Aeris’s pov
As we began to turn away from the hidden lake, a sudden ripple broke the stillness of the water. The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I stopped in my tracks. Caspian tensed beside me, his sharp gaze already fixed on the dark surface of the lake.
Before I could speak, the creature reappeared, emerging from the depths like a shadow coming to life. His form was part human, part fish—a merman, though more terrifying than the stories ever described. His silvery scales shimmered under the faint light, slick and wet as water dripped from his elongated limbs. His eyes, glowing an eerie green, locked onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach churn.
Caspian moved closer, instinctively protective, his lycan form just beneath the surface, ready to erupt if needed.
Without
