Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology) (27 page)

“
This is too much. How can
I ever thank you?”

“
Hmm. I can think of a few
ways, but now that you’re a married woman and all, I don’t know how
proper it would be for me to expect you to—”

“
Frank!” She went to slug
him, but he caught her hand and kissed it.

“
Nice thought, but I’m
talking about something completely different, like forgiving me and
letting me back into your life.” Snuggling closer, he said, “I’m
sorry I never understood your research. I’m also sorry for all the
awful things I’ve ever said. I’m an idiot.”

“
You insulted my research.”
She paused for effect.

“
I’ll make it up to you, I
swear.”

Frank’s apology meant a lot, but she
had other worries. “So Liz’s is in Dornia. Let’s work on a
plan.”

“
What about my
apology?”

“
I accept it
wholeheartedly, Frank.” It was the second time a man had apologized
to her that day, only Frank’s meant much more to her than King
Victor’s. “How could I hold a grudge against you when you’re here
helping me find my sister? And yes, that apology is a good start.”
She reached up and threaded her hand through his thick
hair.

Frank pulled her next to him, his face
so close that she could feel his hot breath and his hammering
heart. “I’ve been wanting to hold you since the second I saw you
wearing that sexy Indiana Jones hat and camouflage,” he
said.

“
I’ve been dying to run a
hand through that gorgeous hair of yours from the moment I laid
eyes on you at base camp. And you’re right.”

“
About what?”

“
It was awe when I first
saw you, not fright.”

“
I knew it! You’re crazy
about me.”

“
Let’s not get carried away
now.” When she touched his face, she knew every defense she’d built
against him was starting to melt. He had to care about her, even if
they hadn’t seen eye to eye in the past. No man would dive deeper
into some bizarre world they knew nothing about, especially while
being placed on Tastia’s most wanted list, just to rescue a girl
unless he cared deeply for her. Closing her eyes, she let go as he
captured her lips with a slow and gentle kiss. She felt the
familiar flutter and wrapped her arms around him. She had to admit
to herself that she had missed him. He didn’t push any further, and
she rested in his warm, comforting arms.

She tried to forget about everything,
but the events of the day marched through her mind, making her
tremble.

“
Are you okay?” he
asked.

Slowly, the words came out. “No, I’m
not.”

Stroking the side of her cheek, he
whispered, “Everything’s going to be fine.”

“
But what if it isn’t?” she
said.

“
We have the ring. It’s the
answer to all of our problems.”

“
I don’t
think so. I have a feeling it’s only the
start
of all our
problems.”

“
No, it’s our way out of
here, babe,” he said.

“
But Mia said I’m bonded
with this king.”

“
She’s filling your head
with crap she’s been taught since birth, like some of those
religious zealots try to do back home.”

“
I don’t
know what to think anymore.” She took a deep breath. “We’ve
actually seen Bigfoot for ourselves. We’re not even in our own
world. My sister’s out there somewhere. I’m married to a real-live
king. I’m wearing a ring that is a key to some mysterious portal.
We’re on the run. And last but not least, Mia told me that
if
you’re royalty, you’re an
Immortal
.”

Moonlight pooled in through the cracks
of hay piled above them. Sarah’s eyes locked on Frank’s magnetic
gaze, quivering from his gentle touch as his fingers brushed her
cheek.

“
It’s a lot to process, I
know,” he said. “The whole idea of another dimension is deeply,
shockingly unlikely, but here we are. I mean, I’m blown away by all
of it—maybe more than you are because I’m a skeptic by nature—but
we’re going to get through this.”

Before
she could respond, the king’s voice burst through her
thoughts.
Come back to me.
It disappeared as fast as it came. “Get out of my
head!” she yelled, pressing her fingers against her temples. She
sat up, droplets of sweat rolling down her forehead. Mia was right,
for the king could clearly somehow jump inside her head. It was
either that or she was going crazy from lack of food and water.
Worst-case scenario, she was having a mental breakdown. She began
to wonder where the men in white coats were, as she was just about
ready for her straightjacket and her trip on the paddy
wagon.

