Ava's golden-brown eyes darkened, her fingers still tangled in Roni's soft blonde hair. Her grip tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough for him to feel the rising storm within her. She pulled back to look into his wide, tear-filled eyes.

"You saw this human yourself?" she asked, her voice calm yet laced with a dangerous undertone.

Roni nodded, his trembling hands clutching at her golden-scaled arm. "Y-yes, Ava. He was barely alive. So much blood... I thought he might die." He sniffled, his voice faltering. "But Lord Marcus was helping him, and he didn't seem afraid at all."

Ava's lips pressed into a thin line. Anger and unease churned in her chest like a riptide, pulling her thoughts in every direction. She gently unwrapped Roni's arms from her waist, motioning for him to sit on the cushion beside her.

"Stay here," she commanded softly. "You've done well, my little shadow."

"But Ava—" he began, his voice shaking.

"No." Her voice was firm. "I need to deal with this. You've done enough for now." She leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Stay here, Roni. Rest."

With that, she rose, her golden tail curling behind her in sharp, deliberate movements. She called for Fro, who entered moments later, his face already etched with concern.

"Roni has seen something troubling," Ava said, her tone brisk as she fastened an amber blade to her belt. "The Onyx royals are harboring a human."

Fro paled, his thin lips pressing into a tight line. "Your Majesty, this could escalate into—"

"I'm aware," Ava snapped, her eyes flashing. "But this isn't just about a human. Marcus, Caspian, even Morgan—they're hiding something, and I intend to find out what it is. Gather a small guard contingent. No more than three. We're heading to the surface immediately."

Fro hesitated but finally bowed. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

****

Jonas felt a chill creep up his spine, a primal warning that something wasn't right. The icy air carried no sound save for the faint crackle of shifting ice, yet every instinct in his body screamed at him to move. His hand reflexively reached for his holster, but the cold, wet leather clung uselessly to his side. His weapon was gone, rendered useless by his plunge into the sea.

Then he heard it—a roar, primal and guttural, splitting the silence of the frozen expanse. Jonas barely had time to turn before a blur of gold and steel erupted from the water. The figure soared through the air with predatory grace, blades gleaming in the pale moonlight.

It all happened too fast.

Jonas twisted his body just in time to avoid the full force of the strike, the twin blades whistling past his face by mere inches. The attacker landed with an eerie fluidity, her golden tail whipping against the ice as she turned to face him again, her stance predatory and lethal.

For a moment, Jonas could only stare. Her presence was unlike anything he'd ever encountered. Gold scales covered her torso, shimmering like fire against the cold expanse. Her eyes, brown with golden flecks, burned with a ferocity that sent a shiver down his spine. She wasn't just attacking him; she was hunting him.

Jonas's mind raced. He'd faced enemies before—men armed with guns, knives, and the occasional explosive—but this was different. She moved like a force of nature, her every motion precise and deadly.

With a growl, she lunged again, her blades poised to strike. Jonas ducked, his reflexes honed from years of training. He grabbed her wrists mid-attack, twisting with all his strength to disarm her. The blades clattered against the ice, but she didn't relent. Her sharp teeth bared in a hiss as she used her powerful tail to sweep his legs out from under him.

They fell together, the impact jarring as their bodies hit the frozen surface. Jonas grunted, his hands still gripping her wrists as they rolled. He managed to pin her beneath him, his knees pressing into her sides to keep her from striking again.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice rough with adrenaline.

Her response was a venomous hiss. She writhed beneath him, her strength surprising. Jonas tightened his grip, his breath visible in the frigid air. Her tail lashed against the ice, creating cracks that spider-webbed outward.

"Answer me!" he growled, his frustration mounting.

"You don't belong here, human," she spat, her voice laced with disdain. "I should kill you where you stand."

Jonas stared down at her, a mix of anger and bewilderment swirling in his chest. She was unlike anything he'd ever encountered—a myth brought to life, a predator from the depths of the ocean. And yet, in her eyes, there was something else. Beneath the fury and defiance, he saw fear.

"Not today," he said quietly, more to himself than to her.

"Ava, stop!"

The shout cut through the tension like a blade. Jonas's head snapped up to see Marcus breaking the surface of the water, his silver eyes wide with alarm. Behind him, another figure emerged—a tall, serpentine merman with glowing green eyes and a dangerous grin.

"Get off me!" Ava snarled, her attention snapping to Marcus.

Jonas hesitated for a moment before releasing her wrists and stepping back. His body ached from the struggle, but he kept his stance defensive, ready for her to strike again. Ava scrambled to her feet, her golden tail lashing furiously.

"What are you doing, Ava?" Marcus demanded, his voice sharp with disappointment. "He's not your enemy."

"Not my enemy?" Ava scoffed, her gaze flicking between Jonas and Marcus. "You brought a human here, Marcus. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Jonas watched the exchange, his heart still pounding. He didn't fully understand what was happening, but the raw emotion in Ava's voice struck a chord. She wasn't just angry; she was afraid. Afraid of him, of what he represented.

"I know exactly what I'm doing," Marcus replied firmly. "The gods led us to him. He's here for a reason."

"The gods?" Ava repeated, her tone dripping with disbelief. "You expect me to believe the gods care about him?"

"Yes," Marcus said, his voice unwavering. "And so should you."

Jonas's chest tightened at the weight of their words. The gods? He wasn't a religious man, but the thought that some higher power had brought him here was... unsettling. He glanced at Ava, her features still twisted with anger, and then at Marcus, whose steady gaze seemed to pierce through him.

Ava's tail lashed once, twice, before she let out a frustrated growl. "You're all fools," she muttered before diving back into the water with a sharp flick of her tail.

Silence fell over the group, broken only by the soft lapping of the waves. Jonas exhaled slowly, his muscles finally relaxing. His body ached from the confrontation, but his mind was racing.

"She'll come around," Marcus said softly, placing a hand on Jonas's shoulder. "Don't let her anger get to you."

Jonas nodded, though his mind was far from settled. "What the hell have I gotten myself into?"

Morgan chuckled, his sharp teeth flashing in the moonlight. "Something bigger than you can imagine."

Jonas looked between the two mermen, his heart heavy with uncertainty. He wasn't sure what lay ahead, but one thing was clear—there was no going back.

And for the first time, he wasn't sure he wanted to.