Kingdom of Saeburg; Elemental Realm

The year was 1920, eight years since Sophia had become an Aquarid. As per the rules of the Mer covens, she and her chosen family—the Silver Coven—used their magic to bend time and memories, slipping right into a new era without anyone the wiser.

Sophia wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to living somewhere other than London. At night, she still had dreams about her old life, waking up in a cold sweat as she thought about the way the ship splinted above the icy water. The face of her love haunted her with the breath of their first—and last—kiss. And a voice echoed in her head, one that filled her with hope and promise that she could find happiness again.

“Sophia,” Cassandra said, knocking on the wood-paneled door frame. “Aren’t you getting ready? We’re hosting the party tonight and it would be unwise for you not to show up, especially with my coronation coming soon.”

Sophia sighed, standing up from the window seat that looked out over the entire realm. From here, she could see for miles and at night the sky lit up in a cosmos of colors that represented the four elements.

“I’ll be done soon, Cassie,” she replied. “Please tell the others not to wait for me.”

Cassie nodded and left Sophia alone, closing the door behind her. Sophia reached up to touch the locket around her neck. She longed to be back in England, eight years prior, before her life had turned to hell. Before she’d lost everything.

Tonight, though, things would be different. She’d hidden in the dark for too long. And he was only but a breath away.

Sophia donned a ruby red gown and matching gloves before slipping a black bedazzled mask over her face and leaving her chambers to walk down to the party.

The Enchantment Masquerade Ball in Saeburg was one of the most coveted and well attended throughout the Elemental Realm. Guests chatted with one another, mingling about as music played from the live band and castle staff flitted between patrons with trays of drink and hors devours.

Sophia’s gaze scanned the ballroom for familiar faces—namely that of a man named Thomas with whom she’d grown close—but they were all hidden beneath masks similar to her own.

Then she saw her. Midnight hair and piercing blue eyes that stared deep into her soul from beneath her mask. Like a magnet, Sophia felt herself pulled toward the mysterious stranger, all thoughts of Thomas fleeing from her mind.

“Good evening, you ladyship.” The woman curtsied low and her breasts threatened to spill from the dark blue fabric of her dress. Her voice sent exhilarating shivers down Sophia’s back.

“Good evening,” Sophia replied, returning her companion’s curtsey.

“Would you care to dance?” The woman held out a gloved hand.

Sophia gratefully accepted it and they walked to the center of the dance floor. The spotlight hit. As they swayed to the music, they were the only people in the room.

Sophia’s heart thumped wildly in her chest at the way the stranger’s fingers traced the curve of her back. Together, they glided across the room as if they were beneath the water. All eyes in the room stopped and stared at them as if in a trance of something magical.

Her partner twirled her on the floor and Sophia’s loose curls whipped around her face. She let out a small gasp as the woman pulled her against her chest, so close she could almost hear her heartbeat.

The song ended and they broke away from one another. The stranger stayed close, her lips grazing Sophia’s ear.

“Follow me, young Aquarid.”

Enthralled by her beauty and curious how she knew of her true nature, Sophia hurried after the woman. She found herself in the empty south end library. Once alone, the woman locked the door.

You can’t trust her, the voice in her head warned. Find out what she knows.

“H-how do you know who I am?” Sophia stayed frozen in place.

The woman smiled and flicked her wrist. Sparks of energy hovered over her fingers.

Sophia gasped. “Y-you’re—”

“I’m like you, Sophia.” She stepped forward, circling Sophia’s waist with a delicate yet alluring touch. Her fingers teased the ribbons holding Sophia’s dress as she pressed her thumbs against her hips.

“Andromeda,” Sophia gasped. “You’re a goddess.” A water mage.

Andromeda smiled. “I am.”

Sophia’s cheeks flushed as she tried to look away from the woman’s plump, kissable pink lips. No, she wouldn’t give in. She had heard stories of the enticing sea witch, warned never to tangle with her. But all Sophia wanted was to feel this woman against her skin, taste her lips, be loved even if only for a night.

Andromeda slid her fingers up Sophia’s back, loosening the ties of her dress. The scrape of the goddess’ nails against Sophia’s back sent shivers down her spine. Sophia tangled her fingers in her companion’s dark hair. Screw the warnings, she craved desire.

She gasped as Andromeda’s thumbs drew up her sides, grazing her chest. Andromeda leaned in close so that Sophia could feel her breath upon her cheek. Heat pulsated through her body.

“I have a proposition for you,” Andromeda murmured in her ear.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“A p-proposition?” Sophia squeaked out.

With a flick of her wrist, a portal opened behind them and the world was engulfed in water.

Sophia’s gills surfaced the moment she touched the saltiness. She followed Andromeda beneath the waves, swimming toward the sound of a rushing waterfall. Andromeda surfaced, her bare back facing Sophia. She smoothed her long dark hair over her shoulders and walked forward.

“Come.” Andromeda turned to face Sophia, her naked body a glorious sculpture that Sophia wished to explore. She cocked a finger before disappearing behind the falls. Sophia swam after her. Behind the falls, she entered a cavern with a four-poster bed in the center of the room.

This must be where Andromeda resides. Energy pulsed around the room and an enchantment shimmered at the entrance.

The Enchanted Realm.

Sophia wrapped her arms around her body, suddenly very aware that her dress from the ball had disappeared. Andromeda stood, still also naked, in front of her. A vision of bronzed skin, midnight hair, and crystal blue eyes.

