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Aelon spanks her over and over, his hand moving so fast it’s a blur as he breaks her. She goes limp, unable to fight anymore, and I know my captain is spent.

Aelon pauses for a second…

Then he brings his hand down even harder. I can’t watch. The species is merciless. I look over at Garrick, craving reassurance, and somehow his stern gaze centers me. It shouldn’t, but it does, and his promise to keep me safe echoes in my mind.

Spank after spank comes down against Tasha’s ass, and she sobs, crying openly as the cruel captain brutalizes her. The men of her mining crew that she worked so hard to lead and gain the respect of are watching her be absolutely humiliated.

I can’t take it anymore.

I rush forward to dosomething,but Iunia grabs my arm, pulling me back and giving a quick shake of his head.

Garrick’s halfway out of his seat, his hand darting towards his Orb-Blade, then he sits back down. His hand returns to his side.

Was he going to stop me from trying to help Tasha?

Or was it an instinctive movement when Iunia grabbed me? The way Garrick is staring is protective, possessive, like he wants me to behis.He didn’t give his promise lightly. If the Aurelian crew loses themselves to the Mating Rage, Garrick and his triad would die to come to my aid.

Tasha screams and begs. I wince, cringing at the sight and sound of my powerful captain reduced to nothing more than a snivelling mess. She’s the strongest woman I know. I look closer, and something seems... different. Is he really bringing his hand down as hard as he can? Or is he “pulling punches”, punishing her for show but not hurting her anymore?

Either way, it means she’s broken. If Captain Aelon can do this to her in a single spanking session, I shudder as I wonder what Garrick could do to me if I was his.

I look down, my eyes wet, almost crying with fear for my captain.

“One hundred spanks!” Captain Aelon booms out the words. His voice has an edge to it, but he’s firmly in control, thank the Gods. I know why he’s the leader of these beasts. Only one who can control themselves could possibly control and entire warship of the bastards.

There’s no more laughter. The snarls and jeers of the crowd terrifies me. I blink, wondering if it’s really over. I lost track of the spanks early. It felt like an eternity.

Aelon stands with a low groan, lifting Tasha up, and the lights of the mess hall glistens off the heat between her legs.

I gasp, a shuddering wave of lust pulsing through me. She got turned on by the spanking. Maybe it’s something instinctive for women when they’re near Aurelians. It must have hurt like a bitch, but Tasha is just as aroused as the Aurelian triad who brutally punished her.

That means I’m not so alone with my shameful desires.

Her legs buckle, and she falls, but Vinicus catches her before she can hit the metal floor. She bends over, and it takes two attempts of her shaking hands to grab her work pants, she’s so broken. I can’t imagine what she’s feeling right now…

Or maybe I can.

That utter release of letting go. I’ve never let go during sex. Never fully. I’ve always been slightly held back, slightly depersonalized. I’ve never felt true, raw animal lust. What would it feel like to have everything taken from you? To be so helpless, unable to get away, forced to take your punishment?

Captain Aelon laughs. “She can’t even walk!” There’s a round of cheering. “Let that be a lesson to her!” Then, his eyes flash wickedly. “Though feisty women like Captain Tasha often requirerepeatedtraining before they finally become docile.”

I shudder. He’s speaking the words about Tasha, but I know Garrick and his men can hear it. I know they are internalizing his message.

The Aurelians laugh at his words, but there’s darkness in their tones. All of them are imagining claiming Tasha as they own. If they were Rogue, they’d fight over her, dueling for the rights to claim her first, then take her one by one until all the Aurelians were finished with her or she was Bonded to a lucky triad.

My poor, poor captain. Tasha looks over to me for strength, but I can offer her nothing.

Iunia grabs my arm, marching me towards the door and away from the mess hall. With a roomful of horny, aggressive Aurelians, it’s a good call to leave before they can feast their eyes on me.

“What is he going to do with her?” I gasp out the words as Iunia hauls me down the hallway. I try to pull away, but he’s too strong.

“Don’t speak, prisoner,” he growls, and I hear the heat in his voice. He’s thinking about Tasha.

“Don’t you dare do anything to her!” I yell out, and he snarls, turning to face me with those hard grey eyes.

“She aches for it.” He states the words with pure certainty. I can’t deny it. I saw how turned on she was. I close my mouth, unable to find words to protest as he starts walking, pulling me along.

“I can walk myself,” I snap, pulling at his arm. He lets go, and I walk forward, turning the corner. I walk fast, my boots clunking against the metal floor, and take the next left.