Eternal Fire (21 page)

“
I’ve been trying to get my hands on you for the past month, and here you are, dressed like a proper lady, in my very own castle. Tell me, to what do I owe this honor?”

“
I know Victor’s here,” I spat.

He cocked his head. “And what makes you think that?”

“
Stop playing games, Ethano!” Liz said. “We know!”

He rolled his eyes, then met my gaze. “With all due respect, Queen, I truly dislike your sister.”

“
What do you want us to do?” one of the Immortals asked.

“
That shall be up to Sarah,” he said.

“
And what does that mean exactly?” I retorted.

“
Will you accompany me upstairs? And answer carefully, for your decision now will decide your fate.”

“
I am not your whore,” I spat.

He ran a hand down my cheek, then glanced at the Immortal holding the sword. “Kill her.”

“
No!” Liz yelled.

The soldier lifted his blade, and my stomach fluttered. Then it hit me:
There is no way he’ll kill me. He’s just playing mind games again
. Ethano looked at the swordsman, and I realized he was giving him mental commands. I was ready to call his bluff and take charge of the situation. I met his gaze straight on and said what I knew to be true, “You won’t kill me.”

“
I assure you, Majesty, I will. Do not toy with me.”

“
You want my baby. If you kill me, it will destroy the son you so desperately want to possess.”

He nodded, as if impressed by my knowledge, stunned that I’d read him so clearly. “She’s right,” he said, glancing at the swordsman. “Kill her sister.”

“
No!” I shouted.

Ethano motioned for the swordsman to stop and wait for his next command. Then he inched closer, until his breath was brushing my neck. “Shall we make the same deal we made at the temple? I will spare Liz’s life once again for one night with you.”

“
That’s not enough,” I said. “You know why I came here, so surely you must know what I want.”

His cold eyes narrowed into slits. “You haven’t a large enough bargaining chip to convince me to free Victor, milady.”

“
I want to see him,” I demanded. “Take me too him.”

“
I cannot allow that.”

Rage poured through me. “And why not, you pig?”

He gripped my chin tightly. “If you do not start being more respectful, you’ll spend the next nine months in a dungeon.”

I glared at him with intense hatred.

“
Then again, perhaps that is something you might enjoy.”

“
What makes you say that?” I asked.

“
Victor threw you in a dungeon, and you loved it so much that you decided to marry him.”

He was trying to bait me, and I knew it. I had to bite my tongue and play nice, or he’d never agree to let me see Victor. “I apologize for my outburst. I just want to see him long enough to tell him that he has a son.”

He paused for a moment, then smiled. “Wouldn’t that be the perfect revenge? Perhaps I should grant you that one wish.”

I hated the control he had over me, but as much as it sickened me, I kissed his lips. “Please?”

Confusion washed over his face. It was the first time I’d ever shown him affection, fake as it was, and he was utterly dumbfounded. “I will spare Elizabeth’s life and let you tell Victor your news,” Ethano said. “I will even keep my men from defiling your poor sister.”

I shot him a seductive look. “You’ll let Liz go, along with all of these girls.”

“
I am not in the business of making bargains,” he whispered in my ear. “I just want to ravage every inch of your body.”

“
Then do it,” I said.

He smiled, taken aback by my comment. “Prove that you mean it.” He pulled out his dagger and cut my bindings.

“
I’ve already shown you.”

“
Show me again,” he said.

Ethano had called my bluff, and I was furious. When he bent down to kiss me, I softly kissed his lips as I ran my hands through his hair. “You will set the girls free and let my sister go. You’ve spared my husband’s life all this time, so I owe you. Let me make it up to you.”

He pondered my offer for a moment, as if wondering whether my statement was sincere. I could tell Ethano was caving, falling for it. I’d never thought of myself as a woman of seduction, but it was working like a charm, and I couldn’t have been happier about that. After a moment, he glanced at the Immortal guarding the door. “Free the girls…now.”

“
But, milord—”

“
Free all those you captured today,” he ordered, “but today only.”

The man’s gaze swept over the girls with disdain. “You’re free to go. Let me show you the way out of the castle.”

Cries of joy flooded the room as they laughed and hugged one another.

Yolanda met my gaze. “Thank you,” she said.

I smiled at her, then turned to Ethano. “Thank you,” I said, “but what about my sister?”

“
I released the women as a gesture of good faith on my part. I will let Liz go in the morning, once you’ve filled your obligations, Highness.”

“
Let me see Victor and let Liz see Charles.”

“
Very well.” Ethano escorted us down a series of long, twisting corridors. It was quite the labyrinth, and I knew I’d never find my way back. There were far too many Immortals there for us to battle, and without our powers, we were totally helpless. Fortunately, I had other plans. I fingered the crystal necklace around my neck, praying it would work. The old woman had told me that I’d have to touch the crystal with my thumb to activate it, then touch it again when it turned blue, and anyone who was touching me at the time would go with me. I went over the plan again and again in my head as we walked.

