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Eden was dragged to a cage in the corner of the cargo hold and slung in by two Pecket.

She crashed onto her side, her breath wheezing out of her. Her limbs trembled, and her brain ached.

Eden sat up and crawled to the front of the cage, peering through the bars.

Nipper was still in the corner where he’d been tossed. He wasn’t moving.

“Nipper,” she whispered.

He didn’t stir.

She swallowed against the tightness in her throat. She’d only just gotten to know the cute little guy, and those bastards had killed him. He’d died helping her.

Her jaw wobbled, and she closed her eyes. “I’ll make them sorry for what they did to you. For what they’ve done to both of us.”

Eden rubbed a hand against her chest, a fragile hope fluttering inside her at the thought of an escape. The feeling was tinged with fear. If Blaze was on this ship, then he’d be on his own.

She had to believe in him. Trust him to do this. She’d seen him fight plenty of times. Blaze was a true warrior. He’d make these jerks pay. And as soon as she got out of this cage, she’d be fighting right alongside him.

***

A hiss of air shotout of Blaze’s mouth as the warning lights flashed around him. Dammit. He must have triggered a sensor when searching the ship.

He’d been on board twenty minutes, trying to locate Eden. So far, all he’d seen was crew.

He pressed back into the shadows as footsteps approached, his weapon out. He’d counted a dozen Pecket. And there’d be more on a ship this size.

Blaze wanted to kill them all, but his focus was on getting to Eden and making sure she was safe.

Now the Pecket knew he was on board, they’d know what he was here for. That made Eden vulnerable.

Blaze slid along the corridor, attuned to any sounds from the enemy.

His gut twisted as his mind raged at him. He had to find her. Life without Eden was meaningless. He lived for her smile and that laugh that pinged him straight in the gut and curled heat to his cock.

“There he is!” A shot blasted over his head.

Blaze ducked and looked over his shoulder to see two armed Pecket approaching. He dodged into a covered spot and returned fire.

He wanted to stand and fight, but his need to get to Eden overrode his warrior instinct. He blasted out covering fire as he raced along the corridor and turned the corner.

Blaze sped along the passageway. He had to outrun these jerks.

He was moving so fast, he almost collided with a lone Pecket.

Blaze slammed his gun into the Pecket’s face, backed up, and fired at him. The odds were getting better with each Pecket he killed. He would do this. He’d get Eden back.

And he was an idiot for thinking he could leave her and return home. She was a vital part of him.

A shot from behind him slammed into his shoulder. Blaze roared out his pain as he staggered forward and almost hit the floor.

He shifted his weapon to his uninjured arm and fired back.

Blaze rounded the corner and almost slammed into four more Pecket. He backed up, keeping his gun raised toward them.

He turned but was trapped. There was nowhere to run.

“Put down your weapon or die,” one of the Pecket said.