Dark clouds rolled ominously from the horizon, the wind howling as it whipped through the turbulent storm. The rain pelted against the fragile shack that Ren had built for herself on the island, the sound deafening as it hammered the roof.

"This isn't so bad... just a little storm," she whispered to herself, trying to calm the tremor in her voice. She had faced storms before, but this one felt different. The air seemed charged, crackling with raw energy, and the distant rumble of thunder made her heart race. When lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a deafening roar, Ren let out a strangled cry and threw herself beneath the silk-like blanket Kai had brought her from his kingdom.

She'd been terrified of thunderstorms since she was a child.

"Just think of happy things," Ren murmured, trying to force herself to focus on the soothing words her mother had always said during storms. "Just think of happy things..."

The blanket around her smelled faintly of saltwater and Kai's scent—fresh, comforting, like the sea after a storm. She closed her eyes, trying to lock the storm out of her mind, to pretend it wasn't happening.

Suddenly, laughter filled her mind—a familiar sound that brought a sense of peace. Ren's heart settled as she opened her eyes, finding herself not in the shack, but back in her childhood home. The scent of lavender drifted toward her, unmistakably Claire, her mother, mingled with the earthy aroma of her father's tobacco. Her eyes filled with warmth as her parents stood before her in the living room, bathed in the soft golden light of the lamps that filled the space.

"Honey, you're home!" Claire's voice was filled with relief, and she enveloped Ren in a warm hug.

"Welcome home, daughter," George Monroe said, his strong arm wrapping around Claire's waist as he gave Ren a smile that was both proud and relieved. "We've been wondering where you've gone."

Ren's eyes sparkled as she grinned, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Oh, Mother, Father, you wouldn't believe who came with me."

Her father raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Oh? Did you find yourself a gentleman? Should I get my gun?" he joked, though Ren knew the underlying seriousness in his tone.

Ren laughed, the sound light and genuine. "No, Papa, he's a nice man. He saved my life," she said, her heart fluttering with the thought of him. She gestured toward the door, her anticipation rising as she knew Kai would enter any moment. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched him step into the room.

Kai—his dark hair combed back neatly, his olive skin glowing in the soft light. His piercing green eyes locked onto hers, sending a wave of heat rushing through her. He looked strong, powerful, and yet when he smiled at her, there was something tender in his gaze that made her heart race.

But wait... legs?

The thought startled her, causing a brief moment of confusion. Legs? How could she be imagining legs? She was certain Kai had a tail—his tail.

Suddenly, a voice broke her reverie.

"Lady Ren? Ren, where are you?" The voice was familiar—deep and reassuring.

Ren blinked, forcing herself to wake up from her daydream. She opened her eyes, the faint light of the early morning filtering through the cracks of her shack. She could still feel the lingering warmth of the dream, the memory of Kai's presence—and yet, the storm was still raging outside.

"I must have slept through the storm," she murmured to herself, rubbing her eyes.

"Ren?" The voice came again, more urgent this time.

That must be Kai, Ren thought, relief flooding her as she reached for the blanket, clutching it tightly. She hadn't realized just how much she missed him until now. The sound of his voice still lingered in her ears, and she smiled at the thought of him.

But when she emerged from her shack, it wasn't Kai who stood waiting for her.

Instead, a different merman sat at the edge of the water. His long, red hair tumbled down his back, glistening with droplets of water, and his pale skin shimmered in the storm's light. His amber eyes were filled with concern as he stepped forward, his gaze soft but insistent.

"Lady Ren?" he called, his voice gentle.

Ren instinctively clutched the blanket around her shoulders tighter, her pulse quickening as she eyed him carefully. "It's I. I am no lady, though," she replied, her voice steady but guarded. "Who might you be?"

"My name is Atlantis," the merman replied, his tone polite but with a hint of something more—perhaps weariness, perhaps urgency. "I'm Kai's brother."

Ren blinked in surprise. Kai has a brother? She hadn't known. Atlantis was striking in his own right, a true creature of the sea. His long, fiery red hair cascaded down his back in thick waves, glistening with droplets of saltwater that caught the faint light of the storm above. The vivid color was a stark contrast against his pale, almost luminescent skin, which seemed to shimmer in the murky depths of the ocean, as if he was part of the very waters that surrounded him.

His face was a blend of sharp features and soft elegance—high cheekbones, a well-defined jawline, and a straight nose that seemed carved from the stone of the sea itself. His eyes, though striking in their deep amber hue, seemed to flicker with an ethereal glow, as if they had seen the secrets of the ocean and understood its darkest depths. Those eyes held a quiet intensity, full of unspoken thoughts that felt as vast and mysterious as the sea itself.

"Oh," she murmured, her curiosity piqued. "Where is Kai? Is he busy again?"

Atlantis' face darkened slightly, his brow furrowing. "Aye, there's been trouble below the sea. Political matters, and I doubt Kai will be able to come for some time. I've come in his place to ensure you're safe."

Ren hesitated, her mind racing with questions. Why wasn't Kai here? What was really going on under the sea? She looked at Atlantis, noting the familiar features he shared with his brother. He seemed kind, understanding, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his story than he let on.

"Is there anyone else... someone else to keep me company?" she asked cautiously, stepping closer to the water's edge, the wet sand cool against her toes.

Atlantis nodded. "Aye, there is," he said, his amber eyes turning slightly dark. "Morgan, the Sea Witch. Morgan is not as the rumors say, not vile at all. Quite the opposite, actually."

The Sea Witch? Ren thought. Her curiosity deepened, though a small spark of doubt flickered in her mind.

She chewed her bottom lip for a moment, trying to decide. Something about Atlantis felt... trustworthy, almost like Kai. After a long moment of deliberation, she gave a reluctant nod. "Alright," she said, slipping into the water beside him.

Atlantis motioned for her to hold onto his neck, his fingers brushing lightly against her skin. "Remember," he said softly, "breathe whenever we break the surface."

Ren nodded, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment. The water was cold at first, but she quickly adjusted, feeling Atlantis' firm back against her chest as she held onto him. His lean body was a sharp contrast to the heat she felt from the storm raging above them.

"We'll be there soon, my lady," Atlantis said, his voice strangely soothing, before they both sank deeper into the depths of the ocean, the storm above forgotten in the safe embrace of the water.