Jasmine hasn’t aged a day, despite the passing of centuries.
She’s my hero.
In addition to her duty of perpetuating the Aurelian race – giving birth to son after son for her triad – Queen Jasmine has also become one of the most forthright voices in the complex relationship between humans and Aurelians.
At her insistence, a host of new protocols and laws have been introduced to give human women a better position in society. Jasmine is the reason that women from an Aurelian Harem are now guaranteed a full education and boarding after they serve their Aurelian masters for three years or more.
Queen Jasmine is also the reason women aren’t left without any employable skills when they grow too old for the tastes of their alien harem keepers. While a human woman ages normally – turning forty or fifty as part of a harem – the Aurelians she serves will continue to appear the same age.
In the past, such women would have been relegated to non-sexual roles like maid service, or cook – but now, thanks to Queen Jasmine, they have options to pursue vocational training that can give them the resources to create a life of their own, outside of the harem.
These seem like simple, decent things – but they hadn’t existed before Jasmine’s coronation. Aurelians live thousands of years – so before Jasmine’s arrival, the species couldn’t help but look down on humanity as childlike and weak; worthy of pity and protection.
Which is understandable - we must be like bugs to them, living brief flashes of life.
But Queen Jasmine has changed all that – and in thinking of Queen Jasmine, I find my strength.
I look up defiantly at Captain Aelon and growl: “My crew must be treated with care.”
Too late, I realize that’s the wrong approach to getting what I want from Captain Aelon.
His cold eyes narrow.
“Your crew will be treated as I see fit.” Then, coldly, he orders: “Take them to the brig!”
Aelon belts out the command while looking straight at me. He’s making it very fucking clear that any attempt to boss him around will not go unpunished.
I’m an idiot. Why did I have to try and defy him?
I know why – because I’m a starship captain, a leader, and I look to role models like Queen Jasmine.
Aelon, however, seems typical of his species – treating the defiance and independence of a woman as a character flaw that must be corrected.
I should have kept my damn mouth shut. If I had, Aelon might have housed my crew in visitor quarters. Now, instead, he’s throwing them into a cell.
Sawoot leans closer to me, gently touching me on the shoulder. We don’t need words. She’s reassuring me that everything is going to be alright.
I wish I could believe her.
Then, just like that, a triad of Aurelians arrives and escorts my crew away. I watch in horror as the towering warriors manhandle Chris, Sawoot and the others; hauling them off towards the doorway of the loading bay.
A moment later, I’m left standing alone in front of the infuriating Captain Aelon.
Now, it’s just me and him, and he’s not smiling anymore.
“You want something on my ship?” He takes a menacing step forward. “Then you ask for it nicely.”
His eyes narrow.
“Now – why don’t you be a good girl and ask me nicely?”
I clench my jaw. My cheeks burn from the shame of how condescending this bastard sounds.
That being said – I have to choose my crew over my pride. I take a deep breath, and ask:
“Could you please treat my crew with care?” I force the words out of my mouth. It’s painful, but I say them. “I’m asking you nicely.”
The corners of Aelon’s mouth lift up.
“Good girl. I’ll send down rations and fresh water to the brig.” He winks, and it makes me just want to slap the towering alien. “See how easy that was?”
My palm twitches with the desire to plant it hard across Aelon’s smug face, but I resist the temptation. I know what he’s up to, and I have to be extremely careful.
Whether you’re dealing with an enemy or a competitor, the prerogative is to always make them to play by your rules. Like it or not, I’m now trapped on this Aurelian’s ship, and I’ve got to march to the beat of his drum. It’s just infuriating how obvious it is that Captain Aelon enjoys making me squirm.
But if I am playing his game – I need to know the rules.
“Captain Aelon,” I keep my tone as respectful as I can, without sounding subservient. “Might I ask what you’re going to do with us?”
Aelon licks his lips, and his eyes roam over me again. The sexual appetites of Aurelians are legendary, and after my experience with that previous Rogue triad, the hungry look in his eyes is making me nervous.
Nervous… and a little heated.
I’m ashamed of myself – but I can’t help how I feel. I’ve heard plenty of ribald tales about the infamous Aurelian mating frenzy – when the need to seed and claim a woman overwhelms their species. It’s difficult not to get… distracted at the thought of what happens when an Aurelian sees a woman he thinks might be his Fated Mate.
According to the stories, they lose all rational thought – descending into a near feral state. Given the already reckless behavior of the swaggering, braggadocios Captain Aelon, I don’t think he has much rational thought to spare as it is.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Aelon slaps his thigh – like he’s summoning a dog.
“You’re coming with me. Start walking.”
I glare at the arrogant bastard, but I start walking. What else can I do? I’m trapped on an enemy ship – and I’ll cling to any moment I’m not in the brig, in chains, or worse.
As we walk, Aelon puts his hand on the small of my back – a constant reminder of how massive Aurelians are. I feel like a little doll compared to the towering alien
