Chapter One

Reckoning

The glow of the bioluminescent corals flickered softly outside the palace, casting shadows that danced across the smooth stone walls of Callan’s room. It had been only days since the royal balcony had become the stage for the most defining moment of his young life—a public confession that shattered the carefully crafted image of the obedient prince, heir to the Atlantean throne. It was a declaration of love, defiant and raw, and as Callan looked out at the vast underwater city before him, he felt a weight in his chest that seemed to pull him in different directions all at once.

The city, usually a place of comfort and familiarity, now felt foreign to him, as if the very water surrounding Atlantis had grown heavier, filled with judgment and uncertainty. Callan ran his fingers along the carved stone of the windowsill, his thoughts drifting back to the faces of the crowd that had gathered below the balcony. There had been shock, confusion, and—most painfully—fear. He had seen it most clearly in his mother’s eyes, her expression a mix of heartbreak and worry that left a hollow ache inside him.

The soft sound of the door creaking open broke him from his thoughts. Callan turned, his gaze meeting Nereus’s, and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade away—the uncertainty, the pressure, the fear. Nereus’s presence had a way of anchoring him, of reminding him why he had chosen this path, why he had stood before the kingdom and let his heart speak.

“Hey,” Nereus said softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. His dark eyes held a warmth that made Callan’s chest tighten, a sense of understanding that Callan desperately needed. “I thought you might need some company.”

Callan gave him a small smile, a sense of relief washing over him as Nereus crossed the room and stood by his side. “I do,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He turned his gaze back to the city outside, his fingers brushing against Nereus’s as the other boy leaned against the windowsill beside him. “I feel like everything has changed... like nothing will ever be the same again.”

Nereus nodded, his gaze following Callan’s out towards the city. He could see the faint outlines of the palace guards moving along the perimeter, their shadows barely visible against the coral-lit backdrop. The sense of watchfulness had grown since the confession, and Nereus knew that they were being watched more closely than ever before. He also knew that Callan was struggling under the weight of it all—the expectations of the kingdom, the tension within the palace, the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

“It has changed,” Nereus said gently, his fingers intertwining with Callan’s, a small, comforting gesture that spoke of solidarity. “But maybe that’s not a bad thing. Maybe it’s what needed to happen. We can’t keep pretending to be something we’re not. We can’t keep living in the shadows.”

Callan let out a soft sigh, his eyes closing for a moment as he leaned into Nereus’s touch. “I know,” he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion. “But it’s hard. I’ve always known what was expected of me, what I was supposed to be. And now... I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know if my parents will ever truly accept us, or if the council will ever stop seeing us as a threat.”

Nereus’s heart ached at the pain in Callan’s voice, and he wished he could take it all away—wished he could make everything easier for the boy he loved. But he knew that they couldn’t turn back now, that they couldn’t undo what had been done. They had chosen this path, and they would have to see it through, no matter the challenges that lay ahead.

“We’ll figure it out,” Nereus said, his voice filled with determination. He reached up, his fingers brushing against Callan’s cheek, gently turning his face so that their eyes met. “We have each other, and that’s what matters. We’ll face whatever comes our way together. You’re not alone in this, Callan.”

Callan looked into Nereus’s eyes, his heart swelling with emotion, and for a moment, the weight on his chest seemed to lift, replaced by the warmth of Nereus’s love, by the certainty that no matter what happened, they would face it together. He leaned in, his forehead resting against Nereus’s, his eyes closing as he let out a shaky breath.

“I love you,” Callan whispered, the words filled with both vulnerability and strength. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that I want you by my side. Always.”

Nereus smiled, his heart pounding in his chest as he pressed a soft kiss to Callan’s forehead. “Always,” he whispered back, his voice filled with love. “No matter what.”

They stood there for a long moment, the world outside fading away as they held each other, the gentle warmth of their bond a reminder that they were not alone—that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they had each other. And for now, that was enough.

The next morning dawned with a strange sense of unease. The usual palace routines were intact—servants moved through the halls, carrying trays of food and jugs of fresh water, while guards stood at their posts, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of trouble. But beneath the surface, there was tension—an unspoken awareness that something had shifted, that the equilibrium that had once held the palace together had been disrupted.

Callan could feel it in the way the servants spoke in hushed voices as he passed, in the way the guards exchanged glances when they thought he wasn’t looking. It was as if the entire palace was waiting, holding its breath, unsure of what would happen next.

