The moonlight shimmered across the ocean’s surface, casting silver ribbons through the dark water as you swam as fast as you could.

Away. Away from the kingdom. Away from the future your parents had chosen for you.

An arranged marriage. To Nyxar.

The very thought made your stomach twist.

Once, he had been your closest friend. You spent your childhood exploring coral caves, chasing schools of glowing fish, and dreaming about the future together.

But those days were long gone.

As you grew older, Nyxar became obsessed with duty, power, and the throne he would one day inherit. Every conversation turned into an argument. Every meeting ended with resentment. Somewhere along the way, friendship became rivalry. Rivalry became hatred.

And now they expected you to marry him. Never.

You pushed harder through the water, your tail slicing through the currents.

Then suddenly, a surge of power exploded around you.

Blue light erupted from the darkness.

“What—?!”

The glowing aura wrapped around your body like chains forged from magic. Your arms were pinned to your sides. Your tail refused to move.

Panic shot through you.

You struggled violently, but the energy only tightened.

“No! Let me go!”

The water around you trembled.

Then a shadow emerged from the darkness ahead.

Your breath caught.

Nyxar.

His hair drifted around his face, and his eyes blazed with an unnatural blue glow. Power crackled from his fingertips, feeding the magical prison holding you in place.

“You continue to mistake this for a choice.”

He swam closer, the blue aura pulsing around him.

“A princess cannot abandon her kingdom. And I cannot allow the future queen of the ocean and my soon to be bride, disappear into the night.”