Chapter 18: Under the Siren's Net
The sun had risen high in the sky, and the day was lazily passing by with the sound of
the ocean waves and the occasional rustle of the wind. Levi sat at the edge of the
camp, sharpening his blades in his usual, methodical way. He was focused, trying to
keep his mind off Aria's latest attempt to get under his skin.
Hange and Sasha, however, weren't making that easy.
They sat nearby, watching him with amused expressions. Hange, of course, had that
gleam in her eye that usually meant she was about to say something Levi wouldn't like,
and Sasha—well, she seemed to be enjoying the entire situation a little too much.
"So," Hange started, her voice casual but filled with mischief, "have you given any more
thought to what Aria said to you earlier?"
Levi didn't look up from his blades, his hands continuing their steady work. "No."
Sasha chuckled, leaning forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "You should,
Captain. I mean, Aria's... well, she's Aria. She's beautiful, she's funny, and she's actually
really nice. Why not give in?"
Levi's hands stilled for a moment, his jaw tightening as he shot them both a hard glare.
"I'm not giving in to anything."
Hange leaned back, crossing her arms as she studied Levi, a sly smile tugging at her
lips. "Come on, Levi. Don't be so uptight. She's practically throwing herself at you, and
you're still acting like it's a battle." Her voice softened just slightly, as if she knew Levi
would hate what she was about to say. "Maybe it's time to stop fighting."
Levi's expression didn't change, though his grip on the blade tightened. "I'm not
interested," he said flatly.
Sasha let out a soft laugh, clearly unconvinced. "Oh, come on. You don't have to act so
tough, Captain. You've been through a lot—don't you think you deserve to relax for
once?"
Levi didn't respond, but Sasha took his silence as encouragement to continue. "The
siren honeymoon doesn't sound so bad, does it? Two weeks with Aria, relaxing in her
moonpool… no stress, no battles, just… peace."
Hange leaned forward again, a playful grin on her face. "You're always so tense, Levi.
You're like a spring that's wound too tight. What's the harm in letting go for once?
Besides, Aria's more than just some flirt. She cares about you. You've seen that."
Levi's eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond. He hated how they were ganging up on
him, pushing him to consider something he had been trying to avoid since Aria showed
up.
Sasha, clearly enjoying this far too much, added with a giggle, "Plus, she's gorgeous,
and I bet you'll have fun. You deserve that, Captain. I mean, have you seen her?"
Levi shot her a warning glare. "That's not the point."
Hange chuckled softly, clearly amused by his resistance. "Then what is the point, Levi?
You've been fighting for years, carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Maybe it's time to let someone else carry the load for a while."
Levi's jaw tightened as he finally set the blade down, his patience wearing thin. "This
isn't about me needing to relax," he muttered, his voice low but edged with frustration.
Hange raised an eyebrow, her smile softening just a little. "Maybe it should be. You can't
keep going at this pace forever, Levi. You're human, whether you like to admit it or not.
And Aria—she's offering you something that could actually help."
Sasha nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! She's really sweet, too. I think she genuinely
cares about you. And, I mean, the siren honeymoon thing? Sounds pretty nice. You can
finally just… breathe."
Levi's fists clenched at his sides, his mind racing. He didn't like being pushed like this,
didn't like the idea of letting his guard down, especially not for something like this. Aria
was persistent—too persistent—but Hange and Sasha weren't entirely wrong. He knew
that. He just wasn't ready to admit it.
"She's not going to stop, you know," Hange added, her voice quieter now, almost gentle.
"And honestly? I don't think you want her to."
Levi glared at Hange, his frustration clear. "What makes you so sure?"
Hange's smile was knowing, her eyes twinkling with that usual gleam of curiosity.
"Because if you really didn't want her around, you would've pushed her away a long
time ago. But you haven't. And that says more than you think."
