A short while later, Jack could only sit on the couch in silence. He still held the sword of the Galician king in his hands, now sheathed securely in the scabbard once more. The symbol on the pummel would still light up every time his hand passed over the grip, flashing a brilliant blue color in acknowledgment of its owner.

It was a heavy pill to swallow. At this point, the evidence was too overwhelming for him to ignore any longer. There was no way to fake the sword illuminating by his very touch, something it did for no one else in the room, even Vera. Evelyn's explanation was that it only did so for the true heir to the throne, and so far that reasoning checked out.

But when combined with everything else—the pictures, the backstory, the prophecy, it all became too much to ignore. In a way, it meant that his life was no longer his own. If what they told him was true, his life belonged as much to them as it did to him.

He wasn't sure if it was the revelation of that final piece to him, or the culmination of all that others that put him over the edge, but he'd had enough at that point. While the rest of the women chattered around him, he needed an escape.

He needed to be alone.

"I'm just going to go step outside for a while," he announced to the rest of them, as he put the sword back in its original box. "I just need some time to . . . think."

All four pairs of eyes were on him. He could see understanding in all of their eyes, but to his surprise, Kat gave him a look of confusion. It didn't help to sate his anger. If anyone should know what he was going through, it should be her. She was the one that kept it from him for so long.

"Can I join you, Jack?" asked Kat, making a motion to stand.

"No," he answered briskly. "I don't really want your company right now, Kat."

The words came out harsher than he meant it. Her body visibly stiffened, and her cheeks went red. He could tell she was instantly on the verge of tears, and part of him regretted being so hostile to her in that moment.

The other part of him thought she deserved it.

"It's okay, Jack," said Evelyn as she reached out to console Kat. "Take all the time you need. You'll find a small chair out on the back porch. I usually take it down to the water on calm evenings when I need some peace. You're welcome to do the same."

Jack nodded. "Thank you," he said before making his hasty exit. He gave one last look to Kat, now scrambling for something to wipe her eyes. There would be time for an apology later, but right now, he just needed to be alone.

He needed to figure out what this change would mean to his life. As he pulled the chair down to the waves and stared off across the ocean, the biggest question that kept popping up in his mind arose once more.

Why me?

*****

After some time had passed, Abigail got up from her seat in Evelyn's living room and looked out the window. It was long past dusk now, but she could still make out the sight of Jack sitting down by the water, deep in thought. He'd been out there for almost two hours by himself, not that she could blame him for wanting to be alone. She couldn't imagine what it might mean for him to be the last in a long line of dead kings.

When she returned to the rest of the girls, Kat looked up with puffy eyes. "Is he still okay out there?"

Abigail nodded. "As far as I can tell," she answered, gesturing for Kat to join her next to the couch. Kat followed weakly, still upset by Jack's anger. She'd cried for some time when he first went outside, only to be consoled by all of them in turn. While Abigail could understand Jack's anger, she also felt a degree of sympathy for the other woman in Jack's life. If anything, Kat was suffering now nearly as much as he was.

"It'll be all right, Kat," said Abigail as she rubbed her friend's back. "He'll be okay. It's a lot for him to take in, but he can't stay mad at you."

Evelyn nodded. "Abigail is right, Kat. The man just needs his space for the time being, but he'll come back to you. I saw the way he looked at you. It's not hard to tell he carries feelings for you." Evelyn then turned to look at Abigail. "For you too, my dear."

Abigail smiled. "As I have for him. It hit me by such a surprise to find myself falling for him, and I fought it for so long. Maybe too long now that I look back on it, but I finally stopped fighting it and learned to accept it. I've been happy with that decision ever since I made it."

"Fate works in mysterious ways," said Evelyn with a warm smile. "You always know when you find the one that you're meant to be with. Your body will be the one to tell you. The intense beating of your heart, the feeling in your mind, the aching in your muscles at being separated—it all warns you when you found someone whom you're meant to be with. I felt it so strongly with Will that even when he told me of his ancestry, I knew I was already sucked in. I had no choice to resist."

Abigail nodded. "That's how I feel with him. Like I couldn't resist him if I tried. I love him."

"As I'm sure he does you," said Evelyn sweetly. "For so long, Kat and I tried to decipher that line of prophecy. About the fair and dark seeds to understand what it meant. Now that you're here, it makes perfect sense."

Abigail gave her a look of confusion. "I'm sorry, I don't understand that. But, I've also never seen the prophecy."

Evelyn looked shocked. "Oh, forgive me then, dear, I thought you knew."

Kat lifted her head weakly. "I just shared parts of the prophecy with Jack, Evelyn. That's all."

"Well, that's no problem," said Evelyn before turning back to Abigail. "There is a line in the prophecy that says he would unite both dark and fair, giving seeds to both. After a long time, we wondered if it had to do with ancient Galician custom—that of having two wives."

"Two wives? So they used to do that?" asked Abigail.

"A long time ago," said Evelyn. "However, it largely died out as time went on and the kings became weaker. However, with Jack slated to be the strongest king of Galicia there ever was, it wouldn't be unusual for him to revive that ancient custom. Especially as it looks like it already manifested itself in the two of you."

Evelyn moved closer to both women and picked out a lock of their hair. "Dark and fair. Kat represents the Galician people and his ancestry. Abigail represents the Javan side of him, the side he knows best. In a way, you both are representative of the portions of his soul. Now that I see you both, I'm not surprised now by that passage of prophecy. In time, he will sire children with both of you."

Abigail's hand went to her stomach instinctively. "You're sure about this? Jack and I will have children?"

Evelyn smiled warmly. "The prophecy hasn't been wrong yet. I doubt it will start doing it now. How does that make you feel, my dear?"

Abigail gave her an embarrassed look. "Honestly, I'm thrilled by the idea." She looked out the window to see Jack again. "It's crept up so often in the back of my mind but I always wondered whether it would come true or not."

"With both of you, it will," said Evelyn. "You'll both give him children and continue the Galician line. It will be necessary, I'm afraid," she said as she turned away. "The prophecy is ambivalent about what his fate will be, unfortunately."

Vera sucked in her breath. "Who, Jack's?"

Evelyn nodded. "We know he will go up against the ultimate source of evil and unbalance in the world. At this time, we assume that will be the Swabians, but it doesn't tell if he will live or die in the attempt. It only makes reference to making sure he has heirs before he goes into that final battle. I have to assume that it was written that way for a reason."

"What does that mean? He'll die then?" Abigail asked weakly. "Are you sure about that?"

Evelyn shrugged. "I do not know. But I only ask that you not share this with him. Kat and I know because we've read the entire prophecy, however, he doesn't need to know. He doesn't need that extra burden."

Abigail's heart felt heavy as she looked back outside to Jack. She wanted to rush out to him and rush into his arms at the news yet she knew how hard it would be for her not to tell him. He had so much on his plate right now that he didn't need to worry about his own death too. One more thing could easily push him over the edge.

"I understand," said Abigail shakily. "I won't say anything."

"Neither will I," said Vera with tear-streaked eyes.

*****

Poor Kat did not stay awake that much longer after that last revelation. As she was falling asleep with tear-stained cheeks, it was Abigail that helped her to her main bedroom, leaving Vera alone with Evelyn. It was a surreal experience for the young Galician woman, sitting next to the woman whom she just found out was her paternal grandmother, but then again, most of the day had been surreal as well.

It wasn't hard to accept that there was truth to Evelyn's words, as hard as they were for her to accept, and Vera found herself wanting to know more about the newly discovered blood relation beside her. Even if she didn't know where to start.

"I'm sure it's been a trying day for you," said Evelyn when it was just the two of them. "I know it can't be easy to hear something that uproots everything that you know about your life."

Vera nodded. "I'm still getting used to it. For the longest time, I believed all my family to be dead. My father was my last living relative until the storm that took his life. I really did believe I was all alone in all of this. But to know that I have a brother and a grandmother still fills me hope. That maybe I can have a second chance?"

