Music filled the bar that they were in, a hauntingly smooth melody that resonated through the water, intertwining with the soft glow of bioluminescent lights that illuminated the space. Alcoholic beverages swirled inside small capsules that melted on the tongue, their vibrant colors shifting like a kaleidoscope. Caspian popped one into his mouth, the tangy liquid warming his insides as he swallowed. Lilith mimicked his move, her violet eyes sparkling with mischief.

"How was your training?" he asked, his gaze wandering over the intricate gold tattoos that decorated her dark skin, emphasizing her regal and dangerous beauty.

Her dark lips spread into a grin, flashing her white teeth. "My master was rather eccentric. Taught me many things from this world and the realm of the gods."

Caspian raised a brow, impressed. "The realm of the gods? Do tell what goes on in this realm."

A strange expression flickered across her features, a mix of amusement and something far more cryptic, as though she held a secret he couldn't grasp. "Let's just say, something is happening," she said, her tone light but layered with implication.

"Something?" he murmured, his intrigue piqued.

Lilith leaned closer, her movements slow and deliberate, her violet eyes glittering with fascination. "Don't you know?"

His brows furrowed, his mind turning over her words. "Do you mean by the two goddesses awakening?"

She popped another capsule into her mouth, the action casual but her expression anything but. "Not just that," she said, her voice lowering as though they were sharing a dangerous secret. "Haven't you noticed that the two goddesses happened to choose human hosts? And not just any humans—the King's chosen."

Caspian's lips pressed into a thin line. "It could just be a coincidence."

Lilith leaned back, her laughter soft and laced with knowing. "You may never know," she said, her voice teasing but her words sharp. She tilted her head, her next words accompanied by a not-so-subtle wink. "Your queen might be next."

More like consort, he thought bitterly, his mind drifting to the boy on the island. The thought of Marcus brought a tightness to his chest that he couldn't quite shake. He needed to return to his kingdom soon, but the idea of leaving Marcus alone filled him with unease. The climate of his kingdom was harsh, unsuitable for human habitation, and yet, the idea of being away from Marcus felt unbearable.

He briefly considered asking the Emerald King to watch over Marcus, but he dismissed the thought just as quickly. With the Queen's return, Kai would want to spend every moment at her side. Even then, the bond that was halfway formed between Caspian and Marcus wouldn't allow them to be more than a few paces apart for long. They needed each other now, more than either of them fully realized.

Caspian's jaw clenched as he thought of the consequences of leaving the bond incomplete. He knew the pain—the unbearable thirst that could only be quenched by a mate, the gradual transformation from an intellectual mer to a beast with no heart or reason. The thought of Marcus enduring such torment sent a chill through him. Worse still, the same fate awaited Caspian if the bond remained unfulfilled.

If he succumbed, who would rule the Onyx Kingdom?

His decision solidified in that moment. Tomorrow morning, he thought. I will complete the bond. Yet even as he resolved himself, the problem of Marcus's humanity loomed over him. Marcus couldn't breathe underwater, and his life above the surface was a world Caspian could never fully understand.

There had to be a solution, something to bridge the gap between their worlds. The witch might have the answer, but Morgan's absence left Caspian with nothing but questions and uncertainty.

"Something on your mind, old friend?" a low purr broke through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present.

He forced a smile, though it felt stiff and unnatural. "Nothing, Lilith. Just something I need to do, but it can wait until tomorrow."

"Good," she said with a sly grin, her tone light but her gaze sharp. "Then let's drink in celebration."

Caspian lifted his capsule in a silent toast, tilting his head back and letting the alcohol seep down his throat. The fiery liquid burned as it went down, warming his body, but for some strange reason, he felt a cold sensation enveloping his heart. It lingered, a silent warning that he couldn't ignore.

*****

His body curled up beneath the blanket of clothes, the warmth of the fire barely warding off the chill that enveloped him. Marcus trembled violently, his limbs heavy and useless as the fever burned him from the inside out, yet his skin felt as cold as ice. Tiny, pitiful whimpers escaped his dry, cracked lips, each one a feeble cry for help that went unanswered.

The night seemed endless, each passing second stretching into eternity. Suddenly, a sharp, excruciating pain tore through his body, ripping a scream from his parched throat. He writhed in agony, his muscles convulsing uncontrollably. The torment surged through him like a raging storm, leaving him gasping for air.

He could feel his bones shifting inside him, an unnatural sensation that made him want to claw at his own skin. His ears throbbed and burned, the skin ripping apart as warm blood trickled down his face. He cried out, his voice hoarse and raw, but the transformation did not relent. His teeth shifted painfully, grinding against his gums until a sharp set of fangs jutted from his upper jaw. They pierced his lower lip, a metallic taste flooding his mouth as he whimpered in helpless agony.

Just as he thought the torment might subside, a new wave of searing pain rolled over his back, igniting every nerve. It felt as though his skin was being torn apart, as if invisible lashes struck him again and again. The fiery agony robbed him of breath, his body arching off the ground as he let out another hoarse scream.

His cries echoed through the quiet island, carried by the wind, but no one came. The isolation wrapped around him like a suffocating shroud, amplifying his suffering. His vision blurred, the world around him melting into shades of crimson. Darkness began to close in, mercifully dulling the agony that consumed him.

With one final, shuddering breath, Marcus succumbed to the pain, his trembling body going limp as he fainted into the abyss of unconsciousness.

*****

He needed to do this and fast. His Master's anger would definitely reach the tipping point if he didn't complete his mission soon.

Something he definitely didn't want to happen, especially if that god had something he needed.

Elric rushed from one shadow to another, his slender form blending seamlessly with the darkness. His breath was steady, his movements precise, as if the shadows themselves guided his path. He could hear voices from the room not too far ahead. One voice, clear and rhythmic, was already murmuring the ancient lines of the Diamond Ritual.

From this stone, let the light disperse...

Elric clenched his teeth, the sharp points digging into his gums as his jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists, his nails biting into his palms. With silent, measured flicks of his tail, he moved closer to the source of the voice. He stopped just shy of the entrance, peeking into the room. His eyes immediately locked onto the pale, tattooed back of the witch. The intricate designs shimmered faintly in the dim light, while strands of seaweed floated lazily through Morgan's hair like a living crown.

"Morgan," he growled under his breath, the sound low and venomous, hatred seeping through his very bones. The witch was ruining everything by awakening the ancient gods. Any more interference and the delicate balance Elric had worked so hard to maintain would crumble. He was sure of it—the ocean would plunge into chaos, just as it had thousands of years ago during the Fight of Gods. That catastrophic war had reshaped the world, submerging the surface beneath the ocean's endless depths.

If only they accepted that Poseidon was the true god of the ocean, he thought bitterly. The one to rule the mers. The one to make the ocean more powerful than anything.

Slowly, Elric pulled a tiny vial from his sack. The poisonous liquid inside glowed faintly, swirling with an ominous, sickly green hue. He had crafted this concoction meticulously, its potency designed for immediate and inescapable death. Just a few drops would strip the room of oxygen, suffocating its inhabitants before they could react. His fingers tightened around the vial as he approached the door, his movements calculated and deliberate.

Just as he reached the threshold, he carefully began unscrewing the lid, his heart hammering against his ribs. The soft pop of the seal broke the silence, and Elric readied himself to tip the vial. His other hand was poised to shut the door, trapping the deadly fumes inside with his targets.

But before he could act, a sharp, cold pressure pressed against the skin between his shoulder blades. The unmistakable point of a blade.

"Freeze," a voice commanded, low and steady, with the lethal calm of someone who wouldn't hesitate to strike.