember, babe, those are the people who shoot first and don’t bother asking questions now or later. I know you want your questions answered, but getting yourself—and possibly all of us—killed isn’t the way to go.”

“I know! Of all of you, I know! They shot me in the freaking heart. If I could get to Gloria, though, I think she could help us,” Sarah pleaded.

“She might be able to,” Beth said. “She’s Charles’s sister.”

Steven leaned against a rock and met Sarah’s gaze. “Yeah, man, that sounds great and all, but you won’t get one breath out to explain yourself before they string you up to be roasted like a marshmallow.”

“Why do you even need to find Gloria?” Adam asked. “I’m not trying to be insensitive here, but it seems pointless when you have the answers you need. Let’s just get the heck out of here.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. Adam wasn’t sporting an irremovable ring and running around with everyone out to kill him, or he might have been singing a different tune. “I’ll tell you why. Sure, I wouldn’t mind finding out more about my sister’s life, but that’s not the reason. I have a feeling those Immortals from the court will follow me right back home to my doorstep, and so will King Victor. For all I know, King William might even have a way to crash the party. I need to find out how to get this ring off and what I can do to get the Immortals off my back. Until I know that, I will never have control of my life again.”

“They’re at war with King Victor,” Frank said. “They hate him. They might help us based on that fact alone.”

“Gloria lost her brother,” Beth said. “She won’t want to lose you, too, especially over the exact same thing.”

“I agree,” Sarah said. “I’m sure Princess Gloria loved Liz, and I think she will understand why I pretended to be her. It’s her father who is crazy, not her.”

“Then we’ll avoid him like the plague,” said Frank. “Sarah’s right. She’ll never get her life back until we figure out how to get this ring off.”

Adam kicked at stones in the dirt, his brows furrowed. “This sucks.”

“This is something I have to do,” Sarah said. “If you don’t want to go with me, that’s okay, but I hope you understand.”

“Nobody’s backing out on you now, Sarah. We’re a team, remember? Now c’mon. Let’s head toward the castle,” Frank said.

Sarah nodded. Heading into dangerous enemy territory was risky, but it was something she had to do to get answers to the lingering questions in her head—and even more importantly, how to get that ancient wedding ring off her finger. “Let’s go.”

To be continued….

Eternal Destiny (Book 2) is available now!

Eternal Destiny Link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JCSMD4

UK Link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007JCSMD4

Fantasy Romance Series

The Ruby Ring Saga
is an adult paranormal fantasy romance series. It’s available in e-book, paperback, and audio.

Crush

Book 1

The Crush Saga

by
Chrissy Peebles

Copyright © 2013 by Chrissy Peebles

Editor
: Autumn J. Conley

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

A huge thanks to Autumn Conley, my editor.

Visit the Author’s Blog at:
http://chrissypeebles.blogspot.com/

Connect with the Author on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=vb.351121651567296&type=2#!/pages/Chrissy-Peebles/351121651567296

The Crush Saga Book Trailer:
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Chapter 1

Big Bear Lake, California is located in a lush green valley, surrounded by mountains and the towering pines, sparkling streams, wildlife, and hidden lakes of the San Bernardino National Forest. We’d just moved into a cute, two-story brick house along the south shore of Big Bear Lake, a beautiful, quaint little home left to us by my grandmother when she’d passed away. She’d spent her whole life in the house and had loved it, so my parents thought it would be fantastic to dump our city life and move out to the smog-free middle of nowhere, where we could get lost in the peace and quiet tranquility. It wasn’t the easiest place to get to, and only three roads led in and out of the valley.

My parents loved the solitude because they were writers. My father wrote mystery thrillers, and Mom penned romance novels. They hated the hustle, bustle, and noise of the city and were sure they’d be better able to concentrate out in the peaceful wilderness. “It’ll be a fresh start for all of us,” my mother assured me just after my bad breakup with my boyfriend, “a very healthy experience all around.”

I wasn’t sure, though, if I could so easily adjust to the simple life after living in New York City, but once we got there, I loved the place. It was a far cry different, going from honking taxicabs and towering buildings to honking geese and towering trees, but I knew my mother was right; it would be the perfect spot to forget about my depressing love life.

I had two brothers and one sister, but they had already moved out of the house, so now I was virtually an only child, with the two most wonderful parents. We were a loving, close-knit family, and I couldn’t have been more thankful for that.

It was only June when we moved in, so I had almost the whole summer to get used to California and my new home before school started. I carried in the last heavy box to my cluttered room; everything was a mess. I bit my lip hard as I looked around at all the boxes and bags, knowing there was no way I’d get everything unpacked and put in its place in one night. 