“
What’s wrong?” Frank
asked. “I’m only trying to help.”

She worried he’d think she was nuts,
and she hoped she was just imagining it all based on what Mia had
told her. “I swear I heard King Victor’s voice in my head, begging
me to come back.”

“
Whoa. That’s weird. What
did he say exactly?” he asked.

“
You wouldn’t even believe
me if I told you, Mr. Skeptic.”

“
I’m trying to have an open
mind here. Did I make fun of you? No, I didn’t.”

“
Never mind. I’m stressed
out right now. Let’s not talk about this. I-I think I’m going to
close my eyes for a little bit.”

“
Okay. You’ve been through
a lot. Try and get some rest. Goodnight, babe,” Frank said, turning
the other way.

“
Hey, Frank. I won’t get
mad if you decide to hold me—you know, just for tonight. Just
remember it doesn’t mean anything.”

“
It means absolutely
nothing. I got it seared into my memory, just like the kiss that
you so didn’t slap me for.”

“
Just shut up and hold me,”
she whispered.

He wrapped his arms around her, and
she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.

* * *

The ground thundered underneath
pounding hooves, jolting Sarah out of her sleep. She shook Frank’s
arm. “Why are we moving so fast?” She moved one of the haystacks
over and peeked out. She saw no trees, just the rising light of
morning spilling through the clouds. She realized she must have
slept all night.

The horses neighed and came to a stop
in a meadow at the border of a towering forest. “We have a big
problem,” said Jules in a rushed tone.

Frank jumped off the wagon. “What’s
up?”

The
king’s voice rolled across Sarah’s mind.
Please stop running
.
You’re going to get us both killed stepping into
enemy territory.
She reasoned that if he
was so worried about getting killed, he shouldn’t have his men
chasing her into dangerous zones. He would have been safe and sound
if he’d just stayed in his fancy castle. A picture sharpened into
focus, and Sarah felt like she was up in a helicopter looking down;
there were swirls of dust, knights, swords, crossbows, spears, and
war-adorned horses. Millions stretched out across the land,
thundering toward them. An icy chill ran through her, and panic
ensued. “The king’s men are close! He didn’t just send a platoon.
He sent his entire freaking army!”

“
For one person? How do you
know?” Jules asked.

“
I saw a
vision.”

Frank shook his head. “Visions? How’s
that humanly possible?”

“
I’ve been trying to outrun
a few soldiers for an hour now through shortcuts. I didn’t know he
had his army after us.” Jules took a breath, his voice frantic.
“Our only choice is to take another short cut, through Shadow
Forest. If we take the long way around, we’ll be
caught.”

“
Cut through the forest
then,” Sarah said. “They’re coming! Legions of them!”

Jules
looked at her like she’d said the most taboo thing in the world.
“It
is
forbidden.
If we get caught, we’re dead. Then again, if the king’s men catch
us, we’re dead anyway.” He glanced away. “Either way, we’re
dead.”

“
We can’t sit here and wait
for the king’s men to kill us,” Frank said.

Sarah shot him a look. “Or steal this
ring off my hand. We can’t wait here like sitting ducks. I say we
take our chances in the forest.”

“
You don’t know what you’re
asking,” Jules said. “Even the king’s men won’t follow us in
there.”

“
Perfect,” Sarah
said.

Jules stepped back. “I’m not taking
one step into those woods. Nobody—and I mean nobody—ever comes out
alive.”

“
You said we’d be dead only
if we get caught,” said Frank. “We won’t get caught if they won’t
follow us in.”

“
I’m not doing it.” Jules
ran a hand through his blond hair. “You two are crazy!”

No,
crazy is sitting here and handing ourselves over on a silver
platter to a bunch of psychopathic swordsmen.
“Please take the chance, Jules, or I swear I’m going to knock
you out and carry you over my shoulder into that
forest.”

