Here is another update I hope you enjoy! Don't forget to like and comment. Also I do want to note that there won't be an update next week as I'll be away and without internet connection. I'll update as soon as I can afterwards!

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Aria awoke to what she assumed was early the next morning. Kaelen had arrived already, his eyes bright with an almost childlike enthusiasm, his excitement a sharp contrast to her lingering exhaustion. She was still drifting in a half-dream about her home on land, a peaceful escape she wished so desperately could be her reality. But the splash of Kaelen's arrival shattered her illusions. She was still here. Still his captive.

Blinking away sleep, Aria saw Kaelen darting around the pool, his tail flicking waves over the rocks. She squinted at him, half-glaring. He was chattering at a rapid pace, too fast for her groggy mind to decipher. What was he even going on about? She closed her eyes again, hoping in vain for just a bit more rest.

But Kaelen was having none of it. A strong wave crashed over her, soaking her entirely. She gasped and bolted upright, stunned. Water dripped from her hair, plastering it to her skin as she glared at him, half-annoyed, half-amused. Laughter echoed through the cave, and she quickly pieced together that he had splashed her on purpose. Despite herself, a reluctant smile crept onto her face. His laughter had warmth that made her irritation dissolve, just a little.

Once he calmed down, Kaelen swam over and held out her 'breakfast' – a pink-toned fish. The brief flicker of amusement vanished from her face as soon as she spotted it. While it was her only food source, she could hardly stomach it. He hadn't brought her seaweed in ages – not that she was a fan of it either, but ti was marginally better than raw fish. He seemed to delight in offering her an ever-growing assortment of sea creatures: clams, crayfish, crabs, even tiny octopuses. Kaelen's joy in watching her forced to eat each new creature was infuriating obvious.

With a grimace, Aria reluctantly bit into the fish's cold flesh, chewing slowly. Kaelen's smile of encouragement faded as she ate at what he clearly thought was an agonisingly slow pace. When she finally finished, she discarded the remains, as always refusing to eat the head or tail. Kaelen didn't mind; he promptly seized the remains, biting down on the head with a contented hum, his sharp teeth making quick work of the bones. To him, sharing food was an act of bonding – a custom with significant meaning. She'd learned this too late, much to Kaelen's amusement. Though she'd refused his past attempts to share his own meal with her, he'd settled on finding 'delicacies' he thought she might actually accept. Hence the assortment of sea creatures.

Once he'd finished his snack, Kaelen gently wrapped his clawed fingers around her wrist. She winced at the grip but refused to let her irritation show. He gently tugged, drawing her attention back to him. He was holding something out to her – something she hadn't seen before.

Aria stared dumbfounded at the peculiar object Kaelen offered her. It looked like a pastel blue sea sponge, with a honeycomb texture and a soft. When she gently squished it, instead of water air came out. Kaelen had been excited last night, babbling about showering her his world – and that she had no choice in the matter, as always. But why was he handing her this spongy object? A wary suspicion settled in her stomach. She knew this exploration meant he'd be pulling her into the water again, forcing her to hold her breath until her 'graciously' supplied her with air by pressing his mouth to hers, her lips bruising from the pressure.

Before Aria could dwell too long on the object's purpose, Kaelen tugged her into the water beside him. The sudden chill sent a shiver through her entire body as she surfaced beside him. Her eyes were wide with dread, bracing herself for the gruelling swim. But Kaelen didn't move, watching her expectantly. She paused, her hazel brown eyes meeting his glowing blue orbs in silent question, her head tilting slightly to the right.

Kaelen took the sponge-like object from her hands and gently brought it to her lips. Aria tried to pull back but found herself cornered against the pools rock wall. Kaelen continued slowly, giving her time to prepare before placing it on her lips. The sponge suctioned to her face, and she yelped, muffled by the strange, soft material. Her hands shot up to pull it off, but Kaelen gently held them down, his gaze soft and reassuring.

With no warning, he pulled her underwater. She kicked wildly, but Kaelen held her tightly, turning her to face him. Her eyes darted open, heart racing with panic, but he just smiled.