Levi clenched his jaw, hating how right Hange always seemed to be. He had tried to
push Aria away, had tried to keep his distance, but she was relentless. And, as much as
he hated to admit it, there was a part of him—a small, buried part—that didn't mind her
presence as much as he should.
Sasha grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Plus, Captain, two weeks in a magical
moonpool with a gorgeous siren? Sounds like the perfect break, if you ask me."
Levi shot her a look, clearly unimpressed. "It's not happening."
But the words sounded less convincing than they should have, even to him.
Hange chuckled, leaning back with a satisfied smile. "We'll see about that, Levi. We'll
see."
Levi didn't respond, turning his attention back to his blades in an effort to shut out the
conversation. But the words lingered, sinking deeper into his mind than he wanted to
admit.
As the waves lapped at the shore and the camp settled into a quiet lull, Levi knew that
no matter how much he resisted, the pressure was building. Aria wasn't going to stop,
and now, with even Hange and Sasha pushing him to let go, the walls he had built up
around himself were starting to crack.
But for now, Levi did what he always did—he kept sharpening his blades, kept his guard
up, and pretended the battle wasn't already happening inside him.
…
Hours had passed and Levi hadn't seen any sign of Aria. Normally by now, she would
have found some excuse to bother him, to tease him, or to make some cocky remark.
The camp was unusually quiet without her constant chatter, and that nagging absence
left an uneasy feeling gnawing at Levi's gut.
It wasn't like Aria to be away this long. And that, more than anything, set him on edge.
The sun had started its slow descent, casting long shadows across the sand as Levi
stood at the edge of the camp, scanning the horizon. He knew better than to assume
she was just playing around somewhere. Something felt off.
Levi's instincts kicked in. Something was wrong.
Without hesitation, he set off along the beach, his sharp eyes scanning the coastline for
any sign of her. The waves crashed gently against the shore, but all he could hear was
the pounding in his chest. Aria was reckless, sure, but not stupid. She wouldn't just
wander off without a reason, and that reason was beginning to look a lot more
dangerous than he'd initially thought.
As he moved further away from the camp, the silence of the beach was interrupted by a
faint sound carried on the wind—something sharp, panicked.
A scream.
Levi froze for a split second before his body snapped into action, his legs carrying him
toward the source of the sound. He could hear her now, the raw terror in her voice
sending a chill down his spine. Aria.
When he reached the far end of the beach, hidden behind a cluster of large rocks, his
heart nearly stopped at the sight before him.
Aria was in her siren form, her shimmering lavender tail thrashing wildly in a net that
had been cast over her. She was caught, tangled in the heavy mesh, her normally
graceful movements frantic and panicked. Around her, a group of men—siren
hunters—stood with crude grins on their faces, pulling the ropes tighter as Aria
struggled to break free. The also had some kind auditory contraption and Levi wasn't
exactly too sure what it was. Still, it was obvious that it was harming Aria and probably
preventing her from using her voice to compel the hunters.
Her terror was palpable. Her usual confident demeanor was gone, replaced by pure,
unfiltered fear. She thrashed against the net, but the more she struggled, the tighter it
became, cutting into her skin and leaving her trapped.
"Let's see how much she's worth on the black market," one of the hunters said with a
sickening grin, pulling the net harder.
"She's a rare one, alright," another added, eyeing Aria like she was nothing more than a
prize to be sold.
Levi's eyes narrowed, his blood boiling as he took in the scene. He was moving before
he could even think, his blades flashing in the fading light as he sprinted toward the
hunters, his movements swift and lethal.
"Get away from her," Levi snarled, his voice low and dangerous as he closed the
distance between them.
The moment Levi saw the hunters, his decision was made. He wasn't about to let these
scum escape. Not after what they had done to Aria, and not with the knowledge that
they would just come back for her. The leader, the two others—they all carried the same
look in their eyes. Greed. Cruelty. This wasn't just a job for them. It was a twisted form
of sport. And men like them didn't stop.
