# Chapter 78 - The Protector's Burden
**Damien's POV**
Dream came again. Same dream. Every night now.
Standing in forest. Ancient trees all around. Moonlight through leaves. And her.
Woman who looked like Vanessa. But older. Sadder. More worn.
"You failing her," she said.
"I protecting her. Always protecting."
"Protection not enough anymore."
"What you mean?"
"She breaking inside. Deaths eating at her. Guilt killing her spirit."
I knew this. Saw it in Vanessa eyes. In way she moved. Like carrying weight of world.
"What I supposed to do?" I asked.
"Love her."
"I do love her."
"No. You worship her. You guard her. You serve prophecy. But you not love her as woman. As person."
"That not true."
"Then why she still alone? Why she still hurting?"
Woman stepped closer. Face became clearer. Was Vanessa. But not Vanessa.
"You must love her or she will fall," she said. "Protection not enough. She needs heart to heal heart."
