Eternal Faith - Book 4 (The Ruby Ring Saga) (11 page)

“Our
wedding was not as nuptials are intended to be. It was not two lovers reciting
their vows. It wasn’t an expression of the true love we feel for each other
now.”

“That’s
because we weren’t even in love with each other then, Victor. All we had
between us then was...well, lust.”

“I
cannot say that lust does not still play a role in my feelings for you, my
darling, but I am also madly, deeply in love with you. Sarah, I want to declare
that love properly now, in front of all your family and friends. I want to
fulfill your childhood fantasy.”

“In
so many ways, Victor, you already have,” I said, smiling at him. “Still, what
is it you are proposing?” I asked, my curiosity brewing.

His
eyes twinkled, betraying just how happy he was. “Funny you should mention a
proposal,” he said, toying with me. “Sarah, will you marry me...again?”

Emotion
choked my voice. “You mean, renew our vows?”

“Yes.
Absolutely. You deserve the wedding of your dreams because you are the woman of
mine. We rushed through that forced ceremony before, and you had no choice or
say in the matter. I want you to have a choice this time, to choose the gown,
the venue, the food—all of it.”

I
stood there, stunned, unable to believe my ears, with visions of bridal gowns
and bouquets already dancing through my head.

“We
were merely strangers then. Of course there was a physical attraction,” he
said, smirking, “but we were not in love with each other as we are now. You are
going to be the mother of my child, Sarah. You are the love of my life, and I
want to give you that wedding of yours, the wedding you have always deserved.”

Tears
welled up in my eyes. “I can’t believe you’d do something so wonderful for me.”

He
smiled, again revealing his perfect white teeth. “You have told me the story of
Cinderella, and you should not have to envy her. Your wedding will be grand,
attended by all of those you love, even more resplendent and glorious than
anything you dreamt about as a small girl.” He shot me a wink. “If it will make
you happy, I will even wear one of those torpedoes you have told me about.”

“Torpedoes?”

“Yes.
You know—the black and white garment with a cucumber bun, jewels at the wrist,
and long tails like an animal’s to cover my behind.”

“Cucumber
bun?” I thought for a minute before it dawned on me what he was trying to say.
“Oh! You mean a tuxedo, with a cumberbun?”

He
nodded.

A
tear slipped down my face. “You’d do all that for me, Victor? You’d let me plan
a wedding ceremony in the tradition of my world? You’d really wear a
constricting, itchy, hot, stuffy tux and walk down the aisle looking like a
spruced-up penguin?” I asked with a grin.

“Yes,
Sarah,” he said, enthusiasm booming in his voice. “I would do anything—or wear
anything—for you and for our son. I think you know that already, but I want to
prove it to you.”

“I’ve
always wanted to have a wedding in the little church down the street. Liz was
supposed to be my maid of honor, but I guess she’s more of a matron now that she’s
married. I can’t believe I’ll finally be able to invite all of my family and
friends to share in our happiness!” My voice began to quiver as I imagined the
scene in my head. “My father was always supposed to give me away.”

Victor
suddenly knelt down on one knee, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a
small, black box. He popped the lid open, and the glistening of a two-carat,
pear-shaped diamond immediately caught my eye. Even in that glistening,
sparkling daydream, the ring was the shiniest thing of all.

My
jaw dropped, and I screamed in excitement, then stared at him for a long moment,
completely stunned.

“Do
you not like it?” he asked, worried about my silence.  

“Like
it?” I ran my hands through his tousled hair and kissed his perfect lips. “Victor,
I love it! It’s perfect, just like you.”

“You
can wear it on your other hand since the ruby ring adorns your wedding finger.”

Rivers
of tears streamed down my face. “Oh my gosh. Is this moment actually real? Is
this really happening?”

“Unfortunately,
this is all somewhat fabricated, My Queen, but I can sure you the real ring is sitting
safely inside my dresser drawer.”

I
grinned.

As
he slipped the glittering diamond onto my finger, he said, “Will you make me
the happiest man alive and marry me again, Sarah? You still haven’t given me an
answer.”

“Yes!”
I screamed, leaping into his arms.

He
embraced me and slid the ring on my finger.

“It’s
a perfect fit,” I said, somewhat surprised.

“Your
sister told me your size when she caught me searching for wedding rings. I had
no idea of your customs, but Liz has been very helpful.”

I
glanced down at the gorgeous stone. “I can’t believe she kept her trap shut
about this.”

