Eternal Destiny (11 page)

“I’m great,” Steven said. “We all are. We’ve all been so worried about you.”

Frank jumped up and inched closer, wrapping his arms around her. “Yes, we were all worried sick! Are you okay?” His voice came low and breathless, and a deep line appeared between his brows, as though he really cared. “He didn’t force himself on you or anything, did he? If he put so much as a finger on you, I swear I’ll kill him right now.”

“Nothing like that. My honor is still intact. I’m fine, thanks.”

Adam hurried to greet and hug her too.

“I missed you guys,” Sarah said, her voice wavering. Everyone rushed over for a group hug. Sarah took a deep breath and let them cocoon her, hold her close, and pat her back as though she was a little girl who needed comforting. She tuned out their tears of joy, chatter, and excitement as her mind wandered back to the one thing that had been bothering ever since Victor had decided to let her join her friends. “Victor has agreed to open the portal and let you go home,” Sarah said. And that meant she’d never see Victor again…unless she could convince him somehow to come home with her.

The chatter stopped, and all eyes were on her in an instant. She could read their expressions: disbelief, mistrust, and hope.

Adam ran a hand through his shaggy hair, nodding. “Thanks for arranging that, boss. It will be nice to get back to our own world.”

“That’s wonderful, so long as he means it.” Beth smiled bitterly. “Wait…you said he’ll let
us
go home. Aren’t you coming back with us?”

“Of course I am.” Sarah glared at Frank. “I have to throw my best friend a baby shower.”

His eyes darted nervously between her and Beth. Obviously, the cat was out of the bag. “I didn’t know Beth was pregnant,” he stuttered. “She kept it a secret from me. I-I just found out just a while ago, and, I, uh—”

“Yeah, yeah, Frank. I know all about it. Beth had a few too many, and you took advantage of the situation instead of calling her a cab like you should have.” Sarah placed her hands on her hips. “But what I’d like to know is when where you were planning on telling me you slept with her?”

“We had just broken up, Sarah. I could’ve slept with whomever I wanted—just as you could.”

She nodded. “True. I’ll give you that, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that you chose to sleep with my best friend, then had the audacity to hide it from me this whole time. Whatever we had—if anything—it’s over.”

Frank reached for her hands as he met her gaze. “Listen, Sarah, it was one little mistake. I know we can get past this if you’ll just—”

“I’m the worst best friend ever!” cried Beth. She swallowed hard and wiped her tears with her shirt. “I should’ve told you the baby was Frank’s…and about that night.”

“Why, Beth? Tipsy or not, why did you hook up with my ex-boyfriend behind my back?” Sarah asked.

Beth sniffled. “It was one time, and I swear to you I was really drunk and not thinking straight. I tried to tell you countless times. He was so upset about you, and we were both so lonely. One thing led to another, and—”

Sarah stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “No, I don’t want to hear any excuses. All I want to know is, how could you?”

“I’m sorry.”

“What would’ve happened if Frank and I had gotten back together?” She took a deep breath, considering the thought. She was sure that never would have happened, but still, there had always been an unwritten code that one should ever hook up with a friend’s ex. It just wasn’t right, no matter what the excuses were. “You’d actually bring his son over to my house and never tell him?”

“It sounded like a good plan at the time. But I was going to tell you the truth, especially if you were going to continue things with Frank. I’m so sorry. I didn’t plan for any of this.”

“Gosh, Beth, I can’t believe you and Frank even got together in the first place. You’ve always hated him.”

Beth nodded. “Yeah, but…well, I guess I didn’t hate him that night, or I was too drunk to remember that I did.”

“Obviously.” Sarah smirked. Her anger was already dissipating, yet she wasn’t willing to give them a break. She felt betrayed by her best friend, and that wasn’t so easy to forgive or forget.

“Please just don’t blame Frank,” Beth said. “He wasn’t just out there to take advantage of me. And he makes a valid point.”

“What’s that?”

“You two weren’t together anymore. He was basically single.”

Wait…am I only blaming Frank here? No way! Beth should’ve known better too.
Sarah huffed. “I knew he’d hook up with other women. I just didn’t expect it to be my best friend—especially not five minutes after I broke up with him.”

“I know, Sarah. I broke the honor code. But please don’t kick me out of your life. I can’t bear to go through this alone. I need you, Sarah! You’re still my best friend, even if I don’t deserve you. I hope you’ll forgive me,” whispered Beth. “Please?”

Steven turned his camera toward himself and talked into the lens. “Boy, I’ve missed so many episodes of
Days of Our Lives
out here, but all things considered, this is so much better! Like sands through the portal, these are the days of our medieval lives…”

“Turn that camera off!” hissed Sarah. “I can’t believe they let you carry that thing around.”

“You’re so much better without Frank,” Adam said to Sarah. “Besides, I’m going to sue him for slander, and he’ll be beyond broke after that. He’s no good. I told Beth the same thing, but considering she’s knocked up with the idiot’s spawn, she won’t listen.”

Beth rolled her eyes. “Hey! A little manners please? I’m standing right here, and that’s just…well, it’s uncalled for.”

Adam chuckled as he picked up his fedora from the ground and placed it on his head. “Maybe Beth and Frank should just get hitched and raise their baby together.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Sarah’s mouth dropped, and it took a minute for her brain to function. “Well, congratulations. For once, you should do the right thing, be a real man,” she said, staring Frank dead in the eyes.

“I will take care of this baby if it is, in fact, proven to be mine,” Frank said. “But anyway, can we not talk about this for a minute? Take me on
Maury
when we get back to civilization or whatever, but right now, I’m just glad Sarah found her sister.”

