Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I lifted my eyes to meet his gaze, seeing something new there—not just possession, but a genuine, if unbalanced partnership. “Thank you, Sire. I… I’m glad I could serve you well.”
“More than well,” he replied, his thumb brushing across my lower lip with intimate familiarity. “But tonight’s events have created both danger and opportunity that we must discuss. Solamo’s attempt to use you as a symbol may have failed, but his backers will certainly try different approaches.”
The transport door hissed open, revealing the plush interior where Academy staff waited to escort us back to our dormitory. I could see Mistress Orela’s assistant making notes on her handheld, no doubt recording our masters’ final instructions for tonight’s debrief.
“Your Royal Highness.” Colonel Quinst approached with military precision, Betty at his side. “We’ve prepared a full report on Viola’s responses during her initial training period. The Academy will obviously build on what we’ve established, but we’re certain you’ll have specifications of your own. I’ll send the report later tonight.”
“Excellent,” Prince Hendren replied, though his attention remained focused on me. “Viola, listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you. Tonight’s exposure of Solamo was only the beginning. I’m afraid the Vionian remnant will view his failure as merely a setback rather than a defeat.”
His gaze held mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. “They’ll escalate their efforts to use you as a symbol of resistance against Federation authority. Which means we’ll need to demonstrate your submission in an even more public, more severe manner to put their propaganda to rest permanently.”
The words sent a bolt of terror and shameful anticipation straight through my core. My body trembled as I processed what he was suggesting, the memory of tonight’s public display still vivid in my mind. “More public?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “What… what do you mean, Your Royal Highness?”
“Severe discipline,” he said quietly, his thumb still tracing my lip with possessive gentleness. “A demonstration, broadcast throughout the Federation, that will leave no doubt about your complete surrender to my authority. Something that will make tonight’s presentation look modest by comparison.”
I felt my knees threaten to buckle as heat flooded through me despite my fear. The idea of being subjected to punishment before an even larger audience, of having my submission displayed in ways that would eclipse tonight’s degradation, should have horrified me completely. Instead, I found myself growing wet between my thighs, my body responding with the same shameful eagerness that had consumed me throughout my training.
“When?” I gasped, hating how breathless I sounded. “How will—”
“You must not know the details,” Prince Hendren interrupted firmly. “The effectiveness will depend partly on your genuine responses, not rehearsed performance. We’ll wait for a natural occasion to present itself, and when it does, you’ll trust me to guide you through whatever is required.”
His hand moved to cup my chin, forcing me to maintain eye contact as he delivered his final instruction. “In the meantime, you’ll return to the Academy for the final phase of your training. You and your classmates will learn to satisfy your individual masters’ specific requirements. Based on Colonel Quinst’s report, I’ll provide Mistress Orela with detailed instructions about what I expect from your body.”
The transport’s gentle chime indicated that boarding was complete, and I could see my fellow students already settled into their seats, their faces flushed with the same mixture of exhaustion and arousal that I felt coursing through my own system.
“Go,” Prince Hendren commanded softly, his lips brushing against my ear in a farewell that sent shivers down my spine. “Learn well, my beautiful concubine. When next we meet, I’ll expect you to demonstrate every skill they teach you.”
I climbed into the transport on unsteady legs, settling into the plush seat beside Palla, who reached for my hand with trembling fingers. Around us, the other students sat in contemplative silence, each lost in thoughts of what their masters had revealed about their futures.
As the transport pulled away from the Cultural Center, I caught a final glimpse of my master, standing watching our departure. His face, which had once seemed so cruel and unreadable to me, now struck me as full of concern, cares that didn’t lessen his authority—especially over me—but changed its impact greatly. I swallowed hard. He had made it much too clear: he would have to discipline me with great severity, and I would have to show that I accepted the punishment as deserved and right. Why did my pussy clench so hard at the thought that I worried Palla would notice me squirming in my seat?
Even more irrationally—why did my heart glow?
Back in our dorm room that night the familiar blue nightgowns felt almost comforting after the evening’s exposure, though the virtue-keepers binding our wrists to our collars served as constant reminders of our status. I lay between Palla and Morandra in the dormitory’s dim light, all three of us staring at the ceiling as we processed what had happened at the Cultural Center.