Chapter 5: Valeria

Sam had stopped keeping track of time. Or days. Or possibly his own name.

Goldie had finally released him after forty-eight hours of what could only be described as “enthusiastic aquatic engineering.” He’d gone through seventeen juice boxes, changed the sheets four times (Goldie had helpfully provided extras), and learned that the human body could, in fact, produce fluid at rates that violated several laws of thermodynamics.

He was being led down the corridor now, barely conscious, the leash in the hands of—

Oh no.

Valeria.

The white-haired, nine-tailed queen herself.

She looked him over with the expression of someone inspecting a piece of equipment that had been through several previous owners. “The others didn’t break you completely, I see. Good. I prefer my breeders conscious for the proceedings.”

“Proceedings,” Sam repeated numbly.

“Mmm.” Valeria’s nine tails fanned out behind her in a magnificent display. “Sparkles said you were ... adequate. Elvira said you were surprisingly resilient. Goldie said you were ‘super fun and made the best puddles.’” One perfectly manicured finger lifted his chin. “I expect considerably more than adequate, resilient, or fun. Do you understand?”

“I ... my understanding circuits are currently offline...”

“Then I’ll make this simple.” Valeria tugged the leash, pulling him down the corridor toward what Sam could only assume were the royal quarters. “You are going to worship me. Completely. Thoroughly. Starting at my toes and working your way up. And you are going to take. Your. Time.”

The doors to her cabin slid open.

Sam’s exhausted brain tried to process what he was seeing.

This wasn’t a cabin. This was a palace suite that somehow fit inside a spaceship. Silk everywhere. Gold trim. What looked like an actual chandelier. A bed the size of a small shuttle bay with sheets that probably cost more than the Lazy Susan.

“Welcome to my chambers,” Valeria said, releasing the leash. “Disrobe.”

Sam’s hands moved automatically. At this point, his body just followed orders without consulting his brain first.

“Not fast enough.” Valeria snapped her fingers.

Before Sam could blink, her nine tails had wrapped around him and stripped every piece of clothing off in one fluid motion. He stood there naked while she circled him slowly, appraisingly.

“The others weren’t exaggerating,” she murmured. “You do have excellent structural integrity. Despite obvious wear and tear.” One tail traced down his spine. “But can you perform to royal standards? That’s the question.”

“Your Majesty, I should inform you that the primary systems have been running at 150% capacity for six consecutive days. The manufacturer’s warranty is definitely void at this point—”

“I don’t care about warranties.” Valeria’s tails guided him toward the massive bed. “I care about results. And you are going to give me results.” She reclined on the silk sheets like a goddess accepting tribute. “Now. Start with my feet. And remember—I want worship, not maintenance. Make me feel like the queen I am.”