A/N: Sorry for the massive delay. My computer crashed, and since I got tired of waiting for it to be fixed before writing more, I'm posting this chapter from the notes app on my phone. That's how much I love you all, and this story!

What?" he just barely managed to get out. He felt glued to the spot on the grass.

"When we were in Bremen, ,wa, and the book was making the fairy tales? The little girl changed the story, made me Merlin. And it didn't go away once everything was over." Cassandra brought up the blue flame in her hand. "I've been working with it slowly, trying to learn how to use it."

Jenkins swallowed, his throat dry as he stared at the flame. So familiar, so ancient, and so very dangerous.

"I thought I might be able to use it to get rid of the tumor," she said quietly, looking shyly up at him through her long lashes. She was feeling confused. This wasn't the reaction she had expected. Concern from him, surly, but not this...fear.

Jenkins closed his eyes for a long moment, trying to figure out what to say and how to say it.

"Cassandra," he began, wetting his lips nervously, "this is..." he couldn't bring himself to say "bad", he didn't want her to misunderstand him. Over a thousand years, hunting magic, being hunted himself, experimented on, and hated, he had never felt so trapped. His face flushed, it was hard to breathe. As if he was going to explode, and the world would end.

Plus the fact that the damned pollen was making it hard to think again, as he reacted to her nearness. He bit his bottom lip in frustration. Control yourself!

Cassie's eyes went wide watching his reactions. She knew he was trying to tell her something, something serious, but she couldn't help enjoy the warmth pooling at her center from watching him lick and bite his lips. Oh, how she wanted to do that!

But she took a deep breath. Now was not the time to act like a horny schoolgirl. "What is it?" She prompted him.

Jenkins turned his back to her again. She was beginning to recognize the few coping mechanisms he had for dealing with embarrassment. "Our child," he finally said, his voice low and rough. "Your magic, my heritage. Our child will be..." he took a deep breath, clearly trying to summon the courage to say it aloud.

"Llyr. Our child will be Llyr," he nearly spat it out, turning to look at her, his eyes so deeply sad. "I am so very sorry."

ooOoo

They turned together and walked back to the castle. Neither of them spoke, but Jenkins' body language told Cassie much. His fists were clenched, his nostrils flared, he was in a rage. He could be a dangerous man, she realized. But his rage wasn't directed at her.

"What should we do?" She asked softly. Jenkins looked at her sharply, his eyes blazing. But she could visibly see the control he forced upon his whole body. His muscles would hurt later, she noted, planning out their evening.

"I'm not sure, to be honest," he said finally, calmer, though still not willing to touch her as they walked. "In any sane scenario, I would simply say that children were completely off the table. But that leaves me with few options. I suppose..." he drifted off, giving her a sideways look as if he had though better of finishing the sentence.

"We could ask Eve," she said simply. Jenkins stopped by the large bush of gardenias and looked at her.

"It would not be my first choice," he said quietly, his eyes large and loving. Cassie smiled a brilliant smile just for him. "Thank you. I appreciate that. But I might already be pregnant, too."

"True." Jenkins bent his head, deep in thought. But as he looked up at her, he saw the castle agent walking towards them. He did not want to be overheard.

Cassie looked where his eyes were focused, and waited for the man to reach them. "Pardon me, my lord, but the cooked wished to know if there were any food preferences or dislikes. That information had not been made available earlier," he said in English, not wanting to break the illusion of their "ownership" in mentioning that clearly Flynn and Ezekiel had not filled out that section on the online reservation.

"I'll talk to her," Cassie offered, a chance for them both to think through the recent revelations. She was going to give birth to a god. That required some contemplation.

Cassie strode off to the castle entrance, leaving Mr. Rees and Jenkins. It would be awkward, of Jenkins was not way passed awkward, and Mr. Rees not so kind ch of a professional.

Rees was about to back away when Jenkins gestured at the flower bush. "Gardenias are my favorite," he said simply in English, as if it was a normal thing to tell one's butler about one's favorite flower.

"I know, my lord," Rees answered simply, but in Welsh.

Jenkins looked at him sharply. The sentence held more meaning than just a declaration of knowing a random person's flower preference.

"We were unsure, until you arrived. And now, knowing your favorite flower, it is confirmed. This village has waited your return for many centuries, Lord Galahad."

"How do you know that name?" Jenkins was gone, and the Knight was fully present. The air around him almost seemed electrified. He didn't know if they were in danger from an enemy, but he would protect Cassandra with his body if required. "And what village is this, exactly?"

"The old name is Oase, my lord."

Jenkins was shaken to his core. His body trembled, but he managed somehow to keep himself upright. "King Pellas' castle. Where I was conceived."

"The people here have waited a long time, lord." Rees confirmed. "The old tales say that you will return at the end of the world, finally laying down your earthly burden here, where you began."

Jenkins' fears were being confirmed. Everything, from the Nataliam, to marrying Cassandra, to this castle screamed interference from supernatural sources. And he had hated being used from the time he had realized he was just a pawn being used between his parents.

But as Rees waited for a response, Jenkins remembered that he was a Knight, who's oath included protecting and leading these people. These were literally his people, a thousand years removed. He would not abandon them.

"I will inform my lady of the situation," Jenkins said formally. "And I will want to speak with your elders tomorrow."

Rees bowed in the old tradition, from the waist, and left Jenkins on the lawn, deeply disturbed. The Librarians had been tracking the Egyptian god Apep for some time now. He had wondered if other gods would appear as well. He should have known better.