He
stared deeply into my eyes. “Do you have a date in mind, My Queen?”

“Well,
I’d like to have the baby first.”

“That’s
fine, for we have all the time in the world,” he said, kissing my lips.

“Gosh,
I have the best husband in the world,” I said. “I love you so much.”

“I
love you too.”

I
couldn’t stop smiling all morning, for my thoughts were constantly on so many
upcoming things in my life, namely the birth of my child and my dream wedding
to follow. I wanted a cozy, intimate, quaint ceremony with my friends and
family, nothing too big or small. My mind was bursting with all kinds of ideas.
I wanted a photographer, a videographer, and a limo for sure. “Baby, I’m so
excited to start planning our wedding,” I said.

He
looked up from the bridal magazine Liz had given him. “White cake sounds
delicious.”

I
glanced down at the fancy wedding cake in the magazine. “Hmm. I usually prefer
chocolate.”

“Then
you, My Queen, shall have both!” he said, pointing at a cake in the magazine
with one chocolate and one vanilla tier.

“Victor,
you spoil me.”

“’Tis
my duty as your spouse and king, milady,” he said with a smile.

I
smiled and threw my hair into a ponytail, then took one last glance into the
mirror. “I’m getting fatter,” I said. “Look at my face. No wonder Liz insisted
we go for a power walk this morning.”

“You
look...hot,” Victor said.

I
chuckled. “Why on Earth did I ever I teach you that word?”

“Because
it is the perfect way to describe you, darling,” he said as sunlight danced
through the curtains, highlighting his piercing blue eyes, his strong jaw, and
the shadow of a beard.

“No,
you’re the one who’s hot.”

He
smiled. “I can’t take my eyes off of you.”

I
cocked a brow. “Really? In jogging pants and a frumpy old sweatshirt?”

“Sarah,
you look beautiful in—or out of—anything.”

Our
eyes locked, and everything around me disappeared. An electric shock shot
through my body when he slipped one of his strong, gentle hands to the nape of
my neck and pulled me close, my skin grazing against his in an embrace. Tilting
my head, I closed my eyes, ready to melt into his embrace, and I parted my lips
against his.

We
shared a fiery, insane chemistry. I tangled my fingers through his thick, soft
hair as the kiss deepened into a passionate lip-lock—long, fast, and intense.
He poured all his body, soul, and emotion into the mind-blowing moment, then
kissed me again—this time slow, tender, and passionate, so perfect, so right,
and so romantic. Sparks flew as I opened and closed my mouth to the rhythm,
wanting to devour him.

He
skimmed his fingers through my hair and wrapped his arms around my body. I
stared up, barely able to hold his gaze. His lips lowered ever so gently
against me in a soft touch, growing stronger as sparks flew. His breath felt
hot on my skin, and heat rushed to my cheeks. After all that time, I still
couldn’t fathom how anyone could be so irresistible.

The
phone rang and jolted me out of my delightful trance. When we pulled away from
each other, my heart was pounding like a drum.

I
glanced down at the phone. “It’s Liz. You know what? I’m gonna take a
rain-check with her and spend the morning with you. Who wants to go hiking in
the snow anyway?”

Victor
chuckled as his cell phone started ringing. “You ignored your sister’s call,
and now she’s beckoning me. Go spend some time with her, Sarah. Otherwise, she’ll
be pulling into the driveway. We both know how insistent Liz can be. Besides,
we’ll have the rest of the day...and tonight too,” he said with a wink.

I
smiled. “You can’t get enough of me. Can you baby?”

“What’s
a man to do?” he purred. “I have valiantly fought man and beast, yet those
gorgeous, feminine curves of yours render me as helpless as a little lost
kitten.”

Victor’s
phone rang again, and I knew if one of us didn’t answer, she’d call a million
times more. Victor handed me his phone, and I answered it in a huff, tired of
being interrupted. “What, Liz?”

“Don’t
you ever pick up your phone?” she asked in a frustrated, scolding tone.

“Listen,
I’m coming. I just...got distracted.” I shot Victor a grin, and he smiled widely.

“Distracted,
huh? Wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with a hot, sexy medieval man,
would it?”

“Perhaps
a little.”

“I
knew it! Come on, Sarah. You guys had all night. Can’t you stay away from each
other for five minutes?”

“He
says he likes my curves.”

“It’s
the boobs, sis. Big knockers are a big hit with men of all eras.”

