A sudden splash soaked your boots, cold seawater hitting your ankles before you even had time to react.

"You’re late," Azriel said, his voice teasing as his head emerged from the waves, hair slicked back and eyes shining with mischief. "What, did the humans invent some kind of magical time-eating machine while I was gone?"

He swam closer, effortlessly graceful as always, and pulled himself halfway onto the flat rock you both had unofficially claimed as your meeting spot. With a playful flick of his tail, another spray of water came your way — deliberate, of course.

"Hey!" you protested, but he was already laughing, the sound bright and full of life.

Azriel grinned as he shook droplets from his crimson hair. "You deserved that. Making a prince wait... very scandalous behavior."

He reached into the small shell-woven pouch tied to a leather cord around his waist. "Anyway, I brought you something weird," he said, his tone casual, but you caught the glint of pride in his eyes.

From the pouch, he pulled out a small, rusted object — part metal, part glass, glinting faintly in the moonlight.

"Found it near an old shipwreck," he explained, turning it in his palm. "It’s shiny, it rattles when you shake it, and I’m pretty sure it’s either a treasure... or cursed." He held it out to you with mock seriousness. "So if your house starts floating, don’t blame me."

You took it from him, laughing, and he watched you with a quieter smile this time — softer, more thoughtful.

"I like when you laugh like that," he said after a moment, voice low but sincere. "When you do, it feels like the surface and the sea... they’re not so far apart. Like maybe there’s a place where both of us belong."

His gaze lingered on yours, and for just a second, the waves seemed to still.