Page 5

Chapter 2

“I don’t need an energytransfer. Angel will treat me when we get back on the Apocalypse.” Dizziness hit Eden so hard she’d have fallen to her knees if Blaze hadn’t been holding her.

“I’ll give you a tiny amount,” he said. “You’re bleeding out. And the ship is still fifteen minutes from docking.”

“I’ll live that long.” She hissed out a breath as her arm throbbed. The snake’s fangs had pierced all the way through, and her body felt like a giant bruise from where she’d been squeezed by its powerful coils.

“Take a small amount of my energy. That will keep you from passing out. I don’t know why you always resist when I offer.”

An energy transfer from Blaze would help her feel less nasty, but Eden hated them. Every time she got an injection of Apexian energy from him, something inside her shifted. She felt closer to him. She wanted to be with him. And the urge to rip off his clothes and jump his bones was unbearable. But the thought of letting him in and seeing her messed up reality made her feel sick.

“Eden, I’m trying to help you.” His hand brushed across her cheek. “You’re gray and sweating.”

“It’s my new look. It’s hot, huh?”

“Don’t joke. You can’t even stand. No arguments. You’re getting this.” He smeared blood off his face with his finger and held it out.

Eden grimaced and shook her head. “Eww. I’m not having that touch me.”

“It’s my blood from where you smashed my nose. It’ll work just fine.”

“Yeah, but it’s mixed with gross snake blood.”

A flicker of a smile appeared on his face. “I thought you loved snakes.”

“Not so much when they’re trying to kill me. And I’ve never been a fan of drinking their blood.”

“You can be such a princess.” Blaze pulled a small knife from the weapons belt around his hips. He cut through the ruined sleeve of her all-terrain uniform, sliced a fresh cut on his hand, and pressed it onto Eden’s injured arm.

Her response was instant. She’d exchanged energy with Blaze three times. Apexian power was something else, like a triple espresso shot washed down with a shot of whiskey.

His power fizzled through her like tiny fireworks, sparking along her veins. The agony in her arm faded, and blood stopped leaking from her wounds. Even the bruises faded to an acceptable level of pain.

“Are you feeling better?” Blaze caught hold of her face and stroked his thumb across her cheek, his gaze lingering on her mouth for a second too long.

She jerked her head away. “I’d have lived without your energy transfer.”

His eyes narrowed. “No need to thank me. I’ll get the medical kit and patch you up.”

“See to the snake first.”

“He’s pumped full of tranquilizer. That guy’s not going anywhere.” Blaze grabbed the kit bag.

Eden turned her attention to the snake. Even though the darn thing had almost killed her, she got a tickle of excitement deep in her stomach. They’d done it. They’d captured him. Most people thought this creature was a myth, but she’d proved them wrong.

She was damn good at this job and had qualifications and experience behind her. But there was still that flicker of doubt in the back of her mind that she’d never amount to anything. She was worthless, and she’d end up like her lying, alcohol soaked mom.

Blaze grabbed a bottle of water and washed down the bite marks. The firm touch of his fingers against her skin sent another flutter through her.

She ignored it. It was the energy transfer working its magic. It always had this effect on her. It lowered her barriers and made her want Blaze in her life and in her bed. It made her want to trust him.

He rotated her arm slowly as he examined the injuries. “Hopefully, there won’t be nerve damage. And no bones are broken.”

“If there is, Angel will fix me.”

“Angel’s a brilliant doctor, but even she has her limits.”

Eden made a play of pouting. “Stop being so serious. We’ve just had an epic win.”