Leo pushed himself up from the ground, his body screaming in protest with every movement.
His muscles felt like they were tearing apart, his bones still aching from the relentless weight of Lucian’s presence.
His breath came in short gasps, ragged and unsteady, but he forced himself to remain standing. His legs wobbled, barely able to hold his weight, yet he refused to fall.
He raised his head, his vision blurred with exhaustion, but his eyes found Fiona’s unmoving form, still embedded in the cracked stone wall.
His chest clenched at the sight. Her body, usually so full of energy and life, hung limply against the shattered surface.
His fingers curled into fists, nails digging into his palms. A hot, simmering rage burned beneath his skin, an anger unlike anything he had ever felt before. It wasn’t just fury at Lucian—it was at himself. His powerlessness. His insignificance.
The realization that despite everything he had done, despite all the battles he had fought, he was still nothing compared to monsters like Lucian.
The truth was undeniable.
He was weak.
His father’s name, his mother’s divine bloodline—none of it mattered. Not if he couldn’t protect those he cared about. Not if he couldn’t even lift a finger to stop someone like Lucian from taking everything away from him.
"I need strength," he whispered, the words slipping past his lips like a vow, a desperate prayer to something, anything, that would listen.
Tatiana stood beside him, her blood-forged wings folding behind her as she regarded him with a knowing look. She heard the words he had spoken to himself, understood the weight behind them.
"Yes, you do," she agreed, her voice steady. "But first, you and your friends have to leave. It’s no longer safe here. Lucian can come back at any time."
Leo’s grip on his fists tightened. He knew she was right. This place was no longer their home. If they stayed, Lucian would find them again, and next time, there might not be anyone to save them.
Tatiana moved toward Fiona, her gaze momentarily softening as she reached out and carefully pulled the massive wolf from the wall. She carried her gently, as if she were handling something fragile, and laid her down in front of Leo.
"She suffered internal injuries and several broken bones, but she will survive," Tatiana said, her tone quieter now, almost... reassuring.
Leo knelt down, his hands trembling as he reached out to Fiona’s fur. He ran his fingers gently along her side, brushing over her wounds.
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Her body spasmed lightly at his touch, a faint whimper escaping her throat. His heart clenched at the sound.
He swallowed the lump in his throat, biting back the overwhelming emotions threatening to consume him.
He wanted to scream, to break something, to lash out at the universe itself—but there was nothing he could do except swallow the bitter pill of humiliation and defeat.
"Where do we go from here?" he asked, his voice hollow.
"Earth is no longer an option for you," Tatiana answered. "Lucian will be able to trace you, no matter where you hide. The best option is to leave this world entirely."
Leo turned to her, his eyes filled with quiet determination. "What realm?"
"Yllandor," Tatiana replied. "It’s the realm shared by the elves, dwarves, and beastkin. If you go there, you’ll have access to another rift. One that will take you back to the Abyssal Realm."
Leo frowned. "The elves… will they allow us in?"
"They don’t control the realm itself," Tatiana explained. "Their authority is limited to their continent. I won’t be sending you there. You’ll arrive in the beastkin territories. They won’t care who you are, as long as you don’t bring trouble."
Leo absorbed her words, then nodded. "Fine. We’ll leave immediately. But first..." He turned his gaze toward the lifeless remains of the wolves, their bodies nothing more than dried husks after Lucian had drained them.
"I need to bury them."
A heavy silence followed.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the building behind them.
Ves was the first to appear, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. Her gaze landed on Leo, battered and kneeling before Fiona’s unconscious form. Her breath hitched, her fists clenching.
Mia and Miguel arrived seconds later, their expressions quickly shifting from confusion to horror.
Mia covered her mouth with her hands, tears welling in her eyes as she took a shaky step forward.
"What... what happened?"
Miguel, normally composed, looked as though he had been struck in the gut. His fists trembled at his sides as he scanned the battlefield, his eyes finally settling on the remains of the wolves.
The silence stretched, thick with grief and anger.
Ves was the first to move. She rushed forward, kneeling beside Leo and Fiona. Her hands hovered over Fiona’s fur, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came. Instead, she looked up at Leo, her eyes searching his.
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Leo held her gaze, seeing everything she wanted to ask, everything she wanted to say, reflected back at him.
"Lucian," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. That single word carried all the explanation needed.
Miguel exhaled sharply, his rage barely contained.
"He did this?" His voice was dark, dangerous.
The group knew of Lucian as Ves has already told them about Tatiana’s half siblings.
Mia let out a shaky breath, her hands dropping to her sides.
"We... we need to bury them," she said, her voice barely steady.
No one argued.
Together, they began moving the wolves’ remains. Their hands were steady but their hearts were heavy.
Each body they lifted felt like another piece of their home being taken away. The wolves had been more than just animals—they had been part of their family, their protectors.
The process took time. The dried husks were brittle, crumbling at the edges as they carefully carried them to a quiet clearing near the ruins of their base.
A massive grave had been dug, large enough to hold the fallen wolves.
Leo stood at the edge, his body still aching, but he refused to show weakness now. His gaze swept over the lifeless forms one last time before he spoke.
"You fought for us," he said, his voice raw. "You stood against monsters you couldn’t win against, just because you wanted to protect us. I swear... I won’t let your sacrifice be in vain."
Ves wiped at her eyes, Mia sniffled, Miguel bowed his head, and Tatiana stood silent, watching.
A faint rustling sound broke the moment.
Leo turned, his breath catching as Fiona stirred.
Her body trembled as she struggled to move, her ears twitching. Slowly, painfully, her eyes opened.
Leo fell to his knees beside her. "Fiona..."
She let out a weak huff, her nose nudging his hand. She was still alive.
Leo felt something inside him loosen, a knot of pain and anger easing just a little.
After a long silence, Tatiana finally spoke. "It’s time."
The portal shimmered before them, a swirling vortex of deep blues and greens.
Leo took a slow breath, glancing at his friends.
Ves met his gaze with quiet determination. Mia and Miguel nodded.
He turned back toward the grave one last time.
"Goodbye," he whispered.
Then, without another word, they stepped into the portal