Levi didn't move as he stared them down, calculating in his silence as they stepped
forward, weapons drawn. The leader's voice was dripping with fury, his frustration
evident. "What do you think you're doing?" he spat. "Do you have any idea who we
are?"
Levi's eyes remained fixed on the leader, unflinching. "Siren hunters," he said coldly, his
voice barely more than a low growl. He could sense Aria trembling behind him, her fear
like a pulse in the air. His grip on his blades tightened. "You've made a mistake."
The leader sneered, though there was a trace of hesitation in his voice. "That siren is
our prize. She's worth more than you can imagine. Step aside, or I'll—"
But the shorter hunter cut in, his eyes wide and darting between Levi and Aria. "Wait,"
he hissed, his voice tinged with fear. "He's… her mate, isn't he?" The realization was
dawning on him now, a dark cloud of fear creeping over his face.
The leader's sneer faltered, but his pride wouldn't let him back down. "That's
impossible—"
The taller hunter took a step back, his grip on his weapon tightening. "He's not scared of
us. If he's really her mate, we're dead."
The leader, realizing the situation was slipping out of his control, raised his electrified
spear toward Levi. His voice quivered with anger, trying to regain control of the situation.
"Mate or not, you're just one man—"
But Levi wasn't listening anymore.
In one fluid movement, he unsheathed both blades. The cold gleam of steel caught the
morning light as he stepped forward with deadly purpose. There was no hesitation. No
mercy.
In a heartbeat, Levi was upon them.
The leader didn't even have time to react before Levi's first blade sliced through the air,
severing the hand that held the spear. The weapon clattered to the ground as the hunter
let out a guttural scream, stumbling backward, blood spraying from the wound. Levi's
movements were swift and precise, each step a deadly calculation.
The other two hunters froze, their eyes wide with terror as they watched their leader fall.
They had heard the stories of siren mates, but none of them had ever seen one in
action. And they had no idea what they were truly up against.
The shorter hunter turned to run, but Levi was faster. In the blink of an eye, he was on
him, one blade slashing across his throat in a swift, brutal arc. The hunter collapsed to
the ground, gurgling, clutching his neck as blood poured between his fingers.
The taller hunter, now the last one standing, let out a strangled cry of panic, stumbling
backward as he desperately swung his weapon at Levi. But it was a pathetic attempt,
born of fear rather than skill. Levi ducked easily, moving like a shadow as he closed the
distance.
With a swift upward strike, Levi's blade drove into the hunter's chest, piercing his heart
with brutal efficiency. The man's eyes widened in shock as his body went rigid, the
weapon slipping from his grasp. For a moment, he stood there, stunned, before
collapsing to the ground in a heap, lifeless.
Levi stood over the bodies, his blades dripping with blood. The air was thick with the
scent of iron, the once-still beach now tainted by the carnage. He had moved through
them like a force of nature, swift and merciless. There had been no time for hesitation.
No second thoughts.
Aria, still in her siren form, lay trembling behind him, her wide lavender eyes fixed on the
scene before her. She had never seen anything like it—never seen anyone move with
such precision, such deadly intent. The hunters, who had terrified her just moments
before, now lay dead at Levi's feet.
Levi didn't waste any time. He cut through the rest of the netting with a few swift
motions, his heart pounding in his chest as he freed Aria from the tangle of ropes. She
collapsed into his arms, her body trembling, her breathing ragged from the terror of the
encounter.
For a moment, Aria didn't speak. She just clung to Levi, her hands gripping his jacket
tightly as if she was afraid to let go.
Levi knelt beside her, his voice low but steady. "You're alright now," he said, his hand
resting on her shoulder as he tried to calm her. "You're safe."
Aria looked up at him, her lavender eyes wide with fear and disbelief. "Levi…" she
whispered, her voice barely audible, her body still shaking. "I… I didn't see them
coming. I was just swimming, and then they… they caught me."
