Chapter 1
If I don't kill this mission, my sister will kill me.
It's the only thought running through my head as I slide between the steel gates of Elihu industries. Saylor was clear that she needed me to hack into the system here. She’d told me repeatedly that the files they have are important to our cause.
You have to get the files, Teagan, it could help us bring down the whole system. It'll put us steps closer to revolution.
Saylor Aengst may be the head of the Pyre, the human rebellion, and my older sister, but I know what's important to her and if I don't get these files, I won't be shown any type of sympathy just because I'm her little sister. If anything, it'll be the reason she comes down on me harder.
I can’t show favoritism, Teagan, and you shouldn’t expect me to.
I blow out a deep breath, my gaze adjusting to the darkness of night. In the distance, I can see the few lights still on inside of the skyscraper building. It's after hours, but when you run an alien enterprise, the grind never stops, I guess.
Get in, get out, and then get back to the base.
Technology is my thing; I know how to hack into systems within seconds, no matter what kind of tech they have. Alien made, human made, I know my shit. The challenging part is going to be to make sure that I don't get caught along the way. I may be able to protect myself against other humans, but defending myself against aliens is a completely different thing.
They're bigger, quicker, and bounds stronger.
Not to mention all the wings, tails, sharp teeth, and other monstrous shit they have.
Saylor would be able to fight off any alien or human that came after her with her near six-foot frame and impressive muscles, but I'm not her. We're special for completely different reasons and as long as we stick to our own lanes, everything will go smoothly.
Or at least that's what she keeps telling me.
A bird lets out a squawk, and I look upwards to find a crow flying through the air, nearly blending in with the dark sky.
A bad omen?
Probably.
I can’t let that stop me though, so I quickly move to the glass door that broadcasts the Elihu Industries symbol. There aren't any security guards on duty at this time of night, and I've already disabled the security cameras to cover my tracks for later.
I stare at the large chunk of metal covering the handle of the door, the only thing standing in my way.
Easy enough.
I pull out a key that I configured to open any door using a specialized program. It’d taken years of work, and Saylor breathing down my neck to hurry up with it, but it’s proved to be invaluable. I press it flat against the side of the lock pad. The key glows for a second before fading out. Numbers appear along the side of the key, and I smile before quickly entering the numbers on the keypad.
The lock on the door clicks, and I feel my key shift slightly under my hand. I pull the door open and keep my footsteps light as I walk into the building. All of the crystal-like lights are off, and the receptionist desk is empty. The steel beams and walls make the place feel a bit intimidating. A shudder moves down my spine.
I quickly move over to the elevator, thankful that it doesn't have a key on it. The less time this takes, the better. I slide in and hit the top floor.
The boss’s office, it's where I need to be.
The ride up goes quickly, and the elevator lets out a light ding when it stops, making me wince. I get off the elevator and once again, the hallway is dark. I pause, giving my eyes time to adjust. After a moment, the silhouettes of the building’s architecture become visible.
I know the office I'm looking for is at the end of the hall. I take dainty steps, my hands in my pockets. I pause when I hear the sound of soft whispering. Craning my head, I try to discern where the noise is coming from.
"The youngest Elihu should be in. All we have to do is take him and then we'll have ransom." A harsh voice says from further down the hall, and I stiffen.
Fuck. Did I choose to steal from them the night that something else is already going down?
Just my fucking luck, and not a big enough excuse for Saylor to let me back out of the mission.
If I called her now, I'd know exactly what she'd say. Don't come back without the files on the drive.
So, I wait in place, trying to see what the people are going to do before I make my next move. They keep whispering among themselves. It quickly becomes clear to me what's going on.
They're plotting on kidnapping the youngest Elihu brother, Jabex.
Azrhan and Jabex own Elihu industries. Aliens high up in the hierarchy, they're advisors and friends with the Alien-Human Alliance officials and the reason I'm here. They know what's going to happen next with the alliance, the one that allows aliens to take humans without the law intervening, with their consent actually. As if humanity is just cattle that they can pick and choose from before consuming.
My fist clenches.
That's why you can't back out of this now.
A snap brings me out of my thoughts. Footsteps click against the floor. They sound like they're moving away from me, so I continue to patiently wait.
It's why I'm caught off guard when arms wrap around me from behind.
Chapter 2
My body goes limp as I try to gauge the situation. The person holding me is only a couple of inches taller than me and while the arms wrapped around me are certainly thick and powerful, they aren't unbearable.
I can get loose.
When the person feels me go limp in their arms, their grip relaxes slightly. I take advantage of it.
I slam my heel down on their foot and throw an elbow back into their face. There's a snap and a groan before I'm released. Turning, I toss another fist, and it lands right on target. The man goes stumbling back, his blonde hair just barely visible in the dim lighting. He's holding onto his nose and I can see that there's a dark fluid gushing onto his hands.
I aim a kick at his balls and when he drops down to his knees, I kick him right on the side of his skull. My leg vibrates from the impact. The man goes limp, crumbling to the ground like a sack of bricks.