Evelyn beamed with a smile. "That's the way I see it as well. For so long, I didn't know if I would see you or Jack again." She reached out to squeeze Vera's hand. "Seeing the woman that you've turned into brings so much joy to my heart. I just wish your parents could see it too."

"I really wish I would've known them for longer," said Vera sadly. "Even though I understand why they did what they did, it still hurts that they feel like strangers to me. I just wish I could have gotten a chance to know them."

"By the nature of our circumstances, they had so little time to spend with you," said Evelyn regretfully. "Slightly more with Jack, but still no more than a year. I wish you could see them as I saw them—so full of life and love, not only for their family but for their children as well. They would do anything they could to protect you and Jack."

"I feel so insignificant in comparison," said Vera, wiping away a tear from her cheek. "That they loved me so much and yet I hardly know them."

"That's why I want you to have this," said Evelyn as she pressed the box of pictures into Vera's hands. "All of my pictures are in here. Everything that I have, including your parents from when they were younger, is in that box. I know it's a very small way to show you more about your family, but I really want you to have it."

Vera's eyes went wide. "Are you sure? I couldn't deprive you of your pictures. Especially this many." She wasn't wrong. The box was filled to the brim with a large pile of them.

Evelyn smiled. "I don't know how much longer I have for this world. I'm ninety years old, Vera. My day has passed. Part of me is just glad I lived long enough to see the people that you and Jack grew up to be. That's why I want you to have them. Family should get these pictures. And you're my family."

Vera pushed up from her seat and hugged the older woman soundly. "Thank you," she whispered. "I'm so glad to have met you. Even if it was just for today, I feel like you gave me a second chance. I loved my grandmother so much before she passed away. We spent so much time together, so much so that I felt her passing harder than most in my family. Now that I have you, in a way it feels like she never left."

"You'll have to tell me about your family, my dear. Everything that you remember. The passing of time dulls those memories after a long while, but I do strongly remember your adoptive father. Especially the look in his eyes when he held you for the first time. It was one of the saddest moments of my life to have to release you to him, but I knew you would be safe."

"At least we get this time now," said Vera with a sniffle. "We can attempt to make good on lost time."

"Now that is something that I would love," gushed Evelyn.

The two women talked about their respective lives for the next half hour. Vera told her grandmother all about her life in Galicia with her adoptive family, while Evelyn expanded on further details about Vera's parents, including stories and memories that she held for the better part of sixty years. Vera found herself alternating between crying and laughing as she listened to those stories, feeling the full range of emotions as she learned about her family. After some time, Evelyn did ask her about a topic that she dreaded to discuss.

"So one thing I haven't figured out yet is how you came to meet Jack?" asked the older woman. "Of all people in the world to run into, it amazes me that it was him. Not to mention the fact that you stuck with him after all these months. How did you two come to link up?"

Vera swallowed heavily. "It's not the best story, I'm afraid. I still shudder to think about it."

Evelyn nodded. "It's okay then. If you don't want to tell it."

Vera shook her head. "I think I can do it. It's just when the storm destroyed my father's boat and killed off the crew, I was the only survivor. We were close enough to Andalucia that I washed up on shore."

Evelyn let in a deep breath. "Good heavens, the Andalucians found you?"

Vera nodded. "This was before Jack became king. They made me a slave right away, and I was taken to Methusa to be sold. The man who bought me was a Sorellan agent of the now dead king Daimanos. For use in his . . . in his . . . harem."

Evelyn reached out to touch her hand. "It's okay, my dear."

Vera gulped. "That was so hard. Yes, I was alive, but I was treated like I was less than human. Then I had to become a whore." She hung her head in shame as the tears flowed freely once more.

Evelyn consoled her. "You had no choice in the matter, Vera. You did what you had to in order to stay alive. No one could fault you for that."

"At least it wasn't for that long. I was there for scarcely a month with that evil king when Jack killed him. He ended the civil war on Sorella, and he freed me from the harem. That was my first sight of him, the moment he came to free me."

"I'm sure you were happy to see him, no matter who he was."

Vera nodded. "I certainly was. I expected him to take over the harem himself. When he didn't, I knew there was something different about him. I also knew there was something about him that attracted me to him. Not as in a romantic attraction, but something that was magnetic about his personality. I felt like he was familiar and that I should be by his side."

"You felt the bond," said Evelyn, clutching at her own chest. "We all do, all those of Galician blood. We feel the presence of Jack inside us. It's stronger the closer that he is to you physically, but it was probably the first time you really felt the bond."

"Is that what that is? That tightening in my chest every time he's near me?"

Evelyn nodded. "It's a symbol of our people. Our king is as much a part of us as our own hearts. Now you can see why we've struggled so much without our kings. It's like asking you to run without your legs."

Vera smiled. "It's funny, you know. Jack didn't want me with him at first. I think he may have thought I was just another whore. But we developed our friendship and it deepened. At first, I wasn't sure if it would turn romantic, but I think I can see now why it didn't. Even when Kat started to develop feelings for him, I was just happy for her instead of sad for myself. I guess our own bodies have a way of recognizing our kin even if the mind doesn't."

"I doubt the fates would've allowed that to happen even if you did," said Evelyn. "It's always been set for him what his future would be. You, though, don't have as much predetermined."

"I'm okay with that," said Vera with a laugh. "I can't imagine what Jack is feeling right now. I know the way I feel, and he has to have it ten times worse."

"He'll be all right," said Evelyn. "Although I do have half a mind to check on him. I'm not sure I want him out there all night."

Vera nodded and then let out a yawn. "I'm sorry, it's not your company. It's just that today has been exhausting."

"No matter whatsoever," said Evelyn. "Why don't you go to the bedroom beside Kat's? There's two empty beds in there, and you can have one for the night. You'll feel better in the morning with some sleep."

"I will," said Vera as she stood up. She pressed into the older woman and hugged her soundly. "Is it all right if I call you grandmother? I mean, I know it was just today and all but I figured—"

Evelyn nodded happily. "Nothing would make me happier! Please do."

"Okay. Goodnight, grandmother," said Vera with a small wave as she disappeared into the back bedroom.

"Goodnight, Vera. Sleep well."

*****

Jack had long lost track of the time he spent watching the waves crash upon the shore. When he first came out to the beach, the sun was still mostly overhead, and the day was still warm. Now, he could better hear the sounds of the waves rather than see them, and the temperature had long since dropped to a cooler nightly normal. He stuffed his hands in his jacket pocket, trying to keep warm the best he could.

That entire time, he thought about the course of the day. Mostly, he thought about Evelyn's words. He thought about gaining a new family in the form of Vera and Evelyn. Even his anger toward Kat had started to dissipate as he realized that such a conversation would never have gone well, no matter how she approached it. In the end, he was more frustrated than angry.

So deep in thought was he that Jack never heard the approach of someone behind him. It wasn't until he heard Evelyn's voice that he realized she'd come out to see him.

"Aren't you cold, Jack? It's not exactly the warmest out here right now," said the older woman, now bundled up in a coat to combat the breeze.

"This jacket keeps me pretty warm," he replied. "Besides, it was a lot warmer earlier."

"Perhaps it's time to come in then now?" she asked hopefully. "You've been out here for a long time."

"Not yet," said Jack as he shook his head. "It's been helping me, really. The chance to think it all out on my own. It makes me feel not so helpless."

"No one can blame you for how you feel, dear. It's perfectly all right to feel angry or upset or scared at what this means."

Jack nodded before looking back out to sea. "Part of me wants to just go back out to my ships and leave." He looked back at Evelyn and cracked a smile. "Like maybe this was just a bad dream."

Evelyn chuckled. "Your father said the same thing to me once, right around the time we told him who he really was."

"And how did he take it? Just as bad as I did?"

