The End
Enjoy this story? Then you’ll love my Drixonian Warriors series, full of possessive, pierced aliens on hover bikes. Try it out FREE! Download The Alien’s Future now.
Want to know what inspired Donut? Well, it was my very own bearded dragon named Waffles. I give you updates on what the little spikey guy is up to, as well as news about all my books, in my newsletter! (So sign up, because Waffles is awesome.)
About the Author
Ella Maven is the pen name for a multi-published USA Today Bestselling author who decided to finally unleash the alien world that had been living in her head for years. (Is that weird? Probably). Her books feature dominant, possessive aliens who are absolutely devoted to their humans. She lives on the East Coast with her completely normal husband and two spawn who sure seem alien some days.
Join the fun in her reader group, Ella Maven’s Haven!
Find Ella Online
www.EllaMaven.com
Facebook
Instagram
Bookbub
Read Ella’s Books
Drixonian Warrior Series
The Alien’s Ransom
The Alien’s Escape
The Alien’s Undoing
The Alien’s Revenge
The Alien’s Savior
The Alien’s Challenge
Conception
Maggie Alabaster
ABOUT CONCEPTION
Everley is having a good day, until she's abducted by aliens. Hot aliens. Sure they want her and she wants them, but can she give them what they really want?
Chapter 1
"What the fuck?"
You know those shit days when you shouldn't have dragged yourself out of bed? You lose your job, your boyfriend cheats, you miss the train home, you break a heel, and the electricity gets cut off?
This didn't start with any of those. Well, not exactly.
I finished work in the library at four pm, like usual. I managed to get to the platform just as the train was pulling up. I even got a seat. I wear flat shoes, so breaking a heel wasn't an option.
Maybe I should have been suspicious right there, but I wasn't.
When I arrived home and flicked the switch, the lights came on.
All good, right?
Nope. That was where the nightmare began. The entire apartment was empty. I don't just mean no one was home, I mean every piece of furniture, every rug, every cushion was gone. Even the photos had been taken off the walls. That's where, "what the fuck," comes into it.
"Take a breath, Everley," I told myself. "Think."
I took a few steps back out the door and checked the number. Apartment fourteen. Okay, I didn't have the wrong place. Maybe it was the wrong building? No, I was sure it wasn't that either.
I stepped back inside, just in case I'd imagined all my stuff being gone. No, still an empty space where the old couch and new TV had been in the corner. No bed. Not even my toothbrush was left.
"Zade, you motherfucker, if you've played some kind of joke…" I pulled my phone out of my bag—at least I had that much—and pressed his picture in my contacts.
The indifferent, robotic voice on the other end told me, "The number you are calling is not in service."
"What the hells?" I flopped down on the floor just inside the doorway. The polished concrete was cold, but I barely felt it. "Who ordered The Twilight Zone on me?"
Footsteps approached in the corridor outside the apartment. They stopped at the doorway and a woman peered inside.
Her brow creased. "Can I help you?"
I jumped to my feet. "Hey, Helene. Did you see who did this?"
She blinked at me. "Did what? I'm sorry, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I have folks coming to look at the apartment in about ten minutes." She looked me up and down as if she had no idea who I was and didn't want to know.
I blinked back. "Helene, it's me, Everley Sloan. I live here. I rent the place with Zade. Or I did. He's gone, along with all my stuff."
Her blank expression didn't change. "I'm sorry, I've never seen you before. You must have the wrong address. Now, I'll have to ask you to leave before I call the police." She pulled a phone out of her back pocket.
I held up my hands. "I don't want any trouble, I just want my stuff." I sidestepped around her and out into the corridor.
She pressed the screen.
"I guess you're right," I said quickly, "I have the wrong place." Yes, that had to be it. That didn't explain why my landlady of two years didn't recognise me, but she did like her Chardonnay.
I flashed what I hoped was a sincere smile, but it probably looked like a terrified grimace, because that's how I felt on the inside. I turned and hurried toward the stairs. I could have taken the elevator, but I wanted an extra minute or two to process whatever the crap was going on.
I stumbled down the last couple of steps and out into the street.
"It's the right building, I swear," I muttered to myself. I ignored the stares from a couple of kids who walked past.
"Don't do drugs, guys," I said brightly.
Their eyes widened and they hurried on.
"Yeah, I don't blame you," I said, more quietly this time. I sucked in a deep breath and considered what to do next. The logical thing would be to talk to the police, but I wasn't sure I was ready for that yet. Maybe I should take myself to hospital. I absolutely couldn't rule out the idea I was losing my mind.
I did the next best thing; I decided to call my mother. I grabbed my phone out of my bag and pressed on "contacts."
"Huh?" The entire contacts list was empty. Across the top of the screen read the words, "No network connection."
I frowned at it. This sick joke just got sicker, if Zade disconnected my account as well.
Fuck.
I resisted the urge to throw the phone at the nearest building. No way, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Asshole.
I slumped against the wall and fought down a wave of panic. Was this how someone felt when they had their identity stolen?
I swallowed down a lump of dread. I needed to think rationally, but how did I do that when none of this made sense?
