Free Believe by Victoria Alexander Page B

existed.”
    “Merlin,” she said gently and clasped his hands in hers, “I thought that was the whole idea. I thought you wished to preserve forever the very special qualities of Arthur’s reign and not have them sullied by the scrutiny of history.”
    “Well, yes, I did. Originally.”
    “And you have succeeded with spectacular results. My dear, you are a legend.”
    “Yes, I know.”
    The man certainly had the ego of a legend. Viviane groaned to herself. “A rather impressive legend.”
    “Well,” he appeared a bit mollified, “perhaps.”
    “Why, the stories of you and Arthur and Camelot and all of it have withstood the tests of time and continue, century after century, to be the stuff children’s dreams and adult fantasies are made of.”
    Merlin chuckled. “Well, I suppose, when you put it that way.”
    “There is no other way to put it,” she said as if there was never any doubt. “The entire world knows Arthur as more than a mere man. You have made him and his kingdom all that a king and a land should be and much, much more.”
    Merlin nodded modestly.
    “And as for you, my love, you are Merlin, Wizard Extraordinaire and Counselor to Kings.” She widened her eyes in feigned admiration. “There is no greater figure in all of history or literature that compares to you.”
    He shrugged in a humble manner that still acknowledged the accuracy of her words. “It’s true.”
    “Why muck it all up for the sake of proving a point to one woman?” She leaned forward and brushed her lips across his. “Merlin,” she purred, “forget this nonsense and take me home. Now.”
    For a moment the familiar light of desire sparkled in his eye. Her stomach tightened. Even after all these eons the man could still do that to her. And thank the fates she still did it to him as well. The enchantment that bound them together had little to do with a wizard’s magic and everything to do with a man’s.
    “You are astounding, Viviane. I want you as much now as I did in the beginning.” He whispered against her lips. “But we’re staying.”
    “Merlin!” She dropped his hands and stepped back. “I don’t want to stay. I want to go back to modern times where I—where we—belong. I want air-conditioning and ice cream and zippers. I want the yacht and the condo and baccarat in Monte Carlo—”
    “Hah! I knew it.” He aimed a long finger at her. “You just want to get back to the casinos.”
    “Of course I want to get back to the casinos as well as the South of France. It’s my favorite time of year. It’s at once festive and peaceful and devoid of the hoards of ill-dressed tourists that invade in the summer. And I resent having to miss it.” She studied her perfectly manicured fingernails. “Besides, I always win handily at this time of year.”
    “I daresay, you use magic to win.”
    “I don’t need to use magic. I don’t need to cheat,” she said smugly. “I have a knack for gambling. For knowing when to play and when to cash in my winnings. I’m very good.”
    “Regardless.” His voice rang with a no-nonsensetone and defeat washed through her. She was doomed. No Monte Carlo. No baccarat. No roulette. Not even a lousy game of blackjack. “We are here and here we shall stay. If I recall, you did like it here once.”
    “Once, I didn’t know any better and furthermore there was no other choice.” She sighed in frustration. “I thought you’d gotten this I am not a myth business out of your system a century ago when you brought that charming Samuel person to Camelot.”
    “Charming, perhaps, but he was something of a disappointment. Ultimately, he simply perpetuated the legend,” Merlin sighed, “and he was inaccurate as well.”
    “If your desire is to change the thinking of the world, you will not accomplish it with this woman. She doesn’t have the status or notoriety he did. Face it, dearest, she is nothing but a lowly quasi-professor.”
    “This time my purpose is not to change the