Evelyn shook her head. "Almost worse, if you can believe it! He was angry for days and wouldn't speak to us. But then again, he was much younger than you, and I have to believe the hotheadedness of youth had much to do with that."

"I wish I could have met him at least. That's not to say I had a bad life," said Jack. "I got along well with my other father. He was a good man, but now I wish I had gotten to know the blood relation."

"You're the spitting image of him, Jack. Looking at you now takes me back all those years ago to when I last saw him. I think that's why it scared me so much when you first appeared at the door. It was like a ghost from the past that came back alive."

Jack chuckled. "I'm sorry then for giving you such a fright."

"It was a good fright," said Evelyn with a grin. "And I'm glad to see the man you've become. It doesn't surprise me that you're a naval officer either. Galicians are natural sailors."

"So I've heard. The funny thing about that is that this path always felt right to me. I really felt at home when I entered the Academy back in Java. When I was assigned my first ship, it just felt like I'd found my purpose."

"That's your ancestry coming out of you," said Evelyn. "Galicians are as much at home on the water as they are on land."

"You know, it's funny to me. These features have always earned me stares back at home," said Jack while pulling a strand of his hair. "Everyone thought I was different, which I can see now that I was. But ever since we arrived in the Vector, everyone has thought that I was Galician. Even back when I didn't even know that Galicia existed. It's not a total surprise to me for that reason. There was always that grain of doubt when everyone seemed to think it was who I was."

"Our people are very conspicuous to those in the rest of the world, Jack. The blonde hair and the blue eyes mark us for who we are. There are no others like Galicians in the world, and that alone makes our people special."

Jack chuckled. "Half the time I thought it was a curse growing up. I just wished I looked like everyone else on Java."

Evelyn laughed and touched his arm. "I can see why!"

"I used to take some mild ribbing over it from my childhood friends," said Jack. "I was the only one that looked different in that entire group. I should've figured out why sooner."

"Perhaps those friends of yours should've paid more attention to their history classes," said Evelyn.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm talking about the Javan creation myth. The people that the Javans call the Ancestors. Who do you think they really were?"

"Wait a minute," said Jack, giving her an incredulous look. "That story is true?"

"Of course, it's true! Why wouldn't it be?"

"I thought it was just a story for children," said Jack with a shrug. "I didn't expect there to be any truth to it."

"And you probably don't even know the real story, do you?" asked Evelyn.

"I just know the Ancestors were the founders of Java, and that supposedly they originated in the Fourth Vector, but not much more than that. Like I said before, it was always a children's fable so there wasn't much more to be expanded upon."

Evelyn growled. "How quickly people forget their own history." She sighed. "No matter, I'll tell you the real story. Not that the major details you listed are wrong, but it leaves out a great deal."

"Well, I'm listening," said Jack with a chuckle.

Evelyn took a deep breath before she began. "There is a reason why we selected Java as the place for you to be raised. Java was founded by Galicians over three thousand years ago. The first Galicians to cross the ocean settled in Java, those people that you call the Ancestors. They were never many in number, only a few hundred when they came across in their ships but it was a long journey. Even now, it takes many weeks to do it with modern ships, but back then? It was a life or death trip if you didn't prepare adequately for the voyage."

"It sounds like they got across just fine though," said Jack. "Especially if they founded Java."

"It wasn't without trouble," said Evelyn. "Most of those that came to Java were men, tempted by new lands and the desire to explore. Many of the women that went with them weren't strong enough to survive the long voyage, and as such, they perished before arriving in Java. As you can imagine, it was a large group of men that arrived in Java on the other end."

"That doesn't sound so great for them. With so little women, how did they survive?"

"That's where the story gets interesting," said Evelyn. "In Java at the time, there were other groups of people. One in particular were called the People of the Lake—"

"The People of the Lake!" exclaimed Jack. "Now you're really pulling my leg. Everyone knows they didn't actually exist."

"They really did, Jack. And they form the other half of Javan ancestry."

He gave her a confused look. "You'll need to explain that one to me."

"Well, the People of the Lake were the indigenous people of Java, and they were mostly formed up into small, warring tribes. In fact, the lake from where they got their name is one that still exists, found not far from Belfort. They were much darker in coloring than Javans are now, all with dark hair and eyes. And they called the lake their home."

"I've been there," said Jack. "It even has a plaque to commemorate that heritage, but I didn't think it was actually a real event."

Evelyn nodded. "Those warring tribes were scattered about that lake. Always in conflict with each other, they never knew when to stop. A great war overtook them close to the time when the Galicians arrived. Many of their men perished in that war, leaving scores of women without their husbands, fathers, or sons."

"So you have one group with no wives, and the other group with no husbands," said Jack. "I think I can figure out what happened next."

Evelyn smiled. "What always happens in that situation. The two groups began to intermingle. The Galicians were exhausted after their trip across the sea and worried about the long-term survival in a primitive and hostile country. Likewise the People of the Lake were without their menfolk and struggling to survive. The Galicians invited the women into their makeshift camps and they began to breed. And breed they surely did. Within ten years, the population of both groups had risen significantly. The men had found wives and the women had found protectors."

"The curious nature of all of it was that the mixed children of the two groups took on a distinctive appearance of their own. The children inherited the fair skin of their fathers but the dark hair and eyes of their mothers. In doing so, they created the typical Javan appearance that still exists to this day."

"I had no idea," whispered Jack. "I guess I never really considered the origin of the Javans."

"A perfect combination of the indigenous peoples of Java and the Galicians. That's why we brought you there in the first place. We figured if you couldn't live in Galicia, then the next best thing we could do for you was to bring you somewhere with Galician blood, no matter how ancient."

"That's remarkable," said Jack softly.

"I thought you might enjoy that story," said Evelyn with a gentle laugh. "It was always a favorite of mine growing up as well."

Jack smiled and then turned back out to the water. He remained silent for a moment as many thoughts drifted back into his mind. The smile slowly dropped from his face as he contemplated another topic.

"What's on your mind, Jack? Talk to me," urged Evelyn.

"It's just . . . I don't know how I'm supposed to do this," he said finally.

"Do what?"

"Be this savior of the world that you've made me out to be," he said, crestfallen. "I feel like I can barely run my own life at times, not to mention those of my crew. How am I supposed to do this?"

She gave him a sympathetic smile. "I wish I had an answer for you on that one, Jack. I really do. I've studied enough prophecy to know what's generally supposed to happen, but many of the lines don't actually make sense to me until after they happen. Such is the nature of prophecy. But I'm sure the fates will guide you along in their purpose. They've brought you this far, right?"

"I suppose," he said hesitantly. "I'd be happier with a road map though. Something to tell me where I'm supposed to go next or what to do after that."

"I think everyone would kill to have such a map for their lives," said Evelyn. "I know I sure would, and it would have made things a lot easier on us. But such is the nature of life, Jack. We don't know what the future holds or how it will affect us. That's up for all of us to figure out on our own terms."

"That makes it sound like free will has an observable part in it though," he grumbled. "I don't feel like I have any if a good portion of my life has been foretold by prophecy."

"I like to think of it this way, Jack. The prophecy tells you the journey, but not how to get there. That's for you to decide. You can decide your own path, Jack."

He mulled those words over for a few moments while remaining silent. It helped a little, although not as much as he'd hoped. It was still a daunting task in front of him, and he would have felt better knowing what he was supposed to do.

Unfortunately, he'd have to rely on fate and his gut instincts to get him to the next steps, a prospect that wasn't easy to accept.

"Do you think I can do this? Do you think I can live up to the prophecy?" he asked finally, as a loud wave crashed upon the beach.

Evelyn nodded. "I don't think all these events would've happened just for you to fail, my dear. The world has been preparing for your birth for thousands of years. You are the ultimate champion, here to protect all that's good from falling under sway of the ultimate evil."

Jack gulped heavily. "The ultimate evil. And here I've never heard of the Swabians until a few months ago."

