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Fire flared in her eyes. “If we get out of this alive, I’ll see what I can arrange.”

His gut tightened, and desire spiked through him.

There were several rounds of punching and parrying, both of them holding back from what they could really do.

But he could see that Eden was tiring. She’d never admit it, but she was struggling. She could spar with him for a good hour when they trained together, but sweat already trickled down the side of her face, and her breathing was labored. Her injuries must be worse than he’d realized. This had to come to an end before it was too late for her.

Blaze spun around and yanked her against his chest, trapping her arms by her sides, his mouth close to her ear. “You go for the armed guy on the left. I’ll take the one on the right. They’re our initial threats. The others have weapons, so it’ll only be seconds before they start firing. You think you can do that?”

She elbowed him hard in the ribs. “Of course.”

“Finish this fight,” Madrie said. “Snap her neck. It’s time you won, Apexian. Don’t allow your time with the Humans to turn you soft. You’re a warrior. A killer. You live for the fight.”

Blaze ignored him, his focus on Eden’s soft, hot body pressed against him. “You ready?”

“Let’s do this,” she whispered.

He staggered them closer to the armed guard to the left of the group. The jerk only had his weapon half-raised, his gleaming eyes focused on the fight.

Every nerve ending inside Blaze screamed at him not to let Eden go, but she was a fighter. They were a team, and they had to work together if they were getting out of this alive.

Blaze dropped his hold on Eden and shoved her toward the guard. He spun away and charged at the second armed guard.

Panic flared in the Pecket’s eyes as he lined up his weapon. But he was too slow. Blaze slammed into him, ripping the weapon out of his hands and knocking him to the floor. He was too close to fire, so used the butt of the gun to knock the guard unconscious.

Blaze sought out Eden. A spike of satisfaction pinged through him when he saw her. She’d done it. The other Pecket was disarmed and out cold.

Blaze fired off three shots, taking out some of the watching crowd.

“Stop them! Shoot them. Don’t let them get away,” Madrie yelled.

Blaze directed his rage and frustration at two approaching Pecket, slamming away their weapons and yanking a knife from one of their belts, before jamming it into the closest guard’s ribs.

The Pecket howled and dropped to the floor.

Blaze dispatched the second Pecket, who’d made the mistake of hesitating before attacking.

He turned, checking on Eden again. She was fighting with two Pecket but holding her own.

Blaze ducked a punch. He rolled across the floor and scooped up a gun.

He aimed at Madrie and fired off several shots. The rest of the group scattered.

“Stop them!” Madrie ducked his head out from behind an animal pen.

Blaze aimed for the kill shot but couldn’t risk killing the animal inside the pen.

A pained cry shot from Eden.

Blaze spun, charging toward her as two Pecket had her pinned.

He slammed into the first asshole, taking him down. They rolled on the floor, a blur of fists and curses.

“Hold him. Don’t let him get away.” Madrie approached, surrounded by his remaining crew.

Blaze got a grip on the Pecket he was fighting with and slammed him against the floor. He had to get back to Eden.

“Bring her over here,” Madrie said.