Fabric of Fate

Chapter Twelve

Audrey woke with one brilliant flash of insight. They hadn’t used a condom. Not any time they’d had sex. She placed her hand on her stomach and tried to remember when her last period was, but her mind was so muddled she couldn’t. She could be pregnant even now. What would she do?

Whatever she had to. Just the way she always had. She didn’t relish the idea of being a single mother but the more she thought about it the more excited she got about the idea of having a baby.

Her joy fled as quickly as it came. What about Heroc and Abrah? Was it fair to them? They’d never know if she was with child or not, but she knew she’d always feel guilty about depriving them of a chance to know their son or daughter.

“Chances are you’re not pregnant,” she muttered. “Don’t borrow trouble.” After all, she wasn’t at the peak of her cycle and her body had been through such turmoil. The chances of her actually being pregnant weren’t great.

She flung back the covers, sat up and noted the sheets beside her were cool, a sure sign both men had been up for a while. She was becoming a real slug-a-bed. This was the second day in a row they’d managed to get up and leave the room without her waking.

It was also the last time she’d wake in this beautiful four-poster bed. The tapestry would come today. Tomorrow she’d wake in her own bed, in her own room in her apartment.

The thought was cold comfort. Audrey wasn’t nearly as excited at the prospect as she would have been yesterday. The longer she was here, the less she wanted to leave.

“Get up and get dressed,” she ordered. “One thing at a time.” The tapestry wouldn’t arrive for hours yet. She had an entire day to spend with Abrah and Heroc.

Her muscles gave a twinge when she climbed out of bed and stretched. Her pussy was sore and her butt ached, not surprising considering last night’s activities. She couldn’t stop smiling as she padded to the bathing chamber and peeked into the room. As usual, the hot water fairies had the tub filled and she climbed in, soaking away the worst of her aches.

It didn’t take her long to finish her bath and comb her hair. Then it was back to the bedroom, where she dressed in the clothing that was sitting on the chest at the end of the bed. When she was presentable, she left the room, anxious to find the men.

Heroc sat in front of the fire staring at the piece of wood in his hand. It had started life as a small block but now looked like a perfect replica of Carn. He rubbed his thumb over the wood and held the piece up to the light and turned it from side to side. Perfect.

He set aside the sharp knife he’d been using to finish the final details. He’d started carving when he was a boy as a way to pass time during the long, cold months and had kept up the practice as he’d grown. He enjoyed it. The act of carving calmed his mind and allowed him to think.

This morning all his thoughts were about last night. He took a deep breath and released it slowly even as his body stirred to life. Audrey had given them a great gift, one he would always cherish. Heroc hadn’t said anything to his brother but even he was beginning to lose hope. Today was the final day and Audrey was still nowhere near to agreeing to stay.

He heard footsteps on the stairs and stood as Audrey came into view. She stopped at the base of the stairs and looked around the room. The hall was empty but for him. Tara was busy in the kitchens and Abrah was in the stables waiting.

“Good morning.” Heroc went toward her, his right hand extended.

Audrey smiled and came to him. He pulled her to him for a quick hug, inhaling her sweet scent tinged with the perfume of flowers from the soap she’d used in her morning bath. “I wasn’t certain it was still morning. I slept longer and harder than I thought I would.”

Her cheeks turned a delectable shade of red and he knew she was remembering last night. He couldn’t resist leaning down and kissing her. It was slow and long and incredibly arousing. He tasted desire, but he also detected the bitter tang of regret. He ended the kiss and brushed the curls away from her face.

“How are you feeling?”

She glanced down at the floor and then back up at him, meeting his gaze straight on. “I feel good.”

“This is for you.” He thrust the carving toward her and she took it automatically.

She stared at the wood and her eyes widened. “It’s Carn.” She looked to him for confirmation, so he nodded.

“Did you do this?”

Once again, he nodded.

“This is amazing.” She ran her fingers over the wood and his muscles clenched. He wished it were his body she was touching so reverently. His cock swelled, making his pants uncomfortable. “You are so talented. Thank you.”

He nodded and took a step back. “I don’t know if it will travel with you when you go.” He held his breath, waiting for her denial that she was leaving. She said nothing, but there was great sadness in her eyes.

