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

  “I guess,” I whispered. “I’m so hormonal and crazy right now.”

  “There will be ups and downs,” Victor said.

  “I know, but I look down at this beautiful boy, and I wonder if I’m good enough for him.”

  “Good enough? Of course you are...and more.”

  I stared down at my angel’s face. “I knew having a baby would change things, have some impact on my life, but he’s already the center of my universe. The strange thing is that I don’t mind one little tiny bit.”

  “Nor do I. I’ve wanted a child for hundreds of years, but I had to wait for the perfect moment...and the perfect woman to bear him.”

  Alexander wrapped his fingers around one of mine and began to coo, as if basking in the love of his parents right there in that dark cavern.

  “I can’t believe we created this little being,” I said in awe, smiling up at his father.

  Victor softly stroked our baby’s face. “There is something very special about creating a life together.”

  “Yes, and we’ll take care of this little life as a team. We’ll share a bond like never before, love each other in a whole new way.”

  “Definitely, my love. We have transitioned from a couple to a family. The happiness and love Alexander has already brought into my life is beyond measure.”

  “I’m as anxious as any first-time mother would be, I guess. I mean, before, my world revolved around you, work, and trying to stay alive.”

  “You have taken on the role of a lifetime, Sarah, and I am flattered by the opportunity to share this time with you.”

  “You are the sweetest,” I said. “I couldn’t ask for a better husband.”

  “And I could not have asked for a better wife. You’re everything I have dreamt of through so many long, lonely eras. You are all of that and more.”

  I kissed his lips softly, then looked at him with a serious expression. “Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Ethano never would have interfered in our lives.”

  “I imagine we would still be at the castle.”

  “Can you show me?” I asked. “Can you put us in your dream state, or is that too dangerous right now?”

  “I can, but we mustn’t tarry there for long.”

  “Will you still be able to hear them if they come?”

  “From a mile away.”

  I gripped his hand. “I know the drill.” I then closed my eyes and concentrated, ready to let him take control.

  When I opened my eyes, we were sitting in the garden, back at the castle. A cool breeze blew through my hair, and a sweet fragrance from all the colorful blooms drifted all around us. Alexander was nestled in my arms, swaddled in white linens. Victor was dressed majestically, like a real king, and my garb consisted of a red and white silk gown with a sweetheart neckline.

  Victor brushed his lips softly across mine.

  “Gosh. This is beautiful,” I said. “I feel like I belong here.”

  “Do you really?” he asked.

  “Yes. Lately, I’ve been living a life I thought I couldn’t leave behind, but I know now that I can. This is your world, Victor, and you were born to rule this kingdom. It’s what you were meant to do. You have given up so much for me, but something about this place feels right, feels like...home. Our life has changed in wonderful, unexpected ways, and I couldn’t be happier. I think our son would be happy here, maybe safer here. I want Alexander to have a life in this beautiful world. I want to watch him play in this very garden and chase butterflies in the summer. I want this fairytale to be his reality.”

  “Does this mean you wish to go back?” he asked.

  I smiled and stared up into his twinkling eyes, like sapphires illuminating the darkness. “Yes. We need to take back your kingdom and kick Ethano out. We need to make him pay for what he’s put us through. The castle is our home. It’s Alexander’s home and his legacy, and we should raise him there.”

  “Children are very impressionable. Wherever we rear the boy, he will not want to leave the world he grows up in, or he will always suffer from homesickness.”

  “I can live without all the fancy technology, and I’m pretty sure I can still boil water without a microwave. A simple life with you and Alexander is all I want. I know we can all be happy in that kind of life, as long as we have each other.”

  “That is all I have ever wanted,” he said. “I never wanted anything more than a life in the castle, ruling over Tastia, surrounded by the people I love.”

  “I could embrace the simple life. I know that now, and I’m so sorry it took me so long to figure it out.”

  Life in Tastia wouldn’t really be simple, because we would be a king and queen, living in a castle, a life of luxury. We were royalty and would be entitled and given everything such esteemed positions could offer. Still, without a cell phone, my computer, and all the modern-day conveniences I was accustomed to, it seemed like a simple life to me. I wouldn’t be cruising down the highway with the windows down and the stereo blasting anymore; in a wagon or carriage, the best I could expect was trotting along with the occasional pit stop for the horsepower to take a potty break.

  “Having the choice to live my life as I see fit is the greatest freedom I’ll ever have. Thank you for letting me come to this decision myself, for giving me the time I needed instead of forcing me into it.”

  “You’re a very independent woman, and I will never force you in to anything. I think we both know that, dear. It swells my heart just to hear you say you wish to come back to my world, so we can reign there together, and you and Alexander will have the best that world has to offer. Still, it may not be an easy quest to return to our rightful place.”

  “Don’t you worry about that, Your Highness. We’ll get your kingdom back. We’re like a train that can’t be stopped.”

  “I love your spirit so, my Queen. Giving up my kingdom was the hardest thing I ever did, but I would do it all over again to make you happy.”

  I stared into his eyes. Tears welled up in mine, and I couldn’t speak. His words touched my heart, and I still could not believe he was mine.

  He cupped my face. “I love you,” he said.

