THE UNBROKEN

They made camp once they finally reached the coast, the scent of brine and salt heavy in the air as the sun began to lower itself into the sea. They'd ridden hard, through day, through night, pushing their bodies past exhaustion. No one complained. No one dared to. Not after what they'd endured.

Niegal never let go of Elena. Not once. A hand on her thigh as they rode. An arm curled protectively around her as she slept in the saddle. His eyes scanned constantly, his jaw set, his breath too shallow. As if one more blow might shatter him.

They'd found a small stretch of cliffside, tucked between outcroppings of jagged stone and wildflowers, just enough shelter to feel invisible. Phineus and the crew set the wards. Again. And again. Niegal laid out cloaks and bedding, setting Elena gently down with their daughter curled in her arms.

The sea whispered below.

The fire cracked softly, and the wind carried a salty hush.

That's when he broke.

Elena had been dozing, her shoulder still wrapped in tight mana bandages, her breathing even but thin. When she stirred, she felt his body tense beside her, still as stone.

She turned to look at him.

Niegal was sitting beside her, head bowed, hands clenched into fists over his knees. The blood from the battle had long been washed off, but his eyes were wild. Unblinking. Silver as moonlit steel.

"Niegal?" she asked softly, voice raspy.

His jaw twitched.

"I should have seen it coming," he whispered. "I should've felt it. Smelled them. Heard them. I didn't. And they-"

He stopped. His shoulders shook once. Then again.

"Elena… they touched you."

She sat up slowly, her healing wound tugging against her side. "Mi Léon-"

"I froze," he snarled softly. "The second I saw that harpoon… my body moved too slow. I watched you fall."

"Niegal…"

"I'm supposed to protect you. That's what the lion does. That's what I am. And I let them hurt you." His voice cracked. "You bled because of me."

Tears welled in his eyes but refused to fall. His beast fought it. His pride fought it. But the guilt was bigger.

"I'm just another Matteo man fucking it up," he said bitterly. "Seamus… Father… Me. All of us, breaking things we swore we'd protect."

Elena reached for him.

He tried to pull away.

But she held firm.

She cupped his face, her fingers trembling from pain and tenderness alike.

"You're not Seamus. You're not your father. You didn't leave me."

He finally met her eyes. "But I still failed."

"No." She leaned forward, pressing her forehead to his. "You were the one who saved me."

Her voice was steady now, the storm inside her quiet but present.

"You held me in the forest. You healed me when I was dying. You carried me here. You've never once let me face the dark alone."

His hands covered hers, rough and clawed and shaking.

"I felt the lion cry," he whispered. "When the metal went through you. I felt him wail. I've never heard that sound before."

Elena kissed the bridge of his nose, the corners of his mouth, his trembling jaw.

"You and your lion did everything right."

Finally, the tears came.

Silent. Fierce. He tucked his face into her neck and let her hold him.

They lay together like that for a long time, the fire burning low, the sea wind lifting strands of her hair across his cheek.

Above them, thunder rumbled, but softer this time.

Not fury.

Grief. And love.

And the promise of sanctuary just beyond the horizon.