I
chuckled. “I’m leaving now.”

“Huh?
You haven’t even left yet?”

“I’m
on my way,” I said, kissing Victor on the lips and waving goodbye. “I’ll see
you in a few.” I hung up the phone and hurried to the car.

* * *

L
iz
and I had decided we were tired of being cooped up in the house, so we met at a
local hiking trail.

When
I pulled into the empty parking lot, I saw Liz standing by a snow-covered pine
tree, smiling and waving me over. She was dressed in a stylish black suede coat
with matching hat and gloves. She placed her hand on her hips and grinned.
“So...I heard he officially popped the question.”

I
playfully rolled my eyes. “We’re already married, Liz.”

“True,
but he never actually asked you before. He just threw you in a musty dungeon
and threatened to kill you, and when you agreed, you had a quickie.”

“A
quickie?”

“Yeah.
A five-minute marriage ceremony before he literally tried to rip your clothes
off.”

“Wow.
You make it sound so...awful.”

“Meh,
it kinda was, but who cares? So it started off on the wrong foot. Look at you
two now.”

“I
can’t believe he asked me. I’ve been so moody and weepy lately, not to mention
fat, with my skin breaking out here and there.”

“You’re
allowed to be moody, chunky, and blemishy, Sarah. You’re carrying his child,
for goodness sake. Scream, cry, and laugh all you want. It’s completely
acceptable during pregnancy, and you’d better take full advantage of it now!”

We
both burst out into laughter.

“I
want our wedding to be far different than the first time,” I said. “I want it
to be beautiful. I want music, a big, beautiful gown with a train, and all of my
family there to witness it.”

She
grabbed my hand. “Let me see that new ring of yours,” Liz said, glancing at my
finger. “Gosh, Sarah. It’s absolutely gorgeous on you.”

“Thanks
for helping Victor pick it out.”

She
smiled. “You’re so lucky I went with him. He was gonna get you an emerald. Can
you believe that? I explained to him that diamonds are a bride-to-be’s best
friend. He’s so...clueless. Of course, Charles isn’t much better.”

“It’s
beautiful, and I’m the happiest woman in the world,” I said as I headed down
the trail. Victor was giving me my childhood dream wedding. I was ecstatic and
couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. Even though we were power walking, I felt
like I was floating on air!

“I
can tell. You’re glowing. Is that the pregnancy or the proposal?”

“A
little bit of both.”

“I’m
gonna throw you the biggest bridal shower ever!” she said.

I
laughed. “How about we stick to a baby shower first?”

“Deal,
but you’re getting both!”

“I
wouldn’t deny you the pleasure of planning them,” I said with a chuckle.

Her
eyes beamed. “I can’t wait. You won’t be sorry.”

“I’m
sure you and Mom will pull out all the bells and whistles.”

“Wouldn’t
have it any other way.” Liz then glanced down at my ruby ring that glittered in
the sunlight. “Do you miss the bond Ethano took from us?”

“Nah,
I’m fine without it. I didn’t have that long to get accustomed to it anyway.”

She
walked briskly. “Well, I miss it. It was something special Charles and I shared.”

“You
love all the whistles and bells that come with being Immortal, don’t you?”

“I
can’t lie. I do love it, and I don’t ever want to be a plain old human again.”

“At
least we don’t have to go around drinking blood.”

“I
know, right? We don’t have to hurt anyone. We’re strong. We have super-human
eyesight and hearing. We have superhero powers. We get to live forever. Who
wouldn’t want that?” She let out a long sigh. “I love being Immortal, but I
really miss the bond. Maybe one day I’ll figure out how to get it back again.”

“I’m
really fine without reconnecting it,” I said.

“Why?
Because your survival was dependent on Victor’s?”

“No.
It’s just that...well, we’re doing fantastic without it.”

“If
Charles dies for any reason, I don’t want to live.”

“Don’t
say that, Liz! I love you way too much to lose you.”

“Well,
don’t worry. The bond is dead as a doornail anyway, and Charles and I plan to
live a long, eternal life.” She shot me a look. “Hey, you’re a little slower
than usual. Are you sure you can handle a hike?”

“C’mon,
Liz. Just because I’m pregnant, that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of a little
exercise. I need to feel energized.”

“We
could power walk around the mall instead of out here,” she said.

I
playfully slugged her. “No way. You’re a shopaholic, and you’d be stopping in
every store.”

