by Brenna Lyons
Erin opened the door and threw herself into her brother’s arms.
Hunter laughed a joyous sound deep in his chest. “I missed you,” he crowed. “I’m glad you’re back in my range. I promise to visit you more often now that you’re here again.”
“You better,” she warned. “You haven’t come to see me the whole time we’ve been here.”
“I was on trail,” he apologized.
“Uh huh. Sure.” She glanced over his shoulder then dropped to the porch. “Sarah! You brought Sarah and Mikel and didn’t tell me.”
Sarah’s eyes glittered. “Hello, Erin. May we come in?”
“Of course. It’s your house, after all.” She smiled at Mikel and put out her hands to him. “I bet I know where there are some milk and cookies hiding,” she tempted him.
Her three-year-old nephew charged up the stairs into her waiting arms. Erin laughed, as he planted a wet kiss on her cheek, then turned to cart him into the kitchen. She settled Mikel at the table with a pile of Oreos between them and two glasses of milk.
The Oreos were heavenly, and that was saying a lot. Despite how great food sounded to her, Erin found that she could barely stomach it most of the time. She admitted to Curt that her father’s assessment of her feeling awful was correct.
Hiding in her room had served two useful purposes. The first was hiding from him and her family, but the second was more dire.
Erin had been battling almost constant nausea and exhaustion for days. She was required to show her face for meals and training, and it was all she could do to keep her stomach under control for that long. At times, the very sight and smell of the food on her plate made her long to curl up around a toilet bowl, but Erin had managed to push it around her plate and swallow at least a few mouthfuls before escaping back to her room. The half-bath off of her bedroom was a lifesaver. The few times she absolutely could not contain herself, Erin had given up the fight as quietly as possible before retreating to her bed.
Curt was worried about her. She knew that. More than once, he’d smoothed Erin’s hair and brought a cool cloth for her during a particularly bad bout only to carry her back to bed to rest in the aftermath. He’d cursed Talon more than once for not telling him. Only once did he chide Erin that she should have told him, that she shouldn’t have suffered it alone, and that she shouldn’t have continued to train and act as if there was nothing wrong. Curt blamed himself on some level for not caring for Erin when she needed him, even though her own secrecy had caused it. She had finally forced him back to training after two days constantly at her side, though he left her resting in bed with her cell phone and orders to call him immediately if she felt worse again.
Hunter sank into a chair across from them with a mug of coffee. “You spoil him, you know,” he accused good-naturedly, trying to affect mock annoyance and failing utterly. “It’s not even nine thirty, and you’re feeding him sweets.”
“Too early for a snack?” Erin asked in surprise.
“A little,” Sarah admitted.
She smiled through a mouthful of cookie and ruffled Mikel’s hair. “That’s all right, little man. Tell your Daddy it will be his turn soon enough. Turn-about is fair play in this family.”
Hunter’s mug stopped a few inches from his mouth. His smile disappeared as he lowered it to the table. “Meaning what?” he asked suspiciously.
Erin grinned. No one told him. Everyone assumed that Hunter would already know, since she was in his range. “Meaning you’re going to be an uncle,” she replied happily, glad to be able to break the news to someone.
“You’re pregnant?” he thundered.
Mikel startled at his father’s outburst.
Erin soothed him and handed him another cookie, suddenly not hungry for them herself. She shot her brother a scathing look. “Boy, you kill a mood pretty quickly,” she spat, angry at herself for being on the edge of tears in the face of Hunter’s reaction. He was supposed to be happy for her, dammit!
He pulled back the Blutjagd burning in his skin. “Who’s the father, Erin?” he demanded. “You’re not printed.” His eyes suddenly filled with a mixture of uncertainty and hope. “Are you?”
“Of course I am. Why else would I do something so insanely reckless?” Erin bit back tears again and pushed her milk away, sure that she would lose it if she attempted more.
His tension released, and he looked at her sadly, probably regretful now that he reacted so intensely.
