Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
T essara
When I awoke in Captain Alpha’s enormous bed, with Sala stirring next to me, I had a moment of complete disorientation. As consciousness slowly returned, I found myself enveloped in a cloud of comfort. The bed beneath me felt impossibly soft, cradling my body in a way I had never experienced before. Silken sheets whispered against my bare skin as I shifted, their cool touch a foil to the warmth radiating from the body next to me.
For a blissful moment, I hovered in that hazy space between sleep and wakefulness, content to simply exist in this cocoon of comfort. But then, as my mind began to clear, panic seized me.
My eyes flew open, heart racing as I took in my surroundings. The room was vast, far larger than any sleeping quarters I had ever seen on a starship. Ornate tapestries adorned the walls, their intricate patterns seeming to shift in the soft light. A massive viewscreen dominated one wall, currently displaying a breathtaking vista of stars against the inky blackness of space.
Terror gripped me as I realized I must somehow be in the captain’s quarters on the Conqueror of Bresla . I had never seen them, of course, nor imagined they could be this spacious. But how? The last thing I remembered was… what? My mind scrambled to piece together the fragments of memory.
Suddenly, it hit me. I was aboard the Conqueror of Bresla , of course—how could I not be? I could almost hear Lieutenant Jorg’s voice, cold and cruel, promising punishment for this transgression. My body tensed, anticipating the sting of the whip, the brutal invasion of my most intimate places as punishment for having snuck in where I knew I must never go.
A soft sound beside me made me jump. I turned my head, heart in my throat, to see a woman with long black hair stirring next to me. For a moment, I couldn’t place her. Then, like a dam breaking, the memories came flooding back.
Sala. Alpha. The fall of the Vionian Empire. My rescue. The victory celebration on the bridge.
A sob of relief tore from my throat as the full weight of reality settled over me. I wasn’t on the Conqueror of Bresla . I was aboard the Prince Hend , in Captain Alpha’s bed, with his wife Sala beside me.
Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to process the tumult of emotions coursing through me. Relief, joy, lingering fear, and a deep, aching gratitude all warred for dominance in my heart.
Sala’s eyes fluttered open, concern immediately etching itself across her features as she took in my tearstained face. “Tessara?” she murmured, her voice still husky with sleep. “What’s wrong, sweet one?”
I tried to speak, to explain, but another sob escaped me instead. Sala didn’t hesitate. She gathered me into her arms, pulling me close against her warm, naked body. Her hand stroked my hair soothingly as she made soft shushing noises.
“It’s alright,” she whispered. “You’re safe now. No one will ever hurt you that way again.”
I clung to Sala, burying my face against her neck as I wept. Her skin was soft and warm, smelling faintly of exotic flowers and the musky remnants of last night’s passion. As my sobs gradually subsided, I became acutely aware of our naked bodies pressed together, the gentle swell of her breasts against mine, the tangle of our legs beneath the silken sheets.
Sala’s fingers continued to comb through my hair, the repetitive motion soothing my frayed nerves. “There now,” she murmured, her breath warm against my ear. “You’re alright, Tessara. You’re safe here with us. We’re in the Prosperia system, in high orbit. Alpha and I are going to take you down to the refugee center this morning.”
As my tears subsided, I slowly became aware of the gentle hum of the ship’s engines, a soothing background noise that seemed to wrap around us like a cocoon. The bed cradled our bodies in a way that made me never want to move again. Sala’s warmth against me was comforting, her skin impossibly smooth beneath my fingertips.
I took a deep, shuddering breath, inhaling the scent of her—a mix of exotic flowers and something uniquely Sala. As I calmed, curiosity began to stir within me.
“Sala,” I whispered, my voice still thick with emotion, “you mentioned Prosperia. What… what is it like?”
Sala’s hand continued its soothing motion through my hair as she spoke. “Prosperia is Magisteria’s closest ally,” she began, her voice soft and melodious. “It’s a beautiful world, with a big city of gleaming spires and lush, carefully tended gardens. The Prosperians have a deep appreciation for the aesthetics of old Earth’s Victorian era.”
I felt my brow furrow in confusion. “Victorian era?”
Sala chuckled softly. “It was a time in Earth’s history known for its rigid social structures and strict moral codes. The Prosperians have adapted many aspects of that culture, blending it with advanced technology in fascinating ways.”
She shifted slightly, her breasts brushing against mine in a way that sent an unexpected tingle through my body. “Their approach to relations between men and women differs in certain important ways from ours, despite hewing to the traditional subordination of women to men.”
I lifted my head, meeting Sala’s bright blue eyes. “How so?”
Sala’s lips curved into a small smile. “Well, for one, Prosperian women are never seen nude in public. They wear elaborate, modest clothing—long dresses with high collars and full skirts. But beneath those clothes…” She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Beneath those clothes, they wear what their husbands specify. Often very little indeed.”
I felt my cheeks flush at the thought. Sala continued, her voice taking on a more serious tone. “But the most significant difference is the use of ‘governors.’ Every Prosperian woman, upon coming of age, has a small device implanted… intimately. It allows her husband to control her sexual arousal and pleasure.”
