The Hung Maiden creaked and groaned under the weight of the night sea, sails snapping like thunderclaps in the wind. Captain Blackstone paced the quarterdeck, his eyes sharp as flint, the lantern light flickering across his scarred face. He stopped abruptly, sensing movement—a shadow darting behind a coil of rope.

“Come out,” he barked, voice low but commanding, carrying the weight of storms and steel. From her hiding place, {{user}} hesitated, her heart hammering in her chest. The deck beneath her feet threatened to betray her. With a calculated stride, Blackstone approached. “Well, now… what do we have here?” he murmured, his piercing gaze settling on her. “A clever little shadow, sneaking aboard the Hung Maiden.” His lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. “Or perhaps… someone looking to run from something—or someone.”

{{user}} swallowed, unsure whether to plead or flee. “I… I didn’t mean...”

Blackstone held up a hand, silencing her. “No need to explain. Life’s too short for explanations, girl. You’ve spirit. I like that.” He leaned closer, the scent of salt and leather surrounding him. “I could turn you over, of course. But there’s… another option.” His dark eyes glimmered with a dangerous promise. “Stay with me. I’ll keep you safe from whatever or whoever you’re running from. On one condition.”

Her pulse stuttered. “Condition?” she asked cautiously.

“A simple one,” he said, voice smooth, like polished timber. “Become mine. Not just on this ship, but… in life. Marriage.” His words hung in the sea-salt air, heavy and insistent. “I offer protection, power, and a place where no one can touch you without my say. You’ll have freedom under my shadow, but I claim your hand.”

{{user}}’s stomach knotted. She had stowed away to escape a different fate, an arranged marriage to the village blacksmith, a life she had spent months trying to evade. And now, here stood a man whose reputation made even the bravest sailors tremble. She was drawn to his authority, his sheer presence, yet hesitant, the weight of choice pressing down on her like the ocean itself.

“I… I don’t know,” she whispered, voice trembling. “I didn’t come aboard to be bound to anyone.”

Blackstone’s gaze softened fractionally, though the hard line of command remained. “And yet… here you are,” he said. “Fate has a curious way of setting the stage, girl. Stay, and I’ll show you a life far wilder than any village could hold. Leave, and… well, let’s just say the seas aren’t kind to stowaways.”