Sarah wrapped her arms around him. “You love torturing him, don’t you?” she asked, trying to lighten Erin’s mood.
“Of course. Don’t you?” She managed a weak smile to back it up.
Sarah laughed her tinkling laugh. “Endlessly,” she admitted.
Hunter sulked, Erin guessed more from his inability to cheer her again than from actual upset over their teasing. “So — it’s Curt, isn’t it?”
Erin smiled as Sarah laughed again.
“Who else would it be?” she asked her husband. “It was Curt when she was fifteen, and it’s been Curt ever since.”
“I should have known. I’ve been expecting this since before you had autonomy, and after what happened in Maher range...” He scowled at her. “I thought you weren’t high cycle,” he accused.
“I wasn’t — in Maher range.” Erin quirked a smile up and raised an eyebrow at his shocked expression.
“You conceived here? In my range?”
“Wanna know where? It’s quite a story.”
“That’s probably more information than I need.” Hunter blushed and downed a mouthful of his coffee.
“Too bad. Maybe I’ll tell Sarah and let her torture you,” she suggested.
Sarah’s rich laughter washed over Erin, warming her. “Oh, I already know. You let a very vivid image fill your mind when you teased him. I should be shocked, but somehow it seems fitting for you. I trust you two have learned to use a bed now?”
Erin joined in her laughter, nodding furiously. Oh, yes. She and Curt had been making use of the bed as often as her tender stomach allowed.
“Oh, my.” Sarah blushed. “You two are energetic, aren’t you?”
Erin laughed harder. “I should have known. You know, I closed my mind when you two consummated. You could give me a little privacy.” As a human sensitive and a powerful telepath linked to her sister-in-law, Erin knew on some level that Sarah wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to look.
“I’d have to shield you completely. You have a bit of a one-track mind.”
“Look who’s talking,” she grumbled, darkening in embarrassment.
Hunter shifted nervously, finding his feet and refilling his coffee mug. “Where is everyone?”
“Training. Sit down, and I’ll stop teasing. I promise. When Mikel’s done eating, we’ll all go together.”
He nodded and headed for the door. “I’ll meet you outside when you’re ready.”
“So untrusting.”
“You’re as devious as Mom. What’s to trust?” Hunter made his way outside to the chorus of snickers from his wife and sister.
Erin shook her head at his retreating back. She raised a cookie to her lips then put it down with a grimace as she realized her brief respite was at an end yet again. “He hasn’t changed much,” she commented.
“Actually, Hunter’s calmed down a lot, except where you’re concerned. You should have seen him when news of your — deflowering came back to him.”
* * * *
Curt looked up and smiled at the approaching group. He glanced at Jayde and Talon, as they sparred together, and smiled. The three of them had been partnering off in a circular fashion, switching opponents at the end of each round.
Curt found Erin’s description of her father’s tactics, style, and weaknesses flawless. She really was an expert at what she did. He reveled in Talon’s surprise when he landed blow after blow. Even changing tactics hadn’t helped him. Erin had been thorough in her descriptions of alternate forms Talon switched to when he needed to throw
someone off.
His Blutjagd had been appeased after the first match they fought. His father-in-law nodded to Curt in understanding as he left the field. He knew what Curt was fighting for and had no problems taking his punishment for the danger he posed to Curt’s family by encouraging him to strike his pregnant bride. That settled between them privately, the rest of the blows Curt rained on the lord were pure joy of training.
He moved to Erin, lifting the child she carried to his own hip gently. Curt smiled at Mikel. He had never met Hunter’s wife and son, but the boy could be no one else.
The child looked at him as if in serious consideration, and Curt nodded his approval. Erin had told him about Mikel. The boy had a dazzling intellect, but he rarely spoke. He watched people, made determinations that he filed away for future use. It was unclear whether Mikel inherited his mother’s gifts. It was unclear if he was creating his own personal catalog of information he would use to lead. Mikel nodded quietly, letting Curt know his interview was over.
Curt planted a playful kiss on Erin’s cheek and pulled her closer to himself. “What are you doing carrying this big boy?” he teased. “You have enough to carry.”