I had my identity, no one could really steal that. I would go to the police and let them deal with it. I grabbed out my purse and flipped it open. I would need a photo of Zade so they knew who to look for. I had a few in here. Or a couple…
Or at least one.
"What…" I caught sight of the top of my driver's licence. With trembling hands, I drew it out. Apart from the state emblem and the words, "Name," and "DoB," it was completely blank. I dropped it on the ground beside me and hurried to pull out a bank card. That too was blank. Credit card, blank. Library card, blank.
My lips trembled. Everything in my purse was blank, as if I never existed at all.
Okay, this was way, way beyond a sick joke. Tears prickled at my eyes at the very idea anyone could be so cruel. I glanced around for TV cameras, but saw none. If this was a stunt, I would sue their asses into the next decade.
"Cops then." I gathered up the blank cards, stuffed them into my purse and closed it.
I rose and froze.
No, I'm not just rhyming, every muscle in my body was stuck, unable to move. I couldn't even move my eyes. I could barely breathe, much less scream.
I felt the most awful sensation, as though I was being stretched. Then the world around me went dark.
When I awoke, my head felt stuffed with cotton wool and ached slightly. Whatever I was lying on was soft and warm.
Oh, thank the gods. I'd just woken from a nightmare. Of course it wasn't real, I never got a seat on the train.
I stretched and opened my eyes.
Now I screamed.
I lay on a bed in a room full of lights. Most small, they blinked on and off, with no particular rhythm. Each was embedded in a wall that looked like it was made from aluminium foil.
I sat up and let out a squeak. I was completely naked. I threw my hands over my breasts and curled my leg
s up toward myself.
"It's just another nightmare," I told myself. Just another nightmare.
A door in the wall slid open and two bare-chested figures stepped inside. They stood approximately five feet tall and were covered in pinkish-red skin. Both had beards half way to their chests.
"Oh, she's awake," one said to the other. He had round, bright blue eyes with slits like a cat. The other was the same, but his eyes were green.
"Yes, good, good." The second made a chittering sound, like a bug. He turned toward a wall and started to press the lights at what looked like random. I gaped at his back. Or rather, his wings.
Oh great, I got abducted by pink, hipster, cockroach people.
I shook my head. It's just a dream, just a dream.
Or was it?
The first cockroach stepped toward me and waved some kind of device in my direction.
"No need to fear. My name is Hav. This is Dev. We're level two Jebari."
As if that explained everything. Or anything.
I shook my head. "I don't understand. This is just a strange dream." What had I taken or eaten to bring this on? Did I breathe in second hand dope smoke at the train station?
Hav smiled. At least his teeth looked more or less normal.
"Not at all. You've been chosen," he said.
Dev shot him a look as though he said too much already.
"Yes, well, you're healthy. You'll do fine. The trip to Jebar should be smooth, but it'll be long, I'm afraid. Don't worry, the ship is equipped with everything a human may require."
"Huh?" I reconsidered my previous conclusion. I had been abducted by pink, hipster, cockroach aliens!
I tucked my legs in tighter. "You're not giving me an anal probe!"
Hav looked surprised. He glanced around himself quickly.
"Oh, no, absolutely not. As I said, we're level two."
"So?" I asked. "Only level ones do the probing?" If they were two, there had to be a level one, right?
Dev sniffed and looked annoyed. "Definitely not. Only level threes and fours may touch the breeders."
I blinked. "The what now?"
Hav frowned at him. "Have some respect for our superiors. You know the penalty."
Dev frowned but fell silent.
Hav nodded to me. "I'll make a note of your fitness and a level three will attend to you shortly." He pressed a few buttons on his device and ushered Dev out the door.
The door slid shut before I could even think about jumping up and demanding an explanation.
Breeder? No, they must have said something else. Like…feeder. On no, that would be much worse. What if I was dinner?
"Worst day, ever." I curled up in a ball and hugged my knees to myself.
"I'm sorry about that."
I hadn't heard the door open, but in the doorway stood two different men—uh, aliens. Both had blue skin, the same catlike eyes as the red guys, and beards. Unlike the red aliens, their beards were shorter and they stood at least six feet tall. From here, I couldn't see wings, but I saw bodies most human men would kill for. And women would die to touch. Like the pink guys, they wore only pants, which left their chests bare, broad, muscular, and panty-dropping. Just—blue.
I sat up and covered myself with my hands as best I could. "Don't tell me, you're level ones?"
They exchanged glances and chuckles, which under other circumstances I might have found attractive. I was terrified, naked, and apparently on an alien ship.
"No." The one on the left, I noticed a scar down his cheek. "I'm Findel, but you can call me Fin. He's Gar." He jerked a thumb at his companion.
"You guys like short names, huh?" I asked.
"Gar is short for Til-Gardianlian, so not really." Gar gave me a shy smile. "It's easier to go with the short version."
"Right." I swallowed hard. "So if you're not level ones…" I arched an eyebrow.
"Level threes," Fins said proudly. "I'm guessing you've seen some level twos? You can tell the difference between us: we're blue and taller. Ones are yellow and about four feet tall."
