PART TWENTY SIX

It was nearly two a.m., and Marco had remained in the bar, feeling utterly numb ever since Tess had walked away. But the alcohol’s effect on his system had begun to fade now, leaving only the sharp realization that he’d just lost his soulmate forever.

And not just her, but all of them, and he could hardly fathom what his place in the world might be now. A protector with no one left to protect. For the first time in his life, he was utterly alone—without his family, his unit—and he felt so vulnerable, just sitting in the darkness, watching cigarette smoke spiral under the dim lights of the pool table. He had less than one hundred dollars in his pocket. That and his motorcycle parked outside constituted all his possessions, all he had left in this world.

Why wouldn’t you just go back with her, a quiet voice prompted him. You could have gone back, you know it. You could have still had her, even now. Max would have calmed down and listened.

Yet how could he have faced any of them? And how could he have ever let her love him, not when he’d begun transforming into this creature recently. It would have broken her to watch the madness take hold of him—exactly as it had these last weeks--and he couldn’t do that, not to Tess. He’d already hurt her enough to last several lifetimes.

Marco slid sideways in the booth, stretching his long legs out, so that his rugged hiking boots dangled over the wooden seat edge. He lolled his head against the wall, closing his eyes for just a moment, wishing the bar would stop rotating. He’d begun sobering up, so why was everything still so askew?

Maybe Tess will come back again tonight, he thought, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. The last time he’d leaned his head back like this, he’d felt her appear just beside him.

Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, and almost like sticking a big toe in the water, he ventured to see if the room had finally stilled—then he realized he wasn’t nearly so sober as he’d thought he was.

Because a familiar figure stood studying him, just like before. But when she smiled, tossing her blonde hair, it wasn’t the gentle nurturing of his beloved.

It was the wicked invitation of the very devil. And he knew, there’d be no going back after tonight—not ever.

***

DECEMBER 2006

Hot summer had become chilling fall, replaced by early winter. And with it, green leaves had mutated into variegated ones, which had tumbled to the earth and now crunched beneath Tess’s feet. She ambled mindlessly down the mountain path, swinging her long hair over her shoulder.

She’d grown her blonde tresses nearly halfway down her back, all for him…all because she waited. And whenever he did return—as she was certain he eventually would—he would stroke her hair as before, only this time he would appreciate how very much more there was of it.

The sky had grown leaden this morning, hinting at an early snow, which reminded Tess of their first days nearly a year ago. A time she now treasured, because in Marco’s absence, even those remembered days—as tenuous as they’d been-- were precious. She continued along the rocky trail, her small hiking boots tracing familiar steps, ones she’d taken with him—though it was daylight now, and she could hardly recall a moment when moonlight hadn’t illuminated their every touch.

She walked this course because of him, each step filling an earlier one, every footprint echoing something they’d shared before.

Marek would come for Ayanna, would fulfill his destiny, and answer their call. Lifetimes didn’t matter anymore, all that counted were the dreams…the ceaseless drumming of each to the other.

Tess could hardly sleep because of it any more, he haunted her that endlessly, each and every night. Marek…called to Ayanna. Her protector, her lover.

Her ankle caught on a rock, turning slightly, causing a whisper of pain to echo through her body, not that she felt it. Nothing ever felt real or sure with him gone. After Serena had told her what they were to one another, everything had changed permanently in her heart—and now the snowy sky hovered over her, promising something that might never come.

Marco might never come, but she didn’t care because she could only imagine a world that he would fill, his large frame, his beautiful black eyes rimmed with such long lashes. Otherwise, everything was only one-dimensional-- everything so merely flat.

Marco McKinley defined her world now, even though he’d been so long absent, it had become a shadowy place. And as she reached the lowest part of the hiking trail and glimpsed the tree he’d once backed her against with his ardent kisses, she could only suck in a steadying breath.

Tess could only wonder where he might be this very cold December morning—yet nothing resounded within her heart. Just as she’d perceived nothing from him for months--dead letter box, delivery unknown…an Empath without a home.

That’s who Marco was now, without her—and without him, she was hardly more than the same. Tess was just a woman, long hair flying in the mountain breeze-- which might as well have been a vacuum, for there was no one to notice her physicality at all.

Except for one man, and he’d been absent for so long, feeling him had become only habit…but she could remember.

The dreams took her there, and they’d only intensified every evening, calling her profoundly toward Marco, and he toward her…Marek… night after night the same images and feelings. The same message.

And she knew that if he ever did return, it would be for her—just as she’d prophesied to him.

***

As Tess neared the cabin, the leaden sky began to offer up its promised snow, which dusted her long hair and caused her to shiver more deeply. She gathered Marco’s black parka tightly around her—as over-sized as it was, she’d been wearing it since the weather had chilled. It was warm, but more than that, was still laced with his deep, earthy scent.

She wondered what he was wearing for a winter jacket, wherever he was this morning.

Tess rounded a turn in the path and saw Max sitting on the front steps beside Serena. Both of their expressions were somber, heavy, and changed the minute they saw her. Something about it caused her stomach to churn uncomfortably, because they seemed to have been waiting for her.

"What’s wrong?" she demanded, before even nearing them. She had the feeling that someone had died…that something had gone very wrong.

"Tess," Max began, his golden eyes far too serious as he rose to meet her. "We need to talk to you."

She glanced rapidly between Max and Serena, and couldn’t believe how grim the other woman’s expression was, and wondered why she avoided her gaze so pointedly.

"What Max?" Tess cried again, more forcefully. "You’re scaring me."

Max clasped Tess’s arm gently, guiding her away from Serena for a moment, back toward the trail. "It’s Marco," he began, his voice thick.

"He’s dead," she breathed. "Isn’t he? That’s why you both look so upset!" Her heart began pounding as her throat tightened painfully, and a strange rushing noise filled her head.

