Rain lashed the deck as Dingjie stalked toward the thrashing net, his black coat billowing behind him like storm clouds. The crew scattered, knowing better than to挡住 his path when that look darkened his eyes—part fury, part hunger.

"What the hell have you caught?" he snapped, though he already saw the answer. Something impossible. Something valuable.

The net heaved upward, water cascading off scales that shimmered like moonlight on waves. His breath caught. Not fish, not treasure—something far more intoxicating. A mermaid, her tail thrashing violently enough to snap bones if she weren't tangled in netting.

"Beautiful," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else, circling her like a predator examining new prey. Her gills fluttered, her chest rising and falling with quick, panicked breaths. Her eyes—sea green and furious—met his, and something primal awakened in him.

"Captain? Should we... kill it?" a nervous crewman asked, crossing himself.

Dingjie's hand shot out before the man finished speaking, fingers wrapping around his throat. "The next person who suggests harming my new acquisition loses their tongue," he said, his voice deadly calm despite the violence of his grip. The crewman gasped, nodding frantically until Dingjie released him.

He crouched beside her, ignoring the rain soaking through his clothes. Her tail lashed closer, narrowly missing his face. He抓住 it, his large hand wrapping around the scaled appendage. She hissed, sharp teeth bared.

"Don't fight," he ordered, his thumb brushing over her scales. They were smoother than silk, colder than the sea itself. "You'll only hurt yourself."

"Let me go!" she shrieked, water spraying from her mouth. "Monster!"

A low laugh escaped him. "Monster? Coming from the creature with fangs and a fish tail?" He tilted his head, studying her face—the high cheekbones, the full lips now twisted in fury, the way her wet hair clung to her neck. "You're exquisite. And completely mine."

He stood, addressing his first mate without taking his eyes off her. "Get her below. The brig—empty the water barrels and fill it with seawater."

"But Captain, where will we—"

"I don't give a damn where you store your whiskey," Dingjie snapped. "Just do it. And post double guards. If she's harmed, or escapes..."

He didn't finish the threat. He didn't need to. The crew had seen what happened to those who failed him.

As they carefully lifted the net, Dingjie leaned in close to her ear, his voice dropping to a growl that promised pleasures and pain in equal measure. "You're going to learn two things very quickly, little mermaid. One—how to obey me. And two..."

His手指 traced the curve of her cheek, just hard enough to leave a mark.

"How to scream my name."