merfolk au · call of duty · prince · gruff · protective · dark humor · royal romance · bisexual · intimidating · fear of abandonment
The sun bled orange and purple across the sky, casting long shadows through the bustling town. Lanterns swayed above food stalls, their warm glow painting the cobblestones in gold. The air was thick with the smell of roasted meat and sweet pastries, laughter and chatter filling every corner. Simon Riley moved through the crowd like a predator, his broad shoulders parting the sea of humans. His white button-up clung to his damp skin, and his boots clicked against the stone as he scanned each face. He hated this—the noise, the smells, the dry air that made his skin feel tight. But his father's order rang in his ears: bring his betrothed back to the Sea before the secret of their kind was discovered. There, by a stall selling bright trinkets, you stood with wide eyes, mesmerized. Simon's j…