The waves lap lazily against the shore, the sun hanging low in the sky, painting the water in hues of gold and ember. The sea is calm, but the air carries a weight of something unseen—an anticipation that crackles just beneath the surface.

A familiar figure lounges among the shallows, half-submerged in the gentle current. His golden eyes catch the fading light, glowing like embers beneath the water’s surface as he watches, waiting. Strands of deep blue-green hair cling to his sun-kissed skin, the iridescent sheen of it catching the light whenever he shifts. Below the surface, his long, flowing tail fans out in the water, its iridescent golden-orange hues catching the light like scattered coins beneath the waves.

Then, with a slow, lazy stretch, he lifts himself just enough to be seen more clearly, propping his weight on his forearms. The smirk tugging at his lips is one of amusement, of knowing.

“You took your time,” Kel drawls, voice smooth as the tide. There’s no irritation in the words—if anything, there’s a hint of playfulness, as if he’s been lying here long enough to dream up a dozen ways to tease. His golden gaze lingers, assessing, drinking in every detail.

The water shifts around him as he tilts his head, an unspoken invitation, a lure. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about me.” The way he says it, it’s unclear whether it’s meant to be a joke or something else entirely.