Page 20 of Sawoots Story

The room quiets as every triad in the mess hall turns to Tasha. I feel sorry for her, but I’m glad the disgusting eyes of the alien species aren’t focused in on me.

The benches of the mess hall are built for Aurelian bulks, but there’s a row of human sized chairs. Chris, Zander, Tom, Felix and Theme sit in them, given a mocking place of honor for the festivities.

They weren’t placed just so the crew would get a view of Tasha.

They were placed so Tasha would be forced to look at them while she endured the humiliation. Captain Aelon designed this punished to break her spirit. She forged her identity as a starship captain, and he wants to take that from her.

He’s a real bastard, but he’s not the one I hate right now.

I hate the mining crew of theWayward Scythe. Even Felix, who I thought was a good guy, is staring at Tasha and grinning like an animal. Only Theme has the decency to look guilty as he keeps his eyes on the floor.

I step forward to slap some sense into them, but Iunia grabs me by the shoulder and pulls me across the room. Most of the Aurelians are fixated on Tasha, but I notice glances over at me.

Three sets of eyes are staring straight at me. Kit and his triad are sitting together, staring at me with silent hunger. The light of the mess hall glistens against a strand of drool that drips from his lips as he watches me, undressing me in his mind.

I look away, terror gripping my heart, when I see Garrick, Markrin, and Tar’ank.

You will be safe here. I give you my word.

Garrick’s voice echoes in my head. Somehow, despite him being across the room, I’m reassured.

Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me because his triad was the only thing stopping Kit and his battle-brothers from raping me, but I trust Garrick innately. That scares me.

Even Felix is leering at Tasha like he’s at a strip club. Men are all the same. Garrick’s words shouldn’t reassure me, but they do.

The huge set of doors at the end of the mess hall open. Captain Aelon enters with the third of his triad, Vinicus, who has the same broad features as Iunia. Tasha was right. The only way to tell them apart is the scars and the full sleeve of tattoos covering Vinicus’s massive bicep.

In the middle of the crowd is a cleared stage. On it is a massive wooden chair built for Aelon. He stands, resting his hand against it with self-assured nonchalance.

Will I be able to watch? My captain, who has brought me through more life-or-death situations than I can count, put over a man’s lap and spanked like a little brat?

“Well, well, well.” The towering captain grins at Tasha as she stands in front of him. “If it isn’t the troublemaker herself. Why don’t you take a seat, my dear—and face the crowd?”

I can only imagine how Tasha feels, with every eye in the room staring at her. I can’t help but glance over at Garrick.

Not every Aurelian is watching Tasha. He’s looking right at me, and there’s hunger in his eyes. I know what he’s imagining. He’s picturing grabbing me and holding me tight while I kick and scream, spanking me hard until I whimper in pain and give in. His two battle-brothers stare with the same eagerness, and all three lick their lips at the same moment. It would be almost comical if I didn’t see how much they ache for me. I have to look away as my cheeks flush red.

The crowd snickers like schoolyard boys as Tasha steps forward and pulls herself into the huge wooden chair. Her feet don’t even touch the ground. She looks tiny and helpless as the crowd undresses her in their minds.

All eyes on her…except six sets of slate grey orbs.

Two triads are watching me instead. Kit’s and Garrick’s. Both have hunger, but one makes my skin crawl and the other…the other makes me feel things I’m not ready to feel.

Aelon steps forward, gesturing towards the mining crew of theWayward Scythe. “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. The Aurelians in the mess hall are a tough bunch, headstrong enough to chart their own course instead of bowing to their Empire. I wonder how many of them have considered going fully Rogue.

“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. The Aurelians might be tough, but there’s not a man in this room that wants to see Tasha take one hundred lashes. They know it would kill even the strongest human. If she hadn’t told me her true punishment, I’d shake off Iunia and try to help her, no matter how futile it would be.

“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.”

No one’s ever called Tasha delicate before. She’s faced down a hell of a lot worse than Captain Aelon and come out unscathed.

“She’s been naughty, and now she’s earned a spanking.”

My nipples harden into buds. I can’t help it. When Aelon talks about Tasha, all I can think about is Garrick and the three hulking aliens who make up his triad. They’re in my mind like no man has ever been. I feel like an animal, something deep in me boiling up that I can’t control.

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