Elric peered through the narrow crack between the chained doors, the sound of his bracelets clinking softly against the enchanted chains that bound him. The cool metal collar around his neck pressed heavily against his skin, a constant reminder of his captivity. His gaze fell on the figure outside—the slender merman who had introduced himself as Roni.

Elric's green eye narrowed as he studied him. Roni was a delicate thing, with soft blonde hair and wide brown eyes that radiated innocence. His frame was slight, his features almost ethereal, like a doll crafted by the gods themselves. A sex slave, perhaps, Elric thought grimly, the notion twisting uncomfortably in his chest. The gold collar and bracelets only cemented the idea.

"Were you crying, Elric?" Roni's soft voice slipped through the crack, tinged with curiosity and concern.

Elric froze, his heart tightening. Crying? He hadn't even realized. His gaze darted away, falling on the small trinket that hung from his neck—a pink diamond, delicate and rare, encased in a swirl of metal. The gem gleamed faintly in the dim light, catching his eye like a ghost of his past.

"It's for you, brother!"

Merlin's voice echoed in his memory, innocent and full of joy. Elric's jaw tightened as the image of his younger brother swam before him, his bright eyes and excited smile a cruel contrast to the void that followed. Another year. Another year without Merlin. Another year of searching, of grieving, of failing.

"You're crying again," Roni said gently, his voice pulling Elric from his thoughts.

Elric blinked and reached up, brushing his fingers across his face. Glass-like tears rimmed his eyes, breaking free to float upward toward the ceiling before dissolving into nothing. The sight felt almost surreal, as though the pain wasn't truly his own.

A soft rattle of chains drew his attention. Roni's slender fingers were tracing the enchanted locks that held the doors closed, his touch curious and tentative.

"Why are you here?" Roni whispered, his voice carrying a mix of wonder and sadness.

Elric laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and broken. "Can't you tell, little one?" he replied, his tone laced with venom as he let his cracked and filthy talons slip through the slit in the doors.

Roni, either oblivious or bold, leaned in closer. His wide eyes flicked to the claws, his nose twitching slightly as though he were trying to make sense of the strange, scarred figure before him. Elric hissed, his sharp teeth bared in irritation. This child should know better than to meddle in the shadows of the Onyx Palace.

"You're a criminal," Roni said softly, his voice tinged with wonder rather than fear. He reached out, his small thumb brushing against Elric's bony fingers.

Elric froze at the touch. It was gentle, harmless, and so achingly innocent that it made his heart lurch. How? he thought. How had this little merman kept such purity, such light, in a world so dark? The simple gesture stirred something unfamiliar in Elric—a strange mix of longing and protectiveness that he couldn't quite place.

"I've never met a criminal before," Roni continued, his eyes wide and unguarded.

Elric's lips parted, his breath catching as the echoes of his past clawed their way forward. He had once been like Roni, brimming with hope, a bright soul filled with wonder. He had shared that light with Merlin, the two of them inseparable, untouchable—until it was ripped away.

"You should know," Elric hissed, his voice low and dangerous, "that criminals are dangerous. We're killers, liars, traitors." He bared his teeth in a feral snarl. "And savages."

Roni's eyes widened, fear finally breaking through his innocent gaze. He recoiled, his small frame trembling as he backed away from the door. Without another word, he turned and swam off, the sound of his rattling chains fading into the distance.

Elric let out a shaky breath, the tension in his chest easing as Roni disappeared from sight. He rested his forehead against the cold metal of the door, his claws scraping lightly against the surface.

Swim away, little Roni, he thought bitterly. You don't want to be tainted by the likes of me.

But the merman's touch lingered, warm and foreign, wrapping around the fractured remains of Elric's heart. For a moment, he allowed himself to feel it—the ache of something long buried. Something he wasn't sure he'd ever deserve to feel again.

******

"Do you have your answer?" King Caspian murmured, his deep voice cutting through the hum of the banquet. He swirled the dark liquid in his goblet before taking a measured sip, his sharp eyes watching Marcus, who was speaking animatedly with Morgan near the center of the hall.

Ava's gaze followed Caspian's for a moment before shifting, drawn irresistibly to the human who sat at a nearby table. Jonas seemed completely at ease, casually eating squid as he spoke with the Emerald and Diamond Queens. His confident demeanor grated on her nerves, though she couldn't pinpoint why.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she turned back to Caspian. He still wore the same attire from the wedding ceremony, but now a black tattoo had become visible on his left cheek. The mark rested just beneath his eye, a subtle but unmistakable symbol of his status as a married man.

Ava's fingers tightened around the goblet in her hand. She lifted it to her lips, taking a long sip of the thick, tangy drink. "I will agree," she said finally, her tone measured, "but under a set of conditions."

