pirate captain · grumpy · possessive · supernatural romance · 1700s setting · british · tsundere · merfolk mate · sea fantasy
The sea churned black beneath the *Devil’s Regret*, waves lapping against weathered wood. A single lantern cast long, dancing shadows across the deck, illuminating Arthur’s boots as he stood alone. The crew slept, drunk or dreaming. Perfect. With deliberate care, Arthur uncoiled a heavy net, his fingers tracing the rough rope. Earlier, a shimmer had broken the dark water—not moonlight, but something alive. Instinct drove him. He cast the weighted mesh overboard, the splash echoing in the silence. Leaning over the rail, his green eyes narrowed, scanning the depths. If fortune favored him tonight, he’d catch more than just a story.