The air in the fields was sweet with crushed chamomile and sharp with wild mint. Jaime bent to cut another handful when the voice came, low and firm, from the path behind him.
"La Señora wishes to see you."
He straightened, brushing soil from his palms, and followed the runner to the Behike's hut.
Inside, the fire was banked low, filling the air with the scent of burning wood. Señora Behike gestured to the mat by the flames.
"Sit."
When he obeyed, she watched him for a long moment before speaking.
"You have heard the name Coatriskie?"
Jaime hesitated. "Only whispers. Never in detail. I may be his vessel, but he's as cryptic as ever."
"Then hear it now. He is the proud warrior god of flood and rain, once consort to Guabancex- torn from her in an act of war."
The words seemed to catch in Jaime's chest. His voice dropped to a near whisper.
"Why would this god want me, me, to be around the vessel of his goddess? A woman married to another man, another vessel?"
The Behike clicked her tongue, grinding herbs in a mortar.
"Not everything is what it seems. El León Negro grows unsafe. I have seen it in vision." She met his gaze with a soft smile. "Be patient. Have faith. The gods do not wait for mortal understanding."
He lowered his eyes. "I… will do my best, Señora."
Her smile deepened, but she said nothing more, dismissing him with a flick of her hand.
For days, Elena sought Niegal-
at the training grounds, in the garden, by the chapel's shadowed walls. He evaded her each time, until finally she gave up the search.
It was Señora Behike who found her kneeling in the cathedral, tears darkening the hem of her blouse.
"Never apologize for your tears, mija," the old woman murmured when Elena stammered an apology. "Pain is pain. Let it out."
Elena gave a bitter laugh. "Is there any home left for a broken marriage? He's slipping away from me."
The Behike said nothing. That silence hollowed Elena more than any answer could have.
News arrived like a knife to the ribs: the cult of Isla Serpiente was raiding villages, searching for their lost queen; Esperanza.
Jaime stepped forward at the elders' council.
"Let me help tighten the sanctuary's defenses. The guards need training for fanatic tactics."
Juan joined him on the training grounds, teaching the guards the cult's patterns. Phineus and Esperanza gravitated toward the drills, warming to Jaime's calm guidance.
Niegal saw it from the edge of the yard, his jaw locking tight. The Lion within prowled, teeth bared.
The moment Niegal slammed the cottage door, Elena could feel the Lion pressing through his voice.
"Why," he demanded, "are Esperanza and Phineus training with Juan and Jaime?" His silver eyes burned. "Why are you alright with that?"
El León growled at me for the first time, she realized, and her chest constricted in pain.
She stepped toward him, incredulous.
"Out of everything going on, that's what you're upset about? Not that our daughter's being hunted, not that we haven't had a real conversation in weeks- but that they're learning to defend themselves? Do you even hear yourself?"
His jaw flexed. "If you weren't so unreasonable in the first place, I wouldn't be like this. I had every right to be wary of Esperanza back on La Sirena, but you treated it like I was an inconvenience. And now look at you."
His voice dropped, venomous. "You're basically a cripple."
Her eyes flared violet- Guabancex's warning hiss audible in the silence.
"It's not Esperanza's fault," she spat. "She's a child, Niegal! Drugged and bound by magic, or do you conveniently forget that?"
"Oh, right," he snapped, "so it's fine that she's now friendly with her kidnapper?"
Her stomach twisted. "Juan risked his life for her!"
Niegal's voice rose to a near shout, cutting her off:
"It's irresponsible- You're irresponsible! You'll throw yourself into the fire for anyone but yourself. No wonder you can't keep the children in line!"
His eyes flashed red. His hand lifted- not quite striking, but close enough to make her flinch.
"GET OUT!" she screamed.
Lightning cracked from her palms, slamming into his chest. He staggered backward through the open doorway, both man and god reeling.
The shock in his face, the instant of regret, was too late.
Elena was already gone, storming into the night.
She ran until her legs trembled, finding herself beneath the kapok tree in the cathedral garden. The branches swayed overhead, muting the stars.
Jaime was returning from the training grounds when he saw her. Small, hunched, weeping. He approached slowly, offering a folded handkerchief without a word before sitting beside her.
The gods were silent.
Her voice cracked as she stared at the grass.
"He called me irresponsible. Like I haven't bled for him, for our children. Like I haven't died for them."
A long pause.
"I think… this is too broken now."
Jaime's hand closed around hers, steady and warm. She gripped it, shoulders shaking.
It took her an hour to still her breathing. Jaime said nothing, though inside, something twisted, remembering the Behike's words.
From the shadows, silver eyes watched. Jaime met them, his own flashing blue.
The silver turned red, then vanished into the gathering dark.