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Chapter 13

“We should eat her.”Olark, the ugly dude who was so keen on taking a bite out of Eden, was propped against a box, staring at her and smacking his lips together.

“Why not have some fun with her, first?” another Pecket said.

Eden was surrounded by six Pecket in the cargo hold of their ship. Anger and fear swirled through her like a gross, toxic sludge.

“Because she’ll taste better if she’s not bruised and bloodied,” Olark said.

“You can all keep your hands off me.” Eden kept her back to the wall, watching out for anyone dumb enough to try their luck.

She glanced at the corner of the cargo hold. She still couldn’t get over the fact Nipper had flown onto the ship just before she’d been trapped inside.

He was hunkered down in a shadow, but his gaze was on her.

Even though he was too small to help her, she was grateful to have a friendly face alongside this ship full of horny, hungry alien bastards.

“I’ll take the first shot at her,” a Pecket said, rubbing a hand up and down his groin.

“I found her. She’s mine.” The Pecket who’d dragged her on board made a grab for her arm.

Eden didn’t resist but leaned into his weight, jerking back at the last second and knocking him off balance so she could get free. She slammed a foot against his leg before dancing out of his reach.

“You see, Talis, she’s too much trouble. Let me have her.” Olark wouldn’t stop smacking his damn lips together, like he could already taste her.

Eden shuddered. “You take one bite out of me, and I’ll kill you.”

Olark smirked and cracked his knuckles.

“Watch her. She’s small but kicks like a beast.” Talis was rubbing his leg, caution in his eyes.

“And I’ll keep kicking anyone who touches me without my permission.”

A Pecket made a clumsy lunge from the side. Eden dodged away, spun, and slammed her palm into his chest.

Her gaze cut around the group, and she snarled. This was fun for them. If they wanted to, they could take her down, but she was their sport as they took their turns to goad her and get her to make a mistake. Maybe they thought this was only a game, but she was fighting for her life. If any of them gave her the chance, she’d kill them.

Danger fizzled in the air, making her sweat.

Two Pecket struck at once, and Eden had half a second to duck a punch aimed at her head. She gasped as her legs were swept out from under her.

Eden stayed down for a second, rolling away just as her leg was grabbed. She slammed her heel down on a carelessly placed hand, satisfaction rolling through her as the Pecket howled and backed off.

She stood and rolled her shoulders, her insides shaking with rage. There was more caution in their eyes now she’d injured a few of them. Good. They’d think twice about putting their hands on her. She was done with being a guy’s plaything.

Olark scowled at her. “I’m hungry. Let’s feed.”

“That’s enough fun,” a gruff male voice said from behind her.

Something hard slammed into the back of Eden’s neck. She staggered into a waiting Pecket.

She shoved him away, but he dug his fingers into her skin and sniffed her.

“Gross!” She struggled in his punishingly firm hold.

He held her tight as he groped her chest.

“Get off me!” Eden slammed her knee into his groin.