I feel satisfied as I take a step away.
Like I said, I can handle myself against a human, it's just the aliens that I have to worry about.
I take a step back, and it's only as my feet move that I hear the commotion going on in the rest of the hall. There are shouts and grunts and while I can't see well in the darkness, I can clearly see the dark figures of people moving.
Fuck. Fuck.
My plan has gone to shit with whoever else is here lurking down the hall. My heart pounds quick in my chest as my feet carry me back toward the elevator.
Come back with the files on the hard drive, Teagan.
My orders were clear.
Stupid fucking orders are going to get me killed soon.
Gritting my teeth, I move in the opposite direction of the elevator. Thankfully, the fighting appears to be happening on the other end, and no one seems to notice me as I sprint toward the offices.
I just need to get the files, and then I'll leave behind whatever shit show is going on.
The office I'm looking for is down another hall, all the way at the end. I pause when I see that the light in the office is on.
Shit.
But the door is open, and it doesn't appear that anyone is actually in the office. I continue to make my way to it, but more hesitant than before.
My hand touches the nob, and dread falls into the pit of my stomach. My gut is telling me to turn around, but my sister's voice in my head is telling me that I better not.
I push the door further open.
My eyes glance around the room, but like I thought, it's empty. I gently push the door closed, making sure that it doesn't make a noise. A soft light floods the office, illuminating the crisp interior. A row of tall windows line the back of the office, a misty fog covering them. I move over to the long wooden desk with the big computer and monitor
sitting on it.
My fingers quickly glide over the keyboard. The Elihu Industries symbol pops up on the screen, a large E with a short L next to it. I pull the small hard drive from my pocket and insert it into the monitor as my fingers continue to move over the keys.
When the loading bar pops up on the screen, I let out a breath of relief, which quickly runs back into my lungs the second I hear the doorknob turning. I don’t think twice as I drop to my knees. The rough carpet scrapes against my skin as I quickly crawl under the desk.
Fuck.
I fiddle with my cell phone in my pocket and pull up Saylor's number on the screen, my finger hovering over her name. I wait with anticipation.
Maybe they'll turn around.
The door slides against the carpet, letting me know that it's definitely opening, and my head starts to swim slightly. I can hear the muffled sound of grunts as the fighting in the hall continues.
Return to the fight, whoever you are.
I can only hope as I clutch onto my phone, not dialing yet, but prepared to hit Saylor's name if I need to.
She'll send in the calvary, and then she'll get me out of this mess. It's her job after all, to make sure everything is running smoothly.
And this mission is not running smoothly in the fucking slightest.
What are the fucking chances of me breaking into the place on the night that a kidnapping is supposed to happen?
It doesn't make any sense.
I listen for footsteps, but I don't hear any. I don't hear the door close either, and I become unsure of what's going on.
Did they leave the room or not?
My heart is pounding in my chest as I try to figure out what to do next. I can stay under here and chance whoever left coming back. Or I can try to get up and get out now.
I go for the second option.
Slowly, I crawl from under the desk and when I stand up, every single hair on my arm raises.
Cold, crystal blue eyes stare at me, blood covered lips are pulled into a snarl, and the corded muscles of the man in front of me tell me that it won't take much for him to choke me.
I don't even glance at the screen of the computer to make sure that the files are done downloading before I snatch the hard drive out of the computer and turn to run.
Fuck, Saylor’s just going to have to punish me if the files are missing or corrupted from the harsh removal.
I don't even make it a few steps before my curly hair is grabbed onto and I'm being viciously yanked back. Agony rips through my skull.
Those arms that I was only fearing a moment ago wrap around my waist, and I'm kicking and screaming as I'm hauled into the air.
"Let me go!"
I try to hit whatever I can, but unlike with earlier, this man is strong and there's no way that I'm going to get loose.
If I didn't know from the six-and-a-half-foot frame and the huge muscles, I know from the dominant, effortless way that he holds me that I'm dealing with an alien.
"What are you doing in my office?"
And not just any alien.
Azrhan Elihu.
Chapter 3
My breath leaves my lungs as I'm tossed ruthlessly to the ground. My brain rattles in my skull as my head smacks against the hard floor. I push the pain away as I try to scramble back toward the door. The alien in front of me looks down at me in curiosity, his head tilted to the side. Some of his viciousness is now gone, but I have no doubt in my mind that he could still reach out and crush me with just his bare hands.
There's no telling what he's hiding under that false skin.
He may look human now with his jet-black hair, tan skin, and sensual lips. But I know that this is only a disguise. What lies beneath is uglier, unnatural... a monster.
I never lose my grip on the drive as I stumble to my feet. The man only continues to stare at me as I turn and run.
I collide with hard flesh.
Hands grip my arms and when I look up, I blink in confusion.
He was just standing behind me; how did he make it to the door so quickly?
But when I look past the shocking blue eyes in front of me, I can see a slightly lower jawline, and a face with less scruff on it. There's a drip of blood leaking from a busted lip, and I know that this isn’t the same alien that I was running from.