Evelyn took a deep breath. "Jack, I do not believe the Swabians are the ultimate evil that's been referenced by the prophecy."

"You don't? Then who could it be?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it will be someone else. Someone who hasn't been revealed yet. That's not to say that I don't find the Swabians reprehensible in most respects, but they are motivated by power and self-interest, not unlike most peoples. While some of their leaders are an unsavory sort, I don't think they'll be the main adversaries you'll face."

"Is there anyone else in the world that fits the description?" asked Jack. "How am I supposed to find and fight an evil that I don't know about?"

Evelyn gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, Jack, but I can't answer that question. I wish I knew, believe me. I just think this is going to go beyond the Swabians. I feel this is bigger than them, and that this conflict will be truly global in level."

"Perhaps the Occitanians then?" asked Jack. "If they join forces with the Swabians, I can think of no bigger threat."

"I think it'll be revealed in time. I just want you to be ready for it, Jack. I need you to keep sharp and keep up your journey."

"I'm supposed to be finding alliances for Java," he said softly. "That's the main reason I'm in the Vector."

Evelyn nodded. "And it's a good one. For you'll need those alliances against the Swabians. Keep doing that. You'll need the Picards for that alliance as well."

"And the Galicians as well? But first, I need to get past the regent," said Jack.

Evelyn gripped his arm tightly. "You'll need to be careful around Eric Rosdahl. He's not to be trusted. He is one of the most sadistic and cruel men I've ever encountered. The majority of the family is like that."

"Sounds like everyone bearing that name will need punishment once we take over Galicia," joked Jack.

"Not all the Rosdahls are bad people, Jack. Remember that, okay?" Evelyn gave him a deep look, one that gave him the impression she knew more than she was letting on.

He nodded regardless. "We'd need to get there first. And that means going near Swabia."

"I'm going to tell you something that you may not want to hear right now, but you need to keep Kat close to you. She's the best person to be your guide in all of this."

"I understand that but—"

"No buts, Jack," said Evelyn firmly. "I know you're angry with her, and I know how much she means to you. You feel hurt, maybe even betrayed, but it's not Kat's fault. You don't know how much she's risked just to help me find you. Her life has been on the line multiple times, and she can't even go back to Galicia without having a death sentence on her head. I know it may hurt now, but Kat needs to stay close to you. Please don't blame her for how she went about this."

"You understand why it hurts so much though, right?" he said softly. "I have feelings for her."

"As she does for you. But she did what she did because she cared for you. She tried to spare you this pain until she was absolutely sure. If she didn't care, she would have told you in Sorella and have been done with it. She wouldn't have dedicated her life to finding you, no matter what it cost her in time or blood."

"I regret the way I've treated her for the last day," said Jack with a painful expression. "I know I was angry, but I shouldn't have taken it out on her. That was foolish of me."

"Kings can't afford to be foolish, dear," said Evelyn as she patted his cheek. "I know you were hurt, and she's hurting now. Don't let it undermine your relationship. Very soon, there will be time for a reconciliation. Just make sure you make the most of it, all right?"

Jack nodded, finding no other words to suit the moment. He continued to watch the waves crash upon the shore, while the soft breeze rustled through his hair. He was starting to get sleepy.

Right on cue, Evelyn let out a long yawn. "I'm afraid you've kept this old woman out of her bed for too long. I'm going to need to get some rest, Jack."

He nodded. "As will I. I think I'm ready to come inside now."

Evelyn smiled. "Good, I was hoping you'd say that."

The two of them walked together back inside, only stopping once to kick the sand off their feet. Upon coming back inside the house, Evelyn pointed out one of the rooms for him to sleep.

"That's Kat's room, if you want to get some sleep," she said. "You may want to be quiet though. The poor dear was so tired that I'd hate to see you wake her."

"If you don't mind, I think I'll sleep on the couch out in the living room," said Jack, earning a confused look from Evelyn.

"Listen, you're not wrong about Kat, and I do need to make it up to her. But not right now. I'm too tired, and my brain is too fried right now to want to attempt that conversation. Let me get some sleep on my own, and her and I can discuss it tomorrow."

Evelyn nodded. "That's fine, Jack. Here, let me get you a pillow and blanket."

She helped to get him set up in the living room before retiring back to her own room. Right as she was about to turn off the light, she gave him an apprehensive look.

"What's wrong, Evelyn?"

"I hope it's not too much to ask, but may I have a hug from you, Jack? It's just been so long."

He smiled fondly. "Of course."

He embraced the old woman tightly, and she melted into his arms. "I've thought about you every day since we had to give you up, Jack. I've missed you so much."

"I know I haven't been the best guest today, but for what it's worth, I'm glad to have met you today," he said. "It will take a long time for me to accept everything you told me, but I do want you in my life. You're my only link to the past now."

She looked up and patted his cheek. "I'll be that for you. You and Vera are my only living relatives. I'll do anything for you both."

She leaned up to kiss his cheek before she moved back to the hallway. "Goodnight, Jack. Sleep well."

"You too," he said, getting comfortable on the couch.

As soon as the lights were out, Jack looked up at the ceiling and sighed. He thought he'd have trouble getting to sleep tonight with everything that had happened today, but he underestimated how emotionally drained he was. It wasn't much more than five minutes after the light was out that he was out too, dozing off to dreamland.

*****

Jack was the first one to wake up the next morning. As he sat up and stretched from the couch, he realized what an awful idea it was to sleep there. He was incredibly stiff, and no amount of stretching could seem to get the kink out of his neck. Fortunately for him, he wasn't alone for very long.

Vera was the first one to show up, leaving her room and entering the living room. "Oh, hey," she said softly, coming to sit next to him on the couch. "How'd you sleep?"

"Surprisingly, not bad," he said. "As well as I could on this couch." He patted it for emphasis. "What about you?"

Vera smiled. "I've had better nights of sleep, believe it or not."

Jack chuckled. "I can't imagine why."

Vera giggled and rested her head against his shoulder. "Can I say something out loud and you won't think I'm weird?"

"Of course. After yesterday, you're really entitled to such."

"I'm just glad it's you," she said finally. "I'm glad you're my brother, Jack. I always had this gut feeling about you, and for so long I didn't know what it was. But of all people, I'm just really happy it's you. I never had a brother before."

He reached around her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. "Me too, Vera. You're right, it is a bit weird. And even though I do have a sister, I'm glad to now have you as well."

Vera nodded. "I'll be there to support you in any way I can, okay? I know this is going to be hard for you, but you'll always have me behind you."

Jack smiled warmly. "I know you'll be. I love you, you know that? Even before I found out you were family, I loved you as a sister. I just don't think I ever told you."

Vera grinned. "I love you too. Even though you've turned my life upside down."

Jack nearly snorted. "Sorry about that. It was nothing I wanted, I assure you."

"I know that, I'm just enjoying teasing you," she joked.

"You've been my sister for less than a day and you already have the behavior down," he teased. "This is going to be enjoyable," he added with a heavy degree of sarcasm.

She poked him in the side. "You better get used to it!"

They spent some more time talking together while the rest of the house woke up. The next out of bed was Abigail, who placed a gentle kiss against his lips once she emerged into the living room. The next was Kat though, and based upon the look in her dark eyes, she hadn't slept well the previous night.

"Morning, Jack," she said with reservation, as she sat across from him.

"Morning, Kat," he replied awkwardly. He didn't mean it to come out that way, but there was so much he wanted to say to her that he didn't know where to begin. He also wanted some privacy for that conversation, and there wasn't much to be had in the house at that point. The brief interaction left him feeling remorseful, and he didn't know how to fix it.

He should have trusted his grandmother to have a plan.

When Evelyn emerged from her bedroom, she was dressed to go out. Jack had to admit for a ninety year old woman, she was still remarkably mobile.

"Good morning all," she chirped, stepping into the living room. "It's a beautiful day outside, and I thought we could enjoy picking some fresh berries from a field not too far from here."

