N. Walters - Threads of Destiny

He straightened his shoulders and strode forward, determined to spend the rest of the afternoon soaking up every single moment with them and storing it away in his memory for the years to come. Only for Kathryn would he leave them behind. They would miss him but they would be fine without them. Kathryn, on the other hand, needed him. And he needed her.

Acting as normal as possible, he joined the conversation. Jarek gave him a searching stare but Marc gave a small shake of his head. His brother bowed his head briefly before turning back to Logan. Christina gave him a quizzical look but he merely offered her a smile and a shrug. Then Mara called out to her, informing her that the baby was awake and demanding to be fed. She excused herself from the group and hurried off to feed her daughter.

Marc watched her leave, glad that she was here for Jarek to help ease the pain that his leaving would cause. He and his brother had always been close. A tug on his pant leg interrupted his dark thoughts. Baron leaned into his leg, watching him.

“Uncle Marc, what’s wrong?” The boy had always been sensitive to the moods of others and saw way more than a child his age usually did.

Marc crouched down beside his nephew, who was really his son, and ruffled the boy’s hair. “There is nothing wrong. I have a lot on my mind.” Pain filled him at the thought of never seeing the boy grow into manhood, never seeing him swing a sword or ride a horse on his own. Baron had just begun to ride a pony and had taken to it with a natural ability. Marc’s chest had almost burst with pride the first time he’d watched the boy trot around the courtyard on his own.

He would also miss watching the other children grow and change and he would never see any other children Jarek and Christina might have.

“It’s about the woman, isn’t it?” the boy persisted.

“Aye, it is.” He patted the child on the shoulder as he stood. “But there is nothing for you to worry about.” Taking him at his word, Baron went back to play with his younger brother. Marc leaned against the wall and watched them in their innocent play until he became aware of Tienan’s presence beside him.

“They are beautiful children,” Tienan remarked.

“They are.”

“The eldest is your son.” It wasn’t a question. Marc inwardly cursed the fact that both the strangers from Earth were blessed with a keen intellect and eye.

“He is of my body but he is my nephew. Jarek is his father.” Tienan crossed his arms, his legs spread wide. There was nothing relaxed about his posture. “That must be…difficult.”

“It is, but it is our way.” He turned to face the other man. “I know what I am leaving behind when Kathryn chooses to leave but he will be loved and cared for by his parents.”

“She is not going back there,” Tienan stated calmly under his breath.

Marc shook his head. “I would prefer she stay but she is determined to go back. She feels responsible for her father’s actions, for what happened to you and Logan.”

“That is ridiculous,” he insisted, voice even but green eyes snapping in anger.

“That is fact.” Sighing, Marc pushed away from the wall and shoved a hand through his hair. “Do you not think that I wish she was less courageous, that she didn’t feel as much responsibility as she does?” Dropping his hand back down by his side, he faced Tienan, understanding the other man’s frustration. “But if she did, she would not be Kathryn.”

Tienan swore. “It is not her place. Not her fight.”

“You don’t have to return either. You could stay.”

A look of pure longing came over Tienan’s face but disappeared almost immediately behind a mask of indifference. “That is my world and those are my people.

I have heard rumors that not all the other alphas were terminated, that some of them actually made it out alive. I have to find them. Together, maybe we can fight the government and find justice for those outside the Gate.” He swiveled his head, his gaze pinned on the stairs as Christina descended with Kathryn by her side. “Besides, she is your woman.” Marc started to protest but Tienan’s hand slashed through the air, stopping him.

“Logan and I both know it. Yes, she cares for us but it is not the same. She loves you.” His eyes narrowed. “And if you hurt her, I will find a way to travel through time and come back here and cut your heart out.”

“She will not stay,” Marc insisted. He’d seen the determination in her, seen her resolve to return.

“We will see.” Tienan strode across the hall to greet them. Marc watched Kathryn’s eyes light up with pleasure as the other man took her hand, leaned down and brushed a kiss on her cheek. From his vantage point, he could see the light blush creep up her face as she laughed and joined the group.

The afternoon was pleasant enough but everyone’s mood deteriorated as time ticked by. The castle guard trickled in to sit at the long trestle tables that the servants had assembled but even their conversation was kept to a minimum.

By the time the evening meal was served, they were a quiet, morose group.

Everyone knew what was coming, what the night would bring. The tapestry would appear and choices would have to be made. No one knew for certain what the outcome would be.

Mara had herded the children upstairs to their room after they’d said goodnight to all the adults. Marc had held each boy overly long, hugging them tightly, knowing that this was goodbye.

Jarek sat in silence, his actions getting tenser by the moment. Christina said nothing, sitting quietly beside her husband. Kathryn picked at her food, not eating much at all.

“Does your stomach bother you?” Marc hadn’t thought to check with her to see if the food was acceptable. There was a thick beef stew, fresh bread, baked chicken and vegetables, as well as platters of cheese and fruit.

“It’s all delicious, I’m just not hungry.” She sipped the tea that Mara had placed in front of her. Marc wished he’d thought to thank the older woman for her thoughtfulness. She’d been taking care of the occupants of the castle for so long that all of them, including Mara herself, took it for granted.

“Try to eat a little bit more.” She was still far too thin for his liking. Kathryn projected a confident, controlled facade to the world but physically she was delicate to the point of being fragile. He knew it was because of all she’d been through in her lifetime but especially the past few months. He only wished there had been time enough for her to get healthy before they returned. The past few days had only added to the problem, pushing her even further toward her physical limits.

She took two more spoonfuls of the soup before pushing the bowl aside.

It wasn’t enough but time had run out.

Marc pushed his chair back from the table, ignoring the food still piled on his plate.

“It is time.”

Tienan and Logan stood, their expressions grave as they thanked Jarek and Christina for their hospitality. Christina started to stand but her husband put his large hand on her arm, stopping her. “They must do this alone.” Christina nodded but Marc saw the tears in her eyes as she hugged Kathryn. He knew she believed Kathryn was returning to her own time and that he would be left alone. His sister-in-law had no idea he planned to go with them.

He reached down and gave Christina a gentle squeeze. “All will be well. Jarek loves you and so do the children.” She jerked her head back, her eyes searching his face. He could see the worry there and was sorry for it.

Jarek stood and, heedless of the audience watching them, yanked Marc into his embrace, hugging him tightly. Marc knew he had to get away before he disgraced himself with tears. He thumped his brother on the back, released him and turned away.