“How do you know about that?” Sarah asked.

Adam chimed in. “Liz said there is no use hiding anymore since the Immortals already know about her.”

“Yeah, she came in and introduced herself while you were out, uh…” Frank coughed and cleared his throat. “…
riding
your husband…er, I mean riding
with
your husband.”

Oh, so he wants to throw in a jab, huh? Well, I can throw my own punches, mister
. “You mean the husband you made me marry?”

Frank patted her shoulder, and particles of sand fell to the ground. “Rolling around on the beach?”

She wouldn’t dignify him with an answer. “Had we walked out of that jail cell together, I would’ve never met him and become Immortal. I wouldn’t be hunted down by the Immortals, who want to take me to court and sentence me to death, who want to execute me like they almost did my sister. That is the result of your idea of a rescue, Frank.”

“Your sister tells us Victor and King William have a plan to save your life,” Beth said.

“Yes, but all of this could have been avoided had I not followed Frank’s brilliant plan.”

“I gave you an out,” he said. “Back in that cell, I changed my mind and said we should forget the whole thing—that we’d find another way. But you, Sarah, stubborn as ever, wouldn’t listen. You threw yourself in that cell and slammed the door shut in my face.”

She wagged her finger in his face. “That was only after you convinced me we’d never get home any other way!”

“There was no other way,” Frank said, “and you know it. You’re just mad at me, and unjustifiably so, if you ask me. You gave me the cold shoulder the minute we walked through the portal. I did everything to help you find your sister and keep you safe. Most men would have run the opposite direction. I gave you all I have to offer, but it was never enough—not even when I risked my own neck more than once to get you out of trouble. Why? Because you don’t love me, Sarah. You never have, and you never will!”

She swallowed hard, knowing he was right: She had never loved him. The innocent kiss on the lips during their hayride was nothing more than a comfort, a distraction from all the chaos going on around her. There was no future for them, and she’d known that all along.

He stared at her hard, and when she said nothing, he continued, “It took me a while to realize, but I think Beth and I share something special. The night we spent together was amazing. Still, I told her we’d never see each other again after that. Why? Because of you, Sarah! I needed to sort my feelings out before I could move forward with another woman. Now, I finally have, and I know where I stand with you. Nowhere, which is fine by me since I can’t ignore the attraction between Beth and me. It’s time for me to move on with my life, to be with someone who is capable of really loving me.”

Sarah forced a smile. “Well, in that case, I wish you both the best. I’m just happy somebody found true love in the middle of all this mess.”

“Dude,” Steven said, “why don’t you just hook up with your husband now that you’re off the hook with good ol’ baby-daddy Frank here? Beth told us you have the hots for him and can’t stop thinking about him.”

Sarah cocked an eyebrow and began to blush. “Wait…you blabbed that to these guys?”

Beth shrugged. “I guess it just slipped out,” she said. “I’m sorry, Sarah. Gee. Seems like all I’m doing these days is apologizing to you for screwing up so much.”

“Imagine it, Sarah—ruling a kingdom alongside him and living in a castle. The guy’s got skills! Did you see the way he waved his hand and we all collapsed from his psychic power? Man, that was—”

“Steven…” Sarah said.

“Yeah?”

“You’re fired.” She could feel her lips twitching, so she bit down on her tongue hard to keep herself from breaking out in laughter.

“Huh? You mean, like, I’m off the research team? You can’t do that!”

She wasn’t in the mood for his games. “Then turn off that camera. And by the way, don’t think for one minute that I have any intention of staying here. Hot king or not, I’m getting off this crazy train. Castles and make-believe are fun and all, but eventually, I need to get back to reality and out of this little fairytale gone mad.”

Frank pulled Sarah close and whispered in her ear. “You’ll find Mr. Right, Sarah. Just follow your heart, like Beth told you earlier.” He gently kissed her forehead. “Let’s all go home. I have to send chocolates and cards to thirty Bigfoot researchers.”

Sarah couldn’t help but chuckle. “You remembered? Wow. I’m impressed.”

“You told me I have to do it,” Frank said.

Slowly, she was getting used to the idea of him and her best friend dating. She didn’t want him, so there was no point in trying to keep him when he had already found his happiness with someone else—not to mention the mother of his child.

Chapter 9

“Follow me!” Victor grabbed Sarah’s hand and motioned to the others.

Beth shot Frank a questioning look, but he just shrugged and ventured out.

Sarah darted out of the tent, reaching for Beth with her other hand, then stopped in her tracks at the display before her eyes. Hundreds of Immortals fought King Victor’s knights. Horses snorted, dust flew, swords and spears clanged, and battle cries roared as loud as thunder. “This isn’t happening,” she whispered more to herself than for the benefit of the others. It took her a while to realize that Beth had released her hand. She spun around slowly, already dreading what her eyes would behold. The air behind her was empty. As she looked down, her mouth dropped. Beth had fallen on the grass, where she was lying motionless, knocked out cold alongside Sarah’s other friends. The Immortals had put them in the same sleeping trance that Victor had used earlier.
Oh no! That can’t be good for the baby,
Sarah thought. “Beth!” She raced over and felt for a pulse and found one, much to her relief. Sarah called for Victor, but he was busy fighting off another Immortal, who swung with all the power of a mighty Greek warrior. She tried to shake Frank, but he wouldn’t budge. “Oh, Frank! If only I knew how to wake you guys up!” Unfortunately, no one had given her a crash course in Immortal CPR.

Whoosh
! Suddenly, a spear hissed past her ear. The thick wooden rod with an iron tip buried deep in the grass beneath her; it may not have killed her, but it would have most certainly been a painful experience.