Heroc rubbed the back of his neck as frustration pounded through him. Why would she not stay? Even as he thought it he knew he wasn’t being fair to her. But he didn’t care. He wanted her with him, wanted years to discover everything about her. She was such a contradiction, seemingly shy at times and incredibly bold at others.

“If you are up to it after you eat we can go for a ride.”

“A ride?” She perked up at the suggestion.

“Abrah is at the stables getting the horses ready.” They both wanted her to see the world beyond the walls of their home and the weather had cleared enough to make it possible. Maybe something there would turn the tide to their favor.

“I’ve never been on a horse before.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. Heroc groaned, unable to resist the innocent provocation. He bent down and kissed her hard and fast.

“You will ride with one of us.” He ran his hand over her hair. “We will take care of you. Trust us.” There was so much meaning in those simple two words and he knew she’d heard his underlying plea.

She swallowed hard and nodded. “I do.”

Disappointment beat at him. Yes, she trusted them to some extent, just not enough to stay.

“Come and eat.” With his hand on the small of her back, he urged her toward the table where Tara had set out some oatmeal and honey. Steam no longer rose from the bowl but it was still warm.

Audrey set the carving on the table beside her and then picked up her spoon to eat. Heroc watched her, memorizing every move and gesture. His gut twisted into a knot and he feared he would soon have nothing left of her but a memory.

Abrah paced back and forth, his boots stirring hay in his wake. Carn paced beside him, his large paws barely making a sound. The animal sensed his agitation and was sticking close. One of the horses whinnied and he came to an abrupt halt. The animals were picking up on his growing unease. Would Audrey agree to go for a ride with them or would she start to pull away from them now that her last day had arrived?

He heard the crunch of footsteps on the gravel in the yard and a light, female voice that made his groin tighten. He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and his eyes devoured Audrey as she entered the stables alongside his brother.

He wanted to grab her, throw her over the back of his horse and ride until no one could find them. But that would not work. The tapestry would find her no matter where he took her. There was no way to keep her here if she did not wish to stay.

Anger pulsed through her veins. Why had the tapestry brought her? Audrey didn’t want to be here. Had the tapestry made a mistake? It no longer mattered. She was perfect for him and for Heroc. Either of them would be proud to call her wife and the other would count his blessings to be able to share her bed from time to time.

“Are the horses ready?” He ignored Heroc’s question and Audrey’s smile and turned his back on them both. He went to the two horses he had saddled and led the animals to where they were waiting.

Heroc swung easily onto the back of his horse, a high-spirited creature they’d traded with the Craddock brothers for. The older brothers had all been bastards but the younger ones were not only better men but also brilliant when it came to breeding fine horseflesh.

Abrah mounted his huge warhorse, the large beast shifted to the left but quickly came to a halt when Abrah gave the reins a short tug. “Come.” He held out his hand to Audrey, who was staring up at both of them, her blue eyes round and huge against her pale face.

She glanced at Heroc and then back at him. Abrah waited for her to make her choice. He would not beg. Finally, she took his hand and he leaned down and easily lifted her, settling her in front of him. The pants and tunic she wore allowed her to ride astride rather than across his legs. He settled the thick folds of her coat around her. The air was still a little chilly but would warm up as the day went on.

It seemed her arrival had heralded the end of the cold season. From here on the warmer days would come and the fields and woods would soon bloom again. It would be perfect if only she would agree to stay.

Abrah wrapped both arms around her, as much to hold her close as to steady her. Holding the reins easily in his left hand, he squeezed the horse’s sides with his thighs and the beast trotted out the door of the stable, sensing freedom beyond. The iron-shod hooves clattered over hard-packed earth and rocks as he guided them toward the main gates and the world beyond.

Audrey gasped and grabbed his arm, which was banded around her, and held on tight. Her knuckles turned white and her body was rigid.

“Are you well?” Abrah wasn’t certain what was wrong. Did she regret her choice? Would she rather ride with Heroc? It was too late. He had her and he was not giving her up. His arm tightened around her.

“I think so.” He could hear the uncertainty in her voice, the way her breath caught in her throat. “It’s a long way up, isn’t it?”

His brave little warrior was afraid. It struck him like a knife to the gut and weakened the barrier he’d tried to erect around his heart. “Have you never been on a horse before?”

She shook her head, making her curls dance in the wind. “Never. But it’s incredible.”