"Breathe." He said calmly. Aria's brows knit together. Was he mad? Everyone knew humans couldn't breathe underwater. What was he going on about? He exaggeratedly inhaled, gesturing for her to do the same. Hesitant but ready to prove him wrong, she took a cautious breath – and nearly chocked as oxygen flowed smoothly through the sponge. The sensation was surreal, tingling faintly on her tongue with a salty undertone. Her eyes grew ridiculously wide, much to Kaelen's evident amusement. She could hear his laughter echoing in the water around them. For once, he'd come prepared, letting her breathe underwater and freeing her form relying on him for air.

Kaelen nodded, motioning for her to follow him. Out the cave. For the first time since her captivity began, she felt a flicker of freedom. Without hesitation, she swam towards the open water and away from the bioluminescent light within her prison.

Outside, the open ocean greeted them with its vast, shimmering expanse. Freed from the confines of her prison, Aria found herself mesmerised by the way sunlight filtered through the water, casting silvery beams across the underwater world. Schools of fish darted past, their scales flashing in hues so vibrant it took her breath away. Coral structures rose like underwater cathedrals, each one teeming with life. Everything pulsed with energy. Even Kaelen's movements sent waves rippling outward, glimmering as they caught the light.

Kaelen swam ahead, looking back now and then to ensure she followed. His powerful tail sliced through the water gracefully, muscles rippling beneath his scales. For a brief moment, she was struck by his strength of him, the elegance with which he moved. Despite her resentment, she felt a flicker of admiration for his command of the water.

As they swam deeper, the ocean darkened and grew colder. Shivers ran through her, but Kaelen seemed unaffected, practically glowing in the dim light. At one point, he released her arm and darted after a small creature – a curious sea snail that he chased with surprising joy. Watching him, she felt a strange warmth, something akin to admiration. She couldn't deny his love for this world, the way he took pride in sharing it with her.

But as she floated there, a realisation struck her. The sponge allowed her to breathe freely. She glanced up toward the faint light above. Determination washed over her. Perhaps... perhaps she could escape.

Her eyes drifted back to Kaelen who was still chasing after the sea snail, light laughter rumbling form his chest as he moved. Aria began drifting upward, closer to freedom. Her legs kicked out and her arms joined in. Her gaze eventually leaving Kaelen's shrinking form to stare up the the surface above her. The chill of the ocean forgotten as she swam, faster and faster.

Before she could reach the surface, a rough grip yanked her down. Kaelen's face loomed before her, dark and furious, his eyes flashing with anger and something far more primal. A low growl rumbled from his chest, vibrating through the water like thunder.

Fear surged through her. Before she could even struggle, he pulled her close. His sharp teeth grazed her neck. Pain erupted as they sank in, her blood spilling like crimson smoke into the ocean. She gasped, but the sponge muffled her cries. Her fingers clawed at his chest, solid and unyielding as stone, while tears burned her eyes, mixing with the saltwater.

And then, he stopped. Kaelen's growl faded, his jaw loosening as he pulled back. For a moment, regret flickered in his gaze, his grip on her waist slackening just enough for her to breathe again. But he said nothing. He didn't apologize, didn't acknowledge the blood still curling through the water between them.

Instead, he took her arm and began pulling her forward, guiding her back to the coral.

With her one free hand Aria pressed down on the wound in her neck, she needed it to stop bleeding. The fear she felt for him merged into anger. Kaelen disregarded her wishes, forced her to remain here, he had even stripped her of her name and renamed her: Celestara Alaria, a title she couldn't relate to. To Kaelen, she was a celestial being, a goddess to be loved. But as they swam, she felt trapped between her hatred and an uncomfortable warmth. His pride when showing her a coral reef, his gently hand on her back as he led her through a cavern of glowing jellyfish – it chipped away at her defences. She didn't love him... but perhaps there was something there.

They swam on, Kaelen pointing out wonders—a pair of seahorses curled around kelp, a rare angelfish weaving between coral, a cavern filled with bioluminescent anemones. Every so often, he'd look back with a boyish grin, eager for her reaction.

Yet, the throbbing pain in her neck kept her grounded. This underwater paradise, as beautiful as it was, would never be hers. Kaelen's possessiveness, his insistence that she was his, left her feeling wary and conflicted.

As they approached an underwater valley filled with coral towers, Kaelen's joy grew. Aria's awe mingled with an unsettling anxiety. This world was enchanting, yes, and it was clear Kaelen cherished it deeply. But it was not, and never would be, a place for her.

And for the first time, as she stared into the endless depths, she felt the weight of his world—and of his love—wrap around her like chains.