He made his way to the dining hall, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone floors, his heart heavy with a mix of fear and determination. He knew that today would not be easy—that there would be questions, that there would be judgment. But he also knew that he couldn’t hide, that he couldn’t let fear dictate his actions.

As he entered the dining hall, his eyes immediately went to his parents, seated at the head of the long table. His mother, Queen Lyara, looked up at him, her expression softening slightly as their eyes met. His father, King Thalor, however, wore a stern expression, his gaze sharp, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“Good morning, Callan,” Queen Lyara said, her voice gentle, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Come, sit with us.”

Callan nodded, making his way to the table and taking a seat across from his parents. The silence that followed was heavy, the tension in the air palpable. He could feel his father’s gaze on him, could feel the weight of his unspoken expectations, and it made his chest tighten, made his heart pound with a mix of fear and defiance.

“Callan,” King Thalor said, his voice breaking the silence, his tone measured, controlled. “We need to talk about what happened. About your... public declaration.”

Callan took a deep breath, his gaze meeting his father’s, his heart pounding. “I know,” he said, his voice steady, though his hands trembled slightly in his lap. “I know that it wasn’t what you expected, that it wasn’t what you wanted. But I couldn’t keep hiding. I couldn’t keep pretending to be someone I’m not.”

King Thalor’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You are the crown prince of Atlantis,” he said, his voice filled with authority. “Your duty is to the kingdom, to your people. You cannot simply do as you please, Callan. There are expectations, responsibilities—”

“I know my responsibilities,” Callan interrupted, his voice rising slightly, his chest tight with emotion. “But I also know that I can’t lead this kingdom if I’m not true to myself. I love Nereus, and I won’t hide that. I won’t pretend that it doesn’t matter.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, the tension thick enough to cut through. Queen Lyara reached out, her hand resting gently on King Thalor’s arm, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and understanding.

“Thalor,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Perhaps we should listen to what Callan has to say. This is not just about duty—it’s about his happiness, about his future.”

King Thalor’s jaw tightened, his gaze shifting to his wife, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, he was silent, the weight of the decision before him evident in the furrow of his brow, in the tension in his shoulders.

Finally, he let out a sigh, his gaze shifting back to Callan, his expression softening slightly. “We will discuss this further,” he said, his voice still firm, though there was a hint of something else—something that Callan couldn’t quite place. “But know this, Callan—your actions have consequences. And you must be prepared to face them.”

Callan nodded, his heart pounding, his chest tight with a mix of fear and determination. “I understand,” he said, his voice steady. “And I am ready to face whatever comes.”

Later that day, Callan found himself walking through the palace gardens, his mind racing with thoughts of the conversation with his parents. He knew that his father was struggling to understand, that the expectations of the kingdom weighed heavily on him. But he also knew that he couldn’t go back—not now, not after everything that had happened.

As he reached the edge of the gardens, he spotted Nereus sitting on a stone bench, his gaze fixed on the water lilies that floated on the surface of the garden pond. Callan’s heart swelled at the sight of him, a sense of warmth washing over him as he made his way over, his footsteps soft against the stone path.

“Hey,” Callan said, his voice gentle as he approached, his eyes fixed on Nereus’s profile. Nereus looked up, a small smile tugging at his lips as he met Callan’s gaze.

“Hey,” Nereus replied, his eyes filled with warmth, with understanding. “How did it go?”

Callan let out a soft sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as he sat down beside Nereus, his gaze drifting to the pond. “It was... difficult,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “My father... he doesn’t understand. He still thinks that I’m putting my duty at risk, that I’m being reckless.”

Nereus reached out, his fingers brushing against Callan’s, their hands intertwining, the touch a comfort, a reminder that they were in this together. “He’ll come around,” Nereus said, his voice filled with hope. “It might take time, but he’ll see that what we have is real, that it’s worth fighting for.”

Callan turned his gaze to Nereus, his heart swelling with emotion, his chest tight with love. “I hope you’re right,” he whispered, his voice filled with vulnerability. “Because I don’t know if I can do this without you.”

Nereus smiled, his eyes shining with love, his hand squeezing Callan’s gently. “You won’t have to,” he said, his voice filled with warmth. “I’m not going anywhere. We’ll face whatever comes together, no matter what.”

And as they sat there, side by side, the soft glow of the garden lights reflecting off the water, Callan felt a sense of peace settle over him—a sense of hope that, despite the challenges ahead, they would find a way to make this work. Because as long as they had each other, they could face anything.