  “I love you too. Together, we’ll make it through the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

  “Speaking of the ugly, I believe it is best to tell you everything. I do not wish there to be secrets lurking between us.”

  “Secrets?” I asked, a bit worried that he was going to confess something to me about some well-endowed handmaiden flashing her petticoats at him or something.

  “You must know about Ethano and how our feud started.”

  I touched his lips, feeling a bit relieved. “I’m happy that you are ready to confide in me, but let’s not ruin this wonderful moment, our Alexander’s birthday, with tales of that jerk. Tell me when we get back.”

  “That I will, Sarah. I want to tell you...everything.”

  It meant so much to me that he was finally ready to open up to me, to answer so many of my questions. I was dying to know the truth, the whole story, but for the moment, I wanted to bask in the joy of our son rather than going over gloomy details from his past.

  Snap!

  A chill shot down my spine when the twig broke, and I wondered if the immortals had found us after all. I squeezed my son even closer to me, ready to protect him at all costs.

  Victor sprang up and motioned for me to be still.

  My chest tightened, and I held my breath.

  “It’s only me,” White Coyote said.

  At the sound of the familiar voice, an ally, I let out a long sigh of relief. “The immortals are after us,” I said, my voice wavering. “Can you get us off the island?”

  “No worries, for my men will deal with them. For now, follow me. Your safety is of the utmost importance.”

  We quickly followed White Coyote as he led us deeper into the jungle.

  “I’ve been thinking,” I said to Victor. “How do the blue ringed immortals even have powers? And us, too? Di
dn’t Jackson say we’d all lose our powers once we stepped foot on the island?”

  Jackson was trying to read an ancient, faded manuscript. I think some stuff got lost in the translation. But he did try his best. We can’t fault him for one mistake.”

  “You’re absolutely right.” I was surprised Jackson and his team got as much correct as they did.

  So we had powers. We’d just have to make sure we didn’t use them or we’d anger White Coyote.

  Snap!

  When another branch broke, I had the eerie feeling that we were being stalked. We stopped to listen, and the rustling sound in the vegetation stopped. I felt as if we were being watched, and my senses were on high alert. I darted my eyes in every direction and listened closely, tuning in to every sound, but nothing stirred for a moment. Then, the sound of wings whirled in my ears, and the songs of insects echoed in the air.

  White Coyote motioned us forward.

  I couldn’t shake the sensation of being watched, and I felt a growing sense of dread. The frogs, insects, and even the chirping birds suddenly hushed, and an ominous, dead quiet surrounded us. I was sure immortals were following us as closely as possible without being seen or heard. My hearing wasn’t at its finest, but I was sure I’d heard footsteps in the brush; if Victor had heard it as well, he certainly wasn’t reacting, as he didn’t want to increase my panic.

  Suddenly, rocks began to pelt us as we were ambushed by the immortals. My hand instinctively protected Alexander’s fragile head. They leapt from the trees, directly into our path.

  I gripped Victor’s arm and took a few steps back. I turned in a slow circle, only to see that we were completely surrounded by towering men dressed in camouflage. The sunlight glittered off the blue stones in their rings, even bluer than my lover’s eyes and much more menacing. My heart raced inside my chest like a jackhammer. The haunting thoughts and memories of the lab was fresh in my mind. My anger rose at the thought that they would have the audacity to torment a new mother. How could anyone be so cold and calculating?

  A man with bushy blond hair chuckled as he met my gaze. “Did you really think you could escape us, Highness?”

  I glared at him with disgust. He sickened me, and it took everything I had not to bomb him in his ugly face with a fireball. If he hadn’t paralyzed my powers, I might have broken the island rules.

  White Coyote stepped toward the immortal and introduced himself. “You have no right to trespass on my island.”

  The towering man met his gaze, but he didn’t bother to mention his name. “The rocks were only used as a distraction. We meant you no harm, White Coyote,” he said.

  “Good. Then leave now.”

  An evil grin stretched across the man’s ragged face. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, at least not until we have what we came for.”

  “No!” Victor shouted.

  “You will not lay a finger on any member of this family,” White Coyote said calmly. “They are under my protection.”

  I bit my lip hard as the immortals pointed their guns at us. Victor pushed me behind him, as if to protect me with his life.

  “You know your weapons can’t kill these immortals,” White Coyote said.

  “You are wrong, old one. These bullets are laced with guardian poison, and Victor is keenly aware of it. That’s why he’s so afraid and why he’s standing in front of Sarah and her child. He is under the misguided impression that he can do anything to save them.”

  My heart thumped away in my chest like a high school marching band. I knew they’d shoot Victor without a second thought. If they wanted my baby, they wouldn’t let him or anyone else stand in the way. When my husband lunged at the immortal, I quickly grabbed his arm. “Victor, no. The rules.”

  His eyebrow furrowed in anger. “I will not just stand idly by and let these foul beasts take my family, Sarah!”

  “No violence on the island,” I reiterated. “Besides, we’re under White Coyote’s protection.”

  The blond immortal smirked. “Ah, yes. The rules. There are so many of them, but I plan to break them all if Sarah doesn’t cooperate.”