"That sounds lovely actually," said Abigail. "I could go for some fresh fruit!"

"Me too," added Vera. "What do you have growing here?"

"There's a blueberry field that I really like," said Evelyn. "They are so juicy and just melt in your mouth. I have a few baskets we can take with us to grab all we want." Evelyn then looked at Jack and gave him a wink. She gestured to Kat, and in that moment, he understood exactly what she was trying to do.

"If it's all right with the rest of you, I think I'll stay behind," he said, focusing on Kat. "I'm just not in the mood to pick berries."

"Suit yourself, dear," said Evelyn. "We'll bring you back plenty." She then turned to Kat. "Kat, would you mind keeping Jack company while we go out?" She gave a knowing look to the younger woman, leaving no doubt at her intentions.

Kat nodded all too eagerly. "That's fine."

"Lovely, just lovely," gushed Evelyn. As she, Vera, and Abigail got ready to go, Jack and Kat sat in awkward silence, mostly not daring to look at each other.

"We'll be back in a few hours," said Evelyn as they approached the door. "If you need more time, just tie something to the door so we know."

Kat looked over at her in confusion. "More time for what?"

Evelyn smiled knowingly. "Just time." She winked at Jack as she shut the door, leaving the two of them alone at last.

It was an awkward silence that descended upon them both once they were finally alone. Kat looked uncomfortable, upset, and tired still from her lack of sleep. Jack hated to see her like this, but he could also recognize his role in making her this way. It was time for peace between them.

"Kat, would you come here?" he asked, patting the empty space beside him on the couch.

She looked at him like a starving puppy who just received some food. Those vulnerable sky-blue eyes were on him in a heartbeat. "Are you sure, Jack?"

He nodded silently.

She pushed up from her spot on the chair and approached him on the couch. She wasn't wearing much this morning, not much more than her usual sleeping clothes that he'd delighted in removing too many times to count. Despite the look in her eyes, she still looked beautiful to him, and it was time for him to put her heart back into place.

"It's been a crazy couple of days," he said, as he pulled her into his lap. Kat came willingly, resting her bottom against his lap and pressing her face against his chest. It was a cozy position, and it just felt right to hold her like this once more.

"You can say that again," she muttered, her words slightly muffled by his chest.

"Listen, Kat, I'm sorry for how I treated you the past couple days. It wasn't right."

She shook her head, her voice already weak. "It wasn't right for me to keep it from you for so long. I should have told you sooner."

He forced her chin up to look at him. "No, I don't think it would've helped. I've thought about it and you were right to do what you did. It was better to do it this way when you could back it up with some proof. Without it, I think our relationship would have been even more strained. As much as I hate to say it, this was the best way."

A tear fell from her eye, staining her cheek. "I could've done it a better way. You know the last t-thing I'd want to do is hurt you."

He nodded silently and wiped the tear from her face. "I thought I was hurt. I thought a lot of things, and not many of them were good. I doubted you and I doubted this." Jack motioned between their chests. "After I had some time to think, and after Evelyn helped me see some sense, I know I shouldn't have been so hard on you. You were doing this the best way you could because you believe in this so much that you've put your entire life in jeopardy just to find me."

Kat nodded eagerly. "I'd do anything for you. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make, even before I met you. Then when you were here, after we'd met, I couldn't keep away from you. I didn't know if I was going crazy, thinking that it was just an obsession after searching for you for so long, but I realized it wasn't."

He caressed her cheek lovingly. "What was it then, Kat?"

She locked eyes with him. "It was love, Jack. I fell in love with you. Not just for who this prophecy says you are, but for who you are in here." She touched his chest softly. "This is what makes you the man I love. The man I want to spend the rest of my life with. That's why this whole thing hurt so bad. I thought I lost the only man I've ever loved."

Jack shook his head. "You haven't lost me, Kat. You couldn't lose me." He caressed her soft jaw before pulling her lips to his. Surprisingly, she pushed eagerly into his kiss, almost losing control once their lips touched. Once he pulled away, he looked deep into her eyes. "I love you, Kat."

She smiled genuinely as tears flowed down both cheeks. "I've been waiting for so long to hear you say that. You have no idea, Jack."

He chuckled and kissed her again. "That's not what I thought you might say when I told you that."

She giggled and pressed him back on the couch, giving him a devastating sensual kiss. "I love you, Jack," she whispered between lip locks. "Even if we were to spend the rest of our lives on this island with nothing else happening in our lives, I'd still choose to spend every second with you. I love you for who you are inside."

He slid his fingers through her hair. "Even with Abigail too? Because I love her as much as I love you."

Kat nodded quickly. "Even with Abigail. She can be your sea wife as long as I'm your land wife, my king. Does that work for you?" She ended the sentence by grinding her hips against his, causing a low moan to escape from his lips.

"You really shouldn't keep that up," he warned. "I'd be likely just to flip you on your back on this couch and take you."

Then Kat said one of the sexiest things he'd ever heard. "Or you can take me to bed. And you can make love to me, Jack. Would you like that? Would you like to be the first and only man to slide your cock inside me?" She grabbed his manhood between them, which had gone from relatively soft to throbbing hard in a matter of seconds.

He nodded and kissed her. "I will, Kat. As long as you forgive me for how I've treated you the last few days?"

She smiled. "I do. As long as you forgive me for my poor choices in breaking this news to you?"

He replied to that with a hearty smack against her rear end which made her yelp and then giggle. "I'll take that as a yes. My room is that way, Jack!"

With enough strength, he managed to push off from the couch while still holding Kat in his arms. He carried her like a new bride down the hall, before going into the room she'd mentioned. Inside was a large bed right in the middle, surrounded by two vanities on either side, and a large chest at the foot of the bed.

"I like your room," he said, as he laid her down softly on the bed.

"I don't spend nearly enough time at this house," she said, before gesturing for him to join her. "But it's time to at least break in the bed."

Jack grinned and pulled his shirt off. He watched as her eyes took in his torso, the muscular outline of his shoulders and chest as they tapered down his sides. His trousers were already tented from their earlier activity, and Kat soon leaned forward to loosen them for him. "I hope we don't have to rush, but just lock the bedroom door just in case."

"I think we'll be okay," he said with a laugh, as his trousers hit the floor. "I have a feeling Evelyn knew what was coming."

Kat turned red. "Did you two . . .?"

"No, we didn't talk about it. But it wouldn't surprise me if she guessed this would happen. She has a lot of knowledge for ninety years," said Jack.

Kat smiled. "That she does. She's a wonderful woman."

Jack looked down at his body. "If you don't mind, can we stop talking about my grandmother for a moment?"

Kat giggled wickedly and crooked her finger at him. He was on her soon enough, their lips connecting in passion as his body surrounded hers. When their eyes locked on each other, Jack could feel the intensity of her love for him. It seemed to be written into her very soul, so evident once those sky-blue eyes searched his own.

They couldn't be rid of her clothing soon enough. In no time at all, her tank top and shirt soon joined his own on the floor, their warm bodies sliding together with no fabric in-between. He didn't take long to lavish her breasts with attention, and her fingers soon slid through his hair as he kissed around each nipple, taking them in his mouth and teasing them until erect.

"Oh, yes, Jack. Oh, that feels so good," she cooed, as he sucked on her nipple. Kat was already panting hard as he showered her body with attention, but he had no intention of stopping at her tits. Instead, he worked his way down lower still, trailing a line of kisses that went from her ribs down to her navel. She sucked in her breath once he reached her waist, her nerves flaring at the implications of his touch.

"It's okay," he said gently as he looked up at her. She watched him with trusting eyes, and softly nodded.

"Just be gentle with me?" she asked softly.

"Always." Jack placed several kisses over her mound before moving lower, and she spread her legs to offer him easier access. He feasted on the look of her womanhood in its full glory. It wasn't hard to tell that Kat was seriously aroused, and her lips were slick and slightly parted, evidence that she was looking forward to what was to come. She hissed as he pressed the softest of kisses against her parted flesh, the hiss soon morphing into a moan.

