Page 3 of Becoming Brandy

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Brandy’s dartedfrom face to face, trying to form an escape plan. The men were blocking any exit—not that she’d be able to get off this ship anyway. Behind them, more alien soldiers waited, these in beast form. Brown, gold, and green-scaled skin flexed over their gigantic muscled arms. Their slitted red eyes zeroed in like laser beams. Disproportionately large jaws held rows of fangs that always made her shiver. These creatures had elongated heads and even longer claws. If the aliens on Han’s ship were the stuff of nightmares, these beasts were her worst fears realized.

And she’d bet no one here had told them they weren’t allowed to touch her upon threat of death.

A choking panic made her hands tremble as she held onto the wall behind her. This could not be happening. Brandy’s eyes scanned the bridge, finally spotting the screen and what it displayed—a vast blanket of stars and Han’s ship, the large egg-like vehicle in Earth’s outer orbit. But it was so far away.

“Miss your lover?” the male asked, stepping forward.

Brandy shrank back as much as she could, which wasn’t far since she was already against the wall. She sized him up, a strange mix of fear and excitement filling her.

He was handsome in a terrifying way—huge arms and chest beneath a black T-shirt and tight pants made from a leather-like material that moved like cotton. When he stalked her way, his black combat boots thundered on the floor. Dark slicked-back hair framed his blue eyes. His chin and jaw were stubbled with a day’s worth of growth. He was the kind of guy she would’ve fallen for on Earth—one who spelled his name with a capital T for trouble. And it had always ended badly.

Which was likely how this would go.

“Stay away from me.” She huddled into herself, trying not to let them see her tremble.

He grinned, his eyes slitting like a predator’s. “I would think you’d be more grateful to your hosts. After all, you’ll be staying with us for a while. I’m Drake and these are my brothers, Tork and Wrek.”

“No,” Brandy said, refusing to believe. “I’m not staying a while. They’ll come for me. Han—”

“Yes, Han,” he said, interrupting her. “He’s exactly the person I wanted to talk to you about. I bet he’s missing you right now. Frantic. Losing his mind.” He made a gesture with his hands around his head to mimic how upset Han must be.

Brandy didn’t think Han would be worried after losing her, but she didn’t want this guy to know it. “Probably. And he’s going to destroy you when he finds out you’ve taken me.”

Drake smiled humorlessly. “Destroy me?” He cut his eyes to the males to his right and left. “That’s hilarious.”

He was acting like a cartoon villain. If Brandy weren’t so afraid, she might laugh. Why was he trying so hard to be nasty? Did he think he had to impress her with how evil he was?

His brother, the one he’d called Wrek, appeared more serious than smug. “We should open a commlink now. Transmit our demands.”

“Demands?” Brandy asked.

The brother on the left, Tork, shook his head. His expression was dark and calculating. “Let him stew without his mate for a while. Wonder what we are doing to her.” He widened his eyes in a way Brandy didn’t like.

Wait, had he said Han’s mate?

“Who do you think I am?” Brandy asked.

“Han’s female,” Drake said. “Charis.”

It was Brandy’s turn to laugh. “Charis? I’m not Charis. You guys have beamed up the wrong girl.”

All three males stared at each other. The serious one, Wrek, came forward with a black cylinder in his hand. He began running it up and down her body. “This one is not pregnant. Hadn’t you heard Han’s mate was pregnant? You said it was why we were attacking.”

Confusion washed over the faces of the other two.

Brandy laughed harder. “You messed up. You abducted the wrong girl. What kind of fly-by-night operation are you running here, anyway?”

Drake and Tork shot menacing looks at Wrek, who held up his hands. “I scanned the ship, then picked up the female who was closest to Han. Why wouldn’t he pick the most beautiful female for himself?”

Most beautiful female, eh? Wrek was quickly becoming her favorite.

“Guess you can just send me back,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Wrek strutted to the ship’s wall where a set of glowing symbols awaited. He began manipulating them. “It’s no good. Now they know we are here, their shields are up. We won’t be able to beam anyone else out. Not unless we can get those shields down.”

Drake seethed, stalking around the room as if wanting someone to blame. Brandy sank against the wall, hoping to avoid his wrath.

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