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“I learned from the best.”

“You took a blow to the head when we crashed.” He frowned at the lump on her temple.

“Another one? I’ll lose all my smarts if I keep getting hit.”

“I need to fit you out with a protective helmet,” he said. “I’ll put it on the list of equipment we need when we get back.”

“Don’t you dare. I’ll be fine.”

He held out a hand and eased her into a seated position. “You need a boost.”

She glanced at their joined hands. “No, I’m good.”

“Don’t be stubborn. I don’t mind. It is one of the reasons you picked Apexians as bodyguards.”

“I mind. An energy transfer weakens you. And I need you in fighting form.”

“The Gente are dead. Take it.” He whipped a flick blade from his pocket and sliced it across his palm. “Just a little hit. It’ll make you feel a hundred times better. I’ll barely notice.”

She grimaced. He could see her resistance. Every time they exchanged energy, they grew closer. He hadn’t noticed at first, but there was no denying this exchange meant something more than giving Wren a boost of Apexian energy.

“Fine. Do it.” She looked away as he made a small cut on her palm and grasped it, a shake in his arm as his strength flowed into Wren.

“I’m sorry about leaving you.” She licked her lips, tucking the cino against her chest as the transfer completed. “I checked to make sure you were breathing before coming here.”

“I know, fur before friends.”

“No! It wasn’t like that. The cino kept screaming, and I had to help. I was coming back to see you, but I got dizzy and closed my eyes. The next thing I know, you’re here.”

“I wish you’d take better care of yourself.” He traced a hand gently across her cheek. “You always put these animals before your own safety.”

“Isn’t that the job?”

“Not at the expense of your life.”

“This work is bigger than me. Sacrifices have to be made.”

He growled. “I’m not sacrificing you.”

“I don’t want to argue.” She stroked a hand over the cino. “But you see what happens when you don’t follow the rules.”

He jerked back. “What are you talking about? This isn’t my fault. You were the one who got captured by the Gente.”

“That was never my plan. We needed a win on this mission. We keep messing up.”

“You mean, I keep messing up. Maybe you want to change your mind and get yourself that new partner after all.” He shouldn’t care what she thought about him. He knew he wasn’t good enough for her, but it was still a kick in the gut to hear her tell him that.

“No, I meant what I said. I don’t want a new partner, but I wish the one I had would make life easier for me.”

He looked away. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“Striker! Fun! We’re back to that. When we’re working, it’s not meant to be fun. What do I have to do to make you understand that?”

His head ached, his arm throbbed, and he’d kill for a cold beer, a long shower, and to forget this day ever happened. “That’s not me. It never has been. I know you’re all about following protocol, filing the reports, and basically making life as dull as possible.”

“Dull keeps you safe.”

“Safe isn’t living. Maybe we should have died in this crash if that’s all there is in the future.”