Caspian's brow arched slightly, but he gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he drifted away toward Marcus, his attention already shifting to his new husband.

Ava was left alone with her thoughts, though she found little solace in them. They drifted, unbidden, back to the human. Her gaze sought him out once again, only to find him leaning against a wall, his relaxed posture as infuriating as ever. He was chatting with a mermaid, her delicate features alight with laughter.

Ava's frown deepened as she watched the interaction. The mermaid's hand brushed Jonas's shoulder, her fingers lingering far too long on his biceps.

So he's that kind of man, Ava thought bitterly. Of course he is. Her grip on the goblet tightened. Sleeping with one woman and moving on to another a few hours later. Typical.

She chastised herself, forcing her gaze away. What did you expect? she thought. A mere human wouldn't understand loyalty. The idea stung more than it should have, but she buried the feeling under a wave of practiced indifference.

"What's with the scowl?" a familiar voice interrupted, light and teasing. Ava turned sharply, her gaze meeting the amused eyes of Morgan, the merman who seemed perpetually entertained by everything around him.

"I'm not scowling," she snapped, her tone harsher than intended.

Morgan chuckled softly, unperturbed. "Whatever you say, Your Majesty," he said, a smirk playing on his lips as he nibbled delicately on an oyster. His golden-green eyes sparkled with mischief, as though he could see right through her.

Ava huffed, taking another sip of her drink. She needed to harden her heart, to ignore the human who had so carelessly disrupted her carefully constructed life. Her kingdom's stability had to come first, and entertaining thoughts about a fleeting infatuation was a distraction she couldn't afford.

Her gaze shifted to Morgan, who was still watching her with a bemused expression. He was, after all, the favorite of three kingdoms—a merman with connections that could open doors Ava desperately needed. She had been weighing her options, considering the political leverage his presence could provide. Perhaps it was time to act on it.

She turned to him, schooling her features into a sweet, practiced smile. "Tell me, Morgan," she said smoothly, her voice carrying just the right balance of charm and intrigue. "How would you like to accompany me back to my kingdom?"

Morgan's grin widened, his sharp teeth flashing. "Sure," he said without hesitation, his tone light and playful. But his eyes glinted with something more—curiosity, perhaps, or a deeper understanding of the stakes.

Ava returned his smile, though hers didn't quite reach her eyes. This was a calculated move, nothing more. She would use Morgan's influence to secure the alliances her kingdom needed.

As for Jonas... she forced herself not to glance in his direction again. He was a distraction, a fleeting complication she would not allow herself to dwell on. Ava had played this game long enough to know that emotions were a luxury she couldn't afford.

And yet, as she walked away with Morgan by her side, she couldn't quite shake the image of Jonas's easy smile, nor the way her heart had betrayed her by quickening at the sight of it

******

Roni rubbed his chest absently as he drifted back toward Ava's quarters, his thoughts tangled in knots. Ever since he had laid eyes on the criminal behind the locked doors, an unfamiliar feeling had been bubbling inside him. It was strange, unsettling, and he couldn't quite name it.

It bothered him.

It wasn't the same warmth he felt with Ava, the comforting bond that had always grounded him. This feeling was sharper, more electric—like a current running through his veins.

Was it... love?

He shook his head, his cheeks flushing. The only examples of love he had were from Ava's life, and those hardly seemed like the kind of love he imagined. His understanding was limited to whispered court gossip and the muffled, embarrassing noises he had sometimes overheard from her chambers.

The memory made him blush deeper, and he scrubbed at his cheeks in frustration. Is this what it's supposed to feel like? he wondered. This confusing, aching, exciting mess?

A soft creak interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back to reality. He blinked, his brown eyes meeting Ava's hazel ones as she stood by the doorway, watching him with a curious tilt of her head.

"Ava!" he exclaimed, his voice brightening as he swam toward her, wrapping his arms tightly around her torso.

Ava chuckled softly, the sound low and comforting. She placed a gentle hand on his back. "Hey, sweetie," she murmured, her tone warm.

Roni looked up at her, his lips pursed in hesitation. His thoughts swirled with the memory of the green-eyed merman behind the doors, but the words wouldn't come. He wanted to tell her about Elric, about the strange, thrilling feeling that had taken root in his chest. But something stopped him—fear, perhaps, or uncertainty. Instead, he pivoted, choosing a different path, a question that had lingered in his heart for as long as he could remember.

"Can I ask you something?" he said quietly, pulling away just enough to look her in the eye.

Ava tilted her head, her brow arching slightly. "Of course," she said smoothly. "Anything. What do you wish?"

Roni's hands fidgeted at his sides, his chest tightening as he gathered the courage to speak. His voice came out soft, almost hesitant. "Can you tell me about my parents?"