"That feels so nice, Jack," she moaned as she thrust her hips against him. She arched her back a moment later as her erect nipples pointed toward the ceiling. "Mmm, yeah, just like that."

He followed her moans, taking longer in spots that she thoroughly enjoyed while skipping over those parts that she remained silent on. While it would take some time for him to get to know her body, he wanted today to be all about her. He wanted to find those areas that turned her on more than anything else.

He soon figured out that she adored any kind of attention on her clit, and Jack chose to focus all his efforts on that spot. Kat warmed up in a hurry, and she was soon grinding her mound against his face as he sucked her clit into his mouth.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, Jack. Oh, yes, right there! Mmm, oh that's nice, yes, Jack!" Her chorus of moans got louder with the attention, and she soon writhed out of control on the bed. Jack struggled to keep the full attention on her clit, but soon joined that attention with his fingers as they first teased at her wet opening and then slid inside gently.

Kat was absolutely drenched. Dripping might have been a better word. The moment that he slid his digit inside, she began to buckle.

"My gods, my gods," she moaned, looking down at Jack with a shocked expression. "What are you doing to me, Jack, fuck!"

He smiled against her clit. "Making you feel good, my love. Do you like it?"

"I love it," she panted. "It feels so much better than when I do it myself."

"That's the idea," he said with a chuckle. "Just relax and enjoy the feeling, okay? Let me make you feel good."

She relaxed her tense body against the bed as he once more resumed the attack on her clit. He sucked the little nub into his mouth and teased it with his lips and tongue until she squirmed delightfully under him. Her body was quickly approaching the edge, and with careful effort, he was able to take her there with renewed concentration.

"Oh, Jack, I'm going to . . . going to . . . I'm going to cum!"

She arched her back and her mouth fell open in blissful agony as her orgasm finally hit. Jack backed off the full force of his mouth, sustaining the effort without bringing too much attention to her sensitive body in her time of physical elation. Kat squirmed under him as her face and chest flushed a deep red color. All too soon, it was over, and she collapsed against the bed, fanning herself to cool down.

"I don't know how you did that, but that was heavenly," she purred, caressing his face with her hands.

Jack chuckled and kissed her mound. "I was hoping you'd like that. I love the way you taste, Kat. If you wanted me to do that every day, I would do so willingly and with a smile on my face."

"I hope you're not joking," she teased. "Because I might just take you up on that offer."

Jack chuckled. "Try me!"

Her hand reached down and she fully gripped his erection. "I fully intend to, Jack."

Kat wasted no time in sliding out from under him, her post-orgasm malaise already forgotten. Her deft hand began to tease his shaft, giving him firm, deliberate strokes as she switched places with him in bed, hovering over his lower half as she worked his cock.

"I can't believe this whole thing is going to fit inside me," she said, eyeing him with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

"We'll make it fit," he panted. "I'll be as gentle as I can with you."

Kat smiled and nodded. "I know you will. It's been perfect so far, and I don't see how that could possibly change."

"It will hurt at first for you," he warned.

"I know," she said as her tongue slipped out to tease the head. "But I trust you. I really do."

Jack only responded with a groan as she took the entire tip in her mouth at once. She'd come a long way since the first time she sucked his cock back in Andalucia, and she was developing quite the skill for teasing his manhood orally. When she wasn't sucking the tip back into her throat, she would lick all around the shaft while keeping her eyes locked on him. It was one of the sexiest sights he'd ever seen, and watching the blonde woman work his cock became a near religious experience for him.

As Kat took him deeper in her mouth, her free hand went to his balls, massaging them in tandem with her sucking. She gently rubbed them while her other hand worked the bottom of his shaft, the only portion she couldn't reach with her mouth. It was having the desired effect, and Jack was soon thrusting into her mouth as she struggled to take as much of him as she could.

Kat pulled him completely out of her mouth and soon tickled the tip with her tongue. "Want to know what I'm thinking about?"

He looked down at her. "What's that?"

Kat smiled wickedly and tapped the tip against her tongue. "How much cum you have in here. And how I want all of it inside me."

"You'll get your wish if you keep sucking like that," he replied.

Kat shook her head. "Not inside my stomach, Jack. I want it down here." She reached her hand between her legs, coating her fingers with her slick wetness. She brought some of it to his cock and rubbed it in, mixing with her saliva. "I want it inside my pussy. I want you to cum so deeply inside me and make me yours forever. Can you do that for me?" She took another long suck of his cock, making sweet noises as the tip approached her throat before pulling out. "Can you cum so deeply inside my pussy, Jack?"

He was turned on to no end. He would pop soon if she didn't stop this high level of teasing, and they hadn't even started the main event yet. "Kat, I need you," he panted. "I can't take much more of this. I need you to be inside you."

She smiled demurely. "Then take me. I'm yours."

She pressed closer to him and kissed his lips sensually. Jack poured every ounce of affection he had for her into that kiss. He could still feel himself throbbing against her stomach, wanting so desperately to take her that it consumed every thought he had.

"How do you want me?" she whispered against his lips.

"On your back," he ordered.

She grinned. "I was hoping you'd say that."

Kat took her position on her back once more, her legs spreading invitingly for him as soon as she was settled. Jack took a cautious approach as he felt the tip of his cock press against her sex. Kat noticed it too, holding her breath when she felt it.

"If you need me to stop, just say so," he said, kissing her lovingly as he nestled the tip against her parted lips.

"I'm ready," said Kat. She was trying to be confident, but he could detect a small degree of fear in her gaze.

"Hold my hand," he instructed. "Squeeze it if the pain gets too much."

Kat nodded while he positioned himself further. With one last look at her, he gave a firm thrust of his hips. Kat yelped softly as he pushed inside her, only stopping when he was about halfway.

"Oh, wow, ouch," she said, squeezing his hand intensely.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, just give me a minute, okay? It's a lot to take in right now." She gave him a labored smile. "I mean, literally."

Jack chuckled. "It's okay. Just tell me when you're ready."

They kissed for several minutes until she was ready to go again. "Just go slowly at first, Jack. But keep going."

He managed to push a little deeper before he withdrew his hips once more. Kat shuddered at the feeling but let out another hiss as he pressed inside once more. This stroke got deeper, and at least three quarters of his cock got inside her.

Jack kept up this slow rhythm to let her get used to his size. Kat's panting became less labored after every stroke, and soon she was gripping his shoulders and pulling him against her body. "Oh, yes, Jack. That's really feeling amazing now."

He smiled down to her. "You're not a virgin anymore, Kat."

"It could only have been you, you know that, right?" she replied. "I love you, Jack."

"I love you too," he said as he focused on picking up the pace. Kat let out a low moan as his entire shaft buried inside her, his heavy balls coming to rest against her ass. He felt her legs wrap around the back of his waist, pulling him in tight against her body and locking him in place.

She was getting more turned on underneath him as their pace quickened. Kat was panting heavily, and he could feel her erect nipples pressing into his chest. With every deep stroke, she'd let out the most delightful moan against his ear, ensuring that his need to fill her never slackened.

For a brief moment, he pulled back and sucked each of her nipples in turn. Kat let out a loud moan as his tongue teased the two erect nubs before returning to her lips. Her tongue invaded his mouth eagerly, and soon their hips were once more locked in their vigorous rhythm.

"Oh, Jack, if I knew how good this felt, we would have down this a lot sooner," she cooed, pushing her lower body forward to meet every timed thrust.

He could only manage a faint chuckle as his sweaty body moved with hers. "Like back in Sorella?"

She moaned in agreement. "Maybe that first day. Oh, gods, I love how you fill me!"

"I'm going to really fill you soon," he panted. "You feel so good. I can't get enough of you."

"You can always fill me, Jack. Keep me full of your cum," she panted. "I need you so much."