Levi's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he looked out at the ocean, the weight of
what had just happened settling heavily on his shoulders. "Siren hunters," he muttered,
his voice filled with cold anger. "They knew what they were after."
Aria's tail flicked weakly, still trapped in her siren form as she lay there, vulnerable and
shaken. "I've been running from them my whole life," she whispered, her voice
trembling. "I thought I was safe here. I thought… with you…"
Levi's eyes softened for just a moment as he looked down at her. Aria—the one who
always seemed so fearless, so confident—was terrified. Her walls had crumbled, and
for the first time since he'd met her, Levi saw just how vulnerable she really was.
"They won't touch you again," Levi said quietly, his voice filled with quiet determination.
"I won't let them."
Aria looked up at him, her eyes still filled with fear but also something else—trust. She
had always teased him, always pushed him, but now, in this moment, she needed him.
And Levi wasn't going to let her down.
He stood, pulling Aria up with him, his arms still wrapped around her to keep her steady.
"Let's get back to camp," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "You're safe now."
Aria nodded weakly, leaning into him as they made their way back toward the safety of
the camp. She was still shaken, her body trembling with the aftershock of what had just
happened, but with Levi by her side, she felt a sense of safety she hadn't known in
years.
For once, she wasn't alone.
…
Levi guided Aria back to the camp, his arm steady around her waist as she walked
beside him, still shaken. Her usual confidence was gone, replaced by a quiet
vulnerability that Levi hadn't seen before. Aria's siren form slowly faded, her shimmering
tail transforming back into legs, but she leaned heavily on Levi, her breaths coming in
shallow gasps.
As they reached the camp, Hange and Sasha, who had been chatting by the fire,
immediately noticed something was off. Hange's sharp eyes locked onto Aria's pale
face and trembling form, her curiosity quickly giving way to concern.
"Levi," Hange called out, standing up quickly and walking toward them. "What
happened?"
Sasha followed close behind, her expression filled with worry as she took in Aria's
condition. "Is she okay?" Sasha asked, her voice soft with concern. "Aria, what
happened?"
Levi guided Aria to sit down on a nearby rock, his hand still steady on her shoulder as
she sank into the seat, her breathing slowly calming. "Siren hunters," Levi muttered, his
voice low but filled with cold anger. "They ambushed her while she was swimming. Had
her trapped in a net."
Hange's eyes widened, her usually playful expression completely serious now. "Siren
hunters? Here? I didn't think they'd make it this far."
Levi gave a sharp nod. "Neither did I. But they're here, and they knew exactly what they
were after."
Aria, still catching her breath, looked up at Hange and Sasha, her lavender eyes filled
with fear and exhaustion. "I didn't see them coming," she whispered, her voice
trembling. "I thought I was safe here, but they were waiting for me."
Sasha crouched down beside Aria, her eyes filled with sympathy. "You're safe now, Aria.
Levi got to you in time."
Hange, ever the analytical one, ran a hand through her hair as she began pacing. "Siren
hunters this close to camp… That's a problem. We'll need to keep a closer watch. Who
knows how many more could be out there?"
Levi stood still, his gaze dark. "I won't let them get close again."
Aria glanced up at him, her lips parting as if to say something, but she remained silent.
The fear still lingered in her eyes, though she seemed reassured by Levi's presence.
Hange finally stopped pacing and knelt down next to Aria, her usual curiosity tempered
by the gravity of the situation. "Aria," she said gently, "we'll figure this out. We need to
understand how they're tracking you and how they managed to get so close. If they've
developed new methods or technology, we need to know."
Aria nodded, though she was clearly exhausted. "I don't know… they caught me off
guard. I've always been able to sense danger before, but this time… it was different.
They were waiting for me, like they knew where I'd be."
Sasha frowned, looking between Aria and Levi. "What can we do to stop them?"
Levi's voice was hard when he answered. "We eliminate the threat."
