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“If you don’t try, I’ll never know what my limits are.”

“You asked for it.” Blaze lunged at Georgia and almost grabbed her, but his bulk was his disadvantage.

She dodged away but had to parry a bone jarring blow to her calf. That strike only fueled her desire to win. She had to be unstoppable. She’d never allow herself to be taken again.

They fought several more rounds, Georgia taking blows, dodging, and parrying. Within minutes, she was sweating and her muscles were on fire. Taking on an Apexian and holding your own meant every muscle needed to be ready. One slip and you’d be unconscious and defenseless.

“Let’s go again.” Georgia rolled onto her feet and wiped the sweat out of her eyes.

“You two take a break,” Eden said. “I don’t want you to damage my guy beyond repair.”

Blaze grunted. “As if that’s even possible.”

An alarm sounded, and a red light flashed on the wall. “To all crew. Be on the alert. A long-tailed Varta skink has escaped. All personnel be on the lookout and report any sightings. Anyone not trained in animal handling is to find a secure area and remain inside until the threat has passed.”

Daisy jumped to her feet. “Those skinks don’t play nice. And they bite.”

“Ash is in the docking bay. He’s dealing with the animals due to be shipped out.” Georgia strode to the door.

“He knows how to handle himself. He’ll be okay,” Blaze said.

“We need to help catch this thing,” Georgia said. “Let’s move, everyone.”

The group left the training room and scouted along the corridor. Rexx and Daisy took the left turn at the end, while Eden, Blaze, and Georgia headed right.

Georgia stopped by a comm panel on the wall. She’d left her communicator in the changing room. “You go ahead. I want to check in with Ash. See if he knows anything.”

“Are you sure?” Eden said. “You don’t want to stumble across this skink on your own. It’s a big male. I saw him when he was brought in.”

Georgia arched an eyebrow. “That scaly critter will regret it if I do meet him. Get out of here.”

Eden looked at Blaze and nodded before they hurried away.

Georgia dialed into Ash’s comm link, and it connected. “Ash, any news on the escaped skink?”

There was no reply.

She tried again and got no response. Frustration coiled through her. Ash needed to answer her. She wanted to make sure her partner was okay. He may be a pain in her butt, but she didn’t want him injured by a pissed-off giant lizard.

Several shouts from farther along the corridor had Georgia turning. She raced toward the noise. Her heart leaped into her throat as she spotted the skink on the floor. Ash was beside it, holding one arm close to his chest as blood leaked between his fingers.

Eden and Blaze stood beside him.

Georgia rushed over, a tremble running through her as she saw how badly Ash’s arm was messed up. “What the hell happened?”

“Ash put this thing down single-handedly,” Blaze said. “He offered himself up as a meal, and our long-tailed friend took a big old bite.”

Ash scowled up at Blaze. “It was the only thing I could think of to bring it down without hurting it.”

Georgia narrowed her eyes, her heart thundering in her chest at the sight of all the blood Ash had lost. “You could have gotten killed. What were you thinking?”

“That I needed to get the animal back in its cage before it attacked anyone,” Ash said. “I don’t see the problem. The creature’s down, and it’s unharmed.”

“You don’t see what the problem is? You almost lost your arm.” Georgia jabbed a finger at him.

Ash gave her a lopsided grin. “I didn’t know you cared.”

Angel Woodrow hurried along the corridor, a medical kit in her hand. “I heard someone got a chunk bitten out of them.”