She
laughed. “You’re right. It would never work. Besides, it’s not that cold out
here.”

“I
love the fresh air.”

Liz
drew a smiley face with her boot in the dusting of light snow.

“Still
a kid at heart, aren’t you?” I said.

She
smiled, and we took the trail to the right. “So...we’ll go home and shower, and
then you put on your best maturity outfit and—”

“Liz,
I don’t think—”

She
held up a hand. “No excuses, young lady! You need to look fantastic because I’m
treating you to lunch, a manicure, and a stylish haircut.”

“Thanks,
but what’s the special occasion?”

“Special
occasion? Who needs a special occasion? I just think my sister needs to quit
feeling so...pregnant and frumpy.”

“I
don’t feel frumpy.”

“You
won’t when I’m done with you. Girl, I’m going to make you look like a pregnant
goddess.”

“I’d
appreciate that. Victor and I do have dinner plans for tonight.”

“I
know, and you’re going to look fabulous.”

I
grinned. “Thanks, Liz.” As we continued walking, I realized it felt so
wonderful to be outside. “How does it feel to be back?” I asked.

“Hmm.
I have mixed feelings about it.”

“Yeah?”

“I
missed my old world here in California, no doubt. I wanted electricity, hot
showers, and television. And how on Earth could I possibly live without hair
dryers and the Internet and Starbucks? I wanted my old life back, but more than
anything, I wanted my friends and family.” She pondered for a second, then
continued. “When we first came back, I was so happy to be here. I love all the
modern-day conveniences and appliances.”

“And
toilet paper,” I added. “Don’t forget the Charmin!”

“Yeah,
definitely that. It’s been so great to be able to text and Google, to see my
old friends again and hang out in my favorite places. Being surrounded by my
family is even more amazing, but something’s missing.”

“Missing?
Like what?”

“I
guess it’s just...well, I miss that simple life.”

I
pondered her words carefully, trying to determine if I missed it too.

“There,
I never had to hide who I’ve become. Being Immortal is considered a great honor.
In this world, not only do I have to hide it, but I’m considered a freak. I want
to go back someday. I have to.”

“You
sound just like Victor.”

“I’m
a nobody here, Sarah. Back there, I was a somebody, a princess everyone adored
and loved.”

“Yeah,
with all that wealth and power and—”

She
shook her head, interrupting me. “No, it wasn’t just the fancy gowns and
expensive jewelry. I did everything in my power to make my kingdom a better
place to live. I made some real differences there. Here, I can’t do that. Here,
I’m just...normal.”

“If
given the chance, would you go back permanently?”

Walking
briskly, she met my gaze. “I’ve come to realize that California isn’t my home
anymore. Dornia is. I didn’t choose to come back. I was just hoping we could
sneak into Ethano’s castle, find Charles and Victor, and sneak out before that
tyrant ever got back.”

“I’m
sorry it didn’t work out the way you planned, sis.”

“There
has to be a way we can conquer Ethano and go back home.”

“In
time, I’m sure we can, but for now, I have to stay here, because of the baby.”

“I’m
not going anywhere for a while. I’ve talked about it with Charles. I’m
Immortal.”

My
eyes widened in mock surprise. “You don’t say?”

She
laughed. “Let me finish. I can live forever, so I figure I might as well stay
here until Mom and Dad and everyone we know and love passes on.”

I
frowned at the thought of losing my parents and everyone I knew and loved,
something I’d never really thought much about before.

“We
should enjoy our time here together with them,” she said, “but after that, I
want go back home.”

“You
wouldn’t miss it here?” I asked.

“Of
course, to a degree. I’d miss the modern conveniences and my friends and family,
but if I stay here and outlive everyone, there will be no one to come back for.
In time, I can learn to live without curling irons and television, just as I
did before.” She gazed over at me. “I want it all back—the castle, the title,
the fantastic life I led. I’d take it any day over all of this.”

“I
get it. You love it there,” I said. “You made that clear when you wouldn’t
leave with me through the portal at Sabrino Cave. Still, you can’t deny how
excited you were once you did come back through the power of that necklace.”

“I
admit I was initially very excited, happy that I’d be reunited with family and
friends. I thought I’d be able to step back into my life as it once was, and when
I got here, I realized technology had come such a long way. I was reminded of
so many people and places and things that I’d missed. Still, I cannot live the
rest of my life hiding who I am.”