Eternal Flame - Book 6 (The Ruby Ring Saga) Read online

  As I stared at my awaiting groom, I realized we never should have met, but destiny had made a way for us to cross paths. It was utterly amazing. The man had been with me through thick and thin. I’d married him, then run off, and he had chased me. Somehow, in spite of unbelievable odds against it, I’d found the man of my dreams in a world that wasn’t even mine. He was a handsome, ruthless king, and I was just an ordinary girl from another world, and our two lives collided. We still had many battles ahead of us, but I knew we’d weather whatever storms came our way. A tear slipped down my face as I prepared for my wedding march. Victor was my world. I had loved him and grieved his death. We’d almost died together when Ethano poisoned him, and I had given birth to his child. He had fought for me endlessly, risking his own life, and he had helped me find the eternal bloom that had saved me. I was thrilled to be Victor’s wife. Our marriage was already magical, and now I got to marry him all over again.

  My bridesmaids looked so pretty in their red, strapless gowns, holding their dainty bouquets and wearing matching red flowers in their hair. Liz, Beth, and all the women in my wedding party were in tears. The groomsmen looked so handsome in their black tuxes and red boutonnieres.

  Smiling, I walked down the aisle, with my dad’s arm looped through mine. I felt excited and nervous and couldn’t wait to again profess my undying love to the man of my dreams. All eyes were on me, and I could tell from their smiles and enthusiasm I had all their love and support. Loyal friends and family gazed upon me with love. Being surrounded by all my favorite people was a dream-come-true. It was what I had wanted at my first wedding, and it was truly a gift to be there, in that moment.

  Beautiful, genuine emotion gushed from my handsome groom the second he laid eyes on me. As I walked up the aisle, I could see that his breath was taken away. There was such a strong connection between us, an unbreakable bond. A real man wouldn’t hold back his emotions, and Victor was certainly a real man. His eyes welled with tears, and he placed a hand over his face as emotion consumed him—the reaction any blushing bride would want from her dashing knight in shining armor.

  I tried to keep my composure, but it was a useless battle; the tears streamed down my face. I’d never been so happy, and I could feel Victor’s happiness spilling into me too. He always made me feel like the most beautiful person in the world. There was something special about the way he held me in his strong arms and kissed me on the forehead, making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. We were not perfect, but we were two flawed people who refused to give up on each other. We knew love was a gamble, but we were willing to take that chance. Victor was my best friend, my lover, and my husband, and I would stand by his side for the rest of my existence. I opened my heart and connected to his soul by the power of the ring. I felt nothing but unconditional love, something so deep, spiritual, emotional, and mind-blowing that I couldn’t even express it with words.

  I knew how much the man loved me; I could feel it deep within my soul as my ruby ring glowed brilliantly. I’d waited for that special moment my entire life. I was walking into my beloved’s arms, and I was surrounded by all my family and friends, enveloped completely by love. A tear slipped down my cheek. I couldn’t contain my own emotion any longer.

  “You found a way to remove the armor from around my heart,” he said in my mind. “I’ve never allowed myself to be this open and vulnerable. I’ve never felt so fully alive, so deeply in love. I know you’ll take care of me forever, just as I’ll take care of you.”

  I deeply gazed into his soul. It was fantastic to be loved and appreciated so deeply just for being myself. The trust between us was profound, and we always connected on a deep soul level. “That was beautiful, Victor, and I’m so honored to call you my husband. Look at you, standing there in that tux, looking so gorgeous. I swear I will never forget this moment. Thank you for making this dream come true for me.”

  “I love you and Alexander more than life itself. Because of you, I have tasted true happiness for the first time in my life.”

  “I love you too.”

  The emotionally charged moment was etched into my mind forever. Even if I lived for centuries, I would never, ever forget that moment.

  Victor was truly my soul companion, and he understood and connected with me in every way, passionately—heart, body, mind, and soul, on and the deepest of levels. Pure magic and sheer, unadulterated joy radiated from deep inside me, making me feel warm all over. I was intoxicated with happiness, as if someone had spiked my bottled water before I walked down that aisle on my father’s arm.

  Tending to their maid-of-honor duties, Liz and Beth hurried to fix the back of my dress, adjusting my short train. There was a brief moment of silence as we lit a candle, in honor of my grandmother, a lovely way to memorialize someone who had been special to me.

  “She wanted to live long enough to see me get married,” I said, my voice shaking. “We can’t control what fate delivers, but I know she is looking down on us today with a smile, happy to know I finally made it to the altar. Grandma was the light in the darkness and always believed we would find Liz. She always helped me, any way she could. She always believed in me, and she will always live on, forever in my heart.”

