Christina's Tapestry (10 page)

Her short leather boots made a scuffing sound on the stones as she was drawn to the ledge that ran around the structure. Leaning on the stones, she gazed out over the countryside.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Christina nodded and swallowed hard, emotions welling up deep inside her as a fierce wish to belong here filled her soul. “Yes, it is.”

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“This is Garen land for as far as the eye can see to the west.” She gestured to the north. “Our nearest neighbor is the House of Bakra, about a half day’s ride. They have four brothers and no women.”

Something in Mara’s tone made her stomach lurch. “So?”

“They arrived while you finished up your bath.”

Christina could feel the heat creeping up her face and silently cursed the fact that she blushed so easily. “They’re here for the feast?” That’s all she needed. It was bad enough just facing all the people of the castle without adding neighbors to the mix. Everyone she’d met as she’d toured the castle, from the cook to the young serving maids, had been genuinely friendly to her and that made her feel a little better about the coming festivities.

Mara took Christina’s hand and led her to a low stone ledge by the door. Her face was grave and troubled as she shook her head. “No, Christina. They have come for you.”

Christina leapt to her feet. “What do you mean, they’ve come for me? I thought that the only thing I had to worry about is if I choose to stay with Jarek and Marc or return home to my own time.”

Mara reached out her hand, but she stepped away, not willing to be placated. She wanted the truth and she wanted it now. Propping her hands on her hips, she glared at her new friend. “Tell me all of it. Now.”

Mara nodded reluctantly. “You will need to understand about the challenge.”

That sounded ominous. “What challenge?”

“The brothers of the House of Bakra heard that the tapestry has brought a potential bride. Garen land borders theirs to the north, not too far from here.”

“And?” she prodded when Mara hesitated.

“Because you were found on the border to the land, the brothers have come to challenge for the right to claim you for their bride.”

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“That’s insane.” Shaking her head in denial, she backed away from Mara. “There’s no way in hell I’m gonna sleep with four strangers. Jarek and Marc were different.” She laid a hand across her chest. “Somehow I already knew them in my heart, otherwise I would never have shared myself with either of them.”

Mara nodded firmly, as if confirming something she’d already suspected.

“But even that doesn’t mean I’ve made up my mind to stay,” she continued, ignoring Mara’s startled look. “I mean, it’s exciting and I really care for Jarek and Marc, but to have to choose a husband in a couple of days and to face losing the only life I’ve ever known is a huge decision. And now on top of that, I’ve got four brothers who also want to claim me.” She slumped against the wall of the castle for support. “Maybe I’m better off just going home.”

“No.” Jarek’s voice boomed from the top of the stairs. He strode towards her and pulled her into his arms. She could feel his heart pounding beneath her ear. “I will not release you to the House of Bakra. You have nothing to fear.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” she mumbled against his chest, but snuggled closer to his strength. He wore a leather vest that was open so that her cheek was able to rest against his firm flesh. Just the feel of him made her feel more secure.

“What exactly is involved in a challenge?”

“It is nothing for you to be concerned about.” His easy dismissal had all her senses screaming.

“Mara?” She needed to know the truth and trusted the other woman to tell her.

“It is a sword fight between two men, one from each family.” Christina decided that maybe that wasn’t too bad, but Mara wasn’t finished. “Sometimes to the death.”

Stiffening in Jarek’s arms, she slowly pulled away from him. He hesitated as if debating whether or not to release her, but his arms relaxed and allowed her to ease back slightly. But he did not release her totally, keeping his hands clasped at the small of her back. She leaned back and glared up at him. “Nothing for me to be concerned about?”

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Jarek’s golden-brown eyes were fierce and a muscle worked in his jaw. “No. We will defeat them and they will go home. They will not have you.”

Christina saw the warrior behind the façade of the man for the first time. He had been gentle and almost playful with her. Certainly a demanding lover, but this was different.

