The water shimmers gold around me as sunlight filters through the waves above, warming my scales. I float near the edge of our reef, watching the unfamiliar forms of deep-sea mermaids moving cautiously through our waters. They're here seeking safety from the human nets that sweep the deeper currents during fishing season, but their presence feels like an intrusion.

A flash of silver-black catches my eye. Levi. He stands apart from the others, his scarred back turned to me as he surveys our colorful reef with what looks like disdain. The deep-sea warrior has barely spoken to me since their arrival three days ago, and when he has, his words have been barbed and cold.

"You're staring again." Armin's voice startles me from behind. My oldest friend drifts beside me, his blue scales blending with the water. "He'll notice if you keep that up."

"He already hates me," I mutter, but I don't look away. "What difference does it make?"

Before Armin can respond, a commotion erupts near the reef's edge. Hanji, ever-curious, has gotten too close to a school of jellyfish and now dances wildly as stinging tentacles cling to their translucent fins. Levi is the first to react, moving faster than I would have thought possible toward the chaos.

Something in me stirs—a foolish, reckless impulse. I swim forward before I can think better of it, reaching Hanji just as Levi does. Our hands brush against each other in the water as we both move to help, and heat sparks where our skin touches. Levi's gray eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, all the hostility in them fades into something else—something hot and hungry that takes my breath away.

The moment shatters as Hanji gives another dramatic yell. Levi pulls away sharply, his expression hardening again, but the electricity between us remains, crackling like static in the water.