“I will keep you safe,” he promised. “Relax and enjoy the ride.”

Pleasure poured through him when he felt her rigid muscles gradually ease, her body going fluid and conforming to the hard planes of his torso. He kicked his mount in the sides and the beast took off at a gallop across the barren fields. She gave a small scream, which quickly turned into a laugh of pleasure. “It’s like flying,” she declared. Her enjoyment fed his soul even as it broke his heart.

What would tomorrow bring? Would there be any pleasure in riding without her in his arms? But that was for another day. Today was all about Audrey. How he wished she would be here when the crops were ready for harvest. He wanted her to see the bounty of their land and know its wealth was not in gold but in what it could provide for all of them.

Heroc’s horse thundered alongside them as they raced across the open meadow. They slowed and went single-file when they entered the woods. Birds chattered and small animals scurried out of the path of the large horses and their passengers. Carn loped alongside them, a large gray shadow. Abrah knew the dog would not leave their side and would warn them of any wild boar or predators in more than enough time to enable them to defend themselves.

The world was theirs. With the end of the cold season, people would be venturing outside their castles and keeps, but with Dannon Keep so far off the beaten path there was no danger of running into any other travelers. They were alone.

“It’s beautiful here.” Her voice was a mere whisper as though she were afraid to speak aloud. He understood her reticence. This forest was old and there was something special about it.

“There is game aplenty in these woods. And we will soon clear all the downed and diseased trees for firewood and building materials. Then we will thin where necessary.” There was always a balance to be struck between using resources and respecting them so they continued to provide for generations to come. If he and Heroc were the last of their line it would not matter. The land would belong to someone else.

His heart ached at the thought of his home belonging to another not of his blood. If Audrey did not stay they were unlikely to take a wife. Abrah knew he did not have the heart for it. If she left he would have no other.

A raven flew across their pass, giving a raucous cry. Audrey laughed and clung to his arm as he urged the horse down the well-traveled path. The woods were special but it was what was beyond that he truly wanted to share with her.

Her gaze darted everywhere and she reminded him of a child trying to see everything at once. She turned her head back and smiled at him, her face filled with sheer delight. He longed to kiss her but resisted. Now was not the time. It would be so easy to slide his hand into the opening of her cloak and slip it beneath her tunic. Her skin would be warm and her nipples would pucker beneath his touch.

His cock stirred and he shifted his weight to ease the ache. He knew the moment she felt his erection press against her back. She stiffened slightly and held herself erect, trying not to touch him, but he pulled her back against him and she gradually relaxed again. Abrah kissed the top of her head and urged his horse onward. He was impatient to get to their destination.

Heroc was silent but Abrah could sense his brother watching them both. He glanced toward his brother and suddenly wished he had resisted the urge. Despair was etched on Heroc’s face. It was the first time he had seen his brother lose hope.

In that moment he almost hated Audrey and the gods who had brought her to them. Better to have never known her than to have her and lose her. Even as he thought the words he wanted to call them back lest the gods take her back before the allotted time was over.

He was going to lose her when the tapestry arrived but he wanted every second he could have with her. It was not her fault that she was leaving. He could not blame her for not wanting to abandon all that was familiar for a new and strange world. But he could not help wishing she would.

The path ended and they broke from the woods, leaving the dark world behind. A shaft of sunlight shone down on them as Abrah brought his horse to a stop, allowing Audrey to see the pounding ocean beyond.

“This is incredible. I love the beach, but haven’t been to one in years.”

He soaked in her pleasure and leaned down so his mouth was touching the sensitive skin just below her ear, his warm breath teasing the delicate whorls when he whispered. “The waters are teeming with fish of all kinds. This is a rich land.”

He was proud of their home and wanted her to understand what they were offering her. “All the woods and the ocean before us, the mountains behind the keep and the land beyond. That all belongs to Dannon Keep.”

“It’s spectacular. Can we go down there?” She pointed to the beach below.

Since he’d already planned to take her there, it was easy to grant her request. “Of course.”

Heroc gave a whooping sound and urged his horse down the narrow path. The idiot was showing off, pushing himself and his horse to practically race. But man and horse had done it many times before, so he wasn’t worried his brother would break his fool neck.