"No, Tess," Max denied, shaking his head firmly. "No, he’s alive…th-that’s not the problem."

"Then what?" The snow began to fall heavily now, tumbling from the sky in thick clumps that fell on her lashes.

"Riley and Cecilia were conducting surveillance this morning at Khivar’s camp," Max began, looking suddenly very grief stricken as he paused. He couldn’t seem to meet her eyes, and Tess wondered why such deep fear had begun choking her heart.

"Tell me," she urged, tears brimming in her eyes so that Max became only a blurry image. "They saw him, Tess," he admitted quickly. "In the enemy camp. He’s gone over to their side."

She shook her head vehemently. "No…no, that’s not possible."

"Tess…"

"Max, it isn’t true," she shouted. "How can you even believe that of him? Of the man who wouldn’t even…" she cut herself off, closing her eyes. Who wouldn’t even give himself to me, because of you. And I know what he denied…how very powerful it was.

"Who wouldn’t what, Tess?" Max pressed gently.

She shook her head again, biting back the stinging tears that had filled her eyes. "He swore oaths for you and Liz, Max…he died to himself for you, don’t you understand?"

Max shook his head in confusion. "I’m not sure."

"He would never go to Khivar’s side…couldn’t do it."

"They saw him, Tess."

"Well, maybe, but if he’s there…it’s for you," she announced, raking her hands anxiously through her hair. She had to make Max understand.

"You’re that sure?" he asked, his voice nearly a whisper, but she sensed he remained unconvinced.

"I’m surprised that you aren’t, but then again, I know him so much more than you."

"Help us understand."

"I can’t," she choked, the tears spilling down her cheeks. "Except to say…he wouldn’t even be with me because of you. God, you know that, Max. I told you so."

Max was silent a long moment, staring down at the ground between them, as Tess wiped at her fresh tears. For months now, it seemed she’d only been able to remain strong and distant from Max…the others. But he had to know.

"He loves you and Liz too much to betray you, don’t you know that?" she finally choked.

Max met her gaze suddenly, his amber eyes flashing with intense emotion. "I only know what they saw."

"I guess I’m the only one who still believes in him," she whispered. "Because I know his heart."

With that she brushed past Max, into the cabin, leaving him staring after her. Leaving Serena on the step, so lost in her own thoughts and so tormented, she hardly seemed to notice her.

And she wondered why it was so hard for them all to see what was utterly apparent to her…that he’d gone the only place he could go to protect them.

****

Max lay in the darkness, staring at the wooden ceiling above him. It was long after midnight, and Liz slept beside him, her soft breath sighing evenly and peacefully, and he yearned for sleep to claim him, too. But it eluded him, as it often had for months now, whenever his thoughts drifted toward Marco like they did tonight. He’d thought about that night so many times, he’d memorized all the details, and yet he could never figure out how he’d made such a tremendous mistake.

And he knew his thoughts about that night mirrored Marco’s perfectly, begging the endless questions. How could I have done something so crazy, so utterly stupid?

Which was why he didn’t know what to think about the latest intelligence report, of Riley seeing him within Khivar’s camp. It seemed nearly impossible to believe, but why else would Marco be there, if he hadn’t turned to their side? If he was there spying, how could he have made his appearance there plausible to Nicholas? And there had been security breaches in the past months, little things mostly, but enough to make Max suspicious now.

Yet Tess was utterly convinced that he was still serving him, not Khivar—and she did know his heart, just like she’d said.

It had killed Max to see her suffer so much these past months, all because of his mistake. She’d grieved for so long, it now seemed a permanent part of her countenance—and he’d promised her he’d bring Marco home. If he intended to keep that vow, then Max couldn’t help feeling he should act somehow on their having located him…that he should find a way to go to him, and bring him back.

But what if Marco really had turned on him. Max had, after all, given him every reason. Max’s eyes fluttered shut and he pressed hard within his mind, using his intuition to know the truth. He saw only blackness, but heard a string of strange, foreign words…like what he’d heard from Serena’s mouth when she’d been captured.

****

"What?" Serena cried groggily, bolting up in her bed. Max had knelt quietly beside her where she lay sleeping on her side. He’d nudged her awake and quietly repeated the words he’d heard moments before.

"How do you know those words?" Serena demanded urgently. "Where did you hear them?"

"I…needed to know whether Marco had really turned against me," he explained quietly. "So I…used my intuition to try to feel the truth."

"Oh, God," Serena cried, burying her face in her hands. "Why did he do it?"

"Do what, Serena? What do the words mean?"

"They’re his vow as your protector," she explained, planting her feet on the floor. "Which means Tess is right…that he is still serving you…but it also means he’s in an incredible amount of danger." She shook her head, raking her fingers frantically through her hair. "If Nicholas ever remotely suspects what he’s doing, then he’s already dead."

"After Anna’s betrayal?"

"More than that…he’d take special privilege with Marco’s death."

"Why?"

"Because he’s your protector, Max," she explained, her voice urgent in the darkness. "That would be almost as delicious to him as killing you or Liz."

"Then we have to get him out of there," Max stated, rising from where he knelt. "What do you mean we?" Serena asked, worry already lining her voice.

"We must contact him…he has to know that I want him here, with us. That I regret nothing more than that night."

"Max…that sounds incredibly risky," Serena whispered plaintively. "You know what Marco means to me, but I also know he’d never jeopardize any of our lives. Direct contact like that…" She shook her head doubtfully. "I just don’t know."

"We will make it work, and no one will get hurt," Max vowed, his thoughts completely resolved on the matter. "I owe this much to Tess and especially to Marco."

What he didn’t say, was that intuitively he knew only one person could bring Marco McKinley back at all, only one person could heal their breach…