Her smile spread. “I should warn you that I’ve been torturing Hunter with that fact.”
Curt glanced at the rather uncomfortable-looking Lord Crossbearer and nodded to him. “Should I be worried?” he whispered to his wife.
“No. You’re almost as good as he is.”
“Almost?” Curt raised a teasing eyebrow at her.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you.” Erin leaned close to his ear and bit at it lightly. “He leaves a hole if you lead him left suddenly. His right knee.”
“You are a wicked woman,” he decided.
“Uh-uh. I am a woman who wants you desperately and will reward you handsomely for knocking my brother on his ass, just this once.”
His smile widened at the idea of her handsome reward, even as his mind tried to decipher what Hunter had done to land himself on Erin’s bad side. Curt cradled her head with his free hand and drew Erin into a passionate kiss. He felt Mikel being lifted from his arms and glanced at the woman taking him.
“You must be Sarah,” he stated in a hoarse voice.
“Kiss your wife, Curt.” Her smile was almost mocking as she made her way back to her husband.
His smile returned. “Yes, Lady Crossbearer,” he drawled, returning to his gentle plunder of Erin’s mouth and noting the faint taste of chocolate. Lords, but her diet was horrible for supporting a baby! It seemed sweet things were all Erin could keep down on a regular basis. Curt wrapped his now-free arm around her hips as she snuggled into his body. When she finally took a step back, he held onto her hips playfully.
“Good morning,” she greeted him huskily.
“Feeling better?” She was pale, and the purple circles still stained beneath her eyes. Curt resolved to make sure she got a nap that afternoon.
Erin nodded. “Much, actually.”
“Did you eat? Cookies do not count as food,” he reminded her.
She darkened slightly, just a touch of red high in her pale cheeks.
Hunter cleared his throat. “Don’t tell me the few cookies you shared with Mikel were all you ate,” he warned.
“Not quite. I had some of the breadsticks Curt left with me to settle my stomach.”
Sarah placed a hand on her husband’s chest to calm him. “Come back to the house, Erin. We should get some real food into you,” she soothed them both, obviously trying to head off an argument.
Erin swallowed slowly and shook her head. Her face paled again, and she started shaking lightly. Curt knew this reaction. He tightened his arms slightly, waiting to see how severe her nausea was this time.
“I’m not sure I can,” she admitted.
When she swallowed a second time, he swung her up into his arms and headed for the cabin. “I told you to stay put until you felt better and to call me if you felt worse,” he chided her as Erin sank her cheek to his chest. “I knew I should have stayed with you.”
“It comes and goes,” she complained.
“Then stay in bed.”
A weak smile curved her mouth. “Is that a proposition?”
Curt’s scowl softened, and he laughed lightly. “You are a wicked, tempting vixen,” he decided.
“You love it,” she accused, closing her eyes in exhaustion. Erin was obviously holding back her urge to throw up again, and that only tired her more.
Curt didn’t answer. He suddenly realized that Sarah and Hunter were matching his pace with Mikel close behind. Curt started as he realized that Mikel had a presence he could feel clearly already. The child was a powerhouse, but what sort of powerhouse was still undetermined.
“How far along is she?” Sarah asked quietly.
“She was on the forward cusp of high cycle two weeks ago. I can’t say for sure what day she conceived.”
“Probably three days later or so,” she mused. Sarah chewed on her lower lip. “That makes her twenty-five days into the pregnancy by the doctor’s timetable. Erin must be having a lot of trouble adjusting to this baby. It’s early for this.”
Hunter grunted his agreement. “Have you considered consulting a doctor?” he asked.
Curt arched an eyebrow at his new brother-in-law. “You do know this woman, right?” he countered.
“There’s nothing a doctor can do yet,” Erin added in exhaustion.
“See? We have an appointment with Jeremy in Maher range in two weeks. Erin is convinced that she’s just sensitive to the change in body chemistry. She’s been sick for almost a week now.”
