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By the time the greetings were over and they’d found a place to sit, Meredith called everyone up to the buffet. Kate stood, and all Isaac wanted to do was whisk her back upstairs. Her cheeks were pale, and she didn’t look as steady on her feet as she’d been earlier.
He was about to ask if he could go to the buffet for her when Fiona approached. With one hand on each of Kate’s shoulders, she pushed her back into the chair.
Thank you, Isaac said to Fiona telepathically, to not make a big deal out of her assistance. He expected his son’s future grandmother would become an ally when he needed one, and it was never too early to take advantage of that.
“Let us fill plates for you,” Fiona said as she lifted her chin toward where Morgana stood off to the side.
“Appreciate it.” He smiled at them both before they walked away.
Kate leaned close and rubbed her hand over his bearded cheek. “I know what my mom just did, and for once, I don’t mind. I’m okay, you know… yes, still weak. But okay.”
“Are you feeling as overwhelmed as I am by all the people?” he asked quietly.
She laughed. “Yes, and I never thought I’d say that. I love these big get-togethers. But…” She looked over at the line of people at the buffet. “It’s a lot today.”
Kate admitting that something was almost too much was new for her. Usually, she would have been quick to state she could handle anything. And he knew she could, but she didn’t need to and it seemed she was finally coming to realize that.
“We can leave whenever you want to.”
“I know.” She stroked his beard with her palm again. “Are you going to keep this, my lumberjack?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Yes.” Kate winked, something else that was new. “At least until I can come up with a new nickname.”
“Just keep it family-friendly,” he teased. Keeping a beard was easy. Kate might not have realized yet, but he would do anything for her, including keeping his beard.
A minute later, Fiona and Morgana brought over plates piled high with food. As he and Kate ate, they answered questions that were peppered at them.
“I’m sorry,” Sam told them when there was a lull.
Isaac didn’t know what she was sorry for, but he was familiar enough with the look of guilt to recognize it when he saw it. He’d seen it for years every time he looked in the mirror. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Sam. Maverick is the only one to blame.” Isaac noticed Mirek take one of Sam’s hands and pull it under the table, as if to hold it in his lap. Maybe Isaac and Kate weren’t the only ones who resolved some issues over the past month.
“Yes, but I told everyone you were dead.” Her voice was strong and her stare direct, like she needed him to know she was taking responsibility for her actions.
Mirek looked as if he was going to speak up, so Isaac gave him a nod, hoping he realized that Isaac did not blame anyone but Maverick.
Mirek gave a slight nod in return for Isaac to continue. “Sam. Again… nothing to be sorry for. I expected Maverick made it seem like we were dead.” Something he’d suspected from the beginning.
A chair scraped against the floor, drawing his attention. Ben stood, walked around to his daughter, and laid a hand on her shoulder, looking Isaac in the eyes. “We both thought you were dead. And I agree, it’s on Maverick, but it pains me that we didn’t find you sooner.”
“Well, thank fuck you found us when you did!” Kate said loudly with a grin, breaking the tension as laughter broke out. Even Sam smiled and Ben walked back to his chair now that his daughter seemed at ease. This time Mirek nodded at Isaac.
“My sister has a way with words. And yes, we’re thankful.” Damon said when the laughter died down. “Since we were talking about Maverick… I’m curious about something with the room he sent you to… when did the walls start to collapse?”
Kate squeezed Isaac’s hands, and he took that as a sign to take over. She kept a smile on her face, but his magic picked up on her emotional strain through their hands. “December first, the same day we lost our magic.”
As soon as Isaac spoke, he felt the tension in the room return. There were subtle signs that confirmed his feeling. The clanking of cutlery on plates became quieter. A few of the council members locked eyes with their partners. Enough for Isaac to know that something else happened on December first.
Isaac looked down the tables at Jack “Something else happened that day.” Isaac didn’t pose it as a question; he knew it in his gut.
“Yes. Maverick died,” Jack said, his expression somber, telling Isaac that Maverick’s death wasn’t the worst thing to happen.
Kate’s rising anxiety telegraphed to Isaac through her skin. Throwing his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her into his side, but Isaac’s gaze remained on Jack. “And the ancient magic that was inside of him?”
Jack’s countenance changed, but only slightly, as if he’d been painted by a light brush. His expression held sorrow, and his shoulders appeared weighed down, but they didn’t drop. “Unfortunately, it didn’t stay inside him.”
“It dissipated?” Kate asked.