“
I won’t be the cause of
your death,” Jules said. “The more I think about it, King Victor
might kill Frank and me, but he won’t kill you, as long as you beg
him for mercy.”

“
Now’s not the time to play
martyr,” Sarah hissed.

Jules threw his hands up. “You’ll fare
better with your husband than this forest. I can assure you of
that.”

“
My
fake
husband. And remember, I deserted him on his wedding night,”
Sarah said. “Nobody does that. He’ll make an example out of
me.”

Frank grabbed Jules’s shoulder,
shaking it furiously. “We don’t have time for your superstitious
bull crap. Give us two horses or I’m taking them!”

Hooves echoed off in the distance, and
Sarah swallowed. “They’re getting closer!”

“
Take us in the woods,
Jules,” Frank demanded. “You’re playing with our lives here, and
this isn’t a freaking game!”

Jules pivoted back, fear etched in his
features. “You’ll be slaughtered.”

“
By what?” Sarah asked, her
eyes wide. “Tell us what we’re up against.”

“
Magical beings,” he
answered. “They turn into different forms.”

“
Frank shot him an amused
look. “Shape-shifters? How do you know they even exist if no one
has ever made it out of there alive to tell the tale?”

“
They’re real!” said
Jules.

“
Nonsense!” Frank yelled.
“Get these horses moving NOW!”

“
He might have a point.
Something in there is scaring these people.” Sarah looked off into
the distance; she could make out men heading toward them on
horseback.

“
Have you seen these ‘shape
shifters’ with your own eyes?” Frank asked.

“
No,”
Jules said. “Anyone who has ever lain eyes on them
is
dead.”

Frank pointed toward the forest. “I’ll
take my chance with them.”

He started to frantically unloosen the
reins when Sarah grabbed his arm. “I’m not leaving Jules here to
die.”

“
I’m not getting my head
chopped off just because he’s afraid of some stupid myth. That
king’s not laying one of his filthy fingers on you,
Sarah!”

She glanced over her shoulder.
Thousands of mounted soldiers thundered into the open field where
they stood. A shiver slid up her spine, and she pointed toward the
forest.

Arrows flew over their heads, and
Sarah ducked behind the wagon.

“
Forget the horses!”
shouted Frank. “RUN!”

Chapter 8

Sarah
couldn’t believe she had defied all reason and escaped the king’s
clutches. Thinking back, she doubted she could do it again a second
time. Nevertheless, that was all the more reason to get moving and
escape all the madness.
The king’s men
were gaining on them, getting closer and closer.
She took a steadying breath. It was like she had
been thrown into some horror flick set in the Old West, minus the
Indians and add the knights. She set her jaw and sprinted for the
front of the wagon, dashing for the high seat and grabbing the
reins all in one fluid moment that would have made any stunt double
proud. “Come on! I can drive this thing.” She hoped Jules would
cooperate and hop onboard.
If he doesn’t,
I’m gonna have to throw him in the wagon myself, she thought,
determined to have things her way
.

The horse neighed, ready to jump into
motion. The cart rolled into gear, but it was way too slow. If the
horse didn’t speed up, they’d be back in a cell within minutes…or
dead.

From the corner of her eye, she caught
Jules waving his hands. “What!?” she yelled.

“
Get off of there, you
two!”

“
Why?”
She glared at him as if he was insane. Maybe he was sick and tired
of running, but giving up without a fight wasn’t her style. She
started to yell but instead switched to a soft voice since yelling
at him hadn’t accomplished anything.
What
is that they always say? “It’s easier to catch flies with honey
than with vinegar”? Well, personally, I’d rather just swat him,
but
…”Jules, dear, you already said we’re
dead either way. Let’s live for a few more hours, take the gamble.
If not for yourself, then do so for Mia. Please? She doesn’t want
to see you die…and neither do I.”