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Tracing back to the open underwater clearing, three mesmerizing creatures appeared, their ethereal beauty both captivating and unnerving.

Pale, shimmering skin glistened with an iridescent glow, each movement fluid like the water itself.

Delicate fins adorned their faces, almost like gossamer wings, framing their striking, glowing pink eyes that seemed to pierce through to my very soul.

Fucking Nymphs.

They assist those in need, but if my time in these waters had taught me anything, it was never to trust beauty at face value.

And I was a very intelligent man who didn’t make the same mistake twice.

My instincts screamed caution.

Straightening my spine, I squared my shoulders, tensing as I reminded myself I wasn’t human anymore.

I had power.

Immense power, and I refused to cower to anyone but my mate.

The nymphs glided closer, their movements impossibly graceful, as if the water obeyed their every whim.

I stepped back instinctively.

Now that they were near, I noticed their uncanny resemblance—triplets, identical in almost every way except for their hair and eyes.

One had silken locks the color of spun gold, shimmering like starlight. The second had cascading waves of cerulean, reminiscent of the ocean at twilight. The third had blush-pink hair, delicate yet radiant, as if the dawn had kissed it.

“Look, Neridea, he is wise, keeping his distance,” a soft, melodic voice echoed in my mind, its sweetness laced with an underlying edge that made my skin prickle.

I immediately fortified my mental shields, unwilling to let any of them probe further than I allowed.

The one with cerulean hair stepped forward, her movements fluid and hypnotic. Different from the others in more than just her hair, her left eye shimmered in pink, while her right glowed a piercing blue.

The contrast was unsettling, yet it only added to her unnerving allure. Her gaze locked onto mine, her expression unreadable but undeniably calculating.

“No need to guard yourself in our presence, hybrid.” Her voice resonated in my mind, this one carrying a regal weight, wise and commanding, yet devoid of the teasing lilt the first voice held.

“He is certainly wise, Nyssa, but don’t go scaring him—we are not here for that,” the one with golden hair interjected, her voice calm.

A serene smile graced her lips as she introduced herself.

“I am Neridea, and these are my sisters.” She gestured gracefully to the one with soft pink hair, “Nyssa,” then to the cerulean-haired one whose mismatched eyes, “and Nayadine.”

“Why are you here?” I asked sharply, keeping my voice steady, refusing to let the warmth of her smile or the pleasant lilt of her words disarm me. Despite their beauty and composed demeanor, I wasn’t na?ve enough to let my guard slip.

And I only had eyes for one woman, an even more mesmerizing creature.

“Careful, hybrid,” Nayadine’s mismatched eyes flared with intensity, her tone sharp enough to cut through the surrounding water.

“We might not be here to harm you, but we still demand respect. Mind your tone.” Her words sent a ripple of unease through me, the weight of her warning prickling against my skin like the edge of a blade .

Fuck that.

They appear out of nowhere, and I just have to accept anything they tell me?

“Now, now, no need for that, Nayadine,” Neridea interrupted with a fond smile directed at her sister, her calm demeanor an anchor in the charged moment.

She turned to me, her expression soft. “Pardon my sister. She is a bit protective of us. Understandable, of course, but we have orders to follow.” Her voice carried an undercurrent of urgency, and despite her composed exterior, I could sense the importance of their presence.

“I know you have questions, but as you know, we don’t have the time for them. ”

No shit. Finally, some sense coming from them.

I remained silent. The words caught in my throat as I tried to make sense of their sudden appearance. To my understanding, this was Aetherian territory, a domain ruled by sirens. Nymphs didn’t live here, at least not according to anything my mother had told me.

“As sea nymph spirits, it is our duty to guide those in distress,” Nyssa said, her melodic voice filling the void of silence, as if reading my thoughts. Her pink hair flowed in the faint light as she stepped closer. “The goddess has sent us to guide you.”

“And we are here to lead you to the one you seek,” Neridea continued, her words deliberate, her silver gaze fixed on me.

“Your mate, hybrid ,” Nayadine interjected, her tone steady but grim, “is facing the wrath of the goddess. The destiny for those who defy her will… is worse than death.” Her words sent a chill through me, the thought of Iryen in danger settling deep in my chest.

I knew something was wrong.

I felt it deep in my bones.

