Page 46 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

I don’t know what to say. “I don’t want anyone to have an opinion about what happens between us in the bedroom.”

“I’ll give you your own punishment later and then you’ll understand. Pleasure and pain are linked.”

“I don’t know if I want to understand, Axl.” I blush thinking about him spanking me.

“It’s time for the midday meal. We’ll miss it if we don’t go. I suspect you don’t want to share it with the High Priestess?”

“I would rather starve.”

“I thought so. Come on.”

21

Axl

As we are walking towards the House Zu transport, I get a notification on my IC. I know from the sound it’s from the Empress. This isn’t odd. She messages me often. I check it.

Come to the palace.

Although I have officially taken leave for the next seven days I can’t ignore the Empress. As the transport doors open, I say to Georgiana, “The guards will take you home for the midday meal. Unfortunately, I have to go to the palace. It’s at the Empress’s request.”

“Okay,” she replies in the way I have come to loathe.

“I must go.”

“I understand.”

“Eat the midday meal with my family. Lia’s not nearly as scary as she makes herself out to be. But given that you just gave the High Priestess a run for her money, I don’t think my sister has anything on you. She may even give you a ribbon for being so brave in the Punishment Rooms.”

“How would she know?”

“There are no secrets in the Empire. Go home and I’ll meet you there as soon as I can. Walk in the goddesses’ light,” I add as she enters the transport. She looks back at me with confusion in her brown eyes.

The Imperial Palace isn’t far from the Grand City Temple, so I decide to walk. There aren’t too many people on the pedestrian streets today and it’s nice to be among my people. It’s a luxury few maximum class men are able to enjoy in their prime. The Empress can be cross at me for not taking a transport, but she knows I’m on my way. She knows I’m at her beck and call, and to be the best I can, I must also have these moments to remind myself what I’m working for. Usually when I take these walks through the Capital City I admire the orderliness of the city and its people. But today all I think about is how Georgiana broke that orderliness by refusing to comply with the High Priestess’s demands. And I wonder if I can convince her to stay in the next few days.

By the time I reach the Imperial Palace, before I enter the Great Hall, I can already hear the Empress. Stress underlies her voice. Once I enter the Great Hall, she pauses only momentarily in what she was saying before finishing. As I approach the throne, I bow.

“Everyone leave,” she demands. Everyone around me bows and begins walking backward so that the Empress and I have the illusion of being alone.

“Empress, as always, the goddesses guide you. I have come as requested.”

“Imperial Fleet Reserve Commander Axl, the goddesses guided you home safely. I was going to congratulate you for accomplishing your mission…”

“Empress…” I bow again.

“But, there seems to be an issue.”

“Yes?” I wonder if the middling class trader Ros was really killed or managed to survive. Maybe possibly having been picked up by the Alliance Force?

“This human woman you’ve brought home with you.”

“Oh.”

“You married her?”

“No.”

“Why is she here?”

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