“
Order in the court!” the judge said.
A few more gasps erupted before silence fell over the courtroom.
“
Young lady, I will not tolerate outbursts like this. This better be good, or I’ll throw you in jail myself. Now explain yourself and this intrusion.”
I looked up to meet his intent gaze. “I swear I’m Sarah Larker.”
The lines on his forehead deepened as he pondered for a minute. “If you really are Sarah Larker, why have you waited so long to come forward? Did you not know the entire country was looking for you?”
“
No,” I said, and it was the truth. We didn’t exactly get Yahoo news or
The New York Times
or the CBS
Morning News
in Tastia.
“
Are you telling me you haven’t watched television or picked up a newspaper for a year? You would have almost had to be dead to miss these worldwide headlines for all that time.”
“
No, Your Honor, I haven’t seen the news,” I said, and again, it was no lie. I’d been living in a medieval world without the luxuries of electricity or TV or the Internet.
The court stenographer tapped away, but the judge seemed to be at a loss for words. People whispered and murmured amongst themselves, and those who had stood to leave had quickly settled back into their seats.
When I shot Frank a reassuring glance, he flashed me his brilliant white smile and mouthed, “Thank you.”
After a long pause, the judge finally said, “We’ll need to confirm your identity. May I see you in my quarters, miss?”
“
Yes, sir,” I said, even though I wasn’t technically a miss anymore. I was Mrs. Sarah Fesque, an Immortal queen with powers even I could barely comprehend, and I was married to the most wonderful king in the world. My single days were long behind me, but my maiden name, Sarah Larker, still rang in my head. I hadn’t been that human girl in a long time, the paranormal researcher trying to find the link between supposedly nonexistent creatures and portals, the girl who’d desperately searched for her long-lost sister, the girl who couldn’t find love if her life depended on it.
“
We’ll take a quick recess.” He looked at Frank’s lawyer. “I want you and the prosecution to meet me in my chambers in fifteen minutes.’
I explained the bogus story countless times while they fingerprinted me to check my identity. When it was confirmed, Frank’s cutthroat lawyer demanded that Frank be released at once. After a few hours, Frank was declared a free man. His family and friends shouted in joy, with tears flowing down their cheeks. I wasn’t sure if the police believed my story, but they had no other choice but to release him. They couldn’t convict a person for murder when the victim was alive and breathing; his expensive lawyer made sure of that.
Frank’s brother and parents held up Frank’s hand in victory as they walked out of the courthouse. The crowd cheered, cried, and laughed. It amazed me that he had so many supporters and fans, as I’d never known Frank to have such a following. Flashes of light blinded me as reporters and photographers called my name.
A microphone was shoved into my face by one of the reporters who were crowding into me. “Why didn’t you come forward sooner?”
“
Do you feel guilty for pinning your fake murder on Frank?” another asked.
“
What happened that night? And where have you been hiding all this time?” another wanted to know.
As far as they knew, I had risen from the dead, and everybody wanted the scoop, but I ignored their interrogation and pushed my way through the crowd.
When Frank caught my eye, he said, “Thank you, Sarah,” and bolted over to hug me.
“
When I saw it in the paper, I wasn’t about to let you hang for this,” I said.
“
Meet me at Smith Park in one hour,” he whispered in my ear. “Please don’t return through the portal without saying goodbye.”
He had no idea I was there to hide in my world and had no plans of leaving anytime soon—not until my son was grown and safe. I nodded as his family and friends snatched him back up, wailing in victory.
“
Are you angry at Sarah Larker?” a reporter asked Frank’s dad.
“
No. We harbor no ill feelings toward Sarah,” he said.
“
Were you angry when your son was accused of such a heinous act?” the reporter asked.
“
Yes! I didn’t raise the monster they depicted in the press. I told you that my son, Frank Pierce, was innocent! We thank Sarah Larker for coming forward. Justice has prevailed, thank God.”
A tear rolled down my face, and since I’d never been one to cry, I could only blame it on the hurricane of hormones caused by my pregnancy. I’d been through so much that it was only natural to shed a tear or two, but I had cried rivers. I’d thought my husband was sacrificed in an ancient ceremony, I’d discovered that I was pregnant and that a madman was after my baby, I’d put my parents through hell, and my ex had almost gotten a death sentence for presumably murdering me. It was a lot for a girl to take in, Immortal or otherwise.
I’d never seen Frank so happy as he talked to the reporters. His green eyes beamed with joy as he flashed his brilliant white smile. I was overwhelmed with joy myself, knowing that Frank had been declared an innocent man. After all, it was my fault he was in the mess in the first place. I tried to swallow down the guilt and focus on the positive. Frank would hold his baby and have the chance to be the most wonderful father in the world to his and Beth’s young son.
Chapter 16
I decided I would meet Frank in the park like he asked. He needed closure, and it was the least I could do. I was sure he expected me to return to Tastia; he had no idea I planned on staying in the States for quite a while.
