The aftermath of the battle left an eerie silence across the mansion grounds. Smoke still rose from small fires, and the bodies of Luca's fallen men were being dealt with by Victor's loyal guards. The night sky above had softened, the first glimmers of dawn beginning to creep over the horizon.
Nereus lay on a makeshift cot inside one of the safer rooms of the mansion. Though his wound still throbbed painfully, the bleeding had been stopped, and the bullet removed by Salvatore's field medic. The ocean's magic coursed faintly in his blood, speeding his recovery, but the ache in his shoulder reminded him how close he had come to losing everything.
Victor stood nearby, watching Nereus closely. His eyes were shadowed with exhaustion, but there was a calmness in his expression now that hadn't been there before. For the first time in years, the man known for his ruthlessness and control had allowed himself to feel hope again.
Nereus met Victor's gaze, offering a tired but genuine smile. "You look like you haven't slept in days."
Victor let out a breath, half a chuckle and half relief. "I haven't. Not really." He moved to sit beside Nereus, reaching out to take his hand. His touch was gentle, a stark contrast to the violence that had erupted earlier. "I couldn't leave your side."
Nereus squeezed Victor's hand in return, his voice soft. "Thank you. For staying."
Victor's expression softened, his thumb brushing over Nereus's knuckles. "You saved me, Nereus. More than once. I don't think I can ever repay that."
Nereus shook his head, his smile widening despite the pain. "You don't owe me anything. I did what I did because I care about you."
The words hung between them, and for a moment, it was as if the weight of the world had lifted entirely. The darkness that had threatened to swallow them was gone, and in its place was something bright and uncertain—but full of promise.
Victor's gaze darkened with something deeper, more vulnerable. "I don't know what happens next," he admitted. "I've spent so long fighting, holding onto this empire... I don't know how to let go of it. But I know I can't go back to what I was. Not after you."
Nereus's heart swelled at Victor's words. He had seen so much of the man behind the mask, the one hidden beneath the layers of power and control. Now, they stood at the brink of a new path—a future they hadn't been sure they would survive to see.
"You don't have to decide right now," Nereus said gently. "The ocean... it's always been my home. But after everything we've been through, I think I want to stay on land for a while. With you."
Victor's eyes flickered with emotion—surprise, hope, and something that looked like joy. "You'd stay?"
Nereus nodded, leaning into Victor's touch. "I think I'm starting to understand the human world a little better. And maybe we can find something in it, together."
Victor's hand tightened around Nereus's, his face softening in a way that was almost unrecognizable compared to the cold, hardened man Nereus had first encountered. "I want that too."
There was a long silence between them, one filled not with tension or uncertainty, but with something warm and tender. They had fought so hard, sacrificed so much, and yet here they were, on the other side of it, stronger for it.
Finally, Victor broke the silence, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I've built a life on control. On power. I've ruled through fear. But with you... it's different. I want to build something new. Something real."
Nereus looked up at him, his heart thudding in his chest. "We can. We will."
Victor's lips curved into a rare, soft smile, and for a moment, he looked almost boyish. It was a glimpse of the man Victor might have been before all the scars of the past, before Luca, before the empire. Nereus cherished that moment.
Outside the room, Salvatore entered quietly, clearing his throat to get their attention. "The cleanup is underway. Luca's remaining men have either fled or been captured. The mansion is secure."
Victor nodded but didn't move from his place beside Nereus. "Good work, Salvatore."
Salvatore glanced at Nereus and offered a slight nod. "Glad to see you're still in one piece, merman. We couldn't have done this without you."
Nereus chuckled lightly, though it made his shoulder ache. "I guess I'm tougher than I look."
Salvatore smirked before his expression turned serious again. "There's still the matter of Luca's territories. Without him, a power vacuum will form. It won't be long before others try to fill the void."
Victor's expression hardened as he thought about it. The mafia world was ruthless, and with Luca gone, there would be others vying for control. But Victor didn't want that life anymore—not now, not after everything that had changed. He glanced at Nereus, a quiet determination settling in.
"I'm done with that," Victor said firmly. "Let them have the territories. I'm finished with the empire. It's time to step back."
Salvatore looked momentarily surprised but then nodded, understanding. "If that's your decision, I'll make sure it happens smoothly."
Victor gave him a grateful nod. "Thank you, Salvatore. For everything."
Salvatore left the room to handle the remaining business, leaving Victor and Nereus alone once again. The sun was starting to rise outside, casting a soft golden light through the windows. It felt like the beginning of something new, something filled with hope.
Nereus sighed softly, leaning his head back against the pillow, his heart lighter than it had been in days. "I never imagined I'd end up here. On land. With you."
Victor smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to Nereus's forehead. "Neither did I. But I'm glad we did."
As the first light of dawn filled the room, they both knew the future was theirs to shape. No longer bound by the past or the weight of their old lives, they could finally start over. Together.
And in that moment, everything felt right.