"I'm supposed to drink this?" Jonas asked, holding the vial up to the light. The liquid inside shimmered like molten gold, thick and almost alive as it shifted with the tilt of the glass.

Morgan grinned, his sharp teeth flashing. "Of course! It's a potion I concocted—a little alchemical magic. It transforms humans into mers."

Jonas snorted. "That sounds straight outta Disney." He gave the vial a skeptical look, his grip tightening around it as if it might explode.

"That's what I said!" Marcus exclaimed, throwing his hands up in agreement. He floated lazily on his back in the water, his silvery tail flicking idly. "I thought Morgan was pulling my leg when he gave me mine."

Jonas frowned, his gaze shifting to Marcus. "Wait—you drank this too?"

"Different version," Marcus said with a casual shrug, his long hair spreading like ink in the water around him. "Morgan tweaks them depending on who's drinking. But yeah, that's how I became this."

Jonas tilted his head, studying Marcus. Something about him tugged at his memory, but the edges were too blurred to grasp. "You know," he said slowly, "you look awfully familiar."

Marcus chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Unless you spent time in Europe, deep in the music scene, I doubt it."

Europe. The word rang faintly in Jonas's mind, pulling up a hazy image of late nights, rain-slicked streets, and the electric hum of concert halls. But the memory didn't settle, slipping away before he could grab hold of it. The only time he'd been in Europe was for a mission—something involving a supposed dignitary with dubious connections.

Jonas shook the thought off, returning his attention to the shimmering liquid in his hand. "So let me get this straight," he said, leveling Morgan with a dubious look. "I drink this whole thing, and I turn into one of you? For how long?"

Morgan's grin widened, a hint of mischief glinting in his snake-like eyes. "A week. Plenty of time to explore the ocean without worrying about oxygen or the cold. And who knows? If it works out, I can refine the formula into something permanent. Then you wouldn't have to go back to your lonely little surface world at all."

"Right," Jonas muttered, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "Because this is such a normal Tuesday for me." He glanced back at the vial, his stomach twisting with unease. The liquid seemed to pulse in the glass, as if it had a heartbeat of its own.

"Trust me, Jonas," Morgan said smoothly, his voice coaxing. "The transformation's quick. You'll barely notice it. And once it's done, you'll see the world in ways you can't even imagine."

Jonas wasn't so sure. His instincts screamed at him to walk away, to toss the vial into the water and forget this insanity. But curiosity gnawed at him, louder than the warnings. The promise of something unknown, something extraordinary—it was too tempting to ignore.

With a deep breath, he lifted the vial to his lips. "Here goes nothing," he muttered before downing it in one swift gulp.

To his surprise, the liquid tasted sweet, like honey warmed by sunlight. For a moment, warmth spread through his body, soothing and gentle, chasing away the chill of the icy air. But the relief was short-lived.

Pain shot through his limbs like fire, sharp and unrelenting. His knees buckled, and the vial slipped from his fingers, shattering against the ice. He gasped, the sound strangled as his chest tightened, and every nerve in his body screamed in protest.

"Jonas!" Marcus's voice sounded distant, distorted, as if coming from underwater.

Jonas barely registered the sensation of falling, his vision darkening at the edges. The warmth that had been so comforting now burned, twisting his muscles and reshaping his bones. His mind reeled, drowning in a cacophony of pain and confusion.

The last thing he saw was Marcus diving toward him, his silver tail cutting through the water with urgency. Then the darkness swallowed him whole.

*******

"Ava?" Roni whispered, nudging her.

Ava groaned, "Just a few more," she murmured sleepily, making Roni giggle.

"But Ava! Today is the wedding!"

Ava buried herself further into the sheets, "Sleep is more important." Roni bit his lip and lifted the sheet, peering at Ava. A single eye peered at him through blonde lashes.

Roni pouted, "Please?"

Ava sighed, "Oh alright. Why don't you do Ava a favor and bring me my breakfast?"

Roni nodded, a grin on his lips before darting out the door.

Ava sighed softly and called for her handmaidens who immediately came in to take care of her morning appearance and preparing her for the wedding.

"Your Majesty?"

Ava's eyes fluttered open, her gaze falling on Roni, his body masked by the appearance of a slave.

She arched a brow, "What is it?"

Roni stepped aside and a strange merman entered, her eyes widening in recognition.

He was the same merman she saw that was accompanying the human, except this time he was dressed all in his finery with his hair carefully brushed and pampered. Green eyes rimmed with black paint and lips tainted with a redish hue. However, her eyes widened at the jewels he wore.

Onyx armbands circled his biceps, diamond rings nestled in his middle finger on each hand and on his forehead, rested a single emerald jewel.

Gods, she thought, He's a favored citizen of three kingdoms. If she were to lay a single hand the peculiar merman, three nations would go to war against her. Yes, she was strong but not strong enough to fend off three unified kings.