He went down at a more sedate pace, not wanting to frighten Audrey or jeopardize her safety. When the horse reached the sandy beach, he dismounted and let the reins drop. The horse would not wander far and would come when Abrah whistled.

Audrey slid into his waiting arms. He held her to him, savoring her closeness before letting her feet touch the ground. She wobbled a bit at first and grabbed at his arm for support. “My thighs feel like jelly.” But she laughed as she said it, so he knew she was not in any true pain.

“I’ll rub them later.” Even as he said the words he knew it would not happen. She was leaving them. There was no later, only now.

Heroc walked toward them and took her hand. “Come and walk with me.”

Carn came to sit beside him as Abrah watched his brother and Audrey ramble down the beach. Every few steps she’d stop and pluck something from the rocky sand and study it before carrying on. Heroc kept pace beside her, watching over her, wanting her.

He could sense his brother’s growing sense of impending doom. The day was waning with each roll of the waves and time was running out for all of them.

Audrey watched the water roll in over the sand, rock and kelp before rolling out again, the swooshing sound music that made her heart swell and all her worries disappear. She inhaled the cool, salty air, wondering if she’d ever really breathed fresh air before. There was nothing to taint it, no car exhaust or factory waste. Only clean, life-giving air filled her lungs.

Beside her, Heroc kept pace, allowing her to wander as she chose. What would it be like to race up and down the beach on a warm day, to maybe strip off her clothing and slip into the water for a swim? The bottom looked safe enough. There were some rocks out a ways but close to shore there seemed to be a lot of sand.

She had no idea if the tide was coming in or if had reached its peak and was on the way out again. The sound of the surf soothed her soul. As a child she’d loved the beach, but it had been years since she’d been to one.

Why had she stayed away for so long?

Work. That was the easy answer. Like most people, she’d gotten caught up in responsibilities and a job that left little time for play. Her life had become so small. She went to work and she went home. Other than the few shops she patronized, her life was pretty empty.

What would happen if she stayed? She couldn’t believe she was even considering such a thing. What would she do here? There is no way she’d want to be dependent on a man for everything. She was used to being independent, having her own money. She wasn’t cut out to be a fifties housewife.

Even as she had the thought, she knew she wasn’t being fair to either man. They hadn’t asked that of her. All they’d asked was that she consider staying. She was honestly tempted. But if she made a mistake, if somewhere down the road she regretted her choice, there was no going back.

This was all or nothing. An act of faith when she no longer had any.

She didn’t trust her own judgment. After all, look where it had gotten her. She was thirty-three years old and had never even come close to getting married before. She honestly hadn’t even thought much about having a family of her own. Every waking hour was consumed by her job.

What would she do when she went home?

Obviously, she’d have to start searching for a new job. The fact that she’d had an anxiety attack and had ended up in hospital would make her bosses look at her differently. As much as they paid lip service to her taking care of her health, they’d see it as a weakness. The writing was on the wall.

That left her with the question: What did she want out of life?

Before she could answer, Carn ran up to her, dragging a long, thin stick in his mouth. He danced in front of her and dropped it at her feet. It seemed the huge, ferocious dog had a playful side.

She bent down and grabbed the stick. “You want this?” She waved it in front of him. Carn bent forward on his front paws, leaving his butt sticking up in the air. His ears were alert and he gave a playful growl. She could hardly believe she’d been afraid of him at first. He was so familiar to her now. Just like his masters.

Audrey tossed the stick as hard as she could and Carn pounded after it. He picked it up and raced beyond her, this time to Abrah, who stood staring out over the horizon. He looked so alone and she wanted to go to him but didn’t dare. It wouldn’t be fair of her, not when she was leaving.

“Are you cold?” Heroc touched her cheek and stared down at her with concern. Had anyone other than her mother ever asked her that question? Both Dannon brothers seemed genuinely concerned about her health and happiness. She didn’t understand them at all.

She shook her head. “I’m fine. The walking is keeping me warm.” That and the rising sun. Her stomach growled and there was no doubt Heroc had heard it by the grin on his face.

“Come. It is time to eat. I had Tara pack us some lunch.”

They trudged back up the beach toward the horses. On impulse, when they passed by Abrah, she grabbed his hand and pulled him along with them. He resisted at first and she half expected him to pull away, but he heaved a deep sigh and allowed her to lead him toward their waiting lunch.