This was a man ready to kill for her, ready to die for her. She didn’t want to be responsible for anyone’s death. “Maybe,” she broke off and blinked back tears. “Maybe, I should just hide until the tapestry appears and return home.” Better to be alone than to risk the death of either Jarek or Marc.

“No.” It was Mara’s soft voice that cut through the deafening silence. Jarek was tight-lipped, his face set in lines of anger. “It is too late for that. They will blame Jarek and Marc for driving you away and that might lead to an all-out war.” Gently, she tugged Christina from Jarek’s arms. “The challenge must be met and you must be there beside Jarek and Marc throughout it all. Otherwise, who knows how many men will die on both sides.”

Mara quickly ushered her back to the top of the stairs, but Christina refused to look back at Jarek, certain that her words had angered him.

“I will take Christina back to her room until she composes herself. You and your brother may come in half an hour for her.”

She allowed Mara to lead her back to her room. All the while her mind was spinning, trying to come up with a solution to avert the coming violence.

Marc raised his hand to the door and hesitated. “I don’t like the fact that she knows about the challenge.”

Jarek snorted at his brother. “It was inevitable that Mara would tell her.” The older woman was a force to be reckoned with and did what she thought best. He couldn’t 75

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imagine anyone telling Mara what to do. He shook his head and sighed. “I don’t like it any better than you do, but she knows and now we must deal with it.”

“They will not have her.”

“Of course not.” Jarek’s firm denial helped calm his brother. Marc nodded and raised his hand again, this time banging on the door.

“Come in.” Christina, who was standing and gazing out the window, turned as both men entered.

Both brothers were dressed in dark brown leather pants, vest and boots. Marc’s hair was pulled back in a braid that hit his waist, and he wore bronze armbands that wrapped around his biceps and wrists. Jarek wore his hair loose, the familiar thin braids framing either side of his face. He was dressed the same as his brother except that he wore a large silver torque, set with precious gems, around his neck. It was a symbol of the House of Garen and his to wear as the eldest. Christina was still wearing the same blue dress as earlier. Jarek thought that the color brought out the blue of her eyes. Her hair had been brushed and hung loose, falling in a curtain over her back all the way to her behind. His fingers itched to tangle in her tresses and bind her to him. He clenched and relaxed his fists at his sides. Anger and lust warred within him, but he pushed these feelings aside and drew on all his training as a warrior. Only discipline and clear thinking would save them all from disaster. The Bakra brothers were not opponents to be taken lightly. Jarek stepped forward, aware that Marc was standing to his left, slightly behind him. They had discussed their strategy for the evening and this was but the first step. Reaching behind his neck, he removed the silver torque from around his neck. “It would honor us if you would wear this token for the evening.”

Christina looked wary as they moved closer, but squared her shoulders and stood her ground. “Certainly.”

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Jarek felt pride swell within him as he clasped the ancient symbol of their House around her neck, settling it between the valley of her breasts. He stepped back and admired the way the silver shone against her skin. “Beautiful.”

His brother echoed his word under his breath, but Christina must have heard as she smiled at Marc. “Thank you.” Her hand touched the gemstones gingerly. “Thank you both. I promise I’ll take good care of it.”

“You look lovely this evening.” Marc picked up her hand and drew it to his lips. Tenderly he kissed each knuckle before tucking her hand in the crook of his arm.

“Thank you. Mara found this wonderful dress for me. It’s so different from what I usually wear that I wasn’t sure. It doesn’t even make me look fat.” She slapped her free hand over her mouth, appalled by what she’d just blurted out. Jarek’s eyebrows drew together as he frowned. “What foolishness is this? You are not fat, you are a woman.” He felt the familiar desire surge through his body and could feel his cock begin to swell, as it always did in her presence. “You are perfect.”

She peeked up at him through her thick eyelashes, a small smile playing at her lips.

“Really?”

“Your thighs are perfect to cradle a man as he thrusts his cock deep into your softness. Your breasts are lush enough to pillow his head and give him pleasure. Your ass is a handful and then some and I long to fuck it.” Her face had gotten redder with each statement he’d made. “Yes, Christina. You are perfect. For me.”

