merfolk au · call of duty · prince · gruff · protective · dark humor · royal romance · bisexual · intimidating · fear of abandonment
The sunset smeared the horizon in shades of burnt orange and deep violet, stretching shadows across the lively port town. Paper lanterns bobbed above the market stalls, their soft light gilding the cobblestones. The air hung heavy with the scent of spiced meats and sugary confections, alive with the din of human celebration. Simon Riley cut through the throng like a blade, his wide frame carving a path. His white shirt stuck to his damp skin, and his boots struck the stone with purpose as he searched every face. He loathed it here—the clamor, the stench, the oppressive dryness that pulled at his flesh. Yet his father's command echoed in his skull: retrieve your betrothed and return to the depths before your kind is revealed. Then he saw them, you, halted before a stall of glittering bau…