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“What are you waiting for? Follow my orders,” Madrie said.

“I’m trying. The door’s jammed.” Olark stepped back as there was a thud against the outside of the door.

A tug of familiarity and heat pulled at Blaze’s stomach. Eden was yanking hard on their connection. She was coming for him.

“Who’s out there?” Fury marred Madrie’s face into sharp lines.

“I don’t know. I still can’t get it open,” Olark said.

Gunfire rang out on the other side of the door, and they both stepped away.

“You might want to duck,” Blaze said. “When this tornado hits, she won’t hold back.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Madrie said.

Blaze grinned at him. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The lights in the cockpit blinked out.

There was a hiss as the door slid open, a muffled yell, and something snapped.

The lights flashed back on.

Eden stood over Olark’s body. Madrie was right in front of her, a stunned look on his face.

Blaze laughed. No matter how bad the shit got, Eden was right where she needed to be. And she was fucking magnificent, standing there with two guns in her hands and what looked like a... baby in a sling tucked over her shoulder. Where did that come from?

Her gaze shot around the room and landed on him. Her eyes widened for a second before she gave him a dazzling smile. “I’m glad to see you’re still breathing. I’ll be with you in just a second.”

She advanced on Madrie, the guns aimed at his head.

He backed up swiftly and raised his hands. “How did you get out of your cage?”

“Nope. That’s not the thing you should focus on. You should be begging for your life. You should be offering me everything, in the hope I’m feeling generous and not about to kill you for capturing me, taking my guy, and stealing the animals. You should be asking yourself, what can I do to make this woman forgive me?”

“I don’t need your forgiveness,” he spat out.

“Asshole, that was the wrong thing to say,” Blaze muttered.

“You see, my guy knows me so well. All I’m looking for is some good manners and for you to accept you were wrong.” Eden twirled one gun in her hand and cocked her hip. Damn, she was enjoying herself.

“I grovel to no one, especially not a Human woman.”

“You really keep putting your foot in your mouth,” Blaze said. “Keep going. I really want to see you dead.”

“He is an idiot,” Eden said. “What do you reckon, shall I kill Madrie or let him live?”

“I vote kill him,” Blaze said.

“No!” Madrie said. “I... I was only trying to earn money. We got lucky when we found the sanctuary. We thought you wouldn’t mind if we took a few animals. You have so many.”

“Bull! This wasn’t some amateur attempt. You were organized. You targeted the sanctuary, and you knew exactly what you were looking for. You had buyers lined up,” Eden said. “And don’t tell me otherwise, because I heard your guys when they were loading them. Those animals aren’t commodities you trade. They’re precious, rare, and important. You come between me and my animals, and you’ll regret it.”

“Eden’s always been passionate about animals,” Blaze said.

She winked at him. “You too.” She focused back on Madrie. “And you messed with my guy. That’s not something I can get over.”

Blaze’s heart clenched. That was the third time Eden had said my guy. Did she consider him hers?