This is his brother.
Jabex Elihu.
The man's grip on my arms tighten before he blinks and loosens his hold. "Who are you?" he asks as tingles shoot up and down my arm.
A thrum starts beneath the surface of my skin, and I try to pull back from the man as my heart pounds in my chest. His grip only tightens, making the weird feelings in my body worse.
"Did you come with the other attackers?' The deeper voice asks from behind me.
Azrhan.
I don't answer, kicking out at the alien in front of me. His grip doesn't loosen in the slightest; he only steps back to avoid my swinging feet.
"Stop it, human," the cold voice from behind me barks out and despite what I want to do, to keep fighting, I find myself going still.
I can't move any of my limbs, can't make my lips move to get any words out. Even as I try to blink, I can't.
"That's better," the deeper voice says. "Bring her here, Jabex." Azrhan instructs his brother.
I'm hauled into the air with ease, and then I'm being placed on top of the wooden desk. The cold surface seems to seep through my clothing, chilling my skin. The two aliens stand over me, their eyes roaming over my body as if they’re inspecting me.
"This one doesn't smell like the others," Jabex says with a frown on his face.
“No, she doesn't," Azrhan agrees as he shakes his head. His scary eyes study me before he dips his head down. I hear him take a sharp inhale. "This one smells delicious." His warm breath fans over my skin.
My blood runs cold.
God, I should have turned around when I saw the crow.
But now I'm alien bait and there's nothing I can do about it.
Why didn’t you call Saylor when you heard the office door open?
"She does," Jabex agrees as he peers at me. I feel a big hand trail down my arm, and it almost feels like I’ve been shocked. "But what was she doing in here?"
Azrhan disappears before he comes back with something in his hand. It takes me a second to realize it's my hard drive. "She inserted this in my computer. Likely trying to steal files."
Jabex raises a brow. "Anything in particular that you were after, human?" he asks. My mouth remains closed, and he lets out a sick laugh. He looks at his brother, a smirk curling his lips. "I forgot that she can't speak. Fix it for a second, maybe she's ready to speak now or we could figure out a way to make her speak."
Azrhan’s eyes narrow as he stares at me.
Feeling rushes back into my limbs. I try to roll off the table and run. However, arms wrap around me, and I'm pulled against a hard body. The buzzing starts again. My feet hang off the desk while my back is pressed against Jabex.
Azrhan stands in front of me, his eyes studying me. He tilts his head to the side slightly. "You look familiar, little human. Why?" His eyes continue to move over my face.
From behind me, Jabex's chest moves against me, and then I feel his breath along my neck and his stubble scrape my skin. "Why do you smell so good?" I hear and the soft words are a sharp contrast to the arms of steel wrapped around me that it’s jarring. "If my brother weren't trying to decide whether we should kill you, I'd be licking you up right now."
The words bring an unexpected, unwanted wave of heat into my body, and I try to push it away, even as I feel my dark skin warm.
Azrhan tilts his head to the side as he continues to watch me before a sadistic smile takes over his face. "From the way her heart just started moving quickly, it seems as if maybe she wants you to... eat her, brother."
My head starts to swim, and my body feels overwhelmed. A thick hand wraps around my throat. "Maybe after she tells us why she's here, I'll consider it."
Azrhan moves closer, and he bends over until he's invading my space, his face within inches of mine. "So, tell us little human, why are you here? If I were you, I'd give me an answer quickly because I am not a man of patience."
I don't know what to say. I can't give the men the truth, can't bring myself to. Saylor didn't put me through hours of training and torture, just for me to crack this easily under the pressure of these two men. I can't tell them what they want to know.
And technically, I don't even know what files in particular Saylor wanted.
Azrhan lets out a tsk as Jabex's hand tightens around my throat. "Well then, it seems that she doesn't want to speak. We'll just have to take her home with us, and then maybe she'll finally open her mouth and say something.”
Azrhan moves closer, and he places a hand on the side of my face, his brother’s grip on me still tight.
Spots form in my vision, my skin feels extremely tight, and it’s almost as if I’ve been electrocuted. I’m aware of words being said but I can’t quite make them out as I go light-headed.
The hand on my throat loosens, but it doesn’t help in taking away the overwhelming pressure I feel in my body. Blue eyes meet mine, wide with shock and I hear a word that maybe sounds like mate.
And then everything goes black.
Chapter 4
"What is on this tech that I have to get?" I ask Saylor, a frown on my face.
From her seat in her office chair behind the desk that sits between us, my sister frowns back. However, the expression isn't an ufamiliar one on her face and when her eyes narrow, I remain calm. I'd be a liar if I said I don't fear my sister. I don't know a person that doesn't. However, I know that she has limits, and I'm nowhere near pushing any of them right now.
"None of your business. Just know that it's important," she says. She leans back in her chair, placing her boots on top of her desk. The black leather is covered in grime and dirt, the leather worn.
Stolen and Seduced Page 58
