Page 37 of Alien Captain's Prisoner

I hold my head up high. It’s not easy, though. Every instinct in my body is telling me to look down at my feet – to avert my eyes in shame. There are snickers from the Aurelians and that just makes this humiliation burn all the more intently.

Men.

Even after hundreds of years of life, Aurelians are just typical men – and they still act like teenagers.

But what can I do? Ihaveto sit down in that huge chair and accept my fate. If I back down now, it’s my crew that’s going to suffer – not that Chris and those lugs don’t deserve it.

But I do what I must. I step forward and clamber onto the oversized chair. My feet don’t even touch the ground as I sit there; and when I settle into position, I find myself facing the hundreds of grey, colorless eyes that stare back at me –fixatedon me. The chatter and jeering dies down, and suddenly there’s only silence.

Aelon steps forward, gesturing towards Chris and the other rebellious members of my crew.

“The five men sitting there tried to escape the brig, where they were rightfully detained. They injured one of our crew in the process. For that, they must be punished.”

There’s a roar of approval from the crowd, and the corner of Captain Aelon’s lip quirks in approval.

He continues:

“The captain of their vessel has selflessly agreed to accept their punishment in lieu – as is her right under the Spacefaring Code. However, her men have been sentenced to twenty lashes each…”

There’s a hush across the room, as the Aurelians – some of whom have presumably suffered lashes themselves – consider the impact of receiving such punishment on my small, human frame.

Raising his hand, as if to reassure his men’s unspoken concerns, Aelon clarifies:

“I determined that killing this captain by subjecting her to a hundred lashes would be a terrible waste.” His eyes flash as he says that. “After a brief negotiation, the captain has wisely elected to accept adifferentform of punishment – one more suited to her more…delicatenature.”

I bristle when I hear that word. Even in comparison to those towering, seven-feet-tall Aurelians, I object to being described asdelicate.

But that’s part of the game, isn’t it? That’s part of Aelon’s punishment.

Confirming that, he continues: “She’s been naughty, and now she’s earned a spanking.”

There’s a chorus of wolf whistles and jeers from the crowd of Aurelians. My cheeks burn in humiliation. Tears spring to my eyes. I’m a defiant, badass, brilliant starship captain…

…and he’s describing me like a naughty little girl.

But I keep my head held up, proud and defiant against the legion of leering, laughing eyes.

I am acaptain.

I’m doing this for my crew – even if they don’t deserve it.

I am doing this for Theme – because he surely does.

I glance over at Sawoot, and the sight of her worried expression gives me strength. With my best friend in the same room as me, I feel like I can endure anything – even this.

“Now then,CaptainTasha,” Aelon growls. “You can remove your pants – or I can do it for you.”

There’s a hushed gasp across the room as a hundred horny Aurelian warriors imagine me stripping my overall pants off – or Aelon tearing them off for me.

He grins as he continues:

“The hundred lashes owed to your men will be commuted to a hundred spanks on your gorgeous ass. I think we can all agree that’s a fair exchange – and a better result for all of us.”

My cheeks flush red. A hundred spanks? Gods – how humiliating! Why so many?

I mean, I suppose it makes sense – a hundred lashes, exchanged for a hundred spanks – but right at that second I think I’d almost prefer the agonizing taste of the lash.

Yet, that’s no longer an option.

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