  It was in that instant that I knew they weren’t interested in Victor or my baby, and I was glad they didn’t seem to care about Alexander. They knew nothing of the prophecy or the great power my son held. I knew I had to keep that a secret, at all costs, and I was thankful they were as clueless as they were ugly and frightening.

  All they really wanted was me. I really had no idea why, but I could only imagine they had more experiments to finish. I thought back to the torture they’d put me and Della through at the lab, and I shuddered at the thought of what awaited me if they got their hands on me. I did not want to relive the pain they inflicted on me when they shocked the hell out of me. I knew if they took me again, I would die in their hands. They would euthanize me after they were done with their experiments, either by guardian poison or beheading. Tears welled in my eyes as I considered the fact that I might be separated from my baby and my Victor forever. I wanted to be there for them. They needed me, and I needed them. I could not let my son grow up without his mother.

  White Coyote cocked his head to the side. “How arrogant you are to think you can trespass on my island and kidnap one of my guests. Sarah is pure and quite worthy of my assistance.”

  “If you give us Sarah, I give you my word that we will not harm Victor or the baby,” the immortal said.

  “Your word? I find more value in the salamander dung that lines my mossy cavern walls,” White Coyote said.

  Another immortal stepped closer. “Sarah, hand your baby over to your husband. Let’s make this as easy and painless as possible. You have our word that no harm will come to them if you cooperate.”

  “As I said,” White Coyote said, “your word is worthless here. Now, I insist that you stop this now.”

  “Old man, I’m growing tired of you, and I think it’s time you retire...permanently,” said the blond. “After I dispose of you, I’ll kill everyone on this island. Is it really worth igniting my wrath?”

  “I am not afraid of such a weak little flame,” White Coyote retorted.

  “Guardian poison will kill any immortal, ancient or not.” He nodded to the guy next to him. “Kill the old man.”

  The man raised the barrel of the gun and pointed it directly at White Coyote. Everything happened so fast, like someone had hit fast-forward. As the immortal pulled the trigger, Victor jumped straight into the path of the speeding bullet, only to crash to the ground in a trembling heap.

  Chapter 3

  “Victor!” I shouted.

  The immortals had shot him, and he was bleeding profusely. I tore a sliver of fabric from the bottom of my dress and held it against his gaping wound, putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding.

  “Sarah...” he whispered.

  “Martyrdom is truly touching, isn’t it?” the immortal gunman mocked. “At least now, there is one less to deal with.”

  Victor gasped for breath as the poison seeped into his bloodstream.

  No! Not this again! Holding Alexander, I knelt down beside Victor and touched his face as he fought for every breath. No! We didn’t go through all this to save Alexander’s mother, only to lose his father. My baby needs both of his parents! My stomach knotted as I wept.

  I looked up at White Coyote and said, in a trembling voice dripping with shreds of hope, “Do you possess the Gold Minerals of Life?”

  “Gold? Are you telling me there is gold on this island?” the immortal asked, his face lighting up with greed.

  “We’re not here for that,” another scolded. “Just grab the girl, and let’s go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere!” I scowled.

  “Then maybe we’ll shoot you, too, and leave the old man here to raise your child.”

  “You wouldn’t dare. You need me too much, or you wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble to find me,” I said. “I’m not leaving my dying husband.”

  The immortal grinned. “Hmm.
Perhaps you just need a little incentive.”

  In a flash, he grabbed Alexander out of my arms. I’d never been so horrified. I watched helplessly as my baby cried. The immortal laughed as he lifted him high above his head. It was a spectacular moment in The Lion King, but when it was my own little prince being held over the head of an immortal lunatic, there was nothing amazing about it. When Alexander wailed and his little blue eyes widened with fear, my heart broke.

  “Stop!”

  “I have no problem killing a child,” the immortal said, holding the gun to Alexander’s side.

  “Please!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Don’t hurt my baby!”

  “Here’s the deal. Your powers are paralyzed by mine. Your husband is dead, even if he doesn’t know it yet. I will spare the old man and the child if you come with me now.”

  “He is a newborn, and he desperately needs me. How can you expect me to leave him? He’s only hours old!”

  “If you don’t come willingly, what you’re newborn is desperately going to need is a cork for the hole I’m gonna blow through him. Do not try my patience, Sarah, for it is quickly growing thin. I hate screaming little brats anyway, and I’ve got no problem shutting him up for good. I will spare the child, though, in exchange for your obedience and cooperation.”

  Alexander wailed again, and my heart bled. I wanted nothing more than to comfort my crying son, being held helplessly high in the air, as if he was being sacrificed in some nightmarish ancient ceremony.

  “I will shoot him! It won’t take long for the poison to kill his little body,”

  “No!” I shouted. “Please don’t!” The immortal terrified me to the core, and the look in his eyes told me he was not bluffing. “I’ll come with you. Just hand him over to White Coyote.”

  I wondered why White Coyote had done nothing to stop them, why he had stood by and let them shoot Victor and snatch my child right out of my arms. I knew he held great power, and it made no sense that he wasn’t using it. For all I knew, it was his idea of payback, a way to seek revenge for us luring trouble to his utopia.