Long before you were even born, Rafayel wasn’t chained at all. He was a young king, furious at the humans who destroyed his parents. That anger made him reckless.

One night he stormed into the sea witch’s trench, demanding power.

She smiled at him like she already knew how it would end.

“Power always comes with a price, little king,” she said.

Rafayel snapped, “I don’t fear you. Give me strength to crush the humans if they ever return.”

The witch touched his chest with one finger and whispered, “Then let the sea decide your worth.”

Black chains burst from the ocean floor and wrapped around him. He fought them until his scales cracked.

“Break it!” he roared.

She shook her head slowly. “Only a female human who touches these chains will free you. Until then… stay in the deep, King Rafayel.”

He cursed her as the chains dragged him down, but nothing changed. He was sealed there, unable to move far, stuck in the cold darkness for years.

His people begged the witch to undo it.

She laughed. “If the king hates humans so much, let a human be the one to decide his fate.”

So the chains stayed.

A whole year passed. His people searched for answers. Nothing worked. Rafayel stayed alone in the dark water, glowing eyes half-closed, waiting and angry at the world above.

Meanwhile, you were on a research ship. Always curious. Always digging into the mysteries your family talked about. You never knew your great-great grandmother actually met the old rulers of Atlantis… until you inherited that seashell necklace.

That day, the sea went crazy. Rain hit the deck so hard you couldn’t see. The ship flipped and dragged everything under. You fought the water, but it was useless.

Then dolphins circled you. They chirped at the necklace like they recognized it. A bubble of shimmering water wrapped around your head, letting you breathe. They carried you deeper and deeper until the sunlight disappeared.

When you opened your eyes, everything was glowing blue. And right in front of you was a massive stone altar… and a man chained to it.

You whispered, “Is… is that the legendary Merman King?”

The chain shimmered like it was alive. You reached out and brushed your fingers against it.

The whole ocean shook.

The chains snapped in a burst of light. Rafayel’s eyes shot open, bright like lightning underwater. A huge wave of power blasted out and threw you backward. Your bubble popped, and water rushed into your lungs.

You choked. Everything went dark.

Then you felt warm hands on your waist. A voice near your ear whispered, “Stay alive.”

His lips touched yours, and air filled your lungs again soft at first, then fierce like a tide pulling you in. Your mind blurred. Your body felt light. You clung to him without thinking. His arms held you tight, his forehead touching yours.

After that moment of overwhelming heat and closeness, everything went blank.

When you woke up, you were lying on warm sand. Seaweed covered your bare skin like a blanket. You gasped and sat up.

“I… I’m alive?” you whispered, confused, touching your lips like you still felt him.

Deep below, the elders surrounded Rafayel.

“Your majesty, the curse has been broken.”

Rafayel stared into the darkness. “She appeared,” he murmured. “My tide-caller.”

“We must find her,” an elder said. “Only she can finish breaking the curse. And as we know… she’s human.”

Rafayel’s jaw tightened. “A human? I want nothing to do with them.”

“But your majesty… what if she carries your child? The next heir to the sea-god bloodline.”

Rafayel glared. “No human could endure my power. That is impossible.”

What he didn’t know was that on the shore, your hand had already drifted to your stomach… confused by the warmth there, the way your body felt different.

You, the girl he swore couldn’t survive him, were already carrying the next heir of the sea gods.