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Chapter 2

“I’ve just checked themission details. We aren’t leaving for twelve hours.” Ash strode alongside Georgia, away from the mission briefing room. “You want to do that sparring I suggested?”

“Not now. I’ve already got a training session arranged.” She needed to work off steam after finding out what that jerkoff alien was doing to those beautiful animals. And beating something always made her feel better.

“I could come with you.”

“Aren’t you on the rota to check the next shipment of animals?”

“That’s in hand. How about we work out together?”

“No. I’m good. I’ll catch up with you later.” Georgia didn’t wait for Ash’s response as she jogged away, although she didn’t miss his sigh.

Their relationship was strictly professional, except when she got weak, let her guard down, and needed an itch scratched, but then it was back to business. There was no point forming an attachment to Ash.

Work and her fitness, that’s what she focused on. They were important. Georgia had experienced what happened when she let herself get weak and lose focus. She hadn’t been able to fight off the Siblet when they’d captured her, but she’d make sure it never happened again. To do that, she focused on the things she could control. Ash wasn’t one of them.

Georgia headed into the training room. The room was equipped with a full gym, workout mats, and a sparring area. She spent most of her free time here, working on weaknesses in her fighting technique. Not that she had many. Not anymore.

All humans on board the ship went through basic defensive training, so they knew how to protect themselves in an emergency. But Georgia’s background was different from the others. She’d spent months in intensive training as part of her former military intelligence role. She was used to going into dangerous situations where you only had yourself watching your back.

She raised a hand, acknowledging Eden Franco and Blaze Floridan, who were already in the room.

Eden waved back, her other arm slung around her guy’s neck as she sat in his lap. Those two were so sickeningly cute together.

Daisy Roebuck and Rexx O’Libe walked into the training area. Rexx towered over the tiny Daisy, but she always held her own with him, and he turned to mush around her. Love had brought him to his knees.

Georgia ignored the pang of loneliness that hit her as she watched the two couples joke around. She had no time for a relationship. How would she react if she was in a dangerous situation with a guy she was into and his life was at risk? Would she jeopardize the mission to save him or continue with the task in hand, knowing he could die?

She didn’t need that emotional dilemma messing with her head. Life was complicated enough.

Georgia slipped into her workout gear in the changing room and then headed onto the sparring mat. “Are you ready?” She gestured at Blaze. She preferred to go a few rounds with an Apexian. They were harder to break.

“Always. Are you sure you’re up for another meeting?” he said.

“You only just beat me the last time.” Georgia rolled her shoulders. “I almost had you.”

“Almost isn’t good enough when you’re in the field against one of us.” Blaze cracked his knuckles and grinned. “Lucky for you, we’re on the same side.”

“Less talking and more fighting.” Georgia circled the huge warrior.

He grinned and then charged.

She had half a second to react. There was little thinking involved when defending yourself against an Apexian. They were highly skilled fighters. Everything was instinct, drilled into them from years of experience.

Georgia pulled away, arching her spine, then threw a kick into his back.

Blaze lost his balance and almost hit the mat, spinning at the last second and shooting her a wicked grin. He was on her instantly, but she was ready.

A jab to the stomach and a hard kick to the thigh had him grunting and hitting the mat.

She cracked her neck and chuckled.

Daisy cheered. “I wish I was half as good as you.”

“I’m just getting warmed up.” Georgia kept her attention on Blaze. Apexians didn’t go down that easily. “You’re holding back.”

“I don’t want to damage you,” he said.