Page 39 of Hot Monster Summer

I stand alone, feeling an anticipation, a giddy excitement—something I never felt with my ex.

After a few moments, I start wondering if Caspian will show, or if he's changed his mind after sensing Kaelen’s claim on me. Then the water ripples, and he emerges—not just his head and shoulders this time, but his full form rising from the depths like some god.

His tentacles rise higher from the water, glowing brighter, creating patterns of light that dance hypnotically across the lake’s surface.

“Come to me, Lily,” he beckons, extending a hand.

I drop the robe completely, standing naked. His sharp intake of breath is gratifying—even this ancient being is affected by a simple human girl. I step to the very edge of the dock, toes curling over the weathered wood.

“Will I be able to breathe again? Like before?”

“Yes,” he promises. “My kiss will change you temporarily. Allow you to experience my world without fear.”

I dive in rather than waiting for him to pull me—a small assertion of control that makes him laugh as I surface besidehim. The water is once again surprisingly warm, caressing my skin.

“Brave little water Lily,” he murmurs, pulling me closer with gentle tentacles that wrap around my waist. “Ready?”

I nod, and his mouth claims mine. The kiss tastes of salt and something sweeter, more intoxicating. That strange substance floods my mouth again, changing my body’s chemistry. When he pulls me under, there’s no panic, no desperate need for air—just the strange sensation of water filling my lungs and somehow providing oxygen.

The underwater world opens up beneath us, more magical than I remembered. Bioluminescent creatures dart away from our descent, plants that wave in currents that seem to follow Caspian’s commands. His tentacles pulse with light, illuminating our path as he guides me deeper.

This time, we pass his cave sanctuary, continuing downward to a place where the lake bottom drops away into a vast, dark chasm. I hesitate, the fear of the deep overriding even the magic that allows me to me breathe underwater.

“Trust me,” his voice somehow reaches me, though his lips don’t move. Telepathy, or some water-based communication I can’t comprehend.

I squeeze his hand in answer, and he pulls me into the abyss.

As we descend, the darkness gives way to light—not sunlight or moonlight, but an eerie, beautiful glow emanating from what appears to be ancient ruins, partly reclaimed by aquatic plants. Columns rise from the lake bed, covered in luminous algae that pulse in rhythmic patterns. Archways and fallen statues create a labyrinth of stone, while schools of glowing fish dart between them like living constellations.

“What is this place?” I ask, surprised that I can speak underwater, my voice sounding strange and distorted to my own ears.

“The remains of another time,” Caspian replies, his tentacles guiding me gently through the ruins. “One that existed long before humans claimed dominance.”

“You knew them?” I ask, trailing my fingers over a carved stone face half-buried in silt, its features not quite human.

“I did,” he says simply.

The revelation stops me short. I turn to face him fully, seeing him with new eyes—not just a magical creature, but one that has lived for millennia.

“What happened to them?”

A shadow passes over his perfect features. “Time. Change. The waters receded for centuries. Many died. Others changed form to survive on land, forgetting their origins.”

The loneliness implicit in his words makes my heart ache. I reach for him, my hand small against his chest. “You’ve been alone all this time?”

His smile is gentle but tinged with sadness. “Not entirely. Oren was already here, then Kaelen arrived. We established boundaries, territories.”

He looks at me, slightly apprehensive. “The wolf and I have a past.”

“Kaelen alluded to something,” I say, “But he didn’t elaborate.”

“It’s complicated,” he admits, his voice low. “We were both broken and lonely. We were too much alike—both strong willed and stubborn. We fought. There was no balance between us. In the end, I rejected him. My pride got in the way, and now. Well now, it’s too late.”

I feel a tug in my chest. “It’s never too late. You can still be together if you want to.”

Caspian’s gaze softens, “I have you now, Lily. And that's all I want. Besides, that was a long time ago and we’ve established a kind of peace.”

“Until I showed up and complicated everything,” I murmur.

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