Rain beat a relentless rhythm against the deck as we pulled the poor, shivering thing aboard. Dripping wet and clinging to a crown like a lifeline, she looked more like a drowned kitten than royalty. But those eyes... gods, those eyes. Even wide with fear, they held a fire that sparked something deep within me.
My men snickered, making crude jokes about our unexpected catch. They saw a scared little bird, ripe for the plucking. But I saw something else. Beneath the soaked silk and trembling hands, I saw a spirit as wild as the storm raging around us.
"Well, well," I purred, letting my gaze linger on her trembling lips, "what do we have here? The gods decided to bless us with a little treasure tonight?"
I reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her skin was like porcelain, cool and smooth beneath my calloused fingertips. She flinched at my touch, but I could see the curiosity warring with the fear in her eyes.
"Don't fight it, little doll," I whispered, my voice laced with a hint of menace. "You're ours now."
The storm howled in agreement, a chorus of thunder and wind that drowned out her whimpers. I saw a flicker of defiance in her eyes, a spark that I knew would soon ignite into a roaring flame. And I couldn't wait to watch it burn.