Victor spread out her arms and the wind whipped through her hair, making her smile. “You’re free, like an eagle,” he said.
“I can’t remember ever having this much fun,” she said.
He squeezed his arms around her. “This is only the beginning, my love. We’ll have centuries of smiles and laughter together, but even that might not be enough because I have so much to show you.”
The stallion burst through more vegetation and galloped across the sugar-white sand along lapping waves in the ocean. Seagulls circled overhead, and the smell of salt filled the air. Water splashed up high in the air, falling down like rain all around her. The animal whinnied and bucked like a bull. Sarah and Victor slipped off its back, landing in the water, flat on their backs.
She grinned as the stallion took off across the sand, back into the woods. “Guess we lost our ride,” she said.
Victor kissed her on the lips as the cold ocean waves splashed around them, sending electricity throughout her body.
She closed her eyes, let out a moan, and enjoyed the hot, hungry kiss.
He broke off the kiss, his blue eyes burning as he gazed into her very core, right into her soul. “Stay with me, Sarah—not because I’m forcing you, but because you want to.”
Why ruin a perfect moment by explaining to him again that I’m not meant to rule a kingdom? I can’t even balance my checkbook! And what about our parents? She had no intention of staying. In a world with no electricity? How will I ever blow-dry my frizzy hair? In a world with no phones or computers? Why, I won’t even be able to Google the best pub to eat at. It would be worse than living in the little house on the prairie! Nevertheless, she knew she would remember his kiss forever, no matter what world she lived in. She stared at his chiseled face, his perfect lips, and his wet hair. Oh, how she could easily lose herself with this warrior king! Her heart pounded in her throat. “Just shut up and kiss me.”
His lips lowered on hers, and she savored the moment, knowing it was probably the last kiss they’d ever share. Whether he wanted it or not, soon she’d be returning home to the world she belonged in.
Chapter 8
Victor steered the reins into the camp and dismounted, helping Sarah down.
She gazed up at him, her eyes imploring. “Please let me see my friends.”
“Yes, my Queen.” He called a knight over and motioned for him to show the way.
Sarah hurried to keep up with the tall knight as he led her to a small tent.
“Your traveling companions are in there, Your Highness,” the knight said, motioning the four guards to step aside from their posts. He opened the flap and walked in with Sarah behind him.
Beth’s head lay in Frank’s lap, and he was stroking her hair. Adam and Steven sat on the ground nearby.
“Frank, Beth…uh, getting cozy, are we?” Sarah looked at the knight. “Leave us.”
He bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Whoa!” Steven said. “That’s some kind of power you’re throwing around. Pretty cool. That’s even better than being the boss lady of our research group.”
She smirked. “Yeah. Well, it seems even that can’t buy me loyalty.” She peered at Frank from the corner of her eye.
Running over, Beth hugged her tight. “I’m so glad to see you!”
Steven stood and smiled. His usually glossy blond locks stuck to the back of his head as though he had been lying in the same position for far too long. His usually crisp shirt was now crumpled, and several buttons were missing, revealing his smooth chest below. For such a tall, scrawny guy, Sarah was surprised to find he was quite muscular.
“Are they treating you well?” She smiled at him, and it was genuine. He was one of the few in the group that she felt she could trust at that point. Beth and Frank had been trustworthy at some point, but as much as she had claimed to be okay with them dating, she couldn’t quite shake off the feeling of betrayal that nagged at her, especially when she saw them so close together like that.
“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.
Victor opened the flap of the tent. “It is time to retreat…NOW!”
“What? Why, Victor? What’s the big hurry? I’m just—”
“Sarah, my love, there are Immortals invading the camp! Time is of the essence.”
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.
A shout echoed from off to her right, and Sarah glanced up at the group of Immortals creeping in her direction. She jumped to her feet, ready for business, even though she knew she couldn’t take them all on at once. All she needed was a sword, and she’d give it her best shot. She couldn’t just stand idly by and let them hurt her friends and drag her off to court where the biased jury would hand her a death sentence.
Liz grabbed Sarah’s arm just as a barrage of arrows flew over them and horses pounded the ground and whinnied across the battlefield.
“We need a weapon…and fast!” Sarah shouted so Liz would hear her through the turmoil and cries around her.
Liz waved her hand at the approaching Immortals. A tiny crease appeared on her otherwise smooth forehead, followed by a gust of hard wind crashing into the oncoming horde, sending them flying into the air like they’d been smacked with an invisible sledgehammer.
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