My mother pushed through the maze of boxes, toppling them everywhere. “Pizza’s here.”

It was past lunchtime, and my stomach rumbled. My German shepherd pranced around in a circle and barked.

“Mom,” I said, “Max needs to be walked first.”

She brushed her hair behind her ear and smiled. “Go ahead and take him out, then, but don’t wander off too far.”

I kissed her cheek. “Of course not.”

She pointed to my eyes. “What’s with the dark circles?”

“Uh…I’m sure it’s just makeup, or maybe just because I’ve been getting absolutely no sleep?”

“It’s your makeup,” she said, smiling. “You look like a raccoon.”

“See? I’ll fit right in with the wildlife out here.”

My mom laughed. “Well, maybe the raccoons can adopt you. They’re nocturnal too.”

“I just can’t sleep at night. I can’t help it.”

She wrapped her arm around me. “Is this about the breakup with Sean? Honey, it’s been six months. Remember what we talked about? We’re here for a new beginning, a fresh start.”

“I know,” I said, wincing because the whole thing still hurt.

Sean had dumped me out of the blue, and getting dumped sucked, no matter the reason. I had given him my heart, and he had trampled all over it. The breakup absolutely blinded me, and I didn’t see it coming when he called me and said, “Taylor, this just isn’t working for me anymore.”

I knew it was time for me to move on with my life, with whatever grace and dignity I could muster. We’d both made mistakes in the relationship, and neither one of us were perfect by a long run. Still, I refused to let that relationship define who I was. Just because we didn’t work out and clearly weren’t meant for each other, that didn’t mean things wouldn’t work out with someone else in the future. My friends set me up on stupid dates that never worked out, and I wondered if I’d ever find the “spark” again. For the time being, I decided I was done with guys. I was just going to enjoy my fresh start and focus on my passion, painting. The yard was overrun with weeds and vegetation, but my dad had hired someone to fix it up, and when he was finished, it would be the perfect place for me to pursue my art. 

I threw my black, curly hair into a messy ponytail, then slid my feet into my white tennis shoes. I wore a white t-shirt and my favorite pair of skinny jeans that hugged my curves so tight they felt like a second skin. I’d washed them so many times that they were faded and super soft, form-fitting in all the right places. The right knee had a large rip in it, but that only gave them originality. Silver and leather bracelets dangled from each of my wrists, and silver rings adorned my fingers. I looked into the mirror and wiped the smeared eyeliner from underneath my brown eyes, then headed outside.

It was so beautiful there. Our yard was surrounded by towering trees that stretched high into the sky. The birds chirped, the sun shone on my face, and a cool breeze ruffled my hair. I loved my back yard woods. Inhaling the clean air, I smiled.
I’m really going to enjoy my fresh start here…and so is Max,
I thought as the dog explored the back yard, fascinated and intrigued by all the new smells and sounds.

Suddenly, Max’s ears shot back, as if he had noticed an animal in the woods. Peering closer, I glimpsed a whitetail deer sipping from a puddle. My heart melted at the sight of the adorable animal. Max’s bark scared it almost to death, and the poor animal darted off into the vegetation. He wasn’t used to all that natural wildlife, but I knew he was going to love it there as much as I was, if not more. He barked fiercely, then suddenly bolted through the trees, deeper into the woods, and I guessed he was chasing the deer. I decided then and there that I’d have to keep him on a leash. 

“Max!” I yelled. “Come back!”

He didn’t listen.

I glanced back at the house, wondering if I should get my parents for help. The woods and its inhabitants scared me, but I debated on what I should do. Finally, I decided to just go a little ways into the woods, but I did—if only for a brief second—wonder what the chances were that I’d run into a bear.

I stepped through the vegetation and took a tentative step. Glancing around, I didn’t see Max, so I called for him a few times, only to get no response. When I heard a bark in the distance, I took off through the woods that surrounded our property. I pushed aside some green vegetation and glanced ahead and could finally see my beloved and ornery pet. “Max!” I shouted. “Come back!”

He gave me the dog version of the I-see-you-but-I-don’t-care look, then started sniffing the ground.

As I walked toward where he was, I seriously considered obedience classes. A thorn grazed my skin, and I bit my lip to stave off the pain. I swore I’d never let that cantankerous canine off the leash again. 

I stumbled left and tripped over a pile of termite-ridden, moss-covered, rotting logs, then burst through more towering ferns. Max disappeared into the thick vegetation once again. I couldn’t see him anywhere, but I could still hear him barking. Panting, I spun in a slow circle. I was afraid if I went in any deeper, I’d get lost, but I couldn’t just desert my best friend. 