“Then lead the way, please.” The words echo before I could second-guess myself. This might very well be a mistake, but something deep within me, some instinct, urged me to trust them. Or at least, trust the path they were showing me.

Without waiting for another response, I followed as they glided forward, their movements fluid and elegant, as if they extended the currents themselves.

I trailed behind, my focus split between keeping up with their effortless speed and trying to memorize the labyrinthine path we took. The turns were disorienting, the dives deeper than I expected, and the water seemed to press heavier against me with each passing second.

My mind whirled, worry rising with every stroke of my tail.

What would I find once I saw her?

How much danger was she in?

Finally, a faint glow appeared ahead, piercing through the shadows like a beacon.

The soft, ethereal lights grew brighter as we approached, illuminating the jagged edges of what I realized was the exit of the maze.

The sight stirred a mix of relief and trepidation within me.

Whatever the source of Iryen’s pain, I knew it had scarred her.

The Nymphs slowed as we approached the exit, gracefully turning to me.

“This is Hyrem, the capital of Aetheria,” Neridea said, her voice filled with pride as she motioned to the breathtaking city before us.

Towering coral structures rose like underwater cathedrals, their spires adorned with luminous lights that glowed warmly through intricately carved windows.

The city seemed alive, a harmonious blend of nature and architecture, where vibrant marine life swam freely between the pathways and arches connecting the towering buildings.

Schools of jellyfish shimmered like liquid jewels in the filtered sunlight, weaving through streets lined with coral gardens and luminescent plankton. The soft hum of the ocean and the faint murmur of Aetherians going about their lives created an almost serene atmosphere.

Hyrem was not just a city, was a living masterpiece, its beauty both awe-inspiring and humbling.

“It’s alluring,” I murmured.

But none of it undermined the feeling of dread churning in my stomach.

The numbness emanating from the bond stole any appreciation I might have felt. I didn’t want to admire the beauty, not when she was here, lost in grief.

“The palace,” my voice came out sharp and urgent. “Could you lead me there?”

I can’t wait any longer.

Neridea and Nyssa exchanged a glance, their hesitation palpable. A prickle of dread crawled over my skin, an instinctual warning I couldn’t ignore.

“I’ll take him,” Nayadine said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. She turned to the other two with authority. “You two stay here.” Then, fixing her gaze on me, she gave a slight nod. “Let’s go.”

Nayadine led the way without hesitation, her movements smooth and purposeful as she swam through the winding pathways of Hyrem. The glowing coral structures blurred past me. Every stroke forward brought me closer to the palace, and to her. I could feel it.

Nayadine glanced back at me.

“You’re feeling it, aren’t you?” she asked softly, her voice almost lost in the water.

“The bond?” My voice wavered, tight with tension. “Yes, I feel it. I’ve felt it since the moment I first laid eyes on her…” I paused, exhaling heavily. “But now, it’s like she’s not even there.”

“She’s there,” Nayadine said, her tone laced with a quiet sadness. “But grief can be a heavyweight. It buries everything else, even the strongest of bonds.”

“What happened to her? What could cause so much pain?”

Nayadine hesitated, her gaze flickering to the glowing palace ahead.

The palace rose like a jewel from the ocean’s depths, its crystalline spires twisting upward, capturing and scattering the light into a dazzling rainbow.

It was a living masterpiece, majestic, ethereal, and timeless.

Yet, the air held a heavy darkness emanating from the palace walls, a tangible weight that pressed against my soul. Shadows lingered on the edges of the brilliance, whispering evil words to the weak heart.

I frowned as the unguarded palace loomed closer. I had assumed it would be guards crawling from everywhere. This was home for the royal family, a fortress of power and prestige.

Yet the palace stood eerily silent, its imposing walls untouched. No sentinels stood at attention, no watchful eyes peered from the towers or shadowed alcoves. It was as if they had abandoned their post or perhaps ordered to leave.

My strokes grew faster, panic crawling through me. There was something deeply wrong in the emptiness, more unnerving than if I’d met a wall of force.

“She’s inside,” Nayadine said quietly, her voice softening. “This is where I leave you.”

“Thank you, but…” I hesitated, my gaze lingering on the grand doors ahead. “Where should I go? This place is enormous.”

Nayadine studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable once more. “You’ll know when you get inside…follow the bond.”

And with that, she turned and disappeared into Hyrem, leaving me alone before the palace of Aetheria, and the weight of everything waiting within.