"Why would I need a boat?"

"You just swim through stormy waters for fun?"

The man shrugged. "That's how I was born."

Nesta held out her hands to stop the man. "What the fuck is going on? How did you save me? Where the hell am I? What do you want from me?" Questions ran out of her lips like horses on tracks as the anxiety crawled out of the depth. Her breathing became uneven as her body shook, the fear taking hold of her limbs.

I'm going to die like this. I'm going to die like this. I'm going to die—

Strong arms pulled Nesta close as her face made contact with warm skin. The feeling of the man's embrace felt surreal, as if she had know him all her life, as if it was meant to be. Let me go! But as her mind begged, her body sank into suspenseful bliss, exhaustion unraveling.

"It's okay, SharkHeart. I'm here for you."

Growing Nesta heard from those around her that her mind and will were made out of iron that no one could easily trick or convince. Walls slammed down in her mind, wrenching herself out of his grasp with a scream. She fell to the ground, sand covering her body as she glared up at him.

The man reached his arm out to her, but she slapped it away. "I'm not your Shark..whatever the hell you said. Who even are you?" Was he a stalker?

He blinked before pulling back his arm, his ears just a tad pink. "Oh, I meant to introduce myself but your screaming was rather distracting." His smile was sheepish. "I'm Cassian." He offered her a sincere smile. "And I guess I have a lot of explaining to do." Making his way to the water, Cassian wobbled on his legs. He laughed, looking back at her. "I'm still getting use to them."

Before Nesta could ask getting use to what, Cassian disappeared into the water, bubbles fading from the surface. She stood up with her body shaking, answers left to be tales as the feeling of isolation sank into her. Nesta was alone somewhere she didn't know. Her eyes burned, but she refused to cry. As she held back a sob that was begging to release, something emerged from the water.

From the water, Nesta caught Cassian's hazel gaze as he rose himself to shore, no legs attach to him. No instead his back had a black dorsal fin that trailed into a tail in, the top side black while the bottom white. Nesta took a step back, her body trembling.

"I'm Cassian, son of Nova, bastard of Hyak. The Lone Orca-Mer of the Atlantic. His voice strong as he continued looking into her eyes. "The winds of the sea say your name is Nesta." Reaching out his hand to her, Cassian grinned. "Will you accept my mating proposal—"