  As I spoke of that dearly departed lady, I found myself thinking of all the moments in my life that had led me to that church, that dress, that very moment. Intense flashes of memories invaded my mind, like a blockbuster movie playing in my head. I vividly recalled them all, clear back to the second I had walked through that portal. It didn’t make sense that the moment stretched long enough for me to remember so many things, but in some paranormal way, my life literally flashed before me. I realized it was the ruby ring, trying to assure me that we were meant to be, reminding me of how meaningful our marriage was. I felt as if I’d reached the top of a summit, and I just wanted to shout with joy, at the top of my lungs.

  The minister smiled. “Let us begin. Friends and family, your presence is appreciated on this glorious day. We have come to celebrate the marriage of Victor Fesque and Sarah Larker. It is one of life’s richest surprises when the fateful meeting of two individuals leads them to proceed together along a common path. Indeed, it is one of life’s finest experiences when a chance relationship grows into a permanent bond of love. This meeting and this love are what bring us together today.” He paused for a moment, as if to reflect, then continued. “The uniting of these two friends, to establish a new family, is an important and memorable event. It brings together two separate families and backgrounds and creates a union that is a sign of hope and joy for the future.

  “In their love for each other, which they publicly express in this ceremony, Victor Fesque and Sarah Larker demonstrate not only their joy in the present but also their commitment to share the future together. This is a time of celebration for all of you who know and love them.

  “Victor, Sarah, before you are joined together in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these, your family, friends, and community, I am bound to remind you publicly of the solemn, serious, and permanent nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. Victor Fesque and Sarah Larker, do you come here freely, without reservation, to enter a marriage as companions, to live together as one, enjoying equality? Do you promise to love, respect, assist, and look after each other for the rest of your lives? Are you prepared to live in harmony and jointly strive for the welfare of yourselves, your families, and your children?”

  “We do,” we said.

  The minister looked at Victor. “Please take Sarah’s hand while I read these vows. Do you, Victor Fesque, offer yourself to Sarah Larker as her husband, her friend, her lover, and her lifelong companion? Will you share your life with her, build your dreams together, support her through times of trouble, and rejoice with her in times of happiness? Will you treat her with respect, love, and loyalty through all the trials and triumphs of your lives together? This commitment is made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope, and eternally made n
ew.”

  “I will,” he said.

  The minister turned to me. “Please take Victor’s hand. Do you, Sarah Larker, offer yourself to Victor Fesque as his wife, friend, lover, and lifelong companion? Will you share your life with him, build your dreams together, support him through times of trouble, and rejoice with him in times of happiness? Will you treat him with respect, love, and loyalty through all the trials and triumphs of your lives together? This commitment is made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope, and eternally made new.”

  “I will,” I said. I then looked at the minster and whispered. “We wrote some of our own vows as well.”

  He smiled. “Victor and Sarah would like to share some of their personal vows.” He then motioned to Victor to proceed.

  “I, Victor Fesque, choose you, Sarah Larker, to be my wife, to respect you in your successes and your failures, to care for you in sickness and in health, to nurture you, and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life,” he said, tears welling up in his pretty blue eyes.

  My heart melted at the sight of my warrior king shedding his tough exterior in front of so many people. It was heartwarming, and I was so happy for our second chance. It was so much better to marry him when we were actually in love; the first time, we barely knew each other.

  Victor composed himself and continued, gazing deeply into my eyes. “I take you to be my friend, my lover, the mother of my children, and my wife. I give you everything I have—my heart, my love, my soul. I will be yours in times of plenty and times of need, in times of sickness and of health, in times of joy and of sorrow, in times of failure and of triumph. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us. I promise to help shoulder our challenges. I know we have many ahead of us, but there is nothing we cannot face if we stand together, united.”

  His words touched my heart, and more tears spilled down my face. I wasn’t even sure why I had bothered to wear makeup, because it certainly wasn’t staying in place.

  Victor cupped my face, ever so softly. “I love you,” he said.

  “I love you so much,” I said between happy sobs.

  “I promise to love and care for you, and I will try, in every way, to be worthy of your love,” he said. “I promise to cherish and respect you, to care for and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and to stay with you for all eternity. I will be yours and only yours, Sarah, forever.”

  I smiled through the tears and hoped I could speak past the lump in my throat. When the minister nodded at me, I squeaked out, “I, Sarah Larker, take you, Victor Fesque, to be my husband, my partner in life, and my one true love. With my whole heart, I take you as my husband, acknowledging and accepting your faults and strengths, as you do mine. I will cherish our union and love you more each day. I promise to support you and stand by your side. I will trust and respect you, laugh and cry with you, and love you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we face, for I know our love is strong enough to weather any storm. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward, as long as we both shall live.” I tried to keep it together, but I just couldn’t. Liz handed me a tissue, and I wiped my eyes.

  “Victor Fesque and Sarah Larker have chosen to affirm their love by the lighting of a unity candle,” the minister said. “The flame of this candle represents light and spirit, and fire is often said to symbolize inspiration, aspiration, power, and passion. With the lighting of this unity candle, they signal their desire not only to join as one in their union but also to unite two families as one. A member of each of their families will light one side, representing the separate lives, families, and experiences before the wedding day.”