"Let me guess, fours are seven feet?" I asked. This was hands down the strangest conversation I'd had all day.
"Yes, and green." Fin replied.
"So, you're here for the anal probe?" I asked.
Gar chuckled, but Fin was again the one who replied.
"Only if you want one. We're here to make you feel comfortable and ready."
Comfortable?
Ready?
"How about some clothes?" I suggested hopefully.
"Oh." Fin clapped a hand to his forehead. "I forgot how modest humans are. I've only met a few." He pressed a light on the wall and it slid open to reveal a shelf covered in what looked like dresses. He pulled out one and tossed it to me.
I caught it and yanked it over my head. Apparently underwear was too much to ask. At least the dress fit and fell to my knees.
"Thanks. Can I go home now?"
"We're already a long way from Earth," Gar said regretfully. "At least two Earth months."
"What the fuck?" I gaped at him. "Was I asleep all that time?"
"In stasis," Fin replied. "To purge your body of impurities from the atmosphere and lifestyle."
"I'm not saying it couldn’t have used it, but do you think you could have checked with me first?" Although, I couldn't think of a single alien abduction movie I'd seen where they asked. I frowned. "Wait, what do you mean you need to get me ready?"
I rubbed my temples. My headache was worse.
"Perhaps we could show you around the ship?" Fin offered. "Things might make more sense then."
"I hope so." Because they were as confusing as fuck at the moment.
Okay, I'll admit two things. One, I hoped this was still part of some elaborate hoax. I would walk out the door onto a stage, or something. People would laugh. I would be furious, but I could go home to my normal life.
Two, if this was cosplay, the costumes were hot as hells. Under the blue paint, they were both extremely lickable.
On stepping out the door, it became all two obvious this was no hoax. We walked down a long corridor into a section of ship lined with windows. Through the glass—assuming it was just glass—hundreds, thousands of stars twinkled. The walls were lined with lights like the room I'd just come from. Aliens, all shirtless, hurried about, peering at what looked to be consoles and making the same clicking sounds Hav and Dev had. Most of them were yellow and red, but a couple were blue.
"So you get jobs based on colour?" I asked. "Or height?" The taller aliens also had longer, narrower wings, more like a butterfly than a cockroach.
"Neither," Fin replied with what sounded like laughter in his voice. "We change with age."
I looked him up and down in surprise. "So you both looked like that?" I gestured toward a couple of red aliens. What did they call themselves? Jebari.
"Forty odd years ago, yes," Finn nodded. "Young Jebari are the grunts, the labourers. They do all the physical work and simple tasks. Once they're grown and learn, they move into the more intellectual work."
"I see. And level three?"
"It's our jobs to see to the contentment of the Jebari," Gar said. "To keep things running. That includes…the sexual pleasure of our breeders."
There was that word again. "And by breeders, you mean…"
Fin surprised me by taking my hand, but his expression was serious. "What do you see here, in front of you?"
"A bunch of alien men," I replied without thinking. "I mean, alien to me." Of course, amongst them, I was the alien.
"Jebari men, yes," Fin said.
"Let me guess, you start off as female, but change?"
Fin looked startled for a moment, then broke into laughter so loud it turned most of the faces in the room. He wiped his eyes and shook his head.
"No, we're all born male. That's the problem."
"That's not entirely accurate," Gar said softly.
"Well, yes." Fin waved a hand. "We can produce eggs, but none of
us has a uterus. We tried creating artificial ones, but none resulted in live offspring, so we continued to do what our kind has done for hundreds of years."
"Abduct women for their uteruses?" I frowned.
"Precisely," Fin replied, as if he hadn't seen my expression. "That's where breeders come in."
"You brought me here so you could implant an alien in my womb?" I asked, horrified. "And you think I'll be all right with this?"
"That's where we come in." Fin ran a surprisingly human-looking thumb over my hand. "To help you settle in, to get used to the idea. To give you pleasure like you've never dreamed of. Then, when you're ready—"
"What if I'm never ready?" I asked.
They exchanged glances.
"Then we will have failed," Gar replied. "We will never be allowed to evolve into level fours and be allowed to breed ourselves."
I wanted to say, "Boo-fucking-hoo," but he looked so sad, I held my tongue.
"Now you understand, shall we begin?" Fin asked, as though talking about the weather.
"Just like that?" I asked. "You think just an explanation is going to make me fall into bed with you?"
His expression fell. "We could eat first."
"It's going to take a lot more than that."
"Lucky we have a year before we arrive in Jebar," he said easily. "Plenty of time to change your mind."
Chapter 2
The food on the ship—as far as I could tell it had no name—was strange. Tasty, but strange. They made the best veg-burgers I ever had, but served them with mashed potatoes. When I asked why, I got blank looks from Fin and Gar.
"You know, chips? Fries? Wedges? Potatoes cut into strips or chunks and fried in hot oil?"
"Fried? That doesn't sound very nutritious." Gar scratched his head. As far as I could tell, the buzz cut was all the Jebari had. I had yet to see one with longer hair.
Stolen and Seduced Page 44