Lust and longing melted Sophia’s icy walls. She’d fought hard to keep out all forms of enchantment, but she was powerless against the woman. The sea witch.

Andromeda snapped her fingers, and they both were dressed in matching white nightgowns. She stepped forward.

“Wh-what now?” Sophia’s heart thundered against her chest. The straps from her new nightgown dipped off her shoulders.

“What do you want to do?” Her companion tucked Sophia’s curls behind her ear. “I thought this might be better if we started off wearing something.” Andromeda’s lips found hers, tongue slipping into Sophia’s shocked mouth as her fingers traveled southward. “Although, I’m no stranger to the depths of a woman’s body.”

Sophia molded herself into the woman’s embrace as they fell back on the bed together. Her mind screamed at her that this was all wrong but her body disobeyed, desperately wanting more.

Andromeda’s leg slid up Sophia’s own as her fingers fought against the fabric that separated them from one another. Her lips nipped at Sophia’s ear then neck. Her eyes scanned over Sophia’s chest as she latched onto Sophia’s mouth again.

Sophia clutched at the sheets beneath them; she wanted more, needed more.

The gown was loose against her shoulders. Sophia tugged the fabric from her body, letting the mage slide off the rest. Andromeda grinned at her as her own nightgown dissolved as quickly as it had appeared. The witch’s dark nipples beckoned to her, full and rounded.

Let your body give in to the pleasure, her eyes seemed to whisper.

Sophia clasped her fingers together with Andromeda’s and drew them slowly above her head. She was completely exposed to Andromeda, satisfaction mere inches away.

Her lips ghosted across Andromeda’s breasts. She felt the goddess heave beneath her as their bodies rose and fell to meet one another in a silent kiss.

“Just tell me if you want me to stop,” Andromeda whispered. Her head dipped down to Sophia’s neck again, latching on and earning moans of pleasure from Sophia.

Sophia’s hands roamed over Andromeda’s body, over her breasts, feeling the warmth that radiated off of her skin. Andromeda’s fingers slipped lower, teasing her entrance with a coy stroke that sent colors dancing before Sophia’s eyes.

Remember why you’re here, the voice in her head said. Her proposition.

“Wait.” Sophia pushed back lightly against Andromeda’s chest. She suddenly wished she still had the nightgown, but the white fabric had disappeared. “What’s your proposition?”

Andromeda smiled her infectious grin, causing Sophia’s heart to soar. She was mesmerized by the woman’s boldness.

“I want you to join the Syfires,” she said, tilting Sophia’s chin up so their eyes could meet. “We can give you so much more.”

“I-I don’t know.” Sophia clutched at her locket, feeling the silver warm in her hand. “My loyalty is as an Aquarid. I can’t betray that.”

“My dear, you already have. The man you love is a Syfire like me.”

The words shattered the illusion around her.

Thomas was a good and caring soul. His resemblance to the man she met and lost aboard the Titanic was uncanny, and for a time she thought she could have him back. Now, it would be impossible. With him a Syfire and her an Aquarid, they could never be together.

“The only way you and he can be together is…” Andromeda trailed off.

“If I switch sides,” Sophia finished.

You cannot, the voice warned. You will have your destiny, but this is not the way.

Andromeda’s blue eyes gleamed. She brushed her fingers over Sophia’s bare shoulder. “What will it be?

As wonderful as her touch had been mere moments before, it now brought ice instead of heat to Sophia’s skin.

Sophia shook her head. “I’m sorry. Andromeda, I can’t do it.”

Andromeda rose from the bed, her bronzed skin enticing Sophia almost enough to make her regret her decision.

“Then I shall return you to your time.” With a flick of her wrist, Sophia found herself back in the south end library as if nothing had happened.

But it had.

She could still taste the sweetness of Andromeda on her lips.

Sophia leaned against the desk in the library and groaned. She did exactly what she’d been warned from doing. Her coven said that Andromeda was dangerous, and what’s the first thing she did? Sleep with the woman.

“Soph, are you in here?”

Sophia straightened at the sound of the voice at the door. “Thomas?” She walked over to open it, finding the dark-haired man frowning at her with his mask in his hand. She pulled him into the room, wishing to take him as hers right there.

“Sophia, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing, I…” She inhaled sharply. “I just needed a space to clear my head.”

Thomas cocked his head to the side. “You were with another?”

Heat crept to Sophia’s cheeks. “Yes, a maiden. Andromeda. I don’t think you know her.”

Thomas’s green eyes darkened. He strode over to her side and leaned over her on the desk. “What did she tell you?”

“I-I, she didn’t tell me anything,” Sophia lied.

Thomas ran a hand down his face, his eyes boring into hers. “I know who she is, Sophia. She’s not to be trusted. So, what did she tell you?”

Sophia swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut. “She t-told me you’re a Syfire and she offered me a choice.”

“What kind of choice?”

She blinked away tears that stained her eyes. “To join the Syfires or never be with you.”

Thomas sighed and released his hold that pinned her against the desk. She leaned forward and buried her head into his chest while he ran his fingers through her hair.

“I’m so sorry, Thomas. You never told me who you were and I…I never saw it.”

He stroked her hair, pressing his lips lightly against it. “It’s okay. We’ll figure out a way to be together.”

“The rules are clear, Thomas.” Sophia sniffed and wiped at her eyes.

His green eyes shone amongst the dim light of the library. He drew his lips over her ear, making her gasp for breath as his fingers trailed up her arms. “There are always loopholes.”