My eyes widened in shock. “Control it? How?”
“Through a handheld device,” Sala explained. “A husband can increase or decrease his wife’s arousal at will. It’s seen as a way to ensure obedience and reinforce the natural order of things.”
I shuddered, unsure whether from fear or a helpless spark of arousal. “That sounds… intense.”
Sala nodded. “It is. But many Prosperian women speak of it as liberating. They say it frees them from the burden of their own desires, allowing them to focus entirely on pleasing their husbands.”
I bit my lip, trying to process this information. The idea both terrified and intrigued me in equal measure. “And the refugee center? What will happen to me there?”
Sala’s expression softened. “It’s a safe place, Tessara. You’ll be cared for, given medical attention if needed, and counseled on your options moving forward. No one will force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”
As she spoke, I became increasingly aware of our intimate position. The warmth of Sala’s naked body against mine, the soft swell of her breasts, the tangle of our legs—it all suddenly felt overwhelmingly sensual. A familiar heat began to pool low in my belly, and I felt my cheeks flush with shame at my body’s response.
Sala must have noticed my discomfort, for she pulled back slightly, her eyes searching my face. “What’s wrong, sweet one?”
I averted my gaze, unable to meet her eyes. “I… I’m sorry. My body, it’s… reacting. I don’t mean to, I swear.”
To my surprise, Sala chuckled softly. Her hand came up to cup my cheek, gently turning my face back toward hers. “Oh, Tessara. There’s no shame in your body’s natural responses. You’ve been through so much trauma, it’s understandable that you might confuse comfort and safety with arousal.”
Her thumb stroked my cheekbone softly. “Besides,” she added, her voice dropping to a husky whisper, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t affected as well.”
My eyes widened at her admission. Before I could respond, the door to the cabin slid open with a soft hiss. Captain Alpha’s massive blue form filled the doorway, his silver-violet eyes taking in the scene before him.
“Good morning, my dears,” he rumbled, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I trust you slept well?”
I felt my body tense instinctively at Alpha’s sudden appearance. His imposing frame seemed to dominate the room, drawing my gaze like a magnet. The events of the previous night flashed through my mind—his powerful body claiming Sala so thoroughly, the sounds of their passion echoing through the bridge. I felt a fresh wave of heat course through me, a mixture of fear and unwelcome arousal.
Sala, sensing my discomfort, gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before addressing her husband. “We slept very well, my lord,” she said, her voice warm with affection. “Though Tessara had a bit of a fright upon waking. I’ve been comforting her.”
Alpha’s expression softened as he looked at me, concern evident in his silver-violet eyes. “I’m sorry to hear that, Tessara. Are you feeling better now?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. Alpha’s overwhelming presence made it difficult to think clearly. I couldn’t help but remember the power and control he had displayed on the bridge, and my body’s traitorous response to it.
Sala sat up, the silken sheets pooling around her waist. I tried not to stare at her bare breasts, but found my eyes drawn to them nonetheless. She reached out, taking my hand in hers once more.
“Tessara, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you,” she began, her voice gentle. “I’m fairly certain you’ll qualify for asylum on Prosperia. Your experiences aboard the Conqueror of Bresla and your status as a rescued concubine should make you eligible.”
I felt a surge of hope at her words, quickly followed by a wave of anxiety. “Really? But… what do I need to do?”
Sala smiled reassuringly. “There will be some bureaucracy to satisfy, of course. We’ll need to take you to the refugee center on the surface of Prosperia. They’ll process your application and help you adjust to your new life. The most important part will be that you’ll be asked to commit to accepting the Prosperian social order, and you’ll be checked to make sure your needs are compatible with that commitment.”
I nodded, trying to take in this information. The idea of a new life, free from the cruelty I had known, was both exhilarating and terrifying, but the mysterious question of my needs brought some unease to my mind.
“We’ll be taking a shuttle to an orbital station,” Sala continued, her thumb tracing soothing circles on the back of my hand. “From there, we’ll board a space elevator that will take us down to the surface. The refugee center is located in the heart of Prosperia City.”
I tried to picture it in my mind—a journey from the stars to the surface of an alien world. It seemed like something out of a dream I might have had during my endless confinement on the Conqueror .
“Alpha will be accompanying us,” Sala added, glancing at her husband with a smile.
My eyes widened in surprise. “The captain is coming too?” I couldn’t keep the shock from my voice.
Alpha chuckled, the sound deep and resonant. “Indeed I am, little one. I have some business to attend to on the surface, and I want to ensure you’re safely settled.”
I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at his use of the endearment ‘little one.’ It stirred something within me, a longing I didn’t quite understand.
“But… won’t the ship need its captain?” I asked, genuinely curious.
Alpha’s lips curved into a smile. “The Prince Hend is quite capable of managing without me for a short time. My first officer, Mero, will be in command during our absence. I want to see my brother.”
I blinked at him, then looked over at Sala, my eyes wide.
“Your brother?” I whispered.