N. Walters - Fabric of Fate

She took a deep breath and plunged headfirst into her new life. “I accept.” She went up onto her toes and kissed Abrah. His lips were firm and unyielding and she began to wonder if she’d made a mistake. Maybe he didn’t want her as much as Heroc did.

Feeling self-conscious, she started to pull away. Abrah uttered an oath and took her mouth in a torrid kiss. He stole the very breath from her body, kissing her until she grew lightheaded. She swayed when he released her but he caught her easily, lifting her into his arms.

“Come. You are cold and need to be in bed.”

Heroc laughed at his brother’s pronouncement. “She is probably warmer than we are.”

Audrey’s eyes widened when she stared at Heroc. She’d been so caught up in the emotion and the enormity of the moment she hadn’t really looked at either of them. “You’re naked.” She glanced down over Abrah’s body. “And so are you.”

He laughed and she stared at his beloved face as his joy washed over her. She’d never heard Abrah laugh, not like this, unrestrained and totally happy. She’d done this for him.

The rightness of her decision settled over her. Yes, she was still scared to death. She didn’t know quite how she’d fit in here but she’d find a way. And they would help her. She trusted them to be by her side all the way.

She toyed with Abrah’s hair as he carried her down the stairs and into the bedroom. Heroc closed the door, locking the three of them and Carn inside. The dog went to his usual spot in front of the fire and settled back down ready for sleep.

But his master had other ideas and sleep wasn’t one of them. Audrey laughed when Abrah tossed her onto the bed. She felt as though a great weight was lifted from her shoulders. For a brief moment she wondered what would happen to her apartment and belongings and how long would it be before anyone reported her missing. She’d probably end up as the subject of one of those crime news shows somewhere down the road when no sign of her was ever found.

Those morbid thoughts disappeared when Abrah followed her down onto the bed. He pulled her into his arms and rolled her onto her back, all the while kissing her and running his hands all over her body. He made quick work of her sweater, pants and panties.

Something dug into her back and she yanked it from beneath her. It was the remains of her bra. It looked as though it had been burnt. “What happened to my bra?”

Heroc snorted with laughter and his eyes twinkled. “It is all Abrah’s fault.” He joined them on the bed and dropped a quick kiss on her lips.

There was a story there for sure, but it would have to wait. “I love you.” She blurted the words out. “Both of you.” They had to know, had to understand why she stayed, why she’d overcome a lifetime of fear.

Both men stopped and stared down at her. Abrah spoke first. “You are everything to us.” His voice shook with the emotion behind his words. His hands were gentle on her face as he stroked his fingers over her cheeks. “No one will love you more than we do. No man could ever cherish you the way we do.”

“You have given us a great gift.” Heroc brushed a lock of her hair away from her forehead. “Thank you.”

Audrey smiled and laid a hand on each of their faces. “Thank you for the gift you’ve given me. Thank you for giving me something to believe in.”

Abrah groaned and kissed her and it was a long time later when they all finally slept.

Carn rose from his spot in front of the hearth and padded toward the bedroom door. It wasn’t closed all the way and he used his nose to push it open. He climbed up the stairs to the abandoned tower and went unerringly toward the center of the room.

The older woman stepped out of the shadows and laughed as the dog let out a loud woof . “Thank you my friend for playing your part.” She petted his broad, furry head and smiled with satisfaction. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Using the tapestry so much in such a short span of years was messing with the magic she’d spun into it all those years ago, making it a little unpredictable. Audrey was supposed to have ended up inside the keep when she arrived three days ago, not lost outside in a raging storm. Thankfully, Carn had been more than willing to lend aid and lead the Dannon brothers to their perspective bride.

The sorceress shrugged. She’d have to see if anything could be done about that. But now it was time for her to go. The tapestry shimmered next to her, the design on the front constantly changing, and then both of them disappeared, traveling once again through time and space.

Carn stood and stared for the longest time at the place where the lady had stood. Then he padded to the door and headed back down the stairs toward the warm fire, the room and the woman already forgotten.

“Why is it taking so long?” Abrah paced up and down the hallway, wearing a rut in the stone floor. Everyone in the keep was tense. It had been two long days.

“Tara says these things take time,” Heroc assured his brother even as he cast a glance at the closed door. “Especially with the first one.”

“Enough of this.” Abrah slammed the bedroom door open and stalked inside just as a cry of pain shattered the silence. He hurried forward and fell to his knees beside the bed.

Audrey’s hair was plastered against her skull with sweat. Her face was pale and her lips were red from where she had bitten them.

“My love.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips.

“You should not be in here, my lord,” Tara scolded him. She didn’t take her eyes off Audrey and he could see her growing concern in the deep grooves around her eyes and mouth.

“This is the only place I can be. I will not leave you again,” Abrah promised.

“Nor will I.” Heroc went to her other side, picked up a damp cloth and patted it over Audrey’s forehead.

She closed her eyes and gave another cry.

“You are almost there, my lady. Do not push. Not yet.”

Audrey nodded and gritted her teeth. As he watched, Abrah watched her enlarged stomach ripple. His child was in there waiting to be born. It had been almost two days now. Two days of pain and waiting. Abrah had never felt so helpless in his life.

His gaze met Heroc’s and he knew his brother felt the same. Ever since the day he had married Audrey, their lives had changed for the better. All of their people adored her. She’d spent countless hours learning to weave and then she had proceeded to create new dyes for the wool and design patterns for the cloth they wove that was garnering attention from surrounding lords and especially their ladies. Their new cloth had enabled them to trade for a wider variety of goods, bringing prosperity to all who lived at Dannon Keep.

The day she had told them she was expecting a child had been the best of his life, second only to the day they’d wed. Nine months almost to the day of her arrival she had gone into labor.

“Now, my lady. Push!”

Audrey gripped his hand and squeezed it so tight she cut off the blood flow. He grimaced but held on. She gritted her teeth and grunted as she bore down.

“That’s it,” Tara praised when Audrey finally stopped. “Again. The baby is almost here.”

Audrey panted for breath, her strength waning. Abrah wished he could do this for her. All he could do was watch helplessly.

Tara had one hand low on Audrey’s belly. “Push.”

Audrey grunted and pushed again, every muscle in her body tensing as she gave it everything she had. She gave a tired cry and then another wail echoed in the room. “It’s a boy.” Tara laughed as a tear rolled down her cheek. She carefully eased the babe onto his mother’s stomach. “You have a son, my lord.”