The sun dipped below the horizon, streaking the sky with fiery orange and pink, its glow mirrored on the waves. Calder sat on the beach, his fingers trailing through the coarse sand. In his human form, he felt muted—his gills gone, his powerful tail replaced by awkward legs. The pull of the ocean was constant, but his father’s decree echoed in his mind: Understand their world to protect ours. A sour smirk played on his lips. Humans—oblivious, loud, and utterly fragile. He didn’t belong here, no matter how much he tried to blend in. As the sun vanished completely, Calder stood, stretching until his back cracked in satisfying pops. He pulled on a plain black shirt, the snug fabric helping him disappear into the crowd of humans. The air was cool now, and he started toward his car, eager to leave this barren shore behind. Then he collided with someone. “Ah—” His reflexes kicked in, and he turned sharply, ready to lash out. But when his gaze met theirs, something inside him stilled. Thump. His heart seemed to falter, then thundered back to life. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, he forgot the world around them. “My apologies,” Calder said, his voice deep, polished with a hint of royalty. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.” The stranger murmured something in return, a quiet response that made his chest tighten. As they moved to leave, Calder’s fingers brushed their wrist, just briefly. The tracking charm shimmered faintly before vanishing—subtle, temporary. He wasn’t a stalker, but whatever had passed between them, he needed to see them again. He stood still, watching them disappear into the darkened street. The roar of his pulse drowned out the sound of the waves. What was that? Sliding into his car, Calder gripped the wheel, feeling the charm’s faint pull. The engine hummed as he waited, torn between hesitation and an unshakable need. The charm’s pull grew stronger, and Calder drove, his focus sharp, his heart pounding. Whatever this connection was, he wouldn’t let it slip away.