As though sensing her gaze, Charles let go of Liz and spun to look at Sarah, his eyebrows shooting up.
“Oh gosh! Where’s my brain at?” Liz slapped her forehead. “Charles, this is my sister Sarah.”
Sarah held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for taking care of my sister all this time.”
Charles smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet my sister-in-law. I’ve heard nothing but great things about you.” He looked up at Victor and his father. “You should’ve seen these two in battle. I thought I’d never see the day when King Victor and King William fought side by side like true warriors. What a sight for sore eyes.”
“Son, we have to work together to save the people we love,” William said.
“I agree. I have declared this war over.” Victor held his hand out to William.
William eagerly shook his hand. “Yes, we have come to a truce.”
“I thought I’d never see this day,” Charles said. “This will go down in the history scrolls.”
Maybe something good will come out of this ordeal after all,
Sarah hoped.
If they could work this all out and put an end to a war that’s been going on for centuries, that’s a pretty major accomplishment.
“We can’t return to my castle,” Victor said. “I have no doubt it’s swarming with Immortals by now.”
“I’m going to give my horse a drink down by the creek,” William said. “I shall be back soon.”
“Then we’ll go find the Gold Minerals of Life.” Charles hopped on his horse and followed his father. He glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll bargain with them to pardon all of us and release Sarah’s companions so they can get them home through the portal.”
Sarah was not too keen on him failing to mention her. She crossed her arms. “And we’ll ask them to release this ring off of my finger, dissolve the marriage, and let me go home with my friends, right?” She shook her head. “I never asked to be Immortal.”
“Only married,” Victor said.
Sarah shook her head. “You forced me, if I remember correctly. I’m sure a court will take that into consideration.”
“Maybe, but you weren’t forced.” He grimaced. “Something else bothers me though. What was that about returning home?”
His frown didn’t go unnoticed. Smiling, Sarah brushed a hand over his shoulder. “Let’s talk about it another time.”
He reached for her hands and pulled her close with a smug smile that showed off the dimple in his cheek. “As you wish, but I still say you weren’t forced.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Excuse me? You threatened my life. You asked me which rites I wanted the priest to perform, execution or marriage.”
“According to Mia, Jules was stunned when Frank came out of the dungeon
without
you. Frank said there was a change in plans, that when he tried to rescue you, you went back in and locked the door so you could move forward with the marriage.” He touched her face and smiled.
“Yes, but that was only to obtain the ruby ring, the key to getting back home.” Mia had spilled everything, but Sarah really couldn’t blame her. She was probably scared to death when he questioned her, unless he compelled her to tell him everything, and she wouldn’t have put that past Victor.
“You’ve obtained the ring as you wished, but with it some binding marriage vows. What were you thinking?” Liz asked. “There is no Divorce Court here for Immortals, sis.”
“I should’ve read the fine print,” Sarah said with a sigh.
Liz nudged her. “Ha-ha.”
“So you married me to obtain a piece of jewelry?” asked Victor. “If that was the case, then why such a passionate kiss at the end of the ceremony?”
“I had to convince you somehow,” Sarah said.
He shot her a gleaming smile. “Is that what you tell yourself? My Queen, we’ve shared more than just one kiss.”
Sarah stared up at him, at his beautiful blue eyes, trying to ignore her pounding heart. His hair hung loosely around his face, masculine beauty at its finest.
Why does he have to be so damn sexy?
She could feel waves of heat emanating from him.
How is that possible?
Heat rose in her cheeks, and she looked away as he smirked.
“The court will let me out of this marriage,” she whispered. “After all, it’s never been consummated.” She met his gaze straight on.
“Yet.” Mischief glinted in his eyes, and he shot her a charming, playful smile.
She grinned as she imagined the intimate touch of his lips on hers.
William grimaced as he and Charles broke through the vegetation. “When we make it through this, I’ll personally help poor Sarah get this divorce. Divorce is rare, but it can be granted under the right circumstances. Of course, she’s stuck with the ring.”
“You’ll stay out of my affairs!” Victor hissed.
“Listen, everyone, Sarah and Victor’s love life isn’t our priority right now,” Liz said. “Let’s worry about saving our butts here. Our game plan should be to start heading toward Global Mountain.”
“Sure, but I need to get one thing straight with his Royal Highness.” It was time to set down some guidelines. They were now working as a team to save all of their lives against the Immortals, and she wouldn’t be dominated or treated like Victor’s possession. “I’m here on my own free will and won’t run away, but I am not going to be treated like your prisoner, like I was in your camp or back in your dungeon.”
“Fair enough, Sarah.”
She smiled. “Not liking my independence so much now, are you?”
“You are valiant and full of spirit, like none other in this land.” Taking her hand, he kissed it softly. “I couldn’t ask for finer qualities in a wife.”
Soon to be ex-wife, Your Hiney, but why add fuel to the fire?
She needed his cooperation to save their lives, help her friends, and get her life back, free of immortality.
Chapter 10
Squinting against the sun, Sarah peered up from the ground as she dismounted her horse and Victor tied the animal to a nearby tree. Cobblestone steps led to the top of the city, past towering trees with thick canopies of leaves. With each step, the sound of lutes, tabors, clarions, and even bagpipes grew stronger. The climb was rewarded by a spectacular panoramic view of the magnificent purple mountains.
Victor came from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her close against him as he whispered in her ear, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Breathtaking.” She nodded, unsure whether she was talking about the view or her doting husband.
“Just like you, my Queen.” His lips lowered against her earlobe, his hot breath grazing her skin.
Sarah had to take a deep breath to steady her suddenly racing heart.