Placing a finger under her chin, he tipped it up. He meant to keep the kiss soft and undemanding, but could not resist slipping his tongue inside for a taste. When she leaned into him, Jarek almost lost it. It was the knowledge that the Bakra brothers were waiting below that sobered him quickly.

“Come. It is time for feasting and our guests await.” Taking her hand in his, he tucked it under his arm.

With a brother flanking her protectively on either side, they led her from the room and down the stairs to greet the uninvited guests who were waiting impatiently. 77

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Christina carried herself like a queen as she strode down the stairs, a fitting consort for him and Marc. The light caught the silver at her neck as she gracefully walked into the waiting throng of people. The sight of the torque steadied Jarek and fired his determination.

Burying all his emotions beneath he became the lethal warrior he was. She was his and no one, not even the deadly Bakra brothers would take her from him. Even if that meant he had to kill them all.

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Chapter Ten

Christina did her best to take another deep breath without being too obvious about it. Her stomach was roiling and if she wasn’t careful, she’d lose her lunch all over the floor. She’d done nothing but worry about the coming evening, and the tension she sensed from Marc and Jarek did little to reassure her.

Her hand automatically went to her chest and the warm piece of silver that sat there. She wrapped her fingers around it and clung to it like a talisman that could ward off all disaster.

She stopped suddenly when the crowd parted and four large men stalked across the room, their movements fluid, unhurried and confident. They had to be the infamous Bakra brothers.

Jarek stepped away from her and she felt bereft without him by her side. Standing straighter, she tried to make her face impassive. There was no way she wanted any of them to know just how unsettled she really was.

One of the men approached Jarek as the other three ranged out behind him. All of them were staring at her, or specifically, her chest. In spite of her resolve to stand firm, she sidled closer to Marc.

The leader of the group smiled, though the gesture didn’t reach his eyes, which were like shards of blue ice. All four brothers were tall and built like brick walls. They all had long blond hair that they kept tied at their nape, except for the leader. He wore his hair just like Jarek did with two skinny braids on either side of his face while the rest of his hair hung free. She’d just thought it was a preference, but it occurred to her that it might signify who was the eldest of the brothers.

Thankfully, the leader turned his attention to Jarek. “We have come to challenge the House of Garen for the right of possession of the woman.”

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Jarek folded his arms across his chest, his features impassive. “That is no way to greet your host, Zaren.” His voice was mild, but there was no mistaking the rebuke. A real smile tugged at the corners of Zaren’s mouth. “Forgive my rudeness.” He gave a short bow. “Greetings from the House of Bakra. We have come to attend the feast and challenge the House of Garen for the right of possession of the woman.” He arched his eyebrow. “Better?”

“Much.” Jarek held out his arm and Zaren clasped it at the forearm in a warrior’s greeting. “I see you remember some of the manners that your mother taught you.”

“She despairs of me still, but she hopes for a daughter-in-law.”

“It is good for her to have hopes, but you will not find her one here.” Jarek’s tone continued to be mild as Christina watched the verbal byplay between the men. She felt Marc nudging her forward and resisted. This time he gave her a little push and she jerked forward, almost hitting Jarek in the back. She pulled her arm away from Marc and scowled at him.

“It seems the woman might not be happy here.” Zaren shifted his stance and all his brothers followed suit. All of them were poised and ready to fight. Christina had had more than enough of this male posturing. “This woman has a name.” All six pairs of male eyes swung her way as she propped her hands on her hips.

“It’s Christina Beaumont and I’m very happy where I am. Thank you for asking.”

She scooted around Jarek before he knew what was happening and stood in front of Zaren. Tilting her head, she looked up at him. Christina was beginning to think she was in the land of giants. Not one of these guys was under six and a half feet. “Pleased to meet you.” She stuck out her hand and waited.

His hand engulfed hers, practically cradling it instead of shaking it. “The pleasure is all mine.” His voice was a sexy rumble that startled her. She quickly removed her hand from his, ignoring his low laugh.