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“There’ll be death here,” the head Pecket said, “but it won’t be any of us losing our lives.”

Blaze moved to stand in front of Eden, but she stepped up beside him, defiance radiating from her. Even when faced with such overwhelming odds, she didn’t back down.

“Have you realized your mistake and come to let us go?” she said. “I can’t wait to hear your apology.”

The head Pecket bared his teeth. “We decided not to waste our time by taking you to an auction. It’s not worth the hassle.”

“You’re letting us go?” Eden said. “I knew you’d see sense.”

Blaze squeezed her bicep gently. It was a gentle warning not to push too hard. He could feel the frustrated anger in the air. These jerks were looking for blood.

Eden glanced up at him and shrugged. “They know they’re in the wrong.”

“The bets have been placed,” the head Pecket said. “Now it’s time for you to fight.”

“Fight who?” Blaze said.

The head Pecket smirked. “Each other.”

“Screw that,” Eden said.

“And it will be a fight to the death.” The smile the head Pecket gave Blaze snaked a chill up his arms. He tugged Eden closer. There was no way he’d hurt her.

“What does the winner get?” Eden said.

Blaze slid her a glare. She couldn’t seriously be thinking about doing this?

“The winner gets to live,” the head Pecket said.

“That’s not enough. The winner should go free,” she said. “If you’re asking me to kill my partner, there has to be something in it for me.”

“I see which one of you is the shrewd negotiator in this team,” the head Pecket said. “I’m Madrie. What’s your name, Human?”

“It’s horrible to meet you, Madrie. I’m Eden. This is Blaze. We’re going to make you wish you’d never met us.”

“Proud words from such a small prisoner,” Madrie said.

“What do you think of my deal? Whoever lives, they get to go free,” she said.

“What are you doing?” Blaze muttered. “You can’t trust them.”

“Have you got a better solution?” she whispered. “They’re going to make us fight, or they’ll kill both of us.”

“I’d never fight you.”

Softness flickered across her face. “Yeah, I get that now. But it would be a solution to our problem.”

“What are you talking about?”

She turned and pressed a hand to his chest. “Think about it. We’d be out of each other’s lives for good.”

“And what would that solve?” A cold realization slammed into Blaze. She couldn’t be serious.

Eden raised her eyebrows. “You’re getting it. With me gone, what’s going on between us will also disappear. You can get on with your life.”

He yanked her closer. “No fucking way. If you die, the feelings don’t switch off. Not for me.”

“They’d fade, though. And I’d be out of your hair. No more problems. No more questioning whether you should return to your family and marry a princess or stick with this hot mess who struggles to decide what color underwear to choose on the daily.”