“It appears a festival’s taking place in Vivara,” William said. “It couldn’t have come at a better time. No one will notice us in a crowd that size.”
“Give me back my tiara, girl!” Liz called to Sarah.
She laughed, taking off the crown and thrusting it into Liz’s hands.
Liz handed it to her father. “This should buy us a room for the night.” She winked at Sarah. “Sorry, sis, but we gotta sleep, ya know?”
Charles leaned in and pressed his lips against Liz’s cheek, drawing her close. “Father and I are going to the local inn to reserve a room.”
“I’ll meet you there, my handsome Prince,” Liz said.
Sarah rubbed her stomach. “Hey, I’m getting kind of hungry. What are the chances of finding a Big Mac around here? They have drive-thrus for wagons and chariots, right?”
Liz laughed and turned Sarah’s ring upside down. “We’ll find some chow. There, now you look normal. Remember to keep your fist clenched so nobody can see the ruby. Oh, and, uh…” She reached down and picked some blooming wildflowers, inserting handfuls into her hair as she braided it.
“You’re a beautiful sight,” Victor whispered, his hot breath grazing Sarah’s cheek again.
Smiling, she turned to look at him and noticed the twinkle in his eye. “Why thank you, Vic.”
He had proven to be quite fond of paying compliments. Where she came from, that wasn’t often the case. More likely, men had a reason for wanting to make women feel good in their company. One thing she liked about Victor was that he seemed to say whatever he felt like without paying much attention to reason or etiquette.
Turning away from him, she peered through the vegetation. Through the arched gateway, twisting cobbled streets lined with honey-colored stone buildings brought back memories of a quaint village she’d visited in Italy. Hanging flowers filled the air with a sweet fragrance, along with something else: smoke, grease, and meat, reminding her of the Rib Cook-Off back home. Men laughed and danced, wearing tunics down to their knees with wool pants. They twirled women around who wore simple dresses in shades of gray, brown, dark blue, and red. Obviously, this village was much better off than the impoverished Lato where she’d seen so many starving children.
Sarah grabbed Victor’s hand and led him toward a group of dancers. “You need to connect to your people on a more intimate level, as we talked about. This is the perfect opportunity to show them that you have a big heart and actually care about their wellbeing. Come on.”
He flashed one of his famous, gleaming, all-white grins. “You wish to join in with…with the commoners, my Queen?”
She batted her eyelashes. “Commoners? Geesh. Of course! But I’m going to need a partner.”
He smiled again. “Me?”
She furrowed a brow. “Who else? Besides, I only dance with tall, dark, handsome kings.”
The corners of his mouth lifted. He gazed at her with that sparkle in his eye. “Who just happen to be married to you.”
She winked. “Well, that too.”
“You two go ahead and have fun,” Liz said, catching up. “I’ll get you guys a room, and you can just meet up with us later. How about the honeymoon suite?” She pulled a face. From the creases around Liz’s eyes, Sarah could tell she was having a hard time holding her laughter in.
Victor pulled Sarah into the crowd with a chuckle, and she smiled at her sister over her shoulder and held up two fingers. “Two rooms!” Of course Liz encouraged them to be together, as she didn’t want Sarah to return through the portal, but Sarah couldn’t trust herself being alone with Victor. She imagined candlelight flickering in his eyes as she smoothed her hands against his muscular chest and bulging arms, then pulling off those cute britches he wore, and… She snapped back to reality with her heart pounding out of her chest and her cheeks blushing a deep red. She definitely needed to avoid the honeymoon suite and any heart-shaped Jacuzzis at all costs. When Frank and she had plotted their escape plan in the dungeon, she had never expected the unseen complication of falling in love with the king. She bit her lip. She wasn’t even sure if it was love and assumed that maybe she just had a bad case of lust. After all, no one could have blamed her. The guy could have easily made the cover of
GQ
.
The dancers weaved back and forth, looping arms as they switched partners, as if it were some kind of square dance. The fiddle played a melody while people’s feet stomped out the rhythm. Victor twirled her around, and she couldn’t help but laugh as she watched the powerful warlord join in with the locals, attempting to fit in. He wasn’t even bad at it; he had two very talented left feet. By the way he moved, agile like a large cat, he seemed to be used to lots of activity. He sure wasn’t the usual lazy couch potato, something else she found enticing about her new husband.
He twirled her around once more before there was a call for everyone to switch partners. Sarah smirked as Victor was paired up with a bubbly old woman in a plain tan dress, who kept pinching his arm to get his attention. Smiling, Victor spun her in a big circle, and the rotund woman giggled uncontrollably, having the time of her life in the arms of a strong, young, handsome man. It had to be the sweetest thing Sarah had seen in ages.
Next, all couples, men on one side and women on the other, held up their hands. Victor grabbed Sarah’s and walked through the sea of people, pulling her out of the dance. It reminded her of a military wedding when soldiers drew their swords to make an arch for the bride and groom to pass under.
“That was fun,” Victor said, out of breath and now surrounded by an excited mob of laughing children in simple flowing garments.
Sarah held out her arms and began hugging the little ones.
Victor followed suit, drawing them into his arms for a warm welcome.
Sarah smiled when a raven-haired boy with winter-blue eyes grabbed her hand. “Now, Victor, weren’t you the one who wanted ten children?”
He chuckled. “I said that? I want children, just not ten. But look at you! You’re a natural. You’ll make a fantastic mother someday.”
Yeah, I guess,
Sarah reasoned, a bit flattered,
but I’m not sure how I’ll be when I have to take care of them twenty-four/seven.
The old lady touched Sarah’s arm. “You’re new in town. Come eat with us.”