Page 52 of Courting Mayhem

“I am called Loki. I am hunting a mercenary named Jabbercon.”

Kiri brushed a branch over my leg in warning. “Bad man. Come.”

“Does it look like this Jabbercon is here?”I could feel the other bounty hunter creeping up behind me.“Tell your friend to back off. If he touches me, my partners will eat him. Alive,”I warned.

A bark of laughter sounded behind me. “That tiny tree is going to eat me?”A big hand clamped down on my gun hand.

I twisted, dropped to one knee, and hurled the warrior over my shoulder. He crashed into Loki, and they landed in a tangled heap by the pilot’s chair. “The Rui tree can devour a male your size within minutes and attacking a Berserker is never a good idea.”

“Having a rare Berserker as a mate will bring me much honor.” With a big smirk on his face, Loki stood up. “I claim you.”

“She’s mine! I saw her first,” the other Bjarke warrior roared as he erupted to his feet.

Loki socked him.

The warrior punched him back, and the fight was on.

How were these fools still breathing? I let out a sharp whistle. “Knock it off. I have a mate.”

The battle stopped abruptly.“Who?” They both exclaimed.

Poof! My fathers and Derek were suddenly standing in the shuttle’s doorway.

The War Commander snarled, “I am her mate.”

“Why do the Jones’ males always get the best females,” Loki grumbled.

The Bjarke warrior pointed at my neck.“She’s not wearing an ownership band and that means anyone can claim her.”

“Touch my daughter Ivan, and I will kill you,” Papi Sten growled.

Ivan held his hands up. “No offense meant Warhammer, but those are the rules.”

“They say they’re hunting Jabbercon,”I said.

A predator’s smile formed on Poppa Jacob’s mouth. “I find that hard to believe. I couldn’t find a bounty on Jabbercon, and he isn’t in the Hunter’s data base.”

General Zan offered us a hundred thousand credits to bring Jabbercon to him,” Loki said hurriedly.

I exchanged grim looks with my fathers. Zan was definitely up to something.

Every inch the War Commander, Derek stated, “Jabbercon is ours. Go back to your ship and leave Gliese. Now.”

“You cannot dictate to us. This planet isn’t part of the Coletti Empire,” Loki spat.

I shook my head sadly.“Since they both have a death wish, I vote we let the Katanic shapeshifters eat them.”

“There are Katanic shapeshifters here?” Ivan’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Yes.” I looked around nervously. “Two very hungry shapeshifters. What do you know about a Rodan scientist called Mallox?”

Loki gripped the butt of his laser pistol. “I thought he was dead.”

Twittering loudly, Defne rolled over to Loki.Chomp!A sizeable chunk of his armored boots disappeared down her maw.

With a yelp of pain, Loki jumped back and drew his pistol.

“NO!” We all yelled.

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