Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 87050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“Thank you, Magistrate,” Alpha said, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. The weight of it was comforting, grounding me in the moment. “We appreciate your flexibility in this matter.”
With a few more taps on the holographic keyboard, Magistrate Thorne seemed to finalize the arrangements. “Very well,” he said, “please take Tessara to the embassy and keep her there for the following two hours.”
I felt heat flood into my cheeks, though I felt as if I of all women should have become used to being spoken of as if I weren’t present—or, more accurately, as if my opinion on what happened to me had no importance. Something about my gown, or about Prosperia—or maybe, I thought with a new rush of blood in my face, about Gamma—seemed to have given me the impression that I might have found something worth desiring. The magistrate’s apparent lack of concern about my desires felt mortifying.
He turned to address me directly, then. “Tessara, a doctor will arrive within those two hours to conduct your examination. The results will be transmitted directly to our offices, and we will proceed from there.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice to remain steady. As we turned to leave, I caught sight of my reflection in a nearby screen. My cheeks were flushed pink, my eyes wide and bright with a mixture of fear and anticipation. I barely recognized myself in that moment—the elegant blue gown, the carefully styled hair, the unmistakable air of nervous excitement. What kind of woman gazed back at me? Not a naked Vionian concubine, certainly—but surely not a Magisterian consort or a Prosperian lady, either.
Our small group made its way out of the bustling refugee center and into the streets of Prosperia City. The transition from the chaotic energy of the center to the orderly beauty of the city felt jarring. We boarded a sleek hover-carriage, its interior ornate but comfortable.
As we glided through the streets in the direction I guessed must lead to the Magisterian Embassy, I found myself sandwiched between Sala and Gamma, acutely aware of their presence on either side of me. The velvet seat seemed to embrace my body, a luxury I was still unaccustomed to after my time as a naked Vionian sexual servant.
Gamma’s thigh pressed against mine, the heat of his body seeping through the layers of our clothing. Even that small point of contact sent tingles racing along my skin. I tried to focus on the view outside the window, on the gleaming spires and lush gardens we passed, but I found my attention drawn back over and over to the powerful blue form beside me.
Sala must have sensed my discomfort, for she reached over and took my hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Are you alright, Tessara?” she asked softly, her blue eyes full of concern.
I nodded, not trusting my voice. Truthfully I didn’t know if I was alright. My emotions seemed a tangled mess, fear and excitement warring within me. The thought of the upcoming medical examination filled me with dread, yet there was an undeniable thrill of anticipation as well.
“There’s no need to be nervous,” Gamma’s deep voice rumbled from beside me. I turned to look at him, my breath catching as I met his intense gaze. “The examination is a standard procedure for all women seeking citizenship on Prosperia. It’s nothing to fear.”
He meant his words to comfort me, I felt sure, but they only served to heighten my awareness of what was to come. I couldn’t help wondering what exactly the examination would entail, especially the part about marital duties. Would it hurt? How embarrassing would it be? And why did the thought of it make my body react in such strange ways?
As if reading my thoughts, Sala leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. “The doctor will be thorough, Tessara. They’ll need to assess your physical health, of course, but also your… responsiveness.”
I frowned, not quite understanding. “Responsiveness?”
Sala’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Your body’s reactions to certain stimuli. Like the magistrate said, it’s important for determining your suitability for marriage, because that’s such an important part of Prosperian society.”
My own face grew hot as I began to grasp her meaning. “Oh,” I breathed, my voice small and uncertain.
Gamma shifted beside me, and I was suddenly very aware of how close he sat to me. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “Sexuality is an important part of life on Prosperia. The examination simply ensures that you’re physically and emotionally compatible with their way of life.”
I nodded, trying to process this information. My mind whirled with questions, but I couldn’t bring myself to voice them. Instead, I turned back to the window.
As our hover-carriage glided to a stop before the Magisterian Embassy, I felt my heart begin to race. The building itself made me blink in amazement, with towers that reached toward the sky like crystalline fingers. The façade bore intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change as we approached, creating the illusion of moving water or perhaps the ebb and flow of cosmic tides.