The older man grinned, his weathered face creasing with warmth. He stood tall, his presence formidable, radiating a quiet, unshakable pride. His coffee-colored eyes gleamed with ancient wisdom, seeing more than they let on.
In this century, his hair was bound into two long braids that fell down his back.
Jack sat beside him at the table, quietly sipping his coffee.
Dancing Fire rushed toward me, pulling me into a firm embrace.
He felt smaller than I remembered, but the strength in his limbs remained. When he finally released me, his hands gripped my upper arms, his gaze searching mine.
“I haven’t heard that name in a long time,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Please, call me Lee. Or Moon Lee, if you prefer.”
His eyes gleamed, and I realized mine were damp, too.
“So good to see you, son!” He clapped my arm, grinning. “The last time I saw you, you were just a young man. Look at you now—bigger than me! You were puny before. Now, look at this muscle.”
He gave my biceps a firm squeeze, his laughter deep and warm.
My throat tightened. Words failed me. Finally, I managed, “I can’t believe I’m here with you. It’s been too long.”
“Far too long.” Lee gestured toward the table. “Come. Sit. Eat. We have much to catch up on.”
I took a seat opposite him and Jack.
“Good morning, Jack. You’ve brought quite the welcome surprise today,” I said, still reeling from the sight of Lee before me.
Jack patted my back, grinning. “Lee finally got back to me. What can I get you for breakfast? Coffee and eggs? Bacon?”
“Yes, please.” Since arriving in this century, I’d developed a fondness for coffee and bacon—two things I never wanted to live without again.
As Jack busied himself in the kitchen, Lee turned to me, his expression shifting from warmth to something more serious.
“Tell me everything,” he urged. “What have you encountered since last we met?”
I exhaled, dragging a hand through my hair. “Where do I even begin?”
And so, I told him.
I spoke of Rome—of how I landed there and became a gladiator under Emperor Severus. I told him of Marcus, my closest friend, and my unending conflicts with Marcellious. I recounted the betrayal—the setup to kill Marcus at Marcellious’ request.
Lee’s face darkened as I spoke. His fingers curled slightly, his jaw tightening.
“Who is this Marcellious?” he asked.
I swallowed hard. “Marcellious is my twin brother.”
Lee’s breath hitched, his brows drawing together.
“Olivia suspected it,” I continued, “so she time-traveled us all to the Americas, where we found your brother, Grey Feather. He helped us on our journey.”
Lee sat still for a moment, absorbing my words. Then, he nodded.
“Grey Feather…” he murmured, his gaze distant, as if seeing ghosts of the past.
A deep breath left him, his expression shifting between awe and sorrow. “Marcellinus was Hunting Wolf when I knew him. My boy—the little boy I raised—turned into a man, a warrior.” His voice drifted off. “How I wish I could see him again, hold him, tell him how proud I am. I miss him dearly.”
A small, mirthful smile broke through his sorrow. “The name Marcellious… It comes from an old story I used to tell him when he was a boy. Marcellious was a great warrior and slayer of demons, always victorious. He loved that tale.”
“Interesting,” I murmured as Jack set a steaming coffee before me. I wrapped my hands around it, letting the heat seep into my fingers. “He tried to kill me many times. He was in a dark place in Rome.”
