Damarian and my hands are once again clasped as we swim toward the merpeople colony. Every so often, he’d lift our hands to his mouth, pressing his lips against my knuckles. The temperature is pretty low down here, but his lips feel warm on my skin. That small, soft touch is enough to fill every ounce of me with his love.

I spot a cluster of fish on the left. “Do you mind if we stop to hunt?” I ask. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve hunted. I miss it.”

He scans the many schools of fish swimming around, each one more delicious-looking than the last. “You know something? It has been quite a while since I have hunted and I miss it as well.”

I swim toward one of the schools. I’m so out of practice I’d probably starve to death before catching a fish successfully. Damarian positions himself behind me. “Remember what I taught you,” he whispers, his lips brushing my cheek. “Remain calm. Your movements must be subtle and not sharp, lest you scare the fish. Search for the weakest one in the group. Once you have chosen one, bound for it and bite into the left side of its head to minimize the pain.”

I nod. I’ve got this.

Apparently not. Because as soon as I rush toward a fish, they all quickly scatter around and disappear from sight.

“Try over there, my love.” Damarian points to another school of fish, these smaller than the others.

This time, all I do is move a centimeter and they’re gone.

I slam my fists into the water. “Dammit!”

Damarian chuckles. “Ah, I have missed witnessing the frustrated look on your face. How adorable you are.”

I stick out my tongue. “Just because you manage to nail everything on land for the first time, doesn’t mean others have the same luck.”

He kisses my lips. “All right. I will cease teasing you.”

Furrowing my eyebrows, I concentrate on another group of fish. These are average size and aren’t swimming as fast as the other schools. I make sure my movements are slow and steady as I near them. After watching them closely, I find the weakest one in the group.

“You’re mine,” I mutter before lunging for it. I smash my hands together, catching the fish in my palm. All the other fish in the area scurry away, their movements so swift that the only thing I see are bubbles. If not for my firm grip on the fish, it would have slid out and joined its friends. I quickly bite into the left side of its head before it gets any ideas. The fish goes limp in my hand.

“Excellent, my Cassie!” Damarian cheers as I nibble it. “Now it is my turn.”

The area is pretty devoid of fish, thanks to me. Damarian heads to another spot, where it seems most of the fish have fled to. His head moves from right to left, searching for the perfect prey. I catch sight of a school of fish that swims at a much slower pace than the others. Damarian doesn’t go for them, though. He zooms toward the fastest fish and spins around as his hands shoot out toward the fish. They dart away like mine did, leaving nothing but bubbles in their wake. I’m about to give Damarian a taste of his own medicine, when he raises his arms. My mouth falls open. He caught three fish.

He swims over and holds up the fish, beaming like he won a prize at the carnival.

I playfully slap his shoulder. “Show off.”

“This is for you.” He hands me the juiciest-looking one.

“Okay, I forgive you for showing off.”

He laughs.

I haven’t even finished half of my other fish, but the one Damarian caught for me looks beyond this world. I tuck the old fish under my arm and take a bite of the new one. I moan in bliss. This is definitely one of the best fish I have ever tasted. Nothing beats eating fish just after a catch.

As I munch on it, the fish under my arm slides out and plummets toward the bottom of the ocean. “Shoot,” I say as I swim after it. It took me forever to catch that fish and I’m not just going to let it go.

Though we’re pretty deep in the ocean, it’s not that deep. The water’s temperature grows colder and the water’s pressure gets a little stronger. Nothing I can’t handle, though. The fish grows smaller and smaller as it continues its trip toward the seafloor. I pump my tail harder and catch it right before it reaches the bottom.

I blink at the sight in front of me. I’m surrounded by coral I’ve never seen before. Some are tall, pink, and spongy-looking while others look like DVD discs growing out of the ocean floor. And there’s also some that look like yellow caterpillars climbing out of the ground.

But the ones that are absolutely breathtaking are shaped like daisies and are made of the blackest color I have ever seen. Each petal sparkles with green glitter. As they move in the water, the glitter shines brighter. I move closer to them and just admire their beauty.

“Cassie?” Damarian calls.

“Over here.”

A few seconds later, he appears by my side.

“Have you ever seen these before?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “New coral is always growing in the sea. Especially after the sea serpents. These are remarkable. I need to bring Zarya here. She will love them.”

I don’t move my eyes from them. “The most gorgeous things I have ever seen in my life. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?”

“Yes,” Damarian says in a husky voice as he moves closer to me. “She is standing right by my side.” He grabs me and digs his lips into my neck.

Laughing, I try to push him off. “You’re comparing me to these?”

His lips dip to my collarbone. “Yes, they are a marvel to behold, but I cannot kiss them like I can kiss you.”

I close my arms around his neck and stare into his eyes. “Your world never ceases to amaze me, Damarian. I’m so lucky to have the chance to experience it all. None of it would have happened if you hadn’t returned to land after I sent you back. Thank you again for coming back.”

He rests his forehead on mine. “Thank you for giving me a reason to return.”

We remain in each other’s arms for a short while. Sometimes, this is all I need.

“Crap,” I say after a few minutes, freeing myself from his hold.

“What is the matter?”

“My fish. I lost it.”

“It is all right. Another creature will enjoy it.”

I frown. “But I worked so hard to catch it.”

“And now another creature will enjoy your efforts. No matter, for my fish was much tastier than yours.” From the crinkle in his eyes, I know he’s teasing me again.

“You know what happens to cocky mermen, don’t you?”

Confusion enters his eyes. “No. What occurs to cocky mermen?”

“They turn into cocky human men.” I shove my tail into his face and whiz away.

“You cannot flee from me!” he calls after me. “I am much swifter than you.”

“Let’s see you try to catch up to me!” I yell over my shoulder.

No less than twenty seconds pass before I feel his arms wrap around my waist. He yanks me toward his body. “I have caught you!”

“Not fair,” I laugh as I try to wiggle free. “Your true form is a merman and you have the advantage.”

He chuckles. “And now for your reward.”

I try to evade his lips as they trail over my face, when I feel a sharp pain on my right arm. A loud hiss escapes my lips.

“Cassie? What is the matter?” Gone is the playful face he had only a second ago. His eyes are filled with nothing but alarm.

I glance at my arm and see red ink flowing out of it. “I cut myself.” I look around for the culprit and notice the black glittery coral. “I must have rubbed my arm against the coral.”

He gently takes hold of my arm and examines it. The gash must be pretty small because it’s already closing up. “That looks quite painful, my love. I will attempt to heal you.”

“That’s okay, Damarian. I don’t want you to strain yourself. It’ll just heal on its own.”

“Are you certain?”

“Look, it’s already starting to heal.”

He tears his eyes from the wound to look into my face. He strokes my cheek, his eyes looking guilty. “Are you certain you are all right?”

“I promise I’m okay. Don’t feel guilty. We were just having fun and it was an accident.”

His gaze returns to my arm. “Yes, it seems to be healing. Forgive me for behaving toward you as though you are a fry. Any injury you receive in the sea troubles me.”

“I know.” I rub the side of his head. “But you don’t have to worry anymore. There are no more sea serpents or rebels. Nothing’s going to hurt us down here. And look.” I hold out my arm. “It’s totally gone now.”

He looks relieved. “Yes, you are correct.” He gathers me to his chest and holds me tight. “My love for you is so profound I do not know what to do with myself.”

“I know. I feel the same way. Come, let’s go visit your family.”