“Even if it’s not that, it’s too early to change anything,” she continued miserably.
Curt kissed the top of her head gently, though his gut clenched at the thought. Warrior babies didn’t have problems like miscarriage, but a Warrior baby had never been conceived before printing like this — at least not that anyone knew of.
“Don’t even think such a thing,” he breathed, as much to himself as to her. “Young Warriors are strong. I’ve never heard of a case of one being lost.”
“Unless the mother was, too,” she reminded him in a morose, little voice.
“Only if the mother was the one in trouble in the first place,” he soothed her.
Erin was a Warrior. She would be physically incapable of such weakness in childbearing. It was a given. Curt wouldn’t contemplate that reality could vary from that solemn trust and truth.
“There’s a first time for everything.” She seemed on the verge of tears again. Her moods were raw and unpredictable lately. “Like my blood mark...”
Curt sighed. Erin carried the mark of Zel, death or an ending. There had never been a Zel before, even in the first war with the beasts. Only Zel and Jee, the mark of Justice, were completely unheard of. Now, Erin had been born Zel, and Mikel carried the mark of Jee.
Since her birth, Warriors had argued what the mark meant. Some argued that she was destined to destroy the final elder. Some argued that she would see the final days of the war in her lifetime. Some even argued that she herself would kill the last of the beasts on Earth and free them all.
Erin came up with a more disturbing thought in one of her depressed moods. She feared she wouldn’t be able to carry a child, and the mark of Zel meant she was always intended to be a Warrior only and not a mother, just as she once argued she was more suited.
“Not with my wife and my child,” he decided. “I will not allow any outcome but the one every Warrior has been gifted so far.”
“Maybe it’s twins,” Sarah offered brightly.
Hunter tried to warn her off, but Erin had already opened her eyes. She regarded the older woman sadly.
“Warriors never have twins,” she informed Sarah.
“There’s a first time for everything,” she countered smoothly.
* * * *
June 11, 2029
Erin shifted nervously. She had never been a fan of doctors, so saying Jerem
y was her favorite doctor was akin to saying that a simple beheading you never saw coming was the best way to die a violent death. Erin jumped visibly, as he entered the room, wishing yet again that she could simply take some mail order tests and be done with the whole thing.
The doctor smiled warmly. He was one of the younger doctors, only a resident when he was saved by Kord ten years earlier.
His eyes crinkled in amusement at her typical attack of nerves as he approached her. “There’s no need to fear me, Erin,” Jeremy soothed her.
She always wondered if his attempts to put her at ease stemmed from his bedside manner or from his fear that she would snap and kill him.
“News to me,” Erin muttered in her typical response to his soothing. She clasped Curt’s hand tightly in her own and managed a wan smile.
“Curt explained your concerns. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, but I promise to be thorough. It will mean a few extra vials of blood and a few extra minutes of examination, but I will be thorough.”
She nodded. “I understand. You know that stuff doesn’t bother me.”
“Yeah. It’s just doctors that bother you, not what we do. Is there anyone else you want in here?”
Erin shook her head. “No. Curt is all I need. Anyone else would make me nuts.”
“Good. Then, we’ll get this rolling. I brought Jacquie in to give me a hand. She’ll take some quick blood tests.”
“What for?”
“Make sure you’re not anemic. You are pale,” he noted, adding the information to her chart. “Check blood sugar and hCG levels. In the meantime, you’re far enough along to have a transvaginal ultrasound to check for twins. If there is anything out of the ordinary, that’s the most likely thing.”
“Warriors don’t have twins,” she mumbled.
“So Curt assures me. We’ll still check.”
Erin nodded her agreement and allowed Jacquie to draw the blood: eight vials of it. “Worse than a damn beast,” she muttered to everyone’s amusement but her own.
Jeremy asked a seemingly endless array of questions about her health and symptoms, whether she was taking her vitamins and eating well, and any medical history that might have been missing from her patchwork records. Since Erin didn’t get sick and she avoided doctors like the plague, there wasn’t much that could be missing.