"You have me," he whispered. "I'm so close."

She wrapped her legs tighter around his waist. "Give it all to me. Fill me completely, Jack." She then leaned up to his ear. "Make me yours forever," she whispered.

Jack couldn't hold back any longer. As hard as he tried to keep up the motions without cumming, his orgasm couldn't be prevented. He felt the first jet of his seed flow up his shaft. Kat shuddered when she felt it spray inside her, clamping down against him as all of him spurted inside her body.

"I can feel it," cooed Kat, wiggling her hips against his. "Gods, it feels so good, Jack!"

He kissed her tenderly as the last portion of his seed filled her body. The intense need and desire for each other over the previous half hour soon started to abate, replaced by the tenderness of new love. Even as their hips remained glued to each other, they kissed softly and without alarm, enjoying the moment and the aftermath of their first coupling.

Kat sighed against him happily, her fingers playing with a lock of his hair. A content smile filled her lips, and in that moment, there was nothing more beautiful than the look on the face of his blonde lover.

Jack leaned in and kissed her bare shoulder. "Did you enjoy your first time?"

She nodded quickly. "More than I could've ever thought I would. You were amazing."

Jack chuckled. "You may have created a monster. I don't see how I could not do this with you at least once a day moving forward."

Kat giggled sweetly. "I guess you're saying you kind of like me then, huh?"

"More than that," he whispered. "I love you."

"And I love you," she replied. "And you're missing the best part of this, Jack."

"What's that?"

Kat gave him a wicked look. "Just wait until we get Abigail back in bed," she whispered.

His cock twitched inside her, an effect they both noticed. Kat looked at him with a satisfied expression. "I knew you'd like that."

"Can you blame me?"

She made a playful show of thinking about that answer before shaking her head. "Not at all. You're my king, after all."

"You may have to teach me about that," he said. "I don't know much about being a king."

"I thought you did a wonderful job in Andalucia."

"That was then," he said. "I think being king of Galicia will be a lot different than being the Andalucian king."

She nodded. "You're definitely right but I'll help you the best way I can. I promise."

He kissed her without responding, pulling her body against his. Kat relaxed against his side, her head against his chest like they had so many times previously. It was a position that just felt right.

And now, she was finally his.

*****

As Jack held her in his arms, Kat snuggled against his side, letting out a soft moan of content. She'd thought about what this moment would be like for so long that now that it was finally over, part of her felt a sense of disappointment. She'd willingly stay in bed with him all day if she had the chance, aching to be one with him over and over.

Her face flushed a deep red in color as she reached her hand between her thighs and took some of his seed on her fingers. There had been no words to describe the feeling of Jack filling her, and she could easily see herself becoming addicted to such treatment. He'd been so tender and kind with her, but she knew that would be the case before they even entered the bedroom. Jack had been everything she could have wanted and more, and internally, her heart sang at the mending of their relationship.

There had been a very real worry that he wouldn't want to continue their relationship, the anger at her actions too much to forgive. It had poisoned her attempts to sleep the prior night, but Kat could only say a word of thanks to the gods for giving her his forgiveness. She clutched at him tighter. She didn't intend to ever put him in this position again. Especially with it being foretold that she would eventually become his wife.

Her mind went back to that memory, going back over fifteen years prior to the seer that had addressed her while she trailed behind her father. That seer had been so near death at the time, a blind and frail old woman with white eyes who scared her when she was approached. But the seer's words were prophetic.

"Wife of the Galician king you shall be, child," said the old seer, waving her arms in a mixture of certainty and madness. "Guard him against your family lest he be consigned to an early grave."

At the time, she'd just thought it was gibberish. Besides, everyone knew the Galician kings were dead. She'd just chalked it up to the seer's age and her perceived loss of wits. If only her father had done the same. She could still see the look of anger on his face after all these years.

Jack moved against her subtly, and Kat gently stroked his chest. Now that she had him, she'd do her best to protect him from all their enemies.

Even the ones that hit closer to home.

*****

A few hours later, Jack and Kat reluctantly left her bedroom, not wanting to be found there when the rest of the group got back. They dressed with quiet amusement, giving each other coy looks and gentle laughs at the reminder of what they'd just shared. There was no going back now, not that Jack could want that. Kat was his, and the prospect of facing this new identity with her seemed much less daunting.

They were sitting on the couch pressed into each other when Evelyn opened the door, carrying a tray of fresh blueberries and looking quite satisfied with herself. Behind her were Vera and Abigail, both of them showing some color at being out in the sun for so long. If they minded it, they said nothing about it.

"There you two are," said Evelyn with a knowing look as soon as the door was closed. "Did you enjoy your time alone?" Her eyes twinkled as if she knew exactly what happened while they were gone.

Kat was the first one to turn red. "It was really . . . nice." She slipped her hand into Jack's. "It was just what we needed."

"So what did you do with all this time?" asked Vera with a raised eyebrow. "Do I even really want to know?"

"Just talked together," lied Jack. "We had a lot of ground to cover."

Abigail was the first to approach them, leaning down to look at Jack. She seemed to be searching for something, giving an excited grin as soon as she found it. She pointed to a tender spot on his neck. "That one didn't come from me," she said, motioning at the love bite. "So I'm guessing Kat really did cover a lot of ground."

Kat couldn't have turned redder if she tried. Yet if she thought any embarrassment would come from it, she would soon be mistaken. Abigail leaned in to embrace her tightly. "I'm so glad for you, Kat. How was it?"

"It was really great," whispered Kat. "I see what you meant all those times back on Andalucia."

Abigail winked. "It gets even better. I'll tell you more another time." She then turned to look at Jack, kissing him soundly. "And did you enjoy yourself too, love?"

Jack chuckled and kissed her back. "I really did. And I'm looking forward to when I can next be with you again too."

Abigail purred. "Me too!" She leaned in closer and pressed her lips against his ear. "Soon."

Vera and Evelyn weren't far behind Abigail. Vera hugged them both, whispering against Kat's ear, "I'm so happy for you, Kat. I know this was a long time coming."

Kat grinned excitedly. "It was just heavenly, Vera. I'm so happy."

"It makes me feel so happy to hear you say that," gushed Vera before turning to Jack. "And you too, Jack. Even if this whole relationship is a little odd to me." She gestured to the three of them.

"I'm still getting used to it too," said Jack with a chuckle.

The worst person for him to face was his grandmother. Jack had long accepted his feelings for Abigail and Kat jointly but having it out in the open in front of a real family member lended some sense of embarrassment. Jack found his own cheeks turning red as Evelyn appraised him with a raised eyebrow.

Thankfully though, Evelyn started laughing, patting his cheek. "There's no need for embarrassment, Jack. Kings don't get embarrassed."

"I just know it's a bit unorthodox," he said, finally meeting her gaze.

"Not for Galician kings. It's in your very blood," she said. "That entire line going back to the dawn of time is inside you, Jack. Listen to them. They'll help to guide you along. Keep you safe. And show what it means to be king."

Jack nodded softly. "I really wish I could have met one though. This would be easier to face if I had someone that I could talk to about it. Someone who'd been there before."

Evelyn shook her head. "I understand, Jack, but you just need to look inside yourself." She placed a hand on his chest. "Everything you need to know is already in here. They won't let you down. When you need to talk, just search your heart. You'll find all the answers you need."

While that explanation didn't seem too helpful at the time, Jack found himself nodding anyway. So far, Evelyn hadn't given him any reason to doubt her, and he wanted to trust that she knew the best answers for him. It didn't hurt that she was his own blood either.

The rest of that day was spent much more leisurely than the day before, a fact that Jack was truly thankful for. Evelyn delighted in cooking up a few desserts that featured their fresh blueberries, and they gathered around the kitchen to talk of much lighter subjects. For one, Evelyn had so many stories that she'd accumulated over the years and no one to tell them to. Toward the end of the evening, Jack hunched together on the couch with his newfound family and listened to stories of days long since past.