The
snap
of a twig behind me, followed by the unmistakable
crunch
of dried leaves, halted me mid step, and I strained to listen.
Was that...Max?

The
snap
of another twig drifted through the forest.

I peered around the trees and high grass. “Max?” I yelled. “C’mere, boy.”

Silence.

I swept an uneasy glance around the trees, my senses on full alert, and I whistled. “Here, Max! C’mon,  boy. Let’s go home.”

The singing of crickets and chirping of birds was my only reply.

I jumped, startled, as a sudden flash of tan glinted to my left. I flinched. For a split second, I saw amber-colored eyes in the foliage. Panic struck me; I was sure it was some kind of wild animal. I worried that Max might have been attacked, and I knew one bite to the throat might prove fatal. I grabbed a long, sturdy stick. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but I’d be able to poke those yellow eyes out if their owner came after me. 

A menacing growl broke the silence. My heart thudded against my ribcage, and a shiver swept over my skin. Running after Max had been a dumb idea. My dad had warned me about black bears, coyotes, mountain lions, and bobcats. He hadn’t said anything about tigers, but it was still quite the oh-my situation.

Whatever the creature was that I’d seen, it had already seen me, so I knew there was no use hiding. I had to call for Max again, as I couldn’t possibly leave until I knew he was okay. “Max!” I yelled, pointing the stick at the eyes peering out from the vegetation, ready to fight with every ounce of strength I had. 

Finally, Max burst through the thick plants, and I clutched my heart and let out a sigh of relief when I saw that he was unharmed. He immediately took a protective stance in front of me and starting growling and barking at whatever was in those ferns. Given the fight-or-flight choice, I was sure the best course of action was to slowly sneak backward and get the heck outta there.

When the ferns parted, I gasped. I was face to face with a mountain lion, and when it let out its bloodcurdling signature roar, my heart began to pound in my chest like a high school marching band.

I turned around quickly, only to bump into a guy who looked to be about my age. He was so scorching hot that if I had wet my finger with my tongue and touched him, his chest would have steamed and sizzled. He instinctively pushed me behind him as if to protect me, then started shouting and throwing sticks at the big cat. I joined in with some noise of my own, and in an instant, the mountain lion fled into the grass.

The beautiful stranger eyed me up and down, warmth and empathy radiating from the depths of his glare. “Are you okay?”

Those gorgeous, winter-blue eyes hypnotized me, and I was pulled into his hold with one look. My breath had never literally been taken away before, but I was absolutely suffocating under the power of his stare, and my knees began to shake. “I-I…” The butterflies that had landed in my stomach in fear of the cat were now turning flirty summersaults. My eyes slid up his towering body, gliding over his high cheekbones and the dark stubble shading his sharp jaw. He was definitely tall, dark, and handsome, and even if it was quite cliché of me to be so taken by him, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I’d never been face to face with somebody so beautiful and angelic. He was the kind of guy who I thought only existed in movies, as if a Calvin Klein model had stepped down off of one of those big, delicious billboards for a hike through the woods.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” he said when my stutter never turned into a complete answer. He didn’t fidget or stumble for words like I did whenever I was standing in front of a gorgeous stranger. Rather, his cool confidence spoke volumes to me, as if he was used to girls throwing themselves at him, which I was just about to do.

My breath froze in my throat, and my stomach clenched. I’d never been so drawn to anyone before, never so instantly, so madly attracted. I couldn’t stop staring at his messy tangle of dark hair, that tousled, just-out-of-bed look that I loved and found so sexy. From his piercing blue eyes to his strong, chiseled jaw to his handsome face, he was absolutely godlike, even if he was only dressed in a black t-shirt and blue jeans. I took a deep breath to try to calm down, but it felt as if time had stopped. 

When our eyes locked, we seemed lost in each other’s gaze, oblivious to anything else. I was fixated on his piecing stare, and the explosive chemistry between us was absolutely undeniable.

My ex had told me that sexual attraction and chemistry couldn’t possibly be planned, that it was something that would just happen naturally. I knew, standing there looking at this new guy, that he wasn’t lying. I had never felt like that with my old boyfriend. I couldn’t even explain the uncontrollable force that was drawing me to him like a moth to flame. When he looked at me with that sexy smile on his face, I’d never felt so desirable, so wanted, and I wanted to jump into his strong embrace. He was a smoldering hot hunk, and I couldn’t believe I had his attention.

“Is everything okay?” he asked a third time, snapping me back into reality.

My mouth dropped, and it took a minute for my brain to function. “Uh, huh? Oh yeah. I’m, um…I’m fine,” I babbled, as if that big cat had my tongue.