When he saw me, he flashed me that bright white grin, the one that used to get me every time. “You look beautiful.”
I smiled. “Thanks, but save it for Beth, the mother of your child.”
“
I take it you haven’t heard.”
I inched closer, concerned by the sudden worry on his face at the mention of Beth’s name. “No. What’s going on?”
His eyes narrowed, and I knew something was wrong.
“
Is Beth okay, Frank? What happened?” I asked frantically.
“
She was in a car accident. She’s at Mercy Hospital. I saw her the second they freed me.”
My heart sank. “How is she?”
He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “She’s in critical condition. I wish they would’ve let me see her longer, but she’s pretty sedated.”
“
And the baby?” I asked. “Please tell me the baby is okay.”
“
He’s fine and with Beth’s grandma. I’m going to see him tonight when she brings him over to my house.”
Curiosity overwhelmed me. “What name did you decide on?”
He reached for his wallet and pulled out a picture. “Christopher Marten Pierce. He’s adorable, if I do say so myself, and the little brute weighed in at ten pounds. I couldn’t be happier.”
I clutched the picture tightly and looked at it lovingly. I was happy for both of them, and I wished both of them all the happiness in the world. “I know you and Beth are going to make great parents.”
“
Thanks, Sarah.” He looked away. “I appreciate that, but Beth and I aren’t together as a couple anymore.”
“
Oh. Sorry.”
“
It’s fine. We’re great friends, and we will both be there for our son.”
I frowned. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I couldn’t get you out of my head, and Beth knew that. When I got arrested, the stress was too much for both of us. We just kind of fell apart.”
“
Oh, Frank.”
“
When I stepped through the portal and realized you weren’t behind me, I panicked. I thought King Victor had forced you to stay. We tried everything to get back.”
“
You can’t unless you follow a Guardian through the cave and into the portal.”
“
Yeah, I learned that the hard way. You don’t know how many stakeouts Beth and I made waiting for a Guardian to enter the portal. Before I got arrested, I was gone for days at a time, but I didn’t see even one of them, no matter what I did. I felt like shit for leaving you behind.”
“
You didn’t leave me, Frank. I
wanted
to stay. I changed my mind at the last minute.”
He blinked, confusion washing over him. “You what?”
“
You heard me,” I whispered.
“
Do you have any idea what you put me through? I was worried sick about you every day, every hour, every minute…hell, every single second! Sarah, a day didn’t go by when I didn’t think about you and wonder where you were and if you were all right.”
“
How was I supposed to tell you, Frank? I couldn’t exactly Facebook you or tweet about it. Wait…maybe I should have texted you,” I said sarcastically.
“
A pigeon-o-gram might have been nice,” he said, and we both burst out in laughter.
“
You always know how to make me laugh,” I said.
“
Meh, most women find me to be a comic genius.”
I laughed again.
“
See? My point exactly.” He gripped my hands. “Well, at least now I have my answer. It is such a relief to know you weren’t hurt or being held against your will.”
“
Victor’s been nothing but wonderful to me.”
“
Nothing but wonderful, huh?”
I nodded, as I meant every single word. “Amazing.”
“
Even when he threw you in that old, dirty dungeon? You call that wonderful? Was it so amazing when he threatened your life and threw you up against a wall? Gosh, Sarah. If you thought that was amazing and wonderful, I shudder to think what you must have thought of me to break it off.”
“
Frank, he’s changed. If you could see the wonderful things he’s done in Tastia, you’d be amazed. He gives unselfishly now and expects nothing in return. He’s…my life.”
“
Guess that doesn’t leave much room for me.”
“
I’m happy for once, and I love Victor. There is nothing you or anyone else can do can change that.”
“
I’ve never stopped thinking about you, Sarah—not once. I can’t believe you’re here with me now. It’s like a dream,” he said, moving threateningly close.
I pushed him away. “Frank, I—”
He gently grabbed my arm. “Damn it, Sarah, I love you.”
I stared at him, but no words would come out of my mouth. I had no idea what to say.
He cupped my face with both hands. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“
At one time, it would’ve meant the world…but things have changed.”
“
How am I supposed to walk away from the only person I’ve ever truly loved?”
I touched his hand that was resting on my face. “Frank, you have to move on,” I whispered.
“
But I love you, and I’m going to fight for you.”
“
So we can be together forever?” I said. “Forever is a whole new ball game for me, remember? I’ll live to see your great-great-great grandchildren.”
He grabbed my hand and put it over his heart. “You can send me away, but I’ll always love you. You’ll always be in my heart. Always my sweet love, my sweet Sarah.”
Running into an old lover can be daunting and exhausting. I remembered how much I had loved him at one time, back when I’d have given up anything for him, but that made no difference anymore. “Frank, I’m pregnant,” I finally said. The words just slipped out of my mouth, and I hoped he’d back off once he knew I was having Victor’s child.
His jaw dropped in stunned disbelief, and then he hugged me. “Congratulations.”