As the yawns started to get more frequent, Evelyn asked him what his plans were for the rest of the mission.

"Well, from here we'll continue on to Picardy," he said, still holding a nearly comatose Abigail by his side. "I know we aren't far from the capital city of Daban, so that's where we'll try next."

Evelyn nodded. "Just be careful when you do get there, Jack. My suspicion is that all is not truly right in Picardy."

Jack gave her a confused look. "Have you heard of any trouble?"

"I haven't heard anything, Jack. That's part of the problem. Usually, I can get word of what's going on in the country from nearby merchants, but for the longest time, no one has been in or near the capital. Which is quite odd, seeing as I'm only a few days from there."

"That sounds like it points to trouble," said Jack.

Evelyn shrugged. "I don't know. I'd surely like an answer, but it seems I just have to wait for news here on this island. But if I had to guess, I'd say something nefarious is going on."

"The Swabians," Jack muttered.

"Quite possibly. The Picards have stood against the Swabians almost as much as the Galicians have. They could be behind a plot."

"We'll find out for sure when we get there," said Jack.

"Be sure to send word back of what you find. Or just any news at all," said Evelyn as she reached forward to pat his hand. "I want to hear all about your travels and where you go. At this stage in my life, it's probably the only thing that could genuinely make me smile."

"Why don't you come with us?" asked Jack. "I can make room on my ship for your own quarters. You'd be safe with us, and you wouldn't have to wait for word from us either. You'd be there to experience it all firsthand."

"Bah," said Evelyn with a flick of her hand. "I'm too old for that kind of life, Jack. You'd be towing along an old woman everywhere you went. You have enough to worry about."

"Not just any old woman," he said. "I would do it for my grandmother." The words were profound. He'd accepted her for who she was, no matter what it meant for his life.

Evelyn smiled. "I know you would, dear, but I don't want to be a burden to you. I rather like my life here. Kat has made this house into a home for me, and I couldn't bear the thought of leaving here. I'd surely waste away by starting anew someplace else, even if that was aboard one of your ships. Plus, you wouldn't find me much use during battle!"

Jack chuckled. "Now that I found you though, I'm not sure I want to be parted from you so soon. I've only just met you." His eyes went misty. Even with just a short time with the older woman, she'd already made an imprint on his heart.

"I'll always be with you, Jack," she said consolingly. "Just like I told you earlier about your ancestors being inside you always." She placed her hand back on his chest. "I'll be in here too."

"And if that's not enough?"

Evelyn smiled. "Then you can always come here and see me. And spend as much time as you need. I'll never turn down a visit from my grandson."

Jack nodded and embraced her. She was tough for ninety, but he couldn't help but think that she was still frail too. He hated to think about her living here on her own as she continued to age. Yet, he also didn't want to upset her routine or force her to choose a path she didn't want. If this was where she wanted to stay, then he'd respect that.

"I'll take you up on that," he said softly. "You may end up seeing me more than you'd like."

Evelyn chuckled. "I highly doubt that, dear."

*****

The rest of the evening passed without notice, and soon all of them went to bed, wanting to be fresh for their departure in the morning. The time went much more quickly than Evelyn would have liked. She'd barely gotten used to the idea of having her grandchildren around once more that to surrender them again seemed too much. She struggled with holding back the tears while they got ready to leave, and tried to focus on other things.

All too soon, they were huddled back into the kitchen as Evelyn and Kat fixed them a bountiful breakfast, punctuated with the remains of the blueberries from yesterday. Once their stomachs were sated, there remained only one thing left to do, something that Evelyn dreaded. They had all lined up in front of her door, their faces looking everywhere but at hers. It was a feeling she reciprocated.

"You all better get going soon. You can't be held up here at this house forever," said Evelyn, struggling to keep her composure.

"We'll keep in touch," promised Kat.

"And we'll be back as soon as we can manage," added Vera.

Evelyn smiled. "I know you will, dears. Be safe out there, all of you, okay?"

Abigail grinned. "Of course. Someone has to look out for Jack here, right?"

Evelyn chuckled. "That's right!" She hugged the dark-haired woman first. "Please take care of him for me, okay? It was so lovely to meet you."

"And you too, Evelyn. Thank you for letting us stay here," said Abigail.

"It was my pleasure." Evelyn released her reluctantly only to grab for Kat next. "I miss you already, you know?"

"And I, you," replied Kat. "Thank you for everything."

Evelyn smiled. "It's me that you should be thanking you for letting me stay here."

"I'd not want you to be anywhere else."

"Good," said Evelyn. "I'll miss you, Kat."

"Miss you too."

Evelyn then came to her grandchildren last. She grabbed both Jack and Vera at the same time, nuzzling between them. "It doesn't seem right to let you both go right now. Not after I just got to meet you again."

Vera looked at Jack before looking back to her. "I can tell you that we feel the same. Even though this has been a hard trip for the both of us, I'm glad we did it. I'm glad we got you out of this."

"She speaks for both of us," added Jack. "We're really going to miss you."

"As I will for the both of you," said Evelyn. She leaned up to place a kiss against each of their cheeks. "Look out for each other. You two are family now, remember that? Blood runs the deepest, especially in our family."

Vera nodded and smiled. "I'll do everything I can to watch out for him."

"And you," said Evelyn to Jack. "Remember who you are. There will come a day when you need to reveal yourself to the world. Never lose sight of who you are, my king."

Jack nodded solemnly. "I promise."

Evelyn squeezed them both tightly. "I love you both."

All too soon, the hug was over. As the four of them departed the house, Evelyn leaned up against the door frame, watching them go. She watched as they readied the boat to take them back out to the ships just off the island. It was a beautiful day, yet she could see storm clouds just off in the distance.

How prophetic, she thought. For there will no doubt be trouble up ahead. Hopefully, nothing that Jack can't handle.

She watched as he steadied the boat in the water as waves crashed against the side. Once all the women were settled, he pushed it off, only letting the motor down once they'd cleared the shore. In one last motion, all of them waved back at her, a gesture that she returned eagerly, even as tears slid down her cheeks.

"May the gods protect them," she thought as they slowly drifted out of sight.

*****

Jack was silent as the launch boat made its way back to the Destiny. The warm ocean spray on his face was oddly exhilarating after the events of the previous days. He felt like the time spent with Evelyn was eye-opening. He learned more about himself and his past in two days than he had in his entire life. Now he had his own destiny in front of him. He gripped the sword of the Galician king in his free hand, watching the pommel illuminate from his grasp.

This meant something to the Galician people.

It meant their king was alive.

And Jack was ready to give them a fighting chance. He didn't yet know what approach he would take to make that happen. All he had was a chance to make things right, and he would see that chance through the best he could.

Galicia deserved as much.

As they pulled closer to the Destiny, Kat nuzzled against his side. "Are you doing okay this morning?"

Jack nodded confidently. "I'm not bad at all. I feel great actually. Like we're at the dawn of a new day. You know, more than literally."

She smiled warmly. "I kind of feel the same way." Her hand crept into his briefly. "I'm glad we stopped here."

"Me too."

The launch boat pulled alongside the Destiny, and they were soon hoisted up. Jack hopped onto the deck of the mighty cruiser and then proceeded to help the women off next. Not surprisingly, as soon as the whole group was back on solid ground, a familiar face approached them from behind.

"Back so soon, huh?" asked Greg with a sly grin. "And here we were just getting used to having you off the ship."

Jack chuckled. "Can't have that. This is still my task force after all."

Greg laughed and slapped his back playfully. "Well, we're glad to have you back. You ready to get sailing again?"

"I'm feeling good, and I'm ready to get to our next destination."

"Are you feeling rested now after all that R&R? I bet you spent all that time on the beach with fruity drinks, didn't you?" asked Greg with a grin.

Jack gave him a funny look and rested his hand on the other man's shoulder. "Yeah, about that. We should have a talk."