  My mother stepped up to the candle, lighter in hand, and Charles stepped to Victor’s side. They smiled at each other, then us, then clicked their lighters, staring the flames.

  “Victor and Sarah, please take these candles and light your unity candle, the representation of your two families adjoining through the ties of your love for each other.”

  Victor and I reached for the side candles and used them to light the unity candle.

  “Prior to this moment, you walked on separate paths,” the minister said. “With the lighting of the center candle, you now symbolically join your separate lives. As two flames combine into one light, so now are your friends and family joined, through you.”

  Victor looked deeply into my eyes and spoke in my mind, “Together, my love, we are one eternal flame for all of eternity.”

  I almost burst into tears, a heart-flood triggered again by his declaration of love. My lips trembled, and I couldn’t speak.

  “Your rings are natural symbols of unending love,” the minister said. The minister looked at Victor. “Victor Fesque, please repeat after me.”

  Victor placed the ring on the finger of my right hand, since the left one had the ruby ring. “With this ring I take you, Sarah Larker, as my wife,” he repeated. “I offer all that I am in return and pledge to remember, every day of our lives together, why we unite here today.”

  The minister turned toward me. “Sarah Larker, please repeat these vows after me.”

  I nodded and slipped Victor’s gold ring on his finger. “With this ring I take you, Victor Fesque, as my husband,” I said. “I offer all that I am in return and pledge to remember, every day of our lives together, why we unite here today.” I stared into my husband’s beautiful face and had never felt such love.

  “In a moment, I shall make a public declaration of marriage,” the minister said, “but first, Victor and Sarah would like me to make this announcement: Immediately after the ceremony, please allow the couple to exit out to the porch. You may express your joy and congratulations to them and the family there. After the ceremony, you’re invited to sign the wedding certificate, as the couple designed it so that it would include all of you who are here to share this special day with them.

  “Now, Victor Fesque and Sarah Larker have declared before all of us that they will live together in marriage. They have made special promises to each other. They have symbolized it by joining hands, taking vows, lighting the unity candle, and exchanging rings. By the authority vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Victor, you may kiss your bride!”

  Victor kissed me softly on the lips.

  “I introduce the newlyweds, Victor and Sarah Fesque!”

  Victor lifted my hand up in the air, as if I’d won some sort of prize fight. In a way, I felt like a champion; we had tied the knot, in the wedding ceremony I had always dreamt of, in spite of all the odds. Tears flowed down my face, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

  Chapter 21

  After we greeted the guests and made sure to say hello to everyone and give out plenty of hugs, we headed to the reception, at a local hall. We’d opted for the breathtaking Garden Room, which was decorated with colorful flowers, a quaint gazebo, and a soothing fountain. We showed Alexander off to everyone; luckily, the baby was in a good mood and didn’t break out in any crying fits.

  After we ate, the DJ played our song, “Endless Love.” Victor held me close as we slow-danced, and I melted into his strong arms. I just held on to my warrior king and tuned everyone else out, forgetting that they were all staring at us.

  I soaked up the moment and enjoyed being married to the most wonderful guy in the world. He was such an honorable man, and he had left his mighty throne and his world to be with me and to protect his son, at all costs. If that was not love, I didn’t know what love was.

  As I gazed into his eyes, I couldn’t help but remember the first time I had laid eyes on my handsome king. At the time, we had been just strangers, and we never would have admitted that instant connection we both felt. I remembered thinking how handsome he was, recalled how star struck I was in the midst of his manly beauty. I recalled his dark hair blowing in the breeze as he set atop his white horse, dressed in authentic medieval attire, like an illustration in a child’s storybook. I would nev
er forget that day, the day I had first encountered my soulmate, my lover, my amazing husband. As the song droned on, echoing my heart, I knew Victor would always be my endless love, forever a part of my very soul.

  We went through all the motions of the typical wedding reception: father/daughter dance, cake smash, and garter and bouquet toss. Beth was lucky enough to catch the bouquet. I had so much fun as I talked and danced with everyone. The party was just as grand as any of Victor’s extravagant events at the castle. At the first reception, I had escaped, but now, Victor couldn’t have gotten rid of me if he had wanted to. I had to chuckle at the fact that Victor seemed so normal; no one would ever suspect that he was a warrior king from another dimension.

  A short while later, everyone formed into one huge circle to watch us enjoy the last dance of the evening. It was the perfect way to wrap up a truly magical day.

  We said our goodbyes, and then Victor then picked me up and carried me outside, to the limo.

  “I’m so happy,” I said. “I feel so alive. I’m married to the most amazing man ever, we have a beautiful son, and I’ve got my powers back, even better than before. I have a fighting chance at anyone who comes at us, and I will always fight for you and my family, because you are the most important thing in my life.”

  He softly kissed my hand. “Let’s make the most of every day.”

  “I agree.”