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Chapter 5

“That’s the last ofthem loaded.” Eden stepped back and looked at the full pens in the cargo hold. They were taking thirty animals, from her beloved two-headed rainbow snake to a silver furred niblet, to the sanctuary. Everyone had food and water, and they’d set up a small section of the cargo hold as climate controlled for the creatures who preferred a cold environment.

She knelt in front of a pen. A big-eared salmon pink gabblefoot blinked up at her, her fur sticking out in tufts. “There’s no need to be scared. Where we’re taking you is amazing. You’ll have wall-to-wall fertile males to mate with, so you’ll have your pick. Plus, all the food you need, and no chance of anyone shooting you in the butt ever again.”

“That sounds like paradise,” Blaze said from behind her. “I hate being shot in the butt. I should move there.”

Eden smiled as she stood and brushed her hands together. “And leave all this?” She glanced at him then looked away. He was a fricking prince. Well, a baron, but that sounded like something from medieval England, and she couldn’t get her head around it.

Georgia had shown her the information source, and she wasn’t yanking her chain. Blaze Floridian came from a wealthy and influential Apexian family. Yet he’d kept it a secret from her.

“I’ve checked the manifesto. We’ve got everything we need,” Blaze said.

“Good. That’s good.” Eden blew out a breath and focused on the animals. Did this change things between them? It’s not like she shared her whole story with him. She kept her mom a secret because... well, shit, she was ashamed of her past.

“Are you okay?” Blaze asked.

“Yeah. Never better. I’m just going to check on our route.”

“There’s no need. It’s pre-programed. I’ve checked it already.”

“Aren’t you Mr. Helpful today?” Eden lifted a hand as she walked away. She needed some space. Suddenly, she didn’t know how to handle Blaze.

It made sense now why he had such impeccable manners. He’d been raised surrounded by luxury. He was a well-bred, refined Apexian who could have anything he wanted, and he’d chosen this lifestyle.

What made him want to give up all of that?

There were only a few pictures of him online. Georgia had dug up some from when he was younger. He’d looked groomed, gorgeous, and mildly sullen.

There was no mention of him joining the Apexian elite squad. Georgia figured there must have been a media blackout ordered by his family, to avoid making him a target for scum to exploit.

Eden entered the cockpit and pretended to check through the route they’d planned, but she was going through the motions. Blaze could always be relied upon.

This shouldn’t change anything between them. He was still Blaze. She’d known him long enough to get comfortable around him, even to lower her barriers a fraction and consider him a friend. A super-hot, sexy friend who she often thought about naked, but that was as far as it went.

And it would go no farther now. Blaze was royalty, and she’d been dragged up in the gutter. She wasn’t good enough for him. Maybe not even good enough for a one-night stand.

Besides, she didn’t trust nice guys. Eden frowned. After getting her heart stomped on by McKenzie, she’d always gone for the rough, fucked up guys. She knew how to handle them, get what she needed, and leave with no regrets.

It was Blaze’s kindness and his concern for her well-being that set her teeth on edge. That behavior always came with a big price.

She had to stick to what she knew. She trusted no one and made no long-term commitments with any guy. You make that mistake once, and you learn from it. If you don’t, you deserved everything you got.

A good-natured laugh and several pairs of footsteps came up the docking ramp.

Eden turned and headed along the corridor. Their military escort was here.

Ranger, Wilder, and Gunner appeared. They were a trio of huge, muscled, battle scarred Apexian warriors.

“Well, if it isn’t Eden Franco.” Ranger placed a hand over his heart. “When I heard we’d gotten this assignment, it sucked the joy out of my life. Then I learned you’d be on board, and everything changed.”

Eden strode over and kissed his cheek. “It’s good to see you too, Ranger.” She nodded at the other two. “Hey, guys. Thanks for being our escort. I know it’s not an exciting mission.”

Gunner shrugged. “It’s no problem. It won’t do us any harm not to be blowing things up all the time.”

Ranger curled a powerful arm around Eden’s waist and pulled her close. “I hope we have time to catch up.”

“Put her down,” Gunner said. “You’ll be too busy flying to have time for that.”