The last mermaid

Chapter 12

For a single heartbeat, the battle disappeared.

Daisy forgot the hunters.

Forgot the forest.

Forgot the danger.

All she could see were his eyes.

Golden.

The same eyes from the vision in the Temple of Tides.

The same eyes she had glimpsed across the harbor.

The same eyes that now stared back at her with equal astonishment.

Cassian felt the world shift beneath him.

It was her.

The girl from the shoreline.

The silver-haired stranger who had haunted his thoughts since that morning.

Yet seeing her now was different.

Real.

Overwhelmingly real.

For reasons he couldn't explain, a strange warmth spread through his chest.

As though some ancient part of him recognized her.

As though fate had finally placed a missing piece where it belonged.

A scream shattered the moment.

One of the Shadowbound lunged.

Cassian reacted instantly.

His sword flashed from its sheath.

Steel met dark magic.

The impact sent sparks exploding through the clearing.

"Protect the girl!" he commanded.

His soldiers obeyed without hesitation.

The forest erupted into chaos.

Arrows flew.

Steel clashed.

The Shadowbound attacked with terrifying speed.

Darkness poured from their hands like living smoke.

Several soldiers were thrown backward by the force.

Daisy stared in horror.

The hunters were far stronger than ordinary humans.

One Shadowbound raised both hands.

Shadow tendrils burst from the ground.

They wrapped around a soldier's legs.

Another tendril reached for Daisy.

Instinct took over.

Fear surged through her.

The same power she had used in the sanctuary answered her call.

Moisture gathered from the air.

From leaves.

From the earth itself.

Water spiraled around her hands.

A wave exploded outward.

The tendril shattered.

The entire clearing froze.

Even the Shadowbound stopped moving.

Daisy's eyes widened.

She hadn't meant to do that.

The soldiers exchanged startled looks.

Cassian stared openly.

Magic.

Not ordinary magic.

Ancient magic.

The kind spoken of only in legends.

The lead Shadowbound recovered first.

His crimson eyes narrowed.

"There she is."

Fear crawled through Daisy.

The hunter smiled.

"The Last Mermaid."

Silence fell.

The words seemed to echo through the forest.

Several soldiers looked confused.

Others looked shocked.

Cassian's expression changed instantly.

Mermaid.

The word felt impossible.

Mermaids were myths.

Stories.

Creatures from forgotten ages.

And yet...

The evidence stood before him.

Silver hair.

Ocean-blue eyes.

Ancient magic.

The prophecy from his dreams suddenly felt less absurd.

The Shadowbound laughed.

"My queen will be pleased."

Then darkness exploded around him.

The hunters retreated into the shadows.

One by one they vanished between the trees.

Gone.

As quickly as they had appeared.

The battle ended almost instantly.

Only silence remained.

The forest slowly began to awaken again.

Birds resumed singing.

Leaves rustled gently in the breeze.

Yet tension lingered in the clearing.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Every gaze settled upon Daisy.

She suddenly felt very exposed.

Very vulnerable.

Cassian dismounted.

His soldiers immediately protested.

"Your Highness—"

He ignored them.

Slowly, he approached.

Not threatening.

Not cautious.

Simply curious.

Daisy's pulse quickened.

Every instinct told her she should run.

Yet her feet refused to move.

Cassian stopped several steps away.

Close enough to speak.

Far enough to give her space.

For several moments neither said anything.

Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.

The expression transformed his face.

Made him seem younger.

Warmer.

Less like a prince and more like a person.

"Hello."

Daisy blinked.

Of all the things she expected him to say, that was not one of them.

"Hello," she replied.

A few soldiers exchanged bewildered looks.

Their prince had just fought shadow creatures.

Discovered a mysterious girl with powerful magic.

And opened the conversation with hello.

Cassian noticed their expressions.

He almost laughed.

Almost.

Instead, his attention returned to Daisy.

"Are you hurt?"

The question surprised her.

"No."

"Good."

Another awkward silence followed.

Neither seemed quite sure what to say next.

Eventually Daisy spoke.

"Thank you."

Cassian tilted his head.

"For what?"

"You saved my life."

His smile returned.

"You're welcome."

The simple exchange should have felt ordinary.

Instead, it felt strangely important.

As though the world itself were holding its breath.

Watching.

Waiting.

Then Rowan emerged from the trees.

The captain looked between them.

Then toward the retreating shadows.

His expression darkened.

"We need to leave."

Cassian nodded reluctantly.

Rowan was right.

The Shadowbound would return.

And next time they would bring more hunters.

Much more.

The prince looked back at Daisy.

"What is your name?"

She hesitated.

The answer felt important.

Dangerously important.

Yet something about him inspired trust.

Against all logic, she found herself answering.

"Daisy."

The prince repeated the name softly.

As though committing it to memory.

"Daisy."

For reasons neither understood, hearing him say it sent a strange flutter through her heart.

Then he offered his hand.

"My name is Cassian."

Daisy stared at the hand.

At the prince.

At the choice before her.

She had spent her entire life alone.

Running.

Hiding.

Surviving.

Now destiny had placed the Immortal Prince directly in her path.

And somehow, she knew that accepting his hand would change everything.

Slowly, she reached forward.

The moment their fingers touched, a pulse of ancient magic swept through the forest.

The air shimmered.

The earth trembled.

And far away, deep within her obsidian fortress, Queen Morvana opened her eyes.

She felt it.

The bond had begun.

And for the first time in centuries, fear touched the Sea Witch's heart.