Her eyes narrowed, "Everyone out."

The merman smirked, his serpent like eyes watching as her maidens left her quarters, leaving her, Roni, and the strange merman behind.

"Who are you?" she spoke, the full authority of a queen seeping through her voice. The merman shifted closer, his talons touching the gold jewelry that littered her table.

"Is this the first time you've left your kingdom?" he murmured.

Ava frowned, distrustful of the merman that seemed to walk with an authority of his own, nonetheless, she felt compelled to answer the stranger, "Yes." The merman grasped a single earring, raising it towards the light, casting off a eerie glow.

"Have you ever fallen in love?"

Ava blinked, surprised by the strange question. She glanced at the cushion beneath her, perfectly manicured nails sinking into the delicate fabric. Old memories from her childhood surfaced, the delicate features of her deceased brother bright with happiness as his arms held a tiny bundle in his slender arms. Tears pricked her eyes but took a deep breath to calm her emotions, not wanting to shed tears in front of the stranger.

"I loved someone," she responded, "But an old debt took the life he had left."

"I'm sorry to hear that," the merman spoke, letting the earring fall towards the table. His body moved towards the door, "Queen Ava?"

Ava tilted her head, looking at the merman, "Yes?"

A small smile touched his lips, "My name is Morgan and I will help you meet the One that will mend your broken heart."

*******

Here's a longer, refined version of your scene with added depth to Morgan and Atlantis, as well as more emotional layers to their dialogue and actions:

Morgan sighed softly as he drifted toward his quarters, the gentle ebb and flow of the water around him a faint comfort. The quiet was his solace, yet tonight, it did little to ease his restless mind.

Another broken soul, he thought, absently rubbing his chest where the faintest ache lingered. Ava's sadness clung to him like a shadow, its weight palpable in the aura she carried. He had seen it before, in others who wore crowns—leaders burdened by the loneliness of power. But her grief was sharper, more profound. He thought of the whispers he'd heard over the years. Some claimed she had borne a child out of wedlock, others speculated about her closeness with the slave who accompanied her everywhere, suggesting he was more than a mere servant.

Morgan dismissed the rumors as he always had. He knew better.

Queen Ava buried her sorrows in the arms of men, quieting her silent pain with fleeting moments of pleasure. He did not judge her for it. Pain had a way of demanding release, and everyone found their own means of survival.

"Morgan?"

The voice pulled him from his thoughts, soft and familiar. He glanced up to see golden eyes watching him with gentle concern. Atlantis, the Emerald Prince, stood in the doorway, his presence as radiant as ever. His gaze lingered on Morgan, searching for something unspoken.

"Are you alright?" Atlantis asked, stepping closer.

Morgan smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yes, I'm fine."

Atlantis didn't look convinced. His fingers found Morgan's, threading through them with practiced ease. "What's troubling you?" he asked, his tone laced with tenderness. "And who's the strange man I found in our room?" The teasing note in his voice brought a faint blush to Morgan's cheeks.

Morgan looked away, embarrassed. "He's... someone who might be able to help Queen Ava."

Atlantis arched a brow, his expression skeptical. "The Amber Queen?" He tilted his head slightly, his red hair catching the faint glow of the bioluminescent coral outside their quarters. "Morgan, surely you've heard the rumors."

Morgan's jaw tightened, his fingers clenching around Atlantis's. "Horrid rumors," he said, his voice sharper than he intended. Atlantis blinked in surprise, and Morgan sighed, softening. "She's suffering, Atlantis. Anyone with eyes can see it. And yet she's kept her kingdom afloat, sparing her people from poverty and despair. Do you know how hard it is to rule with a broken heart?"

Atlantis's gaze softened, his hand coming up to gently cradle Morgan's cheek. His touch was warm, grounding. "I wouldn't know love," he admitted quietly, his voice tinged with a bittersweet edge. "But I know what it's like to have a broken heart."

Morgan's chest tightened at the confession. He knew the weight Atlantis carried, the loss and betrayal that had shaped him into the man he was. He wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Atlantis rested his chin atop Morgan's head, his arms steady and strong around him. "It's alright," he murmured. "After all, everything's well between us now." There was a quiet finality in his tone, a reminder that they had found solace in each other despite the scars they bore.

Morgan smiled, leaning back just enough to look up at him. "What do you say I introduce you to Jonas?" he asked, a hint of playfulness returning to his voice.

Atlantis grinned, the teasing glint in his golden eyes reappearing. He nuzzled into Morgan's neck, pressing a soft kiss to his skin. "As long as I get some attention later," he said, his voice a low, playful murmur.

Morgan giggled, his fingers brushing over Atlantis's shoulder, tracing the lines of his collarbone. "Definitely," he replied, his smile growing.

The moment lingered, the water around them swirling gently as if the ocean itself acknowledged the peace between them. For now, the weight of their shared pasts seemed lighter, and together, they were ready to face whatever lay ahead.