Ethano led us down to the musty basement, to a door that led to the tomb where Victor and Charles were being held prisoner. He gripped my wrist tightly. “One false move on your part, and your sister and husband die here.”

“
I only want to tell him that I’ve conceived his child. He deserves to know,” I said softly.

“
Then tell him and make it quick.”

The metal door creaked open, pushed by one of Ethano’s loyal soldiers. Peeking inside, my heart jumped. Victor was shackled in chains, and he looked tired and worried, but he was alive. I wanted to hug him so badly, but Ethano wouldn’t let go of me.

He motioned to Liz first. “Go ahead, Princess.”

She raced inside and jumped into the arms of Charles.

My eyes swept over the dark stone covering the walls, lit by orange, flickering flames. The dirt floor was littered with skeletal remains. I couldn’t believe Victor had been chained inside that hell-hole for weeks. It was obvious that he’d lost his powers too.

I yanked my hand from Ethano’s grip. “Let me go!”

“
Make wise use of your time, Highness. You have little of it, for I’m anxious to escort you to my chambers,” Ethano said before he shoved me inside.

Victor cast him a hard stare; if looks could have killed, Ethano would have been dead on his feet. I hadn’t seen Victor in nearly a month, and my heart raced as I stared at his unkempt face and bloodshot eyes. Weeks earlier, I’d thought I’d never ever see him again. I had attended his funeral and cried over a million tears. My world had been torn apart, filled with darkness, but now Victor stood before my eyes like some radiant beam—like an absolute dream. It was as if all time was standing still, and there was nobody else in the world but us.

Victor’s jaw was shadowed with dark stubble. His clothes were wrinkled and dirty, not the same ones I’d last seen him in. His hair was neatly tied back, not greasy at all. Someone had obviously been taking care of him to some degree, and whoever it was, I couldn’t have been more thankful for their kindness.

I felt Ethano’s menacing gaze and glanced over my shoulder. “I need privacy,” I said. “This is a very delicate matter.”

Much to my surprise, Ethano nodded, then turned and left.

I passed by Liz and Charles, who were off in the corner, kissing.

“
Did Ethano touch you?” my lover asked. “Did he lay his hands on you?”

“
No, Victor.”

“
Thank God,” he said.

I met his eyes and rushed into his waiting arms just as the heavy door heaved shut. I wrapped my arms around Victor, holding him close.

He cupped my face, his eyes welling with tears. “Sarah…”

I touched his hand that was resting on my face. “I-I can’t believe I’ve found you.”

Time and space lost all meaning as we stared into each other’s eyes. Victor was the eternal fire burning deep down inside of me. He was my best friend, my other half, the person who completed me, and I would love him to the end of time. The entire moment was beautiful, intense, and extremely surreal. I wasn’t even sure if I could explain it in words. We shared a connection, a bond, an instant magnetism—the inexplicable attraction that pulls soulmates together.

“
I-I thought you were dead,” I cried.

He put my hand on his heart. “Do you feel that?”

“
Yes! I can feel your vibrant heartbeat. How could we have been so wrong?” I sucked in a trembling breath. “We had a funeral for you, and your kingdom mourned their king.”

“
Imagine their surprise when they find out I’m alive,” he said with a gleam in his eye.

I laughed through the tears. “I’ve imagined this moment a million times in my head. Am I dreaming?” I touched his face, my voice wavering.

“
Sarah, I am entirely real.” He brushed his lips against mine, kissing them softly.

“
I love you so much,” I said, gazing into his eyes.

He cupped my cheeks. “I love you too.”

“
I thought I’d never see you again.”

Victor wiped away the tears that were flowing down my cheeks. “I’m here now.”

I smiled through more tears. “We belong together, Victor. I couldn’t breathe without you.”

“
Forever,” he said, kissing me softly on the lips.

“
You’re my best friend, my lover, my husband, my destiny. I want to be with you forever, and I have a plan to get us out of here so we can make that happen. I will remember this day for the rest of my life—the day you came back to me and my dead heart started beating again.”

“
I thought you dead as well, my love. That liar Ethano told me he killed you in the shape-shifting ceremony.” His voice wavered, and the troubled expression on his face said it all. He clung tightly to me. “Now that I know you are alive and well, I shall never let you go. We must be together.”

I frowned. “He’s taken over our castle and so many others, Victor. He practically owns the whole world.”

His lips pressed into grim lines. “I know, but if we can escape, we’ll fight and take it back.”

“
He also has his claws in the Immortal Council and practically every country in this world.”

“
Where is King Taggert?”

“
Presumed dead. I’m afraid Ethano’s won this round,” I said sadly.

His gaze narrowed. “I will die before I give up. Why are you giving up so easily? You love our kingdom just as much as I do.”

“
Because he’s—”

“
Pay that Ethano no mind. I will not let him take my kingdom from me. I will fight, Sarah, until the very end.”

There wasn’t time to plead my case, because I knew Ethano would be back any minute. “If you fight, you will die, Victor. I’ve…seen the prophecy.”