Hange sighed, clearly deep in thought. "We'll need to set up a perimeter, maybe lay a
few traps or scouts to keep an eye on things. They might not just be after Aria; they
could be targeting the others, too."
Aria winced at the thought of her sisters being in danger. "They don't know," she
whispered. "They're still out there… in their moonpools with the scouts."
Levi's jaw clenched, the thought of his men being caught off guard by hunters only
fueling his resolve. "We'll warn them when they get back. But first, you need to rest," he
said firmly, his eyes locking onto Aria's.
Aria hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between Levi, Hange, and Sasha. But
then, slowly, she nodded. "Okay," she whispered, her voice small but steady. "Thank
you… for saving me."
Levi didn't respond, but his eyes softened ever so slightly as he gave her a brief nod. It
wasn't over yet. Siren hunters were a new threat, and Levi wouldn't rest until he knew
they were dealt with.
But for now, Aria was safe.
…
The beach was quiet again, the waves lapping gently against the shore as the last of
the siren hunters disappeared into the treeline. Hange and Sasha had retired to their
tents for the evening, leaving Levi and Aria alone. She sat close to him, her lavender
eyes gleaming with something he couldn't quite place. Gratitude, sure, but there was
something more there—a warmth, a tenderness that unsettled him in a way that no
enemy ever had.
Aria took a small step forward, closing the distance between them. Levi noticed her
slight hesitation, but the look in her eyes was unwavering. She had been flirtatious with
him before, constantly testing his limits, but this was different. She wasn't teasing now.
She wasn't trying to push his buttons. This was something real.
"No one's ever protected me like that," Aria said softly, her voice barely above a
whisper. Her gaze never left his, and Levi felt the weight of her words settle heavily in
the space between them. There was an intensity in her eyes, a mixture of emotions that
he could feel pulling at him, drawing him in.
He shifted his weight slightly, uncomfortable with the vulnerability in her voice and in her
gaze. "I told you, they weren't taking you," Levi muttered, his usual stoic tone betraying
the faintest hint of unease.
Aria smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made Levi's chest tighten. "I know," she
whispered, stepping even closer. Her hand lightly brushed against his arm, and Levi felt
a jolt of electricity shoot through him at the contact. "But still… thank you."
Before Levi could respond, Aria moved. In one fluid motion, she leaned up, her hands
gently cupping his face as she pressed her lips to his in a soft, passionate kiss.
Levi froze for a moment, his body going rigid at the unexpected contact. His mind raced,
a flood of emotions and thoughts hitting him all at once. He wasn't used to this—this
kind of closeness, this kind of vulnerability. But then, something shifted. The warmth of
Aria's lips, the gentle way she kissed him, stirred something deep inside him.
Aria's heart pounded in her chest, and she poured everything into the kiss—her
gratitude, her affection, the emotions she had been holding back for so long. No one
had ever protected her the way Levi had. No one had ever made her feel as safe as she
did now since her parents died. And now, sitting there with him, kissing him, she felt
something shift between them.
Levi sat still as a statue, his heart pounding in his chest as Aria's lips pressed softly
against his. His mind, usually so sharp and calculating, had gone silent for the first time
in what felt like years.
A part of him had expected to recoil, to pull away from the kiss out of instinct, but he
didn't. Instead, his body responded naturally, without the hesitation he'd expected. His
lips moved against hers, and he kissed her back, slowly, deliberately, as if some
long-buried part of him had decided this was exactly what he wanted.
Aria, sensing his shift, leaned in closer, her hands sliding up to rest gently on his chest.
Her heartbeat quickened, but she kept her touch light, not wanting to push him too far
too quickly. She could feel the tension in his body, the war between his usual guarded
nature and this rare moment of vulnerability. But Levi wasn't pulling away. He wasn't
protesting. He was kissing her back, and that was enough.
The kiss was slow, unhurried, and filled with something deeper than either of them had
expected. For Levi, it was as if the walls he had built so carefully over the years—the
ones that kept everyone at a distance—had started to crumble, just a little. Aria had
always been persistent, always pushing him, but this… this was different. This wasn't
just teasing or flirting. This was something real.
Aria pulled back slightly, just enough to break the kiss, her breath coming in soft,
shallow gasps as she looked up at him. Her lavender eyes searched his face, and for a
moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick with unspoken
feelings, and Levi could feel the weight of it settling over him like a blanket. He wasn't
used to this. He wasn't used to letting anyone this close. But now that it had happened,
he couldn't ignore it.
Aria smiled softly, her fingers lightly tracing the fabric of his jacket as she sat there, her
body still close to his. "You didn't pull away," she whispered, her voice gentle, as if she
were afraid to break the moment.
Levi's gray eyes met hers, his expression unreadable, but he didn't look away. He could
feel the heat still lingering on his lips, the ghost of the kiss hanging between them. "No,"
he said quietly, his voice steady but softer than usual. "I didn't."
Aria's smile widened slightly, her gaze softening as she leaned in just a little closer. "You
kissed me back," she added, her tone filled with quiet wonder. There was no teasing in
her voice this time, no playful edge. Just sincerity.
Levi's expression remained impassive, but there was a flicker of something in his
eyes—something that even he couldn't fully hide. "Yeah," he muttered, his voice low. "I
did."
Aria's heart fluttered at his words, and she leaned closer, resting her forehead gently
against his chest. The warmth of his body, the steadiness of his presence, made her
feel safe in a way she hadn't expected. She had always felt drawn to Levi—his strength,
his resolve, his quiet intensity—but now, sitting here with him, she realized just how
deep that connection ran.
"I've been waiting for that," Aria whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of
the waves. "I've been waiting for you to let me in."
Levi sat still, his hands resting loosely at his sides, but he didn't push her away. He
didn't pull back. He just sat there, letting her words settle over him like the weight of the
ocean pressing against the shore. He wasn't used to this—this kind of closeness, this
kind of vulnerability. But now that it was happening, he couldn't deny the pull between
them.
For so long, Levi had been focused on survival, on the mission, on protecting those
around him. He had never allowed himself the luxury of wanting something for himself.
But now, with Aria standing so close, her warmth seeping into him, he realized that
maybe—just maybe—there was more to life than the constant struggle. Maybe, for the
first time in a long time, he could allow himself to want something beyond the battlefield.
Aria tilted her head up slightly, her lavender eyes locking onto his once more. "Levi," she
whispered softly, her voice barely more than a breath, "you don't have to be alone
anymore."
Levi's eyes flickered, his jaw tightening slightly at her words. He had always been alone,
hadn't he? That was how it had to be. That was how he kept people safe. But now…
now he wasn't so sure.
He looked down at her, his expression still stoic, but the way his hands lightly gripped
her waist betrayed the depth of his emotions. "I'm not used to this," he admitted, his
voice rough, as if the words themselves were difficult to say.
Aria smiled up at him, her hand coming up to lightly brush a strand of hair away from his
face. "I know," she said softly, her eyes filled with understanding. "But you don't have to
be."
Levi was silent for a long moment, the sound of the waves crashing softly against the
shore filling the air around them. His grip on her waist tightened just slightly, and though
his expression remained composed, there was a softness in his eyes that Aria had
never seen before.
Slowly, deliberately, Levi leaned down, his lips brushing against hers in another
kiss—this time softer, slower, but filled with an emotion he couldn't put into words. Aria
responded immediately, her arms wrapping around his neck as she kissed him back,
her heart pounding in her chest.
This time, there was no hesitation. Levi wasn't pulling away. He wasn't fighting it. He
was letting her in.
And as they sat there, locked in each other's embrace, Levi realized that maybe, just
maybe, he didn't have to be alone anymore. Not with Aria by his side.
And for the first time in a long time, Levi felt something that wasn't